The Groza family of traumatic pistols has a small peculiarity - the countdown of the series began with 02 weapons, bypassing 01. And only six months after the release of Groza-02, 01 was released. Groza-01 immediately interested fans of traumatic guns. It has a simple design, high reliability and compact dimensions. This allows it to be carried covertly and used at any time if there is danger.
Types of pistols
The very first version of the weapon with the designation “Thunderstorm” was developed by the design bureau of the Central Research Institute Tochmash in 1972. The creation of weapons with a silent shot was initiated by the KGB.
The design of the SME (small-sized special pistol) “Groza” used a folding block of two barrels located vertically. Loading was carried out manually using a clip with two special cartridges of the SP-3 model (dimensions 7.62 * 38 mm).
The noiselessness of the shot was ensured by installing a special two-stage piston in the cartridge case.
When fired, it pushed the bullet through the barrel and got stuck in the deformed cartridge case.
As a result, the entire volume of gases remained locked in the inner part of the sleeve, from where it gradually escaped into the atmosphere. This design made it possible to conduct aimed fire from an SME pistol at a distance of up to 25 meters.
The bullet's penetration capabilities were low - a 1.5 mm sheet of metal became an insurmountable barrier already at a distance of more than 3 meters. But noiselessness played a role, and this pistol was widely used in special operations.
In 2009, the Moscow region presented its new development - a traumatic and sports pistol chambered for 9 mm RA. It received the trade name "Thunderstorm", although it has nothing in common with the MSP silent pistol.
There is no smell of noiselessness here. When developing the design of the weapon, designers copied many of the solutions of the Ukrainian analogue of the “Fort” model.
At the same time, the bolt stop mechanism was removed from the Groza design, which made it possible to slightly simplify the design of the weapon and reduce weight and size parameters.
Almost all pistol parts are produced in Vinnitsa (Ukraine) and imported to Russia for subsequent assembly.
Owner's review:
The quality of the product itself is excellent, this can be seen immediately by the way the gun is processed and by the way the parts fit together. Ergonomics are beyond praise for a pistol of this class! Even my friend, who has a much larger hand than mine, likes the way it feels in his hand. And how comfortable it is to wear - it’s just a song! Only self-cocking, but what! Soft and smooth, the trigger release occurs unexpectedly, in the sense that there is no threshold or feeling that it is about to happen. The accuracy and accuracy of the pistol - but in terms of these indicators, in my opinion and not only that, it leaves behind all three of its competitors! (c) Adonikam
Distinctive features of the models
Groza pistols of different models have the same type of ammunition. Moreover, each model has its own external and design differences. Shooting from "Groza 01" can only be carried out by self-cocking.
There is no safety lock in the mechanism, so the design of the trigger uses a spring, which makes the initial trigger stroke heavier. In this way, it was possible to significantly reduce the risk of spontaneous discharge when carrying or storing weapons. On other models, fuses are already present.
Early models used a low-capacity single-row magazine - only 7 rounds. Subsequent models began to be equipped with a more capacious magazine with a double-row arrangement of cartridges. Depending on the length of the handle, it can hold up to 17 shots.
general information
The Groza-01 traumatic pistol is very interesting, its small thickness is especially striking. Although the handle is 24 millimeters thick, this is what makes using the pistol very convenient. It fits comfortably in the hand and recoil from shots does not bother the shooter. In addition, if someone is confused by such a thickness of the handle, then they can replace the lining with thinner ones.
Like all its “brothers” in the complex, 01 has a Ukrainian analogue, on the basis of which it was developed. In this case, Fort-9R acted as the base. Despite this, there are significant differences in the design of Groza-01. Firstly, it does not have an analogue made of plastic, and secondly, there is no slide stop.
It was the lack of a shutter stop that caused a lot of dissatisfaction from potential buyers. But if you look in more detail, then in a traumatic pistol, which is used exclusively for self-defense, this is not the most important component. The most important thing is that the tool works with maximum efficiency and without any failures. But we must remember that this depends not only on the design of the pistol, but also on the cartridges used in the magazine.
First model
The Groza 01 model did not satisfy its owners with the amount of ammunition. Many owners have slightly improved the weapon's capabilities by placing an eighth round in the chamber. But at the same time, this model is valued for its small dimensions and light weight, which makes it easy to hide the weapon under clothing.
Externally, this model almost completely copies the “Fort” 9P. There is a misaligned insert between the chamber and the bore that prevents the use of a live cartridge.
The design of the pistol allows the use of all variants of 9 mm PA cartridges. The optimal shooting distance is up to 7 meters.
Shooting from Groza-01
Groza-01 has a body made of high-strength weapons-grade steel. Despite this, the weight of the pistol is only 420 grams. On the one hand, this is a wonderful indicator, since it makes it easy to carry weapons covertly, on the other hand, this seriously affects shooting performance.
Of course, the recoil when firing this weapon and a combat one is incomparable, but, nevertheless, with such dimensions it is felt, especially if the shooting is carried out “shot after shot.” Problems with recoil are solved by a thicker handle, but even with it you will have to get used to, because the recoil here is stronger than on heavier models of the complex.
Some owners of this weapon noted that when firing the weapon tilts to the right or left, however, remembering that this is a traumatic pistol for self-defense, this phenomenon is not critical. When shooting from a distance of up to 5 meters, you can be sure of good accuracy and accuracy, but when shooting, for example, at 10 meters, problems already arise: accuracy deteriorates significantly, the spread of bullets becomes simply unpredictable. But I would like to say that this occurs in almost every traumatic pistol.
A separate problem is choosing a holster for a pistol. This question is very important, since a comfortable holster allows you to conveniently carry a weapon and, if necessary, quickly remove it. At the moment, he is not producing a native holster for this pistol, and the case for other trauma weapons does not fit well.
Models 02 and 03
The next version of the Thunderstorm pistol, model 02, uses the principle of free-running bolt to operate. This model is a copy of the Jorge pistol. To speed up the transfer of the weapon into the firing position, there are ledges on the side walls of the bolt part.
For the first shot, you can cock the hammer or fire a self-cocking shot.
A safety element is introduced into the mechanism, which blocks the trigger in any position - combat and safety.
The cardinal difference was the double-row, high-capacity magazine (10 or 14 rounds) with a staggered arrangement.
On its basis, the Thunderstorm 021 pistol was created. This model is capable of firing all types of 9 mm RA cartridges, but only the version with a rubber bullet is suitable for automatic operation.
In other cases, after firing, you must manually retract the bolt, throwing the cartridge out. The sight of the Groza 021 pistol can be adjusted in two directions and has special white marks on the back surface, making aiming easier.
Option 03 was created in accordance with the wishes of customers who wanted to purchase a larger weapon than model 021. The new version is made to imitate the appearance of the CZ-75 pistol.
The main difference of this option is the handle with an increased length, which allows you to place a replaceable clip on 17 cartridges of standard size 9 mm PA. On the outer part there is a bar that allows you to install a laser target pointer or an additional illumination flashlight. The characteristics of this model are ideal for use in sports competitions.
The cartridges are arranged in two rows and are fed alternately from each row into a constriction at the top of the magazine. Thanks to this handle, it was possible to ensure a comfortable grip of the weapon with both hands, which is used by many shooters when firing high-speed series of shots.
The slightly modified Thunderstorm 031 pistol differs only in the material of the handle linings. The weapon mechanics only work when using rubber bullet cartridges.
Dismantling and repair of "Thunderstorm"
Disassembling the pistol is done in stages, in fact, like assembly. The step-by-step instructions are as follows:
- first you need to remove the magazine located under the handle and make sure that there is no cartridge in the chamber;
- on the right side of the weapon you need to press the shutter delay axis using the clip and remove it;
- the shutter is completely retracted and raised by the outermost part, then removed;
- then you need to remove the spring and the guide axle.
Partial disassembly of the weapon is completed; in order to reassemble it, it is necessary to carry out all manipulations in the reverse order.
Cleaning is done with a rag or brush. The rag needs to be soaked in gun oil, put on the ramrod loop and threaded through the barrel. When cleaning, be sure to go through the areas of the grooves that imitate the rifling of the barrel; dirt usually accumulates in them the most.
Repairs are carried out only by the manufacturer; this requires sending the damaged part, this can be done at the place where the gun was purchased.
Complete disassembly and cleaning of the Thunderstorm pistol can be seen in the following video
Models 04 and 05
The “Groza” 04 variant was created with the goal of reducing the weight of the pistol as much as possible. For this purpose, a special polyamide, resistant to impact, was used as the frame material.
This solution made it possible to reduce the weight of the pistol by a quarter of a kilogram (compared to the Groza 03 model). The copies from the first batches had a lot of shortcomings, so the model was finalized. The modernized model 041 has a barrel of a different design and a modified magazine that prevents the cartridge from jamming.
The Groza 05 model is an extended version of the 04 model pistol. Due to the new barrel, the muzzle velocity of the bullet has increased (up to 15 percent) and its energy has increased. The weapon began to have a greater range and increased accuracy.
What kind of trunks are there and is the length of the trunk important?
For the majority of buyers, one of the main criteria when choosing a traumatic weapon is the barrel length. This criterion is based on a purely psychological calculation of the terrifying appearance of a pistol in the hands.
But large weapons have a huge drawback - they are heavy and difficult to carry concealed. To assess the effectiveness of weapons, the quality and accuracy of manufacturing of the internal bore is much more important.
For different versions of pistols, there are two design varieties of barrels. The earlier version has two inserts soldered into the internal channel. This fuse does not allow firing with live ammunition.
There are various variations of such trunks, differing from each other in length and outer diameter. Among the owners, this design is called a “toothed” trunk.
The second option was a barrel with offset axes of the chamber and the part used to move the bullet. The design of such parts has additional grooves that imitate cutting, which further weaken the structure.
If you try to modify the weapon and fire a live cartridge, it will simply burst and cause injury to the shooter.
Since self-defense involves firing at short distances, for such weapons it is preferable to use pistol variants with a short barrel and light weight. A long barrel allows for a higher traumatic bullet velocity.
If such a bullet hits an attacker, it could result in severe injury or death. If a shooter is purchasing a pistol for target practice, he should choose an option with a longer barrel, which will provide a greater firing distance.
Groza-01: fine-tuning of traumatic weapons
When talking about this pistol, it is worth mentioning the tuning of the gun immediately after purchase. This is done, as a rule, to improve the quality of the weapon and make it more convenient for oneself. Groza-01, like any other weapon of this complex, does not require additional fine-tuning, although there are elements that can be worked on if desired.
The first thing you should pay attention to is the handle. Standard cheeks are only suitable for a person with a wide palm. For people with a medium or small build, it is better to change the attachments on the grips to smaller ones so that the pistol fits perfectly in the hand.
As for the gun body, there are no complaints here either. Externally, it is made perfectly, since there are no angular elements on the surface that could cling to the holster or clothing when drawing the pistol.
Opportunities for tuning arise when the weapon is internally disassembled. To make the trigger move smoothly, it is necessary to polish all the rubbing components of the trigger mechanism. You can also try to independently adjust the force of pressing the trigger for a shot, but if you have no experience in this matter, then it is better not to do this.
The chamber and barrel are made to a high standard, so there is no need to polish them after purchase, otherwise you can only make things worse. The cartridges do not swell or burst when fired. It is also not recommended to touch the magazine of the Groza-01 pistol, because nothing can be done with it. It has an extremely simple design, which ensures high reliability, and a capacity of 7 rounds, which cannot be increased in any way.
In general, those who like to tune a newly purchased traumatic pistol may not like this weapon. In fact, there is nothing to redo here, because the manufacturer took care of the high quality of its weapons.
Specifications
The common parameter for all options is the 9 mm caliber. The data on the Groza family pistols differs slightly depending on the model.
| models | 01 | 02/021 | 03/031 | 04 | 05/051 |
| Length, mm | 146 | 180 | 210 | 180 | 207 |
| Height, mm | 116 | 131 | 140 | 132 | 131 |
| Width, mm | 26 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 34 |
| Barrel length, mm | 77 | 95 | 124 | 95 | 124 |
| Weight, gram | 420 | 830 | 860 | 680 | 750 |
| Number of cartridges, pcs | 7 | 10/14 | 17 | 15 | 15/10 |
Repair/shooting
Any weapon needs periodic cleaning and repair. Cleaning the bore is carried out with a rag threaded through a loop on a piece of steel or aluminum wire.
The rag is soaked in gun oil and pulled through the barrel. In this case, it is important to clean the dirt from the grooves of the imitation cutting. The second cleaning option is a brush, which is used to clean barrels without welded inserts.
Replacement of damaged elements of the pistol is carried out by the manufacturer with the dispatch of spare parts by special communications. Receipt of such details is carried out at the OLLR at the place of registration of the weapon.
It is advisable to shoot new or repaired weapons.
Before zeroing begins, the “Groza” pistol is mounted on a rigid machine. Fire is fired at a target with a diameter of at least 300 mm from a distance of 5 meters.
For this purpose, cartridges with a rubber bullet are used, capable of providing a shot energy of at least 50 J. The purpose of zeroing is to determine the relative position of the sight and the target. When using a weapon in real conditions, you must remember this position and make adjustments when aiming.
Over the years of operation, pistols have proven themselves to be reliable weapons. Part failures are usually caused by mechanical shocks or prolonged and improper use. Currently, it continues to produce various variants of weapons.
The supply of spare parts is also ongoing without interruption. These circumstances allow us to say with confidence that “Groza” pistols will be present on the Russian traumatic weapons market for a long time.
Comparison with MP-78-9TM
This pistol can be compared with another domestic product of the same class and similar in size - MP-78-9TM. But I would like to immediately say that such a comparison is not entirely correct, since the difference in age for traumatic weapons in these two specimens is too large. But we will allow ourselves this, since both weapons are domestically produced.
First of all, it is worth mentioning the overall quality, where Groza-01 is the absolute winner. Discarding all the nuances of the quality and reliability of the design, I would like to say that 01 is better than its opponent simply in terms of the material from which it is made. Although, if compared with the MP-78-9TM, produced on the basis of the combat PSM, these two pistols can still compete in the “quality” column.
Further it is worth saying that the Groza-01 barrel is ahead of its competitor in all respects. Firstly, it has a more advanced design of the barrel itself, and secondly, its strength and reliability are simply better, because it is made of higher quality material. At a minimum, the Groza-01 barrel does not need to install a reinforcing sleeve to increase strength. As for the dimensions, the MP-78-9TM wins here, but only due to the very thin and uncomfortable handle.
In terms of power, Groza-01, which is convenient to carry in a holster, wins again, leaving no chance for its opponent. Of course, you can try to fire powerful cartridges from the MP-78-9TM, but after a few shots its barrel will simply fall apart. Of course, 01 can also be compared with trauma equipment from foreign manufacturers, and there it will win in many respects, but it’s easier to write a separate, large article about this.
From all this we can draw a small conclusion that Groza-01 is the best Russian-made traumatic pistol in its class. But do not forget that it is based on the Ukrainian Fort-9R.
