On June 16, 2015, the Kalashnikov Concern for the first time presented a prototype of a new self-loading pistol of 9x19mm caliber "PL-14" (Lebedev Pistol) at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2015" - held in Kubinka, on the outskirts of Moscow, and dedicated to the latest products of the Russian military industry . The Lebedev PL-14 pistol, chambered for 9x19mm caliber, is a pistol developed jointly with specialists from Russian law enforcement agencies and leading Russian shooters. As of today, the new PL-14 pistol is at the prototype stage and not much is known about it, other than what was reported by the management of the Kalashnikov Concern in its official press release.
The company’s official press release states: “The concept of the pistol was developed jointly with specialists from Russian law enforcement agencies and leading shooters - athletes of our country”; The PL-14 feeds ammunition from a double-row magazine with a capacity of up to fifteen rounds, and its frame and bolt casing are entirely made of metal - the frame of the pistol is equipped with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail for mounting tactical accessories, wooden grip plates must be replaced on polymer handle linings in serial samples.
“The key difference between the PL-14 and other modern analogues is its ergonomics and balance, which most fully correspond to modern ideas about human biomechanics and the production of a well-aimed shot. Particular attention should be paid to the unique aesthetics of the pistol. The automation calculation methods used during the creation of the pistol, endow it with a large shooting resource, and in combination with the mentioned solutions in terms of ergonomics and biomechanics, make it comfortable for the shooter in terms of recoil, the amount of tossing of the weapon after a shot and its rapid return to the aiming line. These factors contribute to the production of a quick second shot at the target and rapid transfer of fire to other targets," the company said in its official statement.
The Lebedev PL-14 pistol uses automation using the recoil of the bolt coupled to the barrel, with a short barrel stroke. The reduction of the breech of the barrel when unlocking is carried out by a figured tide under the breech of the barrel. The barrel bore is locked by engaging the protrusion at the top of the barrel with the window for ejecting cartridges in the bolt. The pistol frame is made of aluminum alloy; in the future it is planned to use a frame made of impact-resistant polymer. The shape of the weapon's handle provides a comfortable and natural grip on the weapon, while the maximum thickness of the handle is only 28mm.
The trigger mechanism is hammer-operated, with a hidden trigger and an inertial firing pin. Shooting is carried out in self-cocking mode for each shot (double-action trigger only), with a trigger force of 4 kg, and the full travel of the trigger is only 7 mm. Additionally, a manual safety has been introduced into the design, which, when turned on, disconnects the trigger from the hammer and has two flat, conveniently located levers on both sides of the weapon. The design provides an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber, made in the form of a pin protruding from the rear end of the bolt when there is a cartridge in the barrel. The slide stop levers are also double-sided, as is the magazine release button. The cartridges are fed from detachable double-row magazines with cartridges exiting in one row. The sights are open, non-adjustable, installed in dovetail-type grooves. The frame under the barrel has a Picatinny-type guide for installing additional equipment (LCC, flashlight).
“In addition, in the basic version, the trigger is made intentionally longer and with more force than usual, which will protect the shooter from accidentally firing in a stressful situation when holding his finger on the trigger. In modifications of the pistol intended for highly qualified users (experienced special forces officers and athletes ), the force and magnitude of the descent will be smaller,” the message says. It is not yet known whether the Lebedev PL-14 pistol will be produced with a single or double action trigger mechanism and with a lightweight double action trigger mechanism.
Irina Mareeva
The Lebedev PL-14 self-loading pistol was first presented on June 16, 2015 by the Kalashnikov Concern at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2015" - held in Kubinka, on the outskirts of Moscow, and dedicated to the latest products of the Russian military industry
Concern "Kalashnikov"
The prototype of the Lebedev PL-14 pistol, demonstrated at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2015", had wooden grip linings, which should be replaced with polymer grip linings in production samples
The company's official press release states: " The concept of the pistol was developed jointly with specialists from Russian law enforcement agencies and leading shooters - athletes of our country"; The PL-14 is fed with ammunition from a double-row magazine with a capacity of up to fifteen rounds, and its frame and bolt casing are completely made of metal - the frame of the pistol is equipped with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail for mounting tactical accessories, wooden grip plates should be replaced with polymer handle linings in production samples.
“The key difference between the PL-14 and other modern analogues is its ergonomics and balance, which most fully correspond to modern ideas about human biomechanics and the production of a well-aimed shot. Particular attention should be paid to the unique aesthetics of the pistol... Calculation methods used during the creation of the pistol automatic weapons, endow it with a large shooting resource, and in combination with the mentioned solutions in terms of ergonomics and biomechanics, make it comfortable for the shooter in terms of recoil, the amount of tossing of the weapon after a shot and its quick return to the aiming line. These factors contribute to the production of a quick second shot at targets and quickly transferring fire to other targets,"- the company reports in its official statement.
Irina Mareeva
The prototype of the Lebedev PL-14 pistol, demonstrated at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2015", is made entirely of metal and has a futuristic appearance
The total length of the Lebedev PL-14 self-loading pistol is 220 mm, height - 136 mm, thickness - 28 mm, barrel length - 127 mm; it weighs about 800 grams without ammunition and about one kilogram with a full magazine.
Other features include fully ambidextrous controls (magazine eject button, bolt release button and frame-mounted safety lever are located on both sides) and a cartridge-in-chamber indicator, which, according to the manufacturer, " in combination with a modified chamber geometry, it makes it possible to fire defective cartridges whose case length does not meet the standard".
"In addition, in the basic version, the trigger is made intentionally longer and with more force than usual, which will protect the shooter from accidentally firing in a stressful situation while holding his finger on the trigger. In modifications of the pistol intended for highly qualified users (experienced special forces personnel and athletes), the force and magnitude of the trigger will be smaller.," the message says.
It is not yet known whether the Lebedev PL-14 pistol will be produced with a single or double action trigger mechanism and with a lightweight double action trigger mechanism.
Irina Mareeva
According to the Kalashnikov Concern, the PL-14 pistol was developed jointly with specialists from Russian law enforcement agencies and leading shooters - athletes of the Russian Federation
To date, the Kalashnikov Concern has not announced the start of mass production and global sales of the Lebedev PL-14 pistol.
The Kalashnikov Concern is currently unable to export its goods to some countries due to sanctions that continue to apply to several Russian government, economic and industrial entities in the wake of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine; It should be noted that global markets are still awaiting some of the company's relatively new products, such as the modern, self-loading Saiga MK-107 sporting rifle, which were first demonstrated long before the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine and thus before the sanctions.
The Kalashnikov Concern's Lebedev PL-14 self-loading pistol is most likely aimed at the Russian military and for government contracts, since the Russian Armed Forces have long been looking for a replacement for the outdated Makarov PM pistol.
In 2003, after ten years of the Grach program, the Yarygin (or PYa) pistol, designed by Vladimir Yarygin of the Baikal machine-building plant, was officially adopted as a replacement for the Makarov pistol; this, however, took about ten years before full-fledged mass production began, until now the PY was only available to certain military forces or elite units; At the same time, the pistol suffered from inconsistencies in quality between batches, while the civilian version - designated MP-446 "Viking" - has so far only been commercially available in limited quantities in Central Asia, Canada and Australia.
Irina Mareeva
The Kalashnikov concern hopes that the Lebedev PL-14 pistol will be adopted by the Russian army in the near future
In 2016, the PM pistol, which is in service with the army and police, turned 65 years old. What is proposed as a successor does not satisfy the customer in terms of weight and performance characteristics.
The next candidate to replace Makarov was the Lebedev pistol - PL, which has been demonstrated at various exhibitions for several years in a row.
History of creation
The development of a promising pistol began in 2014 at the design bureau of the Izhevsk Arms Plant under the leadership of designer Dmitry Lebedev. According to official information, instructors from the FSB training center and famous shooters (for example, A. Kirisenko) participated in the development.
The pistol was designated PL-14 and was intended to arm special forces, army officers and police officers. The design of the weapon provides for the creation of sporting versions.
Compared to Makarov and Yarygin pistols, the PL-14 has the following characteristics:
- Ergonomic handle shapes, suitable for a natural and tight grip by people of various sizes. When developing the design, the designers relied on the experience of developing imported pistols.
- Due to the ergonomics and weight distribution of the weapon, recoil and barrel bounce when firing are reduced.
- The declared resource is 10 thousand shots (when using 7N21 type cartridges with a powder charge of increased weight and bullets designed to hit protected targets). When using standard cartridges, the guaranteed fire rate of a weapon will increase by 2-3 times.
- Symmetrical layout of controls, which allows you to fire from any hand.
In 2016, a modernized version was presented under the designation PL-15. External modifications consist of reshaping the rear of the bolt and introducing a hole on the lower edge of the handle (for the safety strap).
According to the creators, safety device levers with modified geometry appeared inside, the bolt stop, the barrel lock and the latch located on the bottom of the magazine underwent changes in shape.
Device
The mechanics of the PL-14/15 are based on the use of the recoil inertia of the bolt, which is engaged with the barrel, which performs a short movement. Unlocking is performed by lowering the rear of the barrel, which is performed by a shaped lug located under the breech of the barrel.
A hook is placed on the upper edge of the barrel, which interacts with the cartridge ejector window and locks the channel.
The design of the chamber allows the use of cartridges with non-standard (short or deformed) cartridges.
For firing, a double-action trigger mechanism is used, which has a hidden trigger and an inertial firing pin. When firing each shot, the trigger operates in self-cocking mode.
A characteristic feature of the Lebedev pistol is the large force required to pull the trigger (up to 4 kg) and its short stroke (no more than 7 mm). The trigger mechanism allows you to drop the weapon without the risk of spontaneous firing.
The basis for installing the Lebedev pistol mechanism is a frame made of an aluminum alloy. In order to reduce the weight of the weapon, the series plans to switch to a frame made of polymer material that is resistant to temperature and shock loads.
The front of the trigger guard has a recess for the index finger of the supporting hand.
When carrying the weapon, the safety lock is manually operated by two levers, which are symmetrically mounted on the sides of the pistol. The levers are flat and do not snag on clothing or the holster when worn or removed.
The safety element is a disconnecting link that disconnects the trigger from the hammer. An additional safety element is an indicator of the location of the cartridge in the barrel. When inserting a cartridge, a small pin extends from the rear of the bolt, clearly visible to the shooter.
In addition to the double-sided safety flag, the shutter delay levers and clip release keys are duplicated. The pistol magazine has a two-row arrangement of cartridges, which converge into one row at the top.
A dovetail-type guide is installed on the upper plane of the weapon, on which a non-adjustable sight is mounted.
It is possible to install laser target indicators or tactical flashlights. For this purpose, there is a standard Picatinny rail on the under-barrel box.
Performance characteristics
The table shows a comparison of the performance characteristics of pistols in service and the promising Lebedev model.
| PMM | PY | PL-15 | PL-15K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length, mm | 165 | 198 | 220 | 180 |
| Height, mm | 127 | 145 | 136 | 130 |
| Thickness, mm | 34 | 38 | 28 | |
| Barrel length, mm | 93,5 | 112,8 | 127 | |
| Chuck type | 9*18 | 9*19 | ||
| Magazine capacity, pcs. | 12 | 18 | 15 | 14 |
| Weight without cartridges, g | 760 | 950 | 800 | 720 |
| Curb weight, g | 880 | 995 | ||
Prospects for further use
During the Army-2017 exhibition, a version of the Lebedev PL-15K pistol was presented, characterized by reduced dimensions and weight. The firing mechanism remained unchanged. A compact modification of the pistol was created to arm police officers and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The weapon must undergo comprehensive testing under various operating conditions, based on the results of which it will be possible to draw a conclusion about the chances of adoption.
At the Army 2016 exhibition, a prototype PL-15 with an elongated barrel and rifling for installation of a silent firing device (silencer) was shown.
Although the Lebedev pistol is not mass-produced, it is available in computer games. In the game Payday 2, the weapon appears under the designation White Streak. At the same time, the factory mark was replaced with a design in the form of a snowflake.
Serial production of the PL-15 was planned to begin in 2016.
Protracted development tests pushed back the date of adoption for an indefinite period. We can only hope that the pistol will not repeat the fate of Yarygin’s weapon, which has been in production for more than 15 years.
The current trend in the modern development of weapons in the Russian Federation also raises certain concerns, when advertised samples turn out to be crude and not suitable for military use.
Video review of the Lebedev pistol
Kalashnikov pistol "PL-14" characteristics (performance characteristics):
Barrel bore diameter: 9x19
Length: 220 mm
Height: 136 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Barrel length: 127 mm
Magazine capacity: 15 rounds
Magazine weight without cartridges: 0.8 kg
Weight with loaded magazine: 0.99 kg
As part of the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2015", which took place from July 16 to 19 in Kubinka near Moscow, the Kalashnikov concern presented to the general public for the first time a prototype of a new 9 mm caliber pistol "PL-14" (Lebedev Pistol). The concept of the new pistol was created jointly by leading sports shooters and specialists from the law enforcement agencies of our country. The main difference between the PL-14 pistol and its modern analogues is better balance and ergonomics, which most fully correspond to modern ideas about the production of a well-aimed shot and human biomechanics, explains the concern’s published press release. Particular attention should be paid to the unique aesthetics of the new product.
The PL-14 pistol is being developed in Izhevsk in the design department of the Kalashnikov concern under the leadership of designer Dmitry Lebedev. It is worth noting that Lebedev is a student of the legendary Soviet sporting weapons designer Efim Khaidurov and has been working on the creation of experimental combat pistols for many years. Work on the PL-14 pistol began in 2014 with the active participation of the famous Russian sports shooter Andrei Kirisenko, who is a multiple national champion in practical shooting. The goal of the work on the new pistol is to create a service (combat) weapon for the police, army, Russian special services, as well as pistol options for practical sports shooting. The reason for the start of this work is also the presence of some inherent problems with the Yarygin pistol, which is in service with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Russian army, in particular, problems with service life and not the best ergonomics.
The new PL-14 pistol was based on a number of basic concepts, which include: high reliability with any 9x19 mm cartridge, optimal ergonomics, safety in handling, long service life (at least 10 thousand rounds when firing reinforced armor-piercing cartridges 7N21, when using the resource of conventional cartridges should be significantly higher), the model is completely “double-sided”. It is necessary to understand that as of the summer of 2015, this pistol is still in the prototype stage. Readiness for mass production should be expected no earlier than the beginning of next year, and before that moment the pistol may still undergo some changes with the model that was demonstrated to the general public at the Army-2015 military-technical forum. In particular, it is planned to switch from an aluminum frame to a polymer one.
The PL-14 used automation using recoil energy with a short barrel stroke. The barrel bore is locked by engaging a protrusion at the top of the barrel with a window designed for ejecting cartridges in the bolt. The pistol frame is currently made of aluminum alloy, but in the future it is planned to replace it with a frame made of impact-resistant polymer. The shape of the pistol grip provides a natural and comfortable grip on the weapon, while its maximum thickness is only 28 mm.
The pistol uses a hammer-operated firing mechanism with an inertial striker and a hidden hammer. This solution made it possible to remove the protruding parts, making the pistol more convenient to carry, remove from the holster and use for its intended purpose. The pistol is fired in self-cocking mode for each shot (double-action trigger only), while the trigger force is 4 kg, and the full stroke of the pistol trigger is 7 mm. Additionally, a manual safety was introduced into the design of the PL-14, which, when turned on, disconnects the trigger from the hammer and has two flat, conveniently located levers located on both sides of the pistol.
The design of Lebedev's pistol provides an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber, which is made in the form of a pin that protrudes from the rear end of the bolt when there is a cartridge in the barrel of the weapon. The slide stop levers were also double-sided, as was the magazine release button. The pistol uses double-row detachable magazines with cartridges exiting in one row. Sights PL-14 are open type, non-adjustable, they are installed in dovetail grooves. On the frame under the barrel there is a Picatinny rail, which is designed for mounting various additional equipment on the pistol (tactical flashlight, laser designator, etc.).
The prototype of the pistol, which was presented at the Army 2015 forum, was made at a very high level. Thanks to the well-calculated shape of the handle, the PL-14 fits very naturally and comfortably in the hand, while the low location of the axis of the weapon’s barrel ensures minimal toss of the pistol from recoil. Despite its noticeable length, the pistol feels quite flat, which, combined with the slightly protruding controls, potentially makes it suitable for concealed carry. The use of a self-cocking trigger for each shot ensures high safety of the weapon in handling, while the force on the trigger is relatively low, and its operating stroke is smooth. For sport shooting, it is planned to release a version of the PL-14, in which the mainspring of the trigger will be automatically pre-cocked when the weapon is reloaded, thereby reducing the force and stroke of the trigger to the required “sporting” characteristics.
Lebedev's pistol has the best compactness characteristics in its class. Its thickness is only 28 mm at the handle and 21 mm at the front. For comparison: this is only 2 times larger than a standard modern smartphone. At the same time, the height of the pistol (136 mm) was chosen taking into account that the pistol would not sink into the shooter’s palm, which would inevitably affect the accuracy of firing. The double-sided arrangement and selected configuration of the controls allow firing equally effectively from both the right and left hands, which allows the pistol to be used by left-handed people. And if the shooter is equally good with both hands, which is typical for many special forces soldiers, then he simply will not feel any difference. The pistol has a Picatinny rail for mounting attachments.
To this we can add the magazine capacity, which is almost doubled compared to the standard PM. The Makarov has only 8 rounds, while the PL-14 has a magazine capacity of 15 rounds. At the same time, you can cock the bolt on Lebedev’s new pistol without any special physical effort. This action is facilitated by the presence of special notches on the bolt frame. In the PL-14 pistol they are located not only above the handle of the weapon, but also at the muzzle. The pistol's designers placed the safety and magazine release button on the body in such a way that the shooter can manipulate them with one thumb.
The Kalashnikov concern pays special attention to the automation of its new pistol. The automatic equipment used guarantees a longer firing life and low recoil when firing, which, combined with the unique ergonomics of the Lebedev pistol, gives the shooter the opportunity to quickly fire a second shot at the selected target and just as quickly transfer fire to another target. According to Alexey Krivoruchko, who holds the post of General Director of the Kalashnikov concern, for special units in Izhevsk they are ready to produce various versions of the PL-14 pistol, distinguished by modified characteristics of the trigger mechanism, as well as a special version of the pistol for sports shooting. The versatility of the Lebedev pistol will allow this weapon to be used not only as a combat weapon for the Russian army and police, but also as a sports pistol for competitions of various classes.
The automation calculation methods used during the creation of the PL-14 pistol endow this weapon with a large firing life, and in combination with the already mentioned solutions in the field of biomechanics and ergonomics make the weapon comfortable for the shooter in terms of the amount of toss of the weapon after firing, recoil, and also quickly returning the barrel to the aiming line. All of these factors contribute to a quick repeat shot from a pistol.
During the development of this weapon, special attention was paid to its safety. The used firing mechanism solution ensures that it is impossible for a loaded pistol to fire spontaneously even if it falls from a great height onto a hard surface. In addition, in the basic version of the pistol, the trigger was made deliberately longer and with more force than usual, which should protect the shooter from making an accidental shot, especially in a stressful situation when the finger is held on the trigger. At the same time, in modifications of the PL-14, intended for professional users (athletes and experienced special forces personnel), the magnitude and force of the trigger will be smaller.
In addition, increased safety in handling the Lebedev pistol is ensured by a highly effective indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber, which allows you to accurately and quickly determine “by touch” whether the pistol is loaded or not. In addition, this indicator also performs an additional function: in combination with the modified geometry of the pistol chamber, it makes it possible to fire defective cartridges whose case length does not meet the standards.
judgesuhov in PistolThis year, at the Army 2015 forum, the Kalashnikov concern presented a prototype of a new pistol - PL-14 (Lebedev pistol) chambered for the “Parabellum cartridge” (9x19mm caliber). PL-14, developed by designer Dmitry Lebedev, a student of the legendary designer of sporting weapons Efim Khaidurov. It is alleged that not only designers, but also shooting experts from the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, as well as athletes took part in the development of the new pistol. Like, for example, the Russian champion in practical shooting Andrei Kirisenko.
The new pistol is based on a number of basic concepts, such as optimal ergonomics, safety in handling, high reliability with any 9x19 cartridges, and long service life. The resource provides a safety margin of 10,000 rounds - when using reinforced armor-piercing cartridges and almost twice as much when using conventional ones (and someone claims that it is not 2 times more, but 5).
Peculiarities
The pistol has the best compactness in its class: a thickness of 28 millimeters in the grip area and 21 millimeters in the front part.
The double-sided arrangement and configuration of the controls allows you to shoot equally effectively from both the right and left hands (moreover, not only the safety is double-sided, but also the bolt stop!).
There is a Picatinny rail for mounting attachments.
The pistol has an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber (made in the form of a pin protruding from the rear end of the bolt when there is a cartridge in the barrel), which allows you to quickly determine “by touch” whether the weapon is loaded.
In general, increased safety in handling the pistol is declared, allowing it to be carried loaded - with a cartridge in the chamber.
The applied trigger mechanism solution ensures that a loaded pistol cannot spontaneously fire, even when dropped from a great height onto a hard surface. In addition, in the basic version, the trigger is made intentionally longer and with more force than usual, which will protect the shooter from accidentally firing in a stressful situation while holding his finger on the trigger. In modifications of the pistol intended for highly qualified users (experienced special forces personnel and athletes), the force and magnitude of the trigger will be smaller.
By the way, they say that the above-mentioned indicator (the presence of a cartridge in the chamber) also has an additional function: in combination with a modified chamber geometry, it makes it possible to fire defective cartridges whose case length does not meet the standard.
I find it difficult to decipher what this means. Is it possible to shoot shorter 9x18mm Makarov cartridges by “chambering” them with this indicator?
The PL-14 uses automatic action using the recoil of the bolt coupled to the barrel. The reduction of the breech of the barrel when unlocking is carried out by a figured tide under the breech. The barrel bore is locked by engaging the protrusion in the upper part with the window for ejecting cartridges in the bolt. The pistol frame is made of aluminum alloy; in the future it is planned to use a frame made of impact-resistant polymer. The shape of the weapon's handle provides a comfortable and natural grip on the pistol, while the maximum thickness of the handle is only 28 millimeters.
The trigger mechanism is hammer-type, with a hidden trigger and an inertial firing pin. Shooting is carried out in self-cocking mode for each shot, while the trigger force is four kilograms, with a very sensitive trigger its travel is only seven millimeters. Additionally, a manual safety has been introduced into the design, which, when turned on, disconnects the trigger from the hammer and has two flat, conveniently located levers on both sides of the weapon.
Pistol performance characteristics:
Caliber - 9x19 mm
Length - 220 mm
Height - 136 mm
Thickness - 28 mm
Barrel length - 127 mm
Magazine capacity - 15 rounds
Weight without cartridges - 0.8 kg
Weight with loaded magazine - 0.99 kg
About ergonomics
The key difference between the PL-14 and other modern analogues is its ergonomics and balance, which most fully correspond to modern ideas about human biomechanics and the production of a well-aimed shot. Particular attention should be paid to the pistol's unique aesthetics.
The aforementioned Russian practical shooting champion Andrei Kirisenko (part-time advisor to the general director of the Kalashnikov concern) says:
“It would seem like a trifle - the angle of the handle. But when I extend my hand and put the gun here, it quite naturally follows the line of my hand. I don't need to tighten the brush or turn it inside out in any way. Even if I raise my hand towards the target with my eyes closed and press the trigger, I will most likely hit the target’s dimensions.”
The second unique quality of this pistol, according to the Concern representative, is safety. “Provided that the cartridge is in the chamber, the principle is implemented here - take it out and shoot. There is no need to do additional manipulations and send the cartridge into the chamber. Why wasn’t this done before, because it was unsafe.”
General Director of the Kalashnikov Concern Alexey Krivoruchko presents the gun as a universal answer to all problems:
“The versatility of the pistol will allow it to be used not only as a combat weapon for the army and police, but also as a sports pistol for competitions of various classes.
To diversify the use of the pistol by special forces shooters, we intend to produce various versions with modified characteristics of the trigger mechanism, as well as make modifications that will allow it to be used in sports competitions.”
Those. They expect to sell the pistol to the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and other security forces... And even athletes.
Will it work?
The Yarygin pistol, adopted for service in 2003, somehow did not catch on - it is too heavy, and its lifespan is only 5,000 rounds. The Strizh pistol, nicknamed the “Russian Glock,” also did not appear in the army’s arsenal. How long can old Makarov, who has been in service since 1951, continue to fight?
“The Makar is an excellent fighting vehicle, in good hands it is capable of showing high accuracy,- says master of sports in officer all-around, colonel Alexander Yampolsky. - You need to get used to a pistol like the PM after numerous shooting sessions. He does not immediately fit into the hand, is capricious and loves only one owner. Once at a competition I had to shoot from someone else’s pistol, and the result was simply disastrous - almost all the bullets went to waste. I recently tried “Swan” at a shooting range - it felt like I had been shooting for it for several months. It seems to me that the army needs just such a pistol, which combines combat accuracy with high reliability.”
Will the PL-14 be able to justify the colonel’s praise and take the place of the “immortal PM”?
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