Kord-12.7 mm Heavy Machine Gun

The Kord-12.7 mm heavy machine gun is a Russian design that entered service in 1998 replacing the older NSV machine gun. Externally the weapon resembles the NSV, however the internal mechanism has been extensively reworked, changing from a horizontally pivoting breech block to a rotating bolt design. Additionally the gas system has been changed and the muzzle baffle redesigned. These changes give the weapon reduced recoil compared with the NSV, allowing greater accuracy during sustained fire.

The catalyst for the development of the weapon was a complete lack of any heavy machine guns in construction at that time in the Russian Federation. Prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the weapon that had functioned as the heavy machine gun was the NSV, or "Utes" or "Utjos" (meaning cliff in Russian, this name was its designation during development) (утёс) machine gun. The main production center for the NSV was located in what is now Kazakhstan.

The Russian Degtyarev bureau was given the job of producing an updated version of the weapon chambered in the 12.7x108mm cartridge, which could be used for support, mounted on vehicles, or in an anti-aircraft capacity.

The weapon employs new construction, and consequently is significantly lighter than its predecessor. The firing mechanism is very rugged (in the Russian tradition), yet is capable of a greater rate of fire and significantly less recoil. Because a new barrel made of a high-tech alloy minimizes distortion and drop, accuracy has increased tremendously over previous Soviet machine guns. Unlike its predecessor and the vast majority of other heavy machine guns, it may be fired from a bipod — a rather unique feature for 12.7 mm/.50 caliber heavy machine guns. Its relatively light weight allows stronger soldiers to move the gun around without assistance and even fire it from the hip (although accuracy is dismal at best).

Kord 6P50
Type	Heavy machine gun
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
Used by	MVD
Production history
Designed	1990s
Manufacturer	V.A. Degtyarev Plant
Produced	1998–present
Variants	6P50-1, 6P50-2, 6P50-3, 6P49
Specifications
Weight	25 kg (55.12 lb) (6P50) 32 kg (71 lb) (6P50-1) 60 kg (130 lb) (6P50-2), 80 kg (180 lb) (6P50-3), 27 kg (60 lb) (6P49)
Length	1,980 mm (78.0 in) (6P50-1, 6P50-2, 6P50-3) 1,625 mm (64.0 in) (6P49)
Cartridge	12.7x108mm
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	650–750 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	860 m/s (2,821.5 ft/s)
Effective range	2000 m
Feed system	50-round linked belt
Sights	Iron sights