in our army pistols given far less attention than other specimens of small arms, which are in service with the Russian Federation.Many of the guns are descended further from the USSR, and only in recent years began to appear truly new model has started in our country.However, widespread this type of weapon still has not.
But there are some models that despite its rarity and unavailability of ordinary soldiers in the armed forces have a certain aura of mystery, and therefore particularly welcome.Such is the Stechkin.Features him so bloated "word of mouth" that someone that he does seems almost a full replacement of all automatic weapons.Is it so?Let's face it.
fair to say that many of the "experts" themselves hoarse discussing the characteristics of the weapons seen live unless the airsoft gun Stechkin.This explains quite ridiculous discussion and verbal battles, and then breaking out on niche sites.
When it was adopted?
In 1951, armed with the CA have a unique gun, the main feature of which was the possibility of doing an automatic fire.Over three years, from the spring of 1948, its development was conducted tireless young gunsmith Igor Yakovlevich Stechkin.At that time he had just joined the CDB-14.The prototype was presented to them by the Commission in 1949.
After several revisions the new weapon was accepted into service under the symbol APS (Auto Stechkin).Features it was so good for its time, that the young designer immediately awarded the Stalin Prize.Intended gun arms officers and NCOs certain types of troops, special forces soldiers, as well as to the personnel that do not rely AKM or game (the crews of armored vehicles, for example).However, even then, many rightly believe that in the case of a real clash with the enemy gun APS will be insufficient to complete self-defense.
In addition, in recent years gained popularity traumatic pistol Stechkin used by employees of security companies do not have the right to carry weapons of war.
scheme of automation
Like many swatches of such weapons, gun running scheme with a free gate.Initially, it came with a special wooden or plastic holster, which played the role of the stock.When using dispersion of bullets for automatic shooting is greatly reduced.Instructions prescribed hold the gun with both hands and firing an extremely short, two to three rounds, bursts.
The fact is that after the third shot the barrel greatly diverted into the right upper side.As for the "cine" shooting when the pistol is held with only one hand, it is more or less effective automatic fire is only possible at a distance of five (!) Meters or less.Note that in some foreign sources of these weapons are called "machine pistol Stechkin."Foolishness, of course.Yes, weight and dimensions, it is similar to some sub-machine guns, but still it was a gun, and nothing else.
Stechkin, believing about the uselessness of a high rate of fire in such weapons, placed in the handle of the gun firing mechanism is slowing, which also plays the role of the self-timer.As a result, the pace of fire fell to 700-740 rounds per minute, which can already be considered a satisfactory result.
special circuit device store
But not only that interesting Stechkin.Features include its use is quite rare for this type of weapon stores, in which the cartridges are arranged in staggered rows (two rows).The difficulty here is that it takes almost perfect precision manufacturing as a chamber, and the store.
As in many other cases where gunsmiths almost crying because of the characteristics of domestic cartridge, a lot of problems brought standard ammunition 9 × 18.Stechkin spent a lot of time leading up to the absolute performance feeder cartridges.His task he coped brilliantly pistol perfectly works in the most extreme conditions, in no way conceding PM (which is not at all automatic fire, but because it is ten times easier).Magazine capacity is 20 units.That's how many bullets in the gun Stechkin.
The high complexity of the task facing the developers of shows at least the fact that at the present time, neither the US nor European manufacturers of guns on the layout of the chess rounds in the store is not passed.
About
fuse fuse in this gun lever type, it is located at the gate.To simplify the design, it is also used to switch modes of fire.The feature of its design is that when you activate the gun trigger guard right (in automatic mode), down from combat platoon.
the left of the frame has a slide stop lever.Mounting Latch store located traditionally at the bottom of the handle.The sight is a simple, sector type.Theoretically, for 200 meters, but the maximum range for effective fire does not exceed 50 meters.
bullet leaves the barrel with a muzzle velocity of 340 m / s.Since the store fits just 20 rounds, the gun has a high density of fire.Early versions of the MTA by the absence of chromium deposition on the trunk, the shape of grooves to abut against the holster-gate, as well as several other design shutter moderator.However, do chromed steel trunks soon after in the first series went Stechkin.Features of war impressed him, but because they rightly demanded that the manufacturer has increased the period of trouble-free service weapons.
Trigger
Since the double-action trigger and move the trigger long enough and slightly tugovato pistol with a cartridge in the chamber, you can carry, without fear of a variety of unpleasant consequences.However, reliability is better to put the hammer on half-cock.Thus, accidental discharge is eliminated.
samovzvodom though has a long stroke, yet allows you to make the shot almost instantly, if the need arise.As we have said, a pistol Stechkin APS has the highest level of reliability which was confirmed not only the multi-stage tests, and repeated involving weapons in the fighting around the globe.Despite the small angle of the handle (which is not like many arrows) and a rather mediocre characteristics of munitions used precision weapons is very high.
With a single shot recoil weapon and toss negligible.Adapt himself, a fighter can fire a series of short bursts, literally tearing the target high-density results.Such a weapon provides a significant advantage in the melee.Despite the presence of automatic fire, the gun design allows easy access to all of its mechanisms for cleaning and maintenance.
As a rule, weapons made in Soviet times, can shoot at least 40 thousand rounds without a single serious damage.Of course, during this period may still be necessary to replace the springs.Some disadvantages
development
However, the gun Stechkin collected not only rave reviews, because weapons have enough shortcomings.So, a massive holster-butt was extremely inconvenient to use, weight and dimensions of gun brought a lot of problems, as well as "advertised" automatic fire, in practice, proved to be almost useless.Handle weapons, which has almost no tilt, it is inconvenient, is not suitable for a quick instinctive shooting.Almost all the officers believed that for everyday wear in peacetime pistol Stechkin APS does not fit perfectly.
As a result, the arms were fully discontinued by most of being in the army was sent to the MTA stores backup.However, this does not apply to a variety of special units and the KGB.The specifics of their work is rarely included carrying guns in peacetime, but such characteristics of weapons, such as high firepower, the accuracy of the first shot, automatic fire and reliability were very much in demand in these troops.
That is why we are so fond of, and in the former Soviet Union Stechkin.Fighting the way this model was nice and long.However, much more famous abroad is not the classic model, and its silent modification.On it, we'll tell more.
Silent modification
during the Afghan campaign, special units are widely used Stechkin pistol with a silencer.This version came with a removable device suppress the sound of a shot (ie silenced), as well as a focus for the shoulder.The last device in the stowed position is fixed on the muffler.Weapons obtained APB index 6P13.
This modification was created in 1972, and he Stechkin in its development did not participate.Weapon for many special units of law enforcement agencies Stechkin pistol with a silencer adopted in the same year.In order to reduce the speed of a bullet, bringing it to subsonic (to reduce the noise of the shot), the barrel was made a few holes.Total of twelve, wherein eight located 1.5 cm from the muzzle, and four - 1.5 cm from the chamber.
around the trunk is a special tube in which powder gases after the shot fall, passing through these holes.From it they are fed into the expansion chamber of the muffler.Any additional (in comparison with the original weapon) parts are removable.This facilitates access to them during cleaning.
itself is attached to the exhaust pipe on the expansion rusk mix.To massive device does not overlap the line of sight, it is eccentrically being significantly shifted downward relative to the center line of the barrel channel.In front of the muffler designers placed the separator unit.They share the flow of propellant gases, thus also reducing the volume of the shot.
Advantages silent version
In the above development is an important advantage because the muffler is quite heavy, the barrel is not so much takes up with long lines automatically.Accordingly, scattering of bullets in this case is also significantly reduced.Do not forget about the beam stop, which comes to the modification of weapons.Again, the use of a gun silencer does not completely silent in narrow-minded sense of the term.The device only hides the sound of the shot, which greatly complicates the determination of the location of the shooter.
the former USSR all modifications MTA and APB used in the majority of local conflicts.Currently, APB is in service with the military intelligence units, special forces of the FSB, the GRU and MVD.In addition, Stechkin air, the characteristics of which are far from any combat sample used in many shooting galleries for initial marksmanship.
Deliveries friendly regimes
first MTA delivered abroad only in limited quantities.As a rule, these were personal gifts that the USSR did the leadership loyal to his country.For example, Fidel Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara, these guns were, both of these leaders considered them their favorite personal weapon.However, by the end of the 70s of the last century in any part of Africa could meet "Stechkin."The gun, which provides the technical characteristics of its use in the most extreme situations, proved to be beloved by all categories of insurgents and fighters for liberation.
Especially many of these weapons were supplied to Libya, Angola, Mozambique.In an environment of domestic fans of the gun by word of mouth passed another story.Its veracity raises some doubts, but the tradition is widely known.
True story or fiction?
argued that the German company Transarms, on its own initiative by purchasing party APS (where and from whom, is not known), converted guns, removing the possibility of automatic fire.Then, supposedly, this weapon entered service with one of the police (!) Units in Germany.Fans of the domestic weapon in a loud whisper report that all this was done in spite of the variety of models Heckler und Koch, Walther, Sig Sauer and Glock.
here the question immediately arises: why so difficult?Who needs a non-automatic "Stechkin" - a pistol whose specifications are particularly pronounced exactly due to the possibility of automatic fire?Some questions.If we needed the Germans as "homespun" reliability, they can with much greater success to take the party Appl.
large capacity store?So some modifications "Beretta" it is no less.Finally, the main thing is a misunderstanding.Who in Germany would need a gun shooting 9x18 chuck whose characteristics are greatly inferior to those of the 9x19 Parabellum?In short, the whole story is very questionable and unreliable.
User reviews
Impressions owners "Stechkin", which was used by them in their service weapons, also vary widely.Many secrete an amazing accuracy of the first shot and finding the barrel weapons sighting.As the "servicemen" large dimensions of weapons is partly offset by the selection of individual production holster.Despite the fact that modern "Yarygin" much more powerful ammunition for major surgery, many men prefer to take it, "Stechkin", as thanks to its "licked" form, it can be easily removed from its holster almost instantly.
What else is good in the field Stechkin?Reviews often contain a definition of "gun with a capital letter."Users will love its reliability and capacity.
Most men prefer to use the gun in a pair of PM and PMM."Makarov" is used when the primary weapon is the AKM."Stechkin" as is indispensable in cases where one hand is occupied by a shield, but there is a need for tight automatic fire.Although tight descent and low accuracy after three shots (automatic mode), the military noted that clear thirty three points where realistic results than in the case of TM or "Yarygin".
main complaints is wide and uncomfortable handle, cheeks which, being made of high quality plastic is not too strongly slide in sweaty hand.But this problem is easily solved by using a special rubber lining.This "kit" in the broad range of manufactured today, many Western companies.
Modern use
As we have noted, after the collapse of the Union of the gun had become familiar in all the local conflicts on the territory of the former USSR.The Russian pilots "Stechkin" was usually paired with the AKS-74U on combat missions in Chechnya.Snipers also praised the combat capabilities of the MTA.The gun is much easier to machine pistols and CSSA, and at short distances its performance slightly worse.Furthermore, when the same weight can be taken much more cartridges.The Interior Ministry this gun is also popular.
During prolonged practical operation it turned out that many of the MTA can make up to 45,000 shots, and throughout this period was not observed any serious damage.Of course, I had to change a spring, but it is insignificant.
At the moment the gun is armed SWAT and riot police.In addition, its soldiers are carrying the FSB and FSO.Such popularity is easily explained by a combination of relatively small size and high combat power, comparable with the possibilities of submachine guns.A very important quality during cleaning of premises is his property, which the bullets of the MTA do not give a bounce, not punched right through the human body.Of course, this gun today prefer wearing special ergonomic holsters and not bulky wooden cases.
During contact fights in a densely populated villages and towns, as well as in areas of concrete gun APS in many cases is absolutely indispensable weapon.
