TheLa Ametralladora Pecheneg LMGpuede canser beconsiderada considereduna asmodificación ade modificationla of[[Ametralladora thePK|ametralladora PKM]], machinepero gun,construíada butpara itun isúnico builtrol fortáctico; onlyel onecual tacticales, role;como thatuna is,verdadera asametralladora aligera truede squad-leveluso lightpor machinepelotones gunpara forla mobileinfantería infantrymóvil andy Spetsnazlas troops.tropas Itsde keylos difference[[Spetsnaz]]. fromSu thediferencia parentprincipa designes isel thediseño barrelde su cñón, whichel iscua notestá intendedpensado topara beno replacedser inreemplazado theen fieldel (althoughcampo itde combate (pudíendose canremover beúnicamente removedpara forsu inspectioninspección andy maintenancemantenimiento).<ref name="petcheneg"/> The barrel is somewhat heavier than that of the PKM, and has radial cooling ribs. This is enclosed in a steel jacket, which runs up to the muzzle to provide forced air cooling a-la [[Lewis Gun|Lewis machine gun]] of the World War I era. Cooling air enters the jacket through oval windows at the rear of the jacket, and exits at the muzzle. Whereas early versions of the Pecheneg had a standard PKM-type [[flash suppressor]], resulting in significant muzzle blast once the gun had warmed up, current production version guns have a special flash suppressor that eliminates the issue. The rear of the barrel-encasing steel jacket features a permanently-attached carrying handle with a characteristic elongated profile, as it is also intended to protect the line of sight from mirages generated by [[convection]] of air heated up by the barrel. The manufacturer reports a firing rate of 600 rounds per minute in continuous sustained fire without any danger to the barrel.<ref name="petcheneg"/>
Another change from the PKM parent design is the location of the integral, non-removable folding bipod which is placed near the muzzle. This feature improves stability and long-range accuracy when firing from the bipod, but it also limits the arc of fire available without moving the position of bipod or shooter. Another consequence of said placement is that the Pecheneg is less comfortable to fire from the shoulder or the hip, as it does not have a handguard and the bipod is located too far forward to be used to hold the gun. However, the Pecheneg has sling swivels and can be fired from the hip using a sling and carrying handle to hold the gun.<ref name="petcheneg"/>
