Makarov pistol (PM 9 mm) - a semi-automatic pistol, which in 1951 replaced the TT pistol and the Nagant revolver. It was developed by Nikolai Fedorovich Makarov, a Soviet designer, who also developed some other weapons adopted for armament. PM, simple and reliable, has been and remains in service with law enforcement bodies and the armed forces of the Russian Federation, as well as in a number of other countries (Georgia, Syria, Latvia, Laos, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Ukraine and others). However, Russia has now begun to slowly replace it with a Yarygin pistol, PMM and some other models. What is the feature of this weapon, we will understand further.
Civilian PM versions
Due to its recognition, non-combat versions are popular, for example, injuries of PM VIY and other versions (PM-RF, BERKUT, PMR, GPM, PM-T,), as well as pneumatic and gas (for example, Makarych gas pistol) with rubber bullets).
Durability and ease of use made Makarov's pistol popular, its price (from 3 thousand rubles for PM injuries) is also a good plus to all indicators, so there are many civilian modifications of the Makarov pistol. PM in Russia is most often produced in the form of airguns (again, due to its recognition). There are models both domestic and foreign. For example, MP-654 is a copy of the Makarov pistol from IZHMEH.
Before the release of the “Law on Weapons”, combat PMs (the so-called enrichment), which in large quantities remained in the warehouses of Soviet times, were often simply converted into traumatic ones. The changes were minimal: the brand of the “manufacturer" and protective elements that do not allow it to be converted into a combat PM. However, now more or less new non-combat models are a remake, but are made from the same weapon steel.
The German company UMAREX also produces several models, such as the Umarex PM Ultra and Makarov, and the 6 mm Legends Makarov gas cylinder. The American company SMG releases a version of Gletcher PM, which has a fixed shutter frame. Borner, another company from the USA, has the same version with a fixed frame, has the name BORNER PM49 and is made in Taiwan.
There are also a huge number of modifications in Russia, both military (PMM, characterized by a larger magazine capacity - 12 rounds, and a more powerful cartridge 9x18), and civilian ones, for example, Baikal 443 (sports pistol), MP-442 SKIF with a polymer frame, and a whole series of IZH70, launched on the market as a commercial sports pistol. Combat PM also has a number of modifications.
Muffler
There is a misconception that the PB gun is a PM with a silencer, which is fundamentally wrong. Despite the fact that the PB (the gun is silent) and has parts taken from the PM design (the store and, as a fragile part, the trigger mechanism), these are two completely different weapons. In the USSR there were attempts to manufacture PM with a silencer, but it didn’t go beyond the experimental batch: the level of sound reduction was insufficient, and due to the elongation of the barrel, the shutter recoil speed increased, which accelerated the wear of the mechanism. Probably, after that in 1967 it was adopted by the PB.
Now some countries (China, the USA and a number of others) produce non-combat modifications of a Makarov pistol with a silencer.
What is the Makarov pistol for?
The competition, held in the Soviet army in 1948, was attended by several dozen Soviet masters. His goal was to find a replacement for the outdated Nagan revolver and TT pistol, still in service.
The Tula Tokarev pistol, developed in 1930, is quite light and compact, comfortable to wear, but also has a number of disadvantages. One of them is the case of a spontaneous shot (such a case is described in the book “Almost Seriously” by Yuri Nikulin), as a result of which the gun was forbidden to carry with a cartridge sent to the chamber. Another disadvantage was the lack of shutter lag. All this led to the fact that the TT pistol was put on alert for a very long time, and this can cost an operative or a soldier his life, because sometimes it takes seconds. There were also controversial flaws, for example, the fact that it was not suitable for firing from the embrasure of the tank. Although many considered this requirement absurd, German pistols answered him.
In addition, it was necessary to have weapons that would be light, compact and convenient, and, importantly, would be brought into a state of fire as quickly as possible. For the sample was given the German pistol Walter PP, the release of which began in 1929. Several excellent samples were presented, but the design of the Makarov pistol was recognized as the best. PM was adopted by the Soviet law enforcement agencies and the armed forces three years after development, during which time the mechanism was finalized, some minor changes were made.
Although the designer Makarov was taken as the basis for Walter PP, he substantially modified it. The design and system for handling the gun were simplified, the parts became multifunctional, their strength increased, as a result of which the service life and reliability increased.
Famous Makarov pistol produced in 1949, which is still in good condition, although it has shot about fifty thousand shots. This is impressive, given that the PM combat spring is designed for 4 thousand shots (this is the "standard" value for many pistols, for example, for the same Yarygin pistol).
Initially, according to the requirements of the competition, it was necessary to present the model in two versions, for a caliber of 7x65 mm and 9 mm. The PM uses a 9x18mm cartridge, instead of 8x17mm. A new caliber bullet showed a better stopping effect than a TT 7.62x25 mm bullet, although it had less power. Less power made it possible to introduce a free shutter and a fixed barrel into the structure.
First of all, due to the lower power of the cartridge, the PM is designed to fire at a short distance, up to 50 meters, although the lethal force of the bullet has up to 350 m.
Design
There are also significant differences in the trigger of the trigger, and the main advantage was the slide gate lever added by Makarov. PM pistol magazine and fuse also received some changes. The combination of the functions of the parts in the design of the PM made it easier, and the parts themselves are much smaller compared to Walter PP. So, for example, the shutter lag in the design of the Makarov pistol has the function of a sleeve reflector, and the mainspring is also the spring of a whisper, the cocking lever, and when set to the fuse, it is the end time of the trigger. The spring of the lower magazine latch is the lower end of the mainspring.
In the initial version, parts of parts, for example, a fuse and a mainspring, had a complex shape, but over time, new technologies began to be applied, with which it was possible to reduce production costs.
“Walter PP” had a delay in firing caused by the fact that the cartridge stuck in the bevel of the chamber. Makarov almost completely eliminated this problem and achieved a better ratio of the height of the cartridge with the inclination of the bevel of the chamber, therefore, coupled with the high location of the upper cartridge in the magazine, the risk of sticking the cartridge into the bevel is almost eliminated.
PM specifications
Shooting is done in single shots. Due to the simplification of the mechanism, the combat rate of fire of the PM slightly decreased compared to Walter PP. 30 shots per minute can be made by Makarov’s pistol, compared to 35-40 rounds at PP.
The weight of the pistol with a full magazine is 810 g.
It is charged with 9 mm cartridges (pistol cartridges 9x18), the store has a capacity of 8 pieces.
The length of the gun is 161 mm, height - 126.75 mm. The barrel of the Makarov pistol has 4 grooves, 9 mm caliber. The length of the cartridge for PM is 25 mm, the weight of the cartridge is 10 g, and the bullet itself weighs 6.1 g.
Each gun comes with a spare magazine, holster, pistol strap and wipe.
Pistol shooting
At the heart of the action of the PM is recoil with a free shutter. Due to the elasticity of the return spring put on the barrel and the mass of the shutter, the barrel is locked. USM with an open trigger, double action. A free drummer, theoretically, can lead to a spontaneous shot when dropped from a high height or other strong mechanical impact, because he does not have a spring that would keep him in the rear position. However, Makarov did not consider this possibility sufficient.
When fired, a hammer is struck by the hammer, as a result of which the cartridge capsule is broken. The powder charge ignites, powder gases are formed, under the pressure of which the bullet is ejected from the barrel. Also, under the pressure of the gases passing through the bottom of the sleeve, the shutter moves back. It holds the sleeves with an ejector, thereby compressing the return spring. Upon contact with the reflector, the sleeve through the shutter window pops out.
Another difference from Walter PP is recharging when the fuse is on. There is no shutter lock in the PC, so there is the possibility of recharging, and in the PM the shutter is locked. Makarov pistol can be put on the fuse after the magazine is inserted, and the cartridge is sent to the chamber. The cocking cock is safely removed, it, moving away from the firing pin, is blocked in the same way as the trigger coming out with the fuse turned on.
In Walter PP, the fuse lever must be brought to the upper position before firing, and in the PM to the lower position, which is more convenient. It is on the left, on the back of the shutter. When firing, there is a feature: the first pull of the trigger, made after lowering the fuse box, will require more effort (about 3.5 kg), since the trigger is on the safety cock and the gun is self-cocking. With subsequent shots, the trigger will already be brought into a cocking position, and a small press (1.5 kg) will be required for the shot, which also affects the combat rate of fire of the PM.
For greater accuracy of the first shot after removing the gun from the fuse, you can cock the trigger manually, the trigger pulls back, and in this case, for the first shot, lightly pulling the trigger will also suffice.
The next shot can be fired only after releasing the trigger
(since the PM is not intended for firing a burst). Each new press will lead to a shot until all cartridges in the magazine are used up. In this case, the shutter, having become a shutter lag, remains in the rear position.
Parts and mechanisms of the Makarov pistol
The gun has 32 parts, and the following main parts:
- score;
- shutter lag;
- frame with trigger guard and barrel;
- handle with screw;
- USM (trigger mechanism);
- return spring;
- bolt with fuse, ejector and hammer.
Gun disassembly
Firearms, pistols in particular, require constant inspection. This will help to timely identify defects that have arisen and prevent possible problems. Complete and incomplete disassembly is possible. Complete disassembly can not be done too often, as this speeds up the process of wearing parts of the mechanism, and reduces the useful life. Incomplete disassembly is sufficient for inspection, preventive lubrication or cleaning after firing, while complete disassembly is only necessary when cleaning after extreme weather conditions (a gun getting into water or snow, when repairing or switching to a new lubricant).
There are a number of rules that must be observed when assembling and disassembling the gun:
- disassembly and assembly is carried out on a clean surface;
- put the parts in assembly order;
- careful handling of mechanisms, without sharp blows and unnecessary efforts;
- when assembling several pistols: look at the numbering of the parts so as not to confuse the details of the pistols with each other.
Incomplete disassembly for cleaning and inspection
The magazine is removed from the base of the handle. Grab it with your right hand, then push the magazine latch back with your right thumb, and with your forefinger pull the magazine cover, holding on to the protruding part. Thus, the store is retrieved.
You need to make sure that there is no cartridge in the chamber, for this you need to remove the gun from the fuse, with your left hand hold the bolt all the way back, putting it on the bolt delay, and then inspect the chamber. Right-click on the shutter latch and lower the shutter.
The following is the separation of the shutter from the frame. With the right hand, taking the gun by the handle, with the left - lower the trigger guard down. Mow it to the left all the way into the frame; in the further analysis, support it in this position with the right index finger.
With your left hand, push the shutter all the way back and raise it from behind, and due to the action of the return spring, it will move forward, after which it can be separated from the frame. The next step will be the return to the place of the trigger guard.
Remove return spring. With your right hand, holding the frame by the handle, remove the spring from the barrel by rotating it with your left hand.
Assembly order
Assembly begins in the reverse order, with the return spring returning to its place. With your right hand, take the frame by the handle, and with your left put the spring on the barrel. Important: you must wear it at the end where the last turn is smaller in diameter compared to the rest.
The following is the attachment of the shutter to the frame. With your right hand, holding the frame by the handle, with the left hand holding the shutter, insert the opposite end of the return spring into the shutter channel, and then take it to the extreme position so that the muzzle part comes out through the shutter channel. Then lower the back of the shutter onto the frame, while its longitudinal protrusions should fit in the grooves of the frame. After that, lower it, while tightly pressing the shutter. He comes under the pressure of the return spring to the front position, then raise the fuse box up.
When assembling the gun, it is not necessary to skew the trigger guard, as during disassembly. You can raise the rear end of the shutter so that its lower front wall does not rest against the crest of the trigger guard, which limits the shutter in reverse.
Finally, return the magazine to the base of the handle. Holding the gun with your right hand, insert the magazine into the bottom window at the base of the handle, holding it with the thumb and forefinger of your left hand. Pressing the cover of the store, but not in the least with a blow to the palm, bring it to the desired position, in which the latch pops up behind the protrusion available from the end wall of the store.
To top it off, it is necessary to check whether the assembly is carried out correctly. To do this, turn on the fuse, pull it back and release the shutter. If everything is done correctly, then, moving forward a bit, the shutter should stand on the shutter lag, which will leave it in the back position. Then, with your right thumb, lower the shutter to the shutter delay. Under the pressure of the return spring, it will be vigorously returned to the front position. The trigger will be on a combat platoon. Then you need to raise the fuse box, then the trigger will be removed from the combat platoon and will be locked.
Accuracy and accuracy of fire
When checking a battle, a pistol is fired at a distance of 25 m from a round target with a diameter of 25 cm, which is mounted on a 1x0.5 m shield. If four holes fit into a circle of no more than 15 cm in diameter, accuracy is considered normal. When fired, the bullet has a speed of 315 m / s.
For its type, the Makarov pistol has good accuracy indicators. The dispersion radius when firing from 10 m is 35 mm, from 25 m - 75 mm, and from 50 m - 160 mm.
