MP-443 Grach
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| MP-443 Grach | |
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| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin |  Russia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2003-present |
| Used by | Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Vladimir Yarygin |
| Designed | 1990s |
| Manufacturer | Izhevsk Mechanical Plant |
| Variants | MP-446 Viking |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 950 g (34 oz) (MP-443 Grach) Approx. 760 g (27 oz) (MP-446 Viking) |
| Length | 198 mm (7.8 in) (MP-443 Grach) 196 mm (7.7 in) (MP-446 Viking) |
| Barrel length | 112.5 mm (4.4 in) (MP-443 Grach) 112.8 mm (4.4 in) (MP-446 Viking) |
| Width | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Height | 140 mm (5.5 in) (MP-443 Grach) 145 mm (5.7 in) (MP-446 Viking) |
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| Cartridge | 9x19mm Parabellum 9x19mm 7N21 +P+ |
| Action | Short recoil, locked breech |
| Effective range | Sights fixed for 50 m |
| Feed system | 17-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Fixed iron sights, 3-dot with notch and front blade |
Yarygin PYa, MP-443 Grach (Russian: Пистолет Ярыгина, ПЯ, МР-443 "Грач" rook) is the latest Russian standard military-issue side arm. It was developed in response to Russian military trials, which began in 1993. In 2003, it was adopted as a standard sidearm for all branches of Russian military and law enforcement, alongside GSh-18 and SPS. It is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in the Russian version of 9mm NATO (itself an overpressure version of 9 mm Luger), 7N21, loaded to comparable pressure specifications (7N21 generates about 600 J muzzle energy, compared to 700 J for 9mm NATO; standard 9mm Luger generates roughly 450 J). The weapon can also use 9mm NATO or 9mm Parabellum cartridges. The 7N21 features an armour-piercing bullet with a tempered steel core.[1]
PYa is a double-action, short-recoil semi-automatic pistol. Locking is performed by engaging a rectangular breech with the ejection port in a simplified Colt-Browning design, similar to that found in many modern pistols (for example the SIG-Sauer and Glock families of pistols). The slide stop can be mounted on either side by the user. The manual safety is ambidextrous and is located below the slide, above the grip. The hammer is partially concealed at the sides to prevent catching on clothes and equipment. The magazine release is located in the base of the trigger guard. The front sight is formed as a fixed part of the slide and is non-adjustable. The back sight is adjustable for windage (dovetail type). Both feature white contrast elements. Magazine capacity of PYa is 17 rounds, fed from a double-column, single feed magazine.
Though the grips of the pistol are polymer, the weapon is largely made of metal (stainless steel for the barrel, carbon steel for the frame and slide).
The pistol is named after its designer, Vladimir Yarygin, who had earlier specialized in designing sport pistols. The Yarygin PYa employs a simplified version of the century-old Browning short recoil system. As of 2008, it was supplied only in small numbers to selected special forces units, presumably those in the North Caucasus. In October 2008 the Russian interior minister planned to equip more Russian police with PYa pistols.[2] But due to financial problems and the fact the Makarov pistol is so plentiful in Russia the Makarov remains as primary Police service pistol still in Russia years later.
[edit] References
- ^ [1] Jane's Infantry Weapons.
- ^ In Moscow's Shadows, October 23, 2008.
