PSS silent pistol

The PSS silent pistol or MSS "VUL" ("Wool")[1] is the last completed weapon system resulting from the Soviet development of silent pistols operating on a sealed cartridge system. Two previous designs were considered unacceptable for use due to their limitation to two shots. Earlier systems included the MSP and SP-4M double barreled pistols. Developed around 1980, the PSS was first issued to KGB Spetsnaz in 1983. Intended for assassinations and reconnaissance, it is under production in the special weapons foundry at TsNIITochMash. PSS pistols are still in use by elite special forces units of many nations, as well as by some FSB, MVD.

PSS
TypePistol
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1983–present
Used bySoviet Union, Russia
Production history
DesignerTsNIITochMash
Designed1979–1983
ManufacturerTsNIITochMash
VariantsPSS-2
Specifications
Mass700 g (1 lb 9 oz), 850 g with cartridge
Length165 mm (6.50 in)
Barrel length35 mm
Cartridge7.62×42 mm SP-4
Caliber7.62 mm
ActionRecoil-operated
Muzzle velocity200 m/s (660 ft/s)
Effective firing range25 m
Maximum firing range50 m
Feed system6-round detachable box
SightsFixed blade sights

The original PSS was succeeded by the PSS-2 in 2011, using the more powerful 7.62×43 mm SP-16 cartridge.[2]

Purpose

The PSS was developed to give Soviet special forces and secret police an almost completely silent option for covert operations such as reconnaissance and assassinations. The weapon uses a unique cartridge with an internal piston to achieve this end. Otherwise, it is a fairly simple double-action pistol. Few details are known about the pistol's performance, as only a few have entered Western hands.[3]

Operation

Cartridge

The PSS uses a specially developed 7.62×42mm necked round SP-4 (СП-4), the same as used for the OTs-38 Stechkin silent revolver.[4] The cartridge contains an internal piston and a propelling charge, with the stem of the piston against the base of the bullet. On firing, the piston delivers enough impulse to project the bullet from the barrel to an effective range of 25 meters. The piston then seals the cartridge neck, preventing noise, smoke, or blast from escaping the barrel.[5]

The newer PSS-2 fires the more powerful 7.62×43 mm SP-16 cartridge, incompatible with the 7.62×42 mm cartridges in the older PSS.[2]

Action

The PSS is recoil-operated, and has a slide that is designed to be operated silently. In all other respects, the PSS generally follows traditional conventions except for the slide's guide rod, which is located above the barrel and instead of guide rails on the pistol frame.

Users
  •  Georgia[6]
  •  Russia – PSS-2 silenced pistol was developed in Russia. It is based on the original PSS, but has some features of the SR-1M pistol and some improvements. It is uses newly developed SP-16 noiseless 7.62x43 mm ammunition. The PSS-2 was adopted by the Russian FSB security agency in 2011.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "PSS-2 Silenced Pistol". Military Today. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  3. "Silent pistol from the Russians". Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  4. "SP-4" (in Russian). Retrieved 10 January 2014.
    • Hogg, Ian V.; John Weeks (2000). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-824-7.
  6. "Armament of the Georgian Army - Firearms - Handgun". Geo-army.ge. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.