Rk 62 - Versions

Versions

The first version called the Rk 60 was produced in 1960 and was internally almost a copy of the AK-47. It featured a metallic buttstock, a plastic handguard and pistol grip. The very first prototypes, closely modeled after Polish licence made AKs, had tinted birchwood stocks. After testing by the military, the Rk 60 was slightly modified and adopted as the 7.62 Rk 62. The Rk 62 is considered a high quality AK-47 variant. This is apparent especially in its accuracy, as it can frequently achieve less than one minute of arc. The rifle uses a "peep" diopter sight, which is flipped over to reveal the open tritium enhanced rear night sight. The forward sight has also a mode for night operation. After basic training, some 30% of Finnish conscripts can score 92 or more points with ten rounds at 150 m distance with target shooting on RK 62, the bullseye (10 points) diameter being 100 mm. The biggest single improvement, apart from the metallurgical quality of the receiver and the overall quality of the barrel, are the sights - most AK variants have the rear sight mounted on top of the gas piston housing on top of the receiver. In the Rk62 the rear sight is mounted on the rear of the receiver cover with tritium illuminated night-sights. The sight radius is doubled enhancing the accuracy along with the hammer-forged match CM barrel. Aperture rear sight on a sliding tangent with flip tritium night sight, forward hooded post, 470 mm sight radius

In general, all Sako / Valmet Rk.62 family weapons are first class quality firearms that designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions of Nordic Europe. It also should be noted that early Israeli made Galil assault rifles were made on machinery and by documentation bought from Valmet.

The civilian version of the rifle is called M62S, and it is nearly identical in appearance to the Rk 62, except for the fire selector which lacks the automatic fire setting. Valmet has also produced a hunting rifle variant using a further development of the Rk 62 receiver, called Valmet Petra, "petra" being an old Finnish word for deer, chambered originally for .308 Winchester and .243 Winchester, but later also .30-06 Springfield and through aftermarket modification, 9.3x62mm. The Petra was marketed as the "Valmet Hunter" in the US and Canada. It is very different in appearance to the Rk 62, having a wooden stock without separate pistol grip, a sporter type front grip, and the trigger has been moved further back on the receiver.