The RG-6 (
GRAU designation 6G30) is a Russian
40 mm
40 mm grenade (also styled 40mm grenade) is a generic class-name for grenade launcher ammunition ( subsonic shells) in caliber. The generic name stems from the fact that several countries have developed or adopted grenade launchers in ...
, six-shot,
revolver-type grenade launcher developed between 1993 and 1994 by Central Design and Research Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Weapons (
TsKIB SOO
The Central Design and Research Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Arms, abbreviated TsKIB SOO (russian: ЦКИБ СОО) is a Russian small arms design bureau based in Tula, Russia. It was established in 1946, and it is currently managed as a branch o ...
), Tula, Russia.
History
The RG-6 was required to increase the firepower of the infantry during urban combat, seen in small-scale conflicts, such as the
Chechen wars.
The RG-6 entered limited production by the mid-1990s and is now in use by various elements of Russian Army and special forces such as those in the
MVD
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (MVD; russian: Министерство внутренних дел (МВД), ''Ministerstvo vnutrennikh del'') is the interior ministry of Russia.
The MVD is responsible for law enfor ...
.
Design
RG-6 is designed to fire all standard 40mm "caseless" grenades, available for the general issue
GP-25
The GP-25 ''Kostyor'' ("Bonfire"), GP-30 ''Obuvka'' ("Footwear") and GP-34 are a family of Russian 40 mm under-barrel grenade launchers (''Granatomyot Podstvolnyj'') for the AK family of assault rifles. They were first seen by the West in ...
underbarrel launcher. The design of the RG-6 is, apparently, heavily influenced by the South African
Milkor MGL
The Milkor MGL (Multiple Grenade Launcher) is a lightweight 40 mm six-shot revolver-type grenade launcher (variations also fire 37/38mm) developed and manufactured in South Africa by Milkor (Pty) Ltd. The MGL was demonstrated as a concept to the ...
grenade launcher, with some differences. The key difference is that the RG-6 uses "caseless" rounds, and thus its cylinder chambers are loaded from the front. The "barrel" is, in fact, a smoothbore tube, which serves only as a support for the front grip and sights.
The double-action only trigger unit is also modified from GP-25, with a manual safety and several automatic safeties.
The cylinder is rotated using a clockwork-type spring, which is manually wound during reloading. For reloading, the front cylinder plate with the "barrel" tube is unlocked from the frame and then rotated sideways, to expose the front of the cylinder. Each chamber in the cylinder is a separate muzzle-loading rifled barrel, similar in design to the GP-25 barrel.
The sights are folded for more convenient carry and storage, with a ladder-type rear sight. The buttstock is fitted with a rubber recoil pad, and when it is not in use, it is telescoped into the frame.
Users
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See also
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List of grenade launchers
This article lists all forms of grenade launchers around the world, that is to say weapons that launch grenades with more accuracy, a higher velocity and to greater distances than a soldier could.''Small Arms Illustrated'', 2010
Below is the ...
*
Milkor MGL
The Milkor MGL (Multiple Grenade Launcher) is a lightweight 40 mm six-shot revolver-type grenade launcher (variations also fire 37/38mm) developed and manufactured in South Africa by Milkor (Pty) Ltd. The MGL was demonstrated as a concept to the ...
*
Granatnik RGP-40
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Hawk MM-1
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RGA-86
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RGM-40 Kastet
*
GM-94
*
List of Russian weaponry
The following is a list of modern Russian small arms and light weapons which were in service in 2016:
Handguns
Revolvers
Pistols
Special purpose
Submachine guns
Special purpose
Shotguns
Rifles
Bolt-action
Semi-a ...
References
Modern Firearms: RG-6Tula Firearms article* https://web.archive.org/web/20131026001821/http://zonawar.ru/granatomet/ru4nie3.html#6g30
{{Multiple Barrel Firearms
Grenade launchers of Russia
TsKIB SOO products
KBP Instrument Design Bureau products
Caseless firearms
Military equipment introduced in the 1990s