well, the figures  quoted often vary by the chosen source...and these range from 40 to 100 rounds per minute.

obviously, that first minute will allow more rounds to be fired than the fifth minute.

the 40 round figure is what would yield longer bbl. life, of course, and the 100 rpm figure would probably represent the maximum emergency load to be placed on the weapon while still exoecting it to continue functioning.

60 rpm is the most often quoted figure for sustainable fire.

the rpk-74 (23" bbl. squad automatic rifle version of the ak-74) will sustain a slightly higher rate of fire for a longer period of time.

in semi-auto mode, that works out to masgazines per minute...a rate easily achieved by someone bent on giving their trigger finger a workout.

it realy makes little difference whether the rifle is being fired in full auto bursts or rapidly fired in semi mode...the temperature of the bbl. is what is critical.

just remember that the hotter you get the bbl., the faster that throat erodes.