[google-translator]
Bored because you’ve been there, done that in Vegas? Visit our machine gun shooting range to pop off rounds from a Soviet-era RPD, the precursor of most Eastern-Bloc squad served automatic weapons. Our RPD shooting experience can be added to any of our packages.
You can have your fun with the RPD at Machine Guns Vegas if you book the “Full Auto experience.
History of the RPD
The RPD entered service during the closing days of World War II, but it would take almost a decade before it would have widespread use among first-tier soviet units.
Chambered for the 7.62x39mm round that would remain popular with the later advent of the AK style rifles, the RPD provides plenty of power, while allowing more cartridges to be carried by troops than its predecessor, the DP machine gun, which was chambered for the longer 7.62x54mmR rounds.
Eventually supplanting the RPK, the RPD remained popular through the Vietnam War, multiple Middle Eastern conflicts, and is even used today by units in Asia and Africa.
Experience Details
Our RPK is a fully automatic machine gun capable of firing 650-750 rounds per minute. Our machine gun shooting range lets you put the weapon to the test, giving you a shooting experience that matches what you’ve seen in some of the most popular action movies and video games. Not just another Hollywood shooting range gun, this weapon is inextricably joined to conflicts around the world. This is a chance to fire a piece of history you shouldn’t pass up.
Add this gun to any MGV package, or shoot it individually. Shoot 25 rounds on the RPD. Book your machine gun shooting range adventure with Machine Guns Vegas!
Soviet-era RPD
For shooters really wanting to enjoy their time at an indoor range, as well as experience a little piece of history, the RPD machine gun is the perfect choice. The RPD is a light machine gun chambered in 7.62mm and was originally developed in Russia by Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyaryo to be a replacement for the DP machine gun that fires the 7.62x54R round. This gun is special because it paved the way for light machine guns and squad automatic weapons. It was produced by Russia, Poland, Egypt, China, and North Korea under different designations. It was eventually replaced in Russian service by the RPK.
The RPD uses a gas-operated long-stroke piston system and features a locking system that is similar in other Degtyaryov arms, which uses a pair of flaps on each side of the receiver. It fires from an open bolt and is hammer-fired. The entire mechanism of this firearm is simple and reliable and features a trigger mechanism that is limited to fully automatic fire only. It does feature a manual lever type safety that can keep the weapon from accidentally firing by blocking the bolt. Like many other Russian firearms, the bore and chamber are both chrome lined to help fight against corrosion and jamming. It comes included with a folding integral bipod, wood stock, foregrip, and pistol grip.
Because the RPD fires from an open bolt and only in fully automatic, RPD gunners were regularly trained to fire the weapon in short bursts to help prolong the life of the barrels. The gun is fed ammunition from the left side by belts that usually hold around 100 rounds. Combined belts are stored in metal drums that can be attached to a mount on the side of the receiver, and the belts are pulled into the gun during firing. This makes the gun extremely enjoyable to shoot, because who doesn’t’ love a belt-fed machine gun?
Production of this firearm was spread from 1944 to 1960, but it has been widely used outside of that window. Countries such as Egypt, Finland, Libya, Romania, Thailand, Hungary, Iraq, Sudan, and many others have used this weapon in their armed forces with great results. It has seen many conflicts throughout the years since its inception, and there are rumors of it still being used today in other third world countries.
This gun, like many others, as seen some use in the media and television as well. While not as popular as other guns such as the RPK or AK47, it has been featured in many period-correct video games such as the Call of Duty franchise and Medal of Honor. It can also be seen making many appearances in documentaries and films, such as The Soviet Story, The Battle of Russia, and Defiance. It can easily be recognized by its physical appearance and is a popular gun in these aspects.
Shooting the RPD light machine gun is an absolute blast and one that you will not want to miss. Not only is it a belt-fed, fully automatic firearm, it shoots the hard-hitting 7.62 round that packs a punch!