La Ametralladora Pecheneg puede ser considerada una modificación de la [[Ametralladora PK|ametralladora PKM]], pero construíada para un único rol táctico; el cual es, como una verdadera ametralladora ligera de uso por pelotones para la infantería móvil y las tropas de los [[Spetsnaz]]. Su diferencia principa es el diseño de su cñóncañón, el cuacual está pensado para no ser reemplazado en el campo de combate (pudíendose remover únicamente para su inspección y mantenimiento).<ref name="petcheneg"/> Su Thecañón barreles isligeramente somewhatmás heavierpesado thanque thatel ofde thela PKM, andaparte hasde radialesto coolingdispone ribs.de Thisunas is''"costillas"'' enclosedque inle airradian steelal jacket,cañón whichaire runspara up to thesu muzzle to provide forced air cooling a-la [[Lewis Gun|Lewis machine gun]] of the World War I erarefrigeración. CoolingEstas airvan entersencerradas thepor jacketuna throughcamisilla ovalde windows at the rear of the jacketacero, andque exitsva atdesde theel muzzle.apagallamas Whereasy earlyle versionsforza ofla theentrada Pechenegde hadaire afrio, standardcomo PKM-typeen la [[flashAmetralladora suppressorLewis|Lewis]],resultingde inla significantera muzzlede blastla once[[Primera theGuerra gunMundial|1<sup>a</sup> hadGuerra]]. warmedEl up,aire currentpara productionla versionrefrigeración guns haveentra a specialla flashcamisilla suppressorpor thatunas eliminatesperforaciones theovaladas issue.atrás Thede rearla ofmisma, they barrel-encasingsalen steelpor jacketla featuresunión adel permanently-attached carrying handle withcañón a characteristicla elongatedcaja profile,de asmecanismos. itLas isprimeras alsoversiones intendedde tola protectPecheneg thedisponían linede ofun sight[[Apagallamas|apagallamas fromsimilar miragesal generatedde byla [[convectionPKM]], ofresultando airen heateduna upsignificativa byluz thedestellante barrel.tras Thecada manufacturerdisparo, reportsdefecto acorregido firingen ratelas ofversiones 600actuales roundsy peren minuteproducción incon continuousun sustainednuevo firediseño withoutespecial anyque dangerle toquita theel barrelproblema antes citado.<refname="petcheneg"/>
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"/>
