Often we come across various abbreviations, the meaning of which is not clear to us. For example, what is TCP and PSM? The first abbreviation stands for vehicle passport, which indicates the owner of the machine and its main technical characteristics. The second is a passport of a self-propelled car registered with Gostekhnadzor. What is PSM? This abbreviation refers to the Indonesian football club. According to experts, PSM (Makassar) was created in November 1915, and it is the oldest of all clubs in Southeast Asia. Today he plays in the First League. Nevertheless, such an answer to the question of what PSM is, will certainly not satisfy us. And not in vain, since for the inhabitants of the post-Soviet space this abbreviation is associated exclusively with weapons. What is PSM in the arms industry? What kind of rifle unit are we talking about? Information about what PSM, about the history of creation, device and technical characteristics is presented in this article.
Acquaintance
Soviet designers created several reliable, easy-to-use, and most importantly, inexpensive models of small arms. In some samples, according to experts, applied technical solutions that are not found in world analogues. The advantages of pistols manufactured in the USSR were highly appreciated by foreign arms manufacturers, who used Soviet rifle models as the basis for their products. According to experts, the Chinese were especially zealous in this matter. If Western designers used only some, in their opinion, the most complex or best technical solutions, then the Chinese copied weapons completely. PSM became one of such unique creations of designers of the USSR. The self-loading small-sized pistol is a self-loading rifle unit using 5.45x18 mm cartridges. In the technical documentation is listed under the index GRAU 6P23. The PSM 5 45 pistol was developed in 1971 by Soviet designers T. Lashnev, A. A. Simarin and L. L. Kulikov in the Tula TsKIB SOO. In 1973 he entered service with the Soviet Army, and later the armies of Russia and Ukraine.
About the history of creation
In the late 60s, the top army leadership, operational officers of law enforcement and special services needed a new pistol. The gunsmiths received an order for a rifle unit, which must meet the following requirements:
- Have a thickness of not more than 1.8 cm and weight up to 500 g.
- It is desirable that no protruding parts are present on the housing. This requirement is due to the fact that the gun was intended for hidden wear.
- In addition, the new model should be quite effective in close combat.
Due to the fact that it was impossible to achieve the above parameters with the pistol ammunition used in the Soviet Union at that time, the designers had to work hard to create a new small-sized cartridge. For a short period of time, gunsmiths managed to make such ammunition, which is listed as the MPC (small-sized cartridge of the central battle). In 1972, two samples were sent for testing:
Model No. 1 was a pistol with a basic layout similar to Walther PP.
Model No. 2 - PSM was a smaller and more flattened copy of the Soviet PM. In the technical documentation, the weapon is listed as BV-025.
Based on the results of testing, the commission gave preference to the first model, which was assigned the abbreviation PSM.
About design
Automation works due to recoil with a free shutter. The gun is equipped with a trigger trigger mechanism, designed for double action. Ammunition in the amount of 8 pieces is contained in a box store. After the ammunition is used up, the bolt becomes delayed in the rear position, which has a positive effect on the speed of reloading weapons.
The trigger has an open position. The gun is designed for single shooting only. The frame and trunk are securely connected. PSM equipped with exactly the same return spring as the Makarov pistol. The device of the first rifle samples had one unpleasant feature: when the weapon was mounted on the fuse, the trigger could break and pinch the thumb. It was from this injury that one could recognize the owner of a small-sized special pistol. Soon this flaw was eliminated. If the fuse is on, the shutter, trigger and trigger will be locked.
About design features
According to weapons experts, PSM has become one of the favorite pistols of the Soviet special services thanks to two features:
- On the left, the shutter is equipped with a lever by means of which the safety lock is adjusted. He also carries out the safe descent of the trigger from the platoon.
- In a weapon mounted on the fuse, the hook is automatically released from the cock. Thus, the operative can fire immediately after removing the gun. PSM is a fairly effective shooting model that can help out in the most critical situation.
About the handles
According to experts, the new small-sized pistols turned out with very ergonomic handles to facilitate the retention of weapons during firing. Tula designers used an ordinary stopper as a handle fastening with a pistol frame. The lower part of the handle has become a place for latch clips. Initially, an aluminum alloy was used to make the cheeks for the handles of these pistols. Later this material was replaced with plastic. Judging by the reviews, unlike duralumin, plastic cheeks are more elegant in shape.
Advantages
The gun provided a high accuracy of the battle and was highly appreciated by the employees of the Soviet special services. Due to the small size, the PSM is very convenient for hidden wearing, even under light clothing.
The new cartridge had a high penetrating effect, so that a fighter could hit a target from this weapon, dressed in body armor of the first class of protection, which was also called “soft”. From a 5-meter distance, the projectile easily penetrated armor inaccessible to Makarov’s pistol. Even light shelters could not save the target. A shell flew along a flat trajectory. Due to this feature, judging by the numerous reviews, monotonous aiming from various distances was provided.
About weaknesses
Despite the presence of undeniable advantages, PSM has some disadvantages. Since this model uses ammunition with a small-caliber bullet, the gun has a weak stopping effect. In addition, the security forces are accustomed to using large and powerful weapons. For this reason, the American police officers, who were armed with PSM export models, had many complaints about power.
Using a weapon, a law enforcer could break through a bulletproof vest to a criminal and mortally wound. But due to the insufficient stopping action of the pointed bullet, an attacker, even with several serious injuries, could escape or put up active resistance.
About the performance characteristics
The following indicators are inherent in a small-sized gun:
- PSM refers to the type of self-loading pistols.
- Weighing unit 460 g.
- The total length is 15.5 cm, threaded barrel - 8.46 cm.
- The gun is 11.7 cm high and 1.8 cm wide.
- Caliber PSM 5.45 mm.
- The barrel is equipped with six rifling.
- The weapon functions due to the free shutter.
- The fired bullet per second covers a distance of 315 m.
- The aiming range does not exceed 25 m.
- PSM with a constant open sight.
- 5.45x18 mm cartridges are contained in box magazines, the capacity of which is designed for 8 ammunition.
Our days
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, difficult times came for the Russian defense industry. Due to the difficult economic situation, in order to stay afloat, the rifle models created earlier for their army and for the armies of friendly states, Russian gunsmiths had to reorient themselves to the standards of the Western market. Therefore, popular Soviet models were intensively refined and exported to the United States and European countries. Modernization also affected PSM. Due to the fact that the pistol ammunition of 5.45x18 mm was popular only in the USSR, it had to be replaced with a small-caliber cartridge of 6.35 mm Browning. They were equipped with other rifle units aimed at civilian consumers. With the new ammunition PSM immediately appreciated by lovers of firearms. Buy it mainly for self-defense. Nevertheless, according to experts, the owners of small-sized pistols in American police are suspicious. This is due to the fact that the compactness of the pistol and its significant lethal force were highly appreciated by the criminals.
About the gas model 6P37
In Russia, on the basis of the combat PSM in 1993, its gas modification was created. In the technical documentation, the weapon is listed as 6P37 and is intended for civilian consumers. Despite the fact that this rifle unit was intended to become an effective means of self-defense, criminals often use gas PSM for attacks.
