The TKB-059 provided “near minigun” performance but was also to be suitable for a soldier to handle. It uses the 7.62×39mm M43 round but the ammo supply was limited as the weapon is magazine-fed… In addition, cartridge ejection is downwards and positioned behind the magazine area. Each barrel of the weapon fired independently of each other, all fed from a tripled 90-round box magazine. This resulted in a total fire rate of 1,400 to 1,800 rounds per minute, with heating-related issues minimized such each barrel was only firing at ~467-600 rpm. The priming handle is on top of the weapon.

It was designed to fire in rapid salvos by combining the rate of fire of each barrel to increase accuracy and hit probability. Another variant of the TKB-059 was made from AKM-style parts for ease of production, though the weapon had ultimately never entered service. To this day, the TKB-059 prototype can be seen as an exhibit at the Tula state arms museum.

  • @RightHandOfIkaros
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    97 months ago

    So this thing performed very well and could be assembled from modified existing molds? Why exactly was this never actually produced? Because if it performs this well there has to be a catch. Maybe cost? Cost of ammunition, maybe?

    • @ThatWeirdGuy1001
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      127 months ago

      Probably weight. Those extra barrels add up quick and it’s hard enough carrying an 8lb m16 let alone a 20lb triple barreled rifle

      • @RightHandOfIkaros
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        7 months ago

        Just show up with 13 ICBMs taped together, they’re not going to outcompete you if you end the game before it begins.