Stechkin automatic pistol
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| APS | |
|---|---|
 Stechkin automatic pistol | |
| Type | Pistol, Machine Pistol |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1951-present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Vietnam war Soviet war in Afghanistan War in Donbass |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Igor Stechkin |
| Designed | 1948 |
| Manufacturer | Tula Arsenal |
| Produced | 1951–1975 |
| Variants | APB silent variant |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1.22 kg (2.69 lbs) |
| Length | 225 mm (8.86 in) |
| Barrel length | 140 mm (5.51 in) |
| Cartridge | 9×18mm Makarov, 9×19mm Parabellum.[1] |
| Action | blowback |
| Rate of fire | 750 rounds/minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 340 m/s (9×18mm Makarov) |
| Effective firing range | 50 m (9×18mm Makarov) |
| Maximum firing range | 200 m |
| Feed system | 20-round detachable box magazine |
The Stechkin automatic pistol or APS (Avtomaticheskiy Pistolet Stechkina, Template:Lang-ru) is a Russian selective fire machine pistol. It bears the name of its developer, Igor Stechkin.
Adoption and service
The Stechkin automatic pistol was originally chambered for 7.62×25mm Tokarev. Designer Stechkin changed the pistol to the 9 mm caliber used in the new Makarov pistol (PM), as it became clear that this cartridge was set to become the new service ammunition for handguns of the Soviet Army. In 1951, both the Makarov and Stechkin were introduced into the Soviet military arsenal, replacing the aging Tokarev pistol (TT-33).
In contrast to the Makarov, the Stechkin APS is a select fire pistol. The user can choose between semiautomatic or fully automatic fire modes using the selector switch. The pistol may be fitted with either a wooden/bakelite or a wire metal shoulder stock; otherwise, the weapon becomes difficult to control on full auto. The stock is hollow and can accept the pistol inside, similar to the Mauser C96. It features a long slide travel and rate reducing mechanism to reduce the fire rate to a more controllable 700-750 RPM. The disassembly procedure is similar to the Makarov PM.
The Stechkin was intended as a sidearm for artillery soldiers, tank crews and aircraft personnel. As a pistol, it is rather heavy, and combined with the shoulder stock (which was rarely ever used attached), it is quite bulky. This led to the APS being gradually phased out of active service, although it is still used mostly by special forces and also held in reserve. The Stechkin APS was eventually at least officially replaced[citation needed] by the AKS-74U compact assault rifle with folding stock, offering more firepower due to its much more powerful 5.45×39mm M74 rifle ammunition, acceptable accuracy at moderate distances, and greater magazine capacity.
A contemporary derivative of the Stechkin, the OTS-33 Pernach, is also chambered for the 9×18mm Makarov cartridge.
APB silent variant
The APB (Avtomaticheskij Pistolet Besshumnyj, meaning automatic silenced pistol) version was a version of the APS optimized for silent operations. Developed in the early 1970s by A.S. Neugodov (А.С. Неугодов) under the factory name AO-44, it was officially adopted in 1972 under the service name APB and given GRAU index 6P13. Muzzle velocity reportedly dropped to 290 m/s in this variant.[2] Instead of the holster-stock of the APS, the APB comes with a detachable stock made of steel wire. Its barrel is longer than that of the APS; it protrudes from the slide and is threaded for the attachment of a sound suppressor. The barrel itself is also wrapped around by an integrated expansion chamber, in which gasses escape from holes in the barrel. When not in use, the detachable sound suppressor can be clipped to the stock.[3]
During the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the APB was used by Soviet Spetsnaz team leaders as an extra weapon; they usually carried on a sling with the suppressor and stock mounted. It was also employed by radio operators and even by some heavy gun crews.[3]
In the more recent past, other special forces units of the MVD such as the OMON and the SOBR have also been equipped with this pistol.[citation needed]
Users
Russia: Used by various police forces[4] and security guards of the Central Bank of The Russian Federation[5]
Romania: Manufactured variant known as Dracula md. 98[6]
Soviet Union[7]
Ukraine[8][failed verification]
See also
References
- ^ Jane's Guns Recognition Guide 2005, page 73.
- ^ Оружие ближнего боя. Geleos (Гелеос) Publishing House. 2006. p. 95. ISBN 978-5-8189-0443-6.; note there is typo of his middle initial on this page; it's given correctly on p. 135 though, matching other sources
- ^ a b Оружие ближнего боя России / Russian Close Combat Weapon (2010), pp. 88-89, ISBN 978-5-904540-04-3; Moscow: Association "Defense Enterprises Assistance League"; almanac publication sponsored by Rosoboronexport
- ^ "Modern Firearms". Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ «Организации и их территориальные подразделения могут использовать до вывода из эксплуатации по техническому состоянию… 9 мм пистолет АПС… иное боевое оружие, ранее приобретенное в установленном порядке и не включенное в настоящий перечень.»
Постановление Правительства Российской Федерации № 460 от 22 апреля 1997 г. «О мерах по обеспечению юридических лиц с особыми уставными задачами боевым ручным стрелковым оружием» (в ред. от 29 мая 2006 г.) - ^ "AUTOMATIC DRACULA". Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ Bishop, Chris. Guns in Combat. Chartwell Books, Inc (1998). ISBN 0-7858-0844-2.
- ^ "Спецпідрозділ "ОМЕГА"". YouTube. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
External links
- Modern Firearms - Stechkin APS pistol
- Modern Firearms - APB / 6P13 silenced pistol
- http://www.forgottenweapons.com/other-handguns/apb-silenced-machine-pistol/
- Юрий Пономарёв, АПС, Kalashnikov magazine 2005/1, pp 34-43; has some APS diagrams Template:Ru icon
- Photos of APS and APB in service
- APB photo gallery; disassembled photo showing the expansion tube and drilled barrel
- APS full auto fire (video) on YouTube Template:Ja icon
- APB (video) on YouTube Template:Ru icon