Russian traumatic pistol MP 355: its characteristics and history of creation

Advantages of traumatic APS over revolvers

A comparison of the tactical and technical characteristics of the APS and the traumatic revolver is presented by the following indicators:

1. APS has a large number of charges.
2. The revolver has the worst rate of fire.
3. The Stechkin design has a high level of strength and reliability.
4. APS has a long service life and is easy to maintain.
5. The revolver does not have the same shot power and hit accuracy as the Stechkin.
6. APS boasts a rich history.

Reviews from many Stechkin owners, which they leave on online weapons resources, indicate the great popularity and high quality of APS. Forum participants recommend purchasing it not only for collectors, but also for all admirers of weapons history. Should you follow their advice? You decide.

Are the weapons produced today?

Recently, the production of traumatic pistols based on combat ones has been prohibited. This became the reason for the suspension of serial production of the MP-355 model. But since at one time they managed to adapt a large number of Stechkin pistols to traumatic cartridges, the MP-355 has not yet been removed from the shelves of gun stores.

According to fans of traumatic weapons, this situation may drag on for several years. After this, most likely, the MP-355 model will still be replaced. Whatever the situation with the MP-355, today this pistol is one of the best “injuries”.

Purpose of the pistol

According to the military doctrine of the USSR, which was in the 50-60s, it was not allowed to arm military units with heavy and bulky small arms, the carrying or use of which would distract from the performance of their direct duties (anti-tank units, vehicle drivers, tank crews).

Therefore, the APS must be suitable for use as a pistol, and, if necessary, as a submachine gun. For ease of shooting, a removable buttstock was attached, which in a non-combat situation served as a holster for a pistol.

Thus, the purpose of the new Stechkin pistol was to give infantrymen a combat-ready weapon that would allow them to effectively carry out assigned tasks without being distracted by secondary and insignificant actions.

What has remained unchanged about “trauma”?

Adapting the Stechkin automatic pistol for a traumatic cartridge, the designers of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant replaced the barrel and slightly weakened the design of the MP-355. The characteristics of this traumatic weapon, obtained as a result of modernization, exclude its use for automatic fire.

The designers decided to leave the designation “AB” (automatic fire) on the fuse unchanged. As a result, the “trauma” fuse is equipped with a switch with three fire modes, which is equipped with the original Stechkin military weapons. The difference between the APS and the “trauma” is that in a civilian non-combat pistol the three-mode switch is completely useless and is left only as decoration.

Pros and cons

The indisputable and main positive point when considering the MP-355 is that it is a good conversion of a combat prototype. Preserving many of the original parts of the weapon allowed us to create a significant margin of safety. This is especially useful for those who plan to engage in sports shooting when purchasing. The traumatic Stechkin also performs its tasks as a self-defense weapon convincingly. The high destructive power of bullets, accuracy and an impressive magazine for 10 (20) shots allow you to reliably solve self-defense issues.

There is essentially only one negative point when using the MP-355: it is very bulky. Having a curb weight of 1.2 kg and 225 mm in length, carrying it is problematic, especially covertly. Although with such dimensions the pistol could weigh even more. But this question is very subjective. Of course, a thin person will get tired of carrying such a weapon all day long. This also includes a significant trigger force in self-cocking mode. Need strong hands. On the other hand, people who are more athletic may even like this weight. You can also solve the problem by purchasing a new, more convenient holster than the original combat holster supplied with the kit. Fortunately, there is enough supply on the market. It will help to correctly distribute the weight throughout the body, ensuring both the reliability of carrying and its convenience.

Another unpleasant feature of the new models was the frequent rupture of rubber bullets in the bore when teeth pass through the bore and when exiting it.

The problem could be fixed by simply polishing the barrel, paying special attention to the outlet

Reviews about the model

Those who have purchased and use this traumatic pistol speak extremely positively about it. According to the owners of this weapon, the MP-355 has the following strong qualities:

• All pistol parts are large in size. Due to this, the loss of individual parts is eliminated during the disassembly and assembly process.
• Convenient location of all controls. As a result, the weapon can be used even with one gloved hand.
• The presence of a third position for the safety, in addition to giving the “trauma” an external resemblance to its combat counterpart, may confuse some owners. This is explained by the fact that, according to the legislation of the Russian Federation, traumatic pistols are completely deprived of the ability to fire automatically. However, for commercial reasons, the manufacturer did not remove the third fuse position from the MP-355 design. If in the APS this flag is used to switch from automatic to single fire and vice versa, then in the “trauma” such a switch is completely impossible. In MP-355 this safety lever does not function.
• The weapon is ideal for regular shooting practice. According to reviews from owners, due to the weak power of the cartridges used, this “injury” is not very effective as a means of self-defense.
• The MP-355, due to its large size, according to some owners, can be used in the event of a real threat as a means of psychological suppression of the aggressor. However, large dimensions can also be considered a disadvantage, especially if this weapon is carried daily. Firstly, due to its large dimensions, concealed carrying of this model is completely excluded. Secondly, the weight of this traumatic pistol without cartridges is almost one kilogram. According to reviews from owners, it is not so easy to carry the MP-355 all day with a full clip, especially in cases where the holster is chosen poorly.

Description and characteristics

The Stechkin automatic pistol (APS) was successfully tested and received a positive assessment from specialists. However, during the research process, significant shortcomings were found that needed to be eliminated.

The modified APS began to weigh significantly less (1020 grams), the design of the sight and trigger guard underwent changes, and the dimensions of the safety mechanism were increased. Improvements have also been made to the magazine, trigger and retarding mechanism. The tilt of the handle has been changed. In the new model, the return spring is already located on the barrel.

Characteristics:

• weight (without holster) - 1.22 kg;
• holster-butt weight - 0.56 kg;
• height - 150 mm;
• length - 225 mm, with holster - 540 mm, barrel - 140 mm;
• width - 340 mm;
• caliber - 9;
• cartridge - 9x18mm;
• rate of fire - 700-750, with a single shot - 40 rounds/min, in bursts - 90 rounds/min;
• initial bullet speed - 340 m/s;
• magazine - 20 rounds;
• sight range - 200 m;
• sight type - open, drum;
• range adjustment - 25, 50, 100 and 200 m.

Design Features

One of the most important design features of the APS is the ability to fire bursts.

APS refers to automatic weapons; continuity of fire (firing) is achieved due to the release of powder gases.

The magazine's unique design allows it to hold 20 rounds and have a double-stack exit. Moreover, the bullets are arranged in a checkerboard pattern.

Mechanism of operation

"Stechkin" is ready for work with a stocked magazine attached to the handle. In this case, the safety must be lowered to the bottom position until it stops, and the bolt must be distorted.

After pressing, the trigger rotates and pulls the trigger rod pad, which lifts the disconnector. When it turns, the trigger is released and hits the striking mechanism. The firing pin breaks the cartridge primer, causing it to fire.

The powder gases create pressure, which forces the bolt to compress the return spring and return to its original position. In this case, the cartridge case from the fired cartridge remains in the ejector hook.

"OD" mode

In single mode, the shutter moves the disconnector down, while the rear compartment of the trigger platform is lowered and the trigger is retracted to the firing position. The safety releases the transfer lever, which the retarding mechanism spring lifts up so that the protrusion on the side fits into the vertical groove of the bolt.

In this case, the used cartridge is pushed out by the reflector, and the next cartridge is installed on the chambering strip. When returning to its original position, the bolt pushes the ammunition into the chamber.

"Automatic" mode

In this mode, the retarding and transmission mechanisms are freer. Therefore, the return of the bolt back is slowed down, due to interaction with the lever. When the bolt is positioned forward (to the extreme point), a special recess (cutout) on the safety allows the lever and the retarder to influence the trigger rod, due to which it lifts the disconnector. He, in turn, allows the sear to come out from under the trigger, which is in the firing position. The trigger hits the firing mechanism, causing a shot.

As long as the trigger is pressed or the ammunition runs out, the cycle will repeat.

Ammo and magazine

As already noted, this model is designed for cartridges with a rubber bullet of 9 mm RA caliber. The Stechkin Traumatic Pistol magazine is practically no different from the APS magazine. For the MP-355, the manufacturer installs a limiter so that no more than 10 rounds of ammunition can be placed in the magazine; this is a legal requirement. The limiter itself is made in the form of a small recess in the wall of the store.

Naturally, if desired, each owner can easily remove the restriction. The only question is the legality of this action.

The 20-round magazines that were produced for the APS fit the MP-355 without any problems. Both magazines are secured with a special latch, which is located at the bottom of the handle. The delivery set includes two magazines (one spare) and a holster-butt, which was developed for combat APS. The sight, adjustable at a distance from 25 to 200 meters, in the traumatic version is just decoration, since the MP-355 does not reach such indicators.

History of the Stechkin pistol

Igor Yakovlevich Stechkin, the developer of this model, had a natural talent as a gunsmith. He has about 70 developments and 40 inventions to his credit. Half of the samples he made are still in service today. But the most popular is APS.

This was Stechkin’s diploma work at the Tula Institute. The incident that happened to Stechkin during his defense is widely known. One of the professors examining him, having become acquainted with the operating diagram of the pistol, said that this model would not fire. Stechkin took out the prototype he had made and fired a shot at the ceiling. As a result, the commission gave him the highest score and commissioned the development of this weapon.

After a while, after some modifications and testing, the pistol was put into service under the APS marking. And since 1952, large-scale production began.

The APS was simple in design and maintenance, like the PM. But much more powerful due to the long barrel and more rounds in the magazine. In addition, it has a holster-butt, which is attached to the handle, which significantly increases the accuracy of the shot.

Due to the elongated barrel and excellent ballistics, the shot is much quieter, unlike the PM. And the installation of a tempo retarder made it possible to provide the APS with better controllability even during burst fire.

One of the main advantages of the Stechkin is the low recoil and tossing of the pistol when firing. This makes it possible to perform high-speed single shooting with high accuracy. And also control the amount of ammunition.

Despite the use of ammunition with low ballistic indicators, the APS has excellent shooting accuracy - better than that of the PM. Due to this, he gained popularity among employees of the OGPU, as well as other special forces.

This is due to the fact that during use, some of the advantages of Stechkin became disadvantages. Thus, due to the bulky butt holster, which increases the accuracy of the shot, it was inconvenient to wear the APS. The weight of the weapon is 1.03 kg, plus the weight of the holster is 0.55 kg. You need to get used to the APS: the slightly tilted handle does not allow you to shoot offhand.

As a result, for staff officers the pistol was very large, but for combat officers it was low-powered; they needed a full-fledged machine gun. And yet it remained in service until 1981.

The model was actively sold to foreign countries. APS, for example, was presented as a gift to the leaders of friendly states. Thus, the APS was the personal pistol of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.

Design

The MP-355 Stechkin traumatic weapon is manufactured by Izhmekh; it is a remake of the popular APS combat pistol. The model fires 9 mm rubber cartridges. The barrel is rigidly fixed to the frame. There are several “teeth” in the barrel channel, which prevent the firing of live ammunition. One “tooth” is located below the chamber, the other is on top 1 cm from it, then the smooth bore begins.

Trunk

A long, smooth section of the barrel bore has a positive effect on the power and accuracy of the weapon. The barrel at the end has a narrowing of 6 mm. Automation operates on the principle of recoil during free movement of the bolt frame. The double trigger has a trigger type; you can fire with pre-cocking or self-cocking. The trigger is quite tight and has a long stroke.

There is no queue mode. The flag-type fuse is located on the left side of the bolt frame.

Shop

The pistol is fed with ammunition from a standard clip of a Stechkin pistol, but the MP-355 is equipped with magazines that are equipped with cartridge limiters of up to 10 pieces. The stopper appears as a depression in the rear of the holder, approximately 0.8 mm, which makes it relatively easy to remove. Or installing a native APS clip for 20 rounds of ammunition.

The clip latch is located at the bottom of the handle. The pistol is equipped with a sector sighting device. Advantages of the MP-355, in contrast to the APS-M: the tooth under the retarder lever on the bolt frame is not removed, and instead of 2, one trunnion is filed.

Such injuries as Leader, Naganych, Kombrig, PM are purchased, as a rule, as working historical models of pistol models and are rarely used for self-defense. One of the reasons for this circumstance is that traumatic replicas of combat pistols were not created for concealed carry at all.

The same applies to the MP-355 weapon, but today comfortable holsters are being made for use by Stechkin by intelligence officers, and when choosing the right holster, even such a large injury can be carried concealed.

The MP-355 model is quite large, but, like a real Stechkin pistol, it is relatively light in weight for its size. Like its combat counterpart, the MP-355 is easy to maintain due to its design features and has a long service life. Stechkin's main advantage is his main base.

A review and shooting of the Stechkin traumatic pistol can be seen in this video:

Barrel channel device

The Stechkin MP-355 traumatic pistol is a modification of the combat APS, using a 9 mm caliber. In the non-combat model, these ammunition are replaced by 9 mm RA cartridges, which are capable of causing traumatic effects.

Adaptation of military weapons to traumatic cartridges entailed changes in the barrel. In the “trauma”, the diameter of the barrel channel is smaller than that of the Stechkin combat pistol. As a result of the adaptation, the barrel in the MP-355 was rigidly fixed to the frame. In addition, the barrel channel is equipped with two special teeth that prevent the firing of hard bullets.

Also, these teeth prevent the use of those ammunition whose bullets are capable of reaching speeds higher than those allowed by Russian legislation. The size of each tooth is half the diameter of the barrel canal. They are located at a distance of 10 mm from each other. One is located behind the chamber, and the second is on the opposite side of the barrel channel.

In addition to these teeth, weapon designers also provide six-millimeter narrowings in the muzzle sections of the MP-355. Reviews from the owners of these traumatic pistols indicate that due to the presence of teeth and narrowings, the weapon has completely lost the ability to shoot a solid bullet.

Models created based on the Makarov pistol are also subject to similar modifications. If we compare the “injuries” designed on the basis of such combat pistols as the PM and APS, then in the MP-355, unlike the Makarych, no swelling of the barrel channels or bulging of the teeth from frequent shooting was found.

Upon external examination of the muzzle, many potential buyers often have the impression that the barrel channel of the traumatic Stechkin is very thick. But that's not true. The barrel consists of two compressed main parts containing one barrier. By its design, the MP-355 pistol is more durable than its competitor “Makarych”.

More about weapons

The pistol was manufactured at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. Its retail sales began in mid-2007. The weapon immediately attracted the attention of connoisseurs and buyers - primarily due to the fact that the injury was an external copy of its combat counterpart. And even when it later became clear that, in accordance with the requirements of Russian legislation, the traumatist cannot fire steel charges, nor conduct automatic fire, like its combat “brother,” interest in it did not decrease at all.

As already mentioned, in terms of design, traumatic and combat “Stechkins” are very similar. This is a direct benefit for owners of traumatism. In the event of a conflict situation, the impressive appearance of the MP 355 alone is capable of reasoning with the attacker: who knows, maybe they are targeting you with a combat Stechkin, and not with a trauma weapon. So, first of all, the APS MP 355 is a weapon of psychological influence. Although its technical capabilities are impressive in many ways.

Advantages and disadvantages of weapons

The redesigned Stechkin turned out to be a rather controversial model, and the first buyers brought down a barrage of criticism on it.

First, let's look at what prompted them to purchase:

• "Formidable" design and historical value for collectors;
• High-quality accuracy and accuracy of fire;
• Damaging force sufficient for self-defense;
• Parts produced in the Soviet Union have a long service life and do not cause any complaints;
• Relative availability of spare parts and service, in comparison with foreign models.

And now about the obvious disadvantages of APS-M:

• Excessive dimensions and weight - the pistol is suitable for sporting purposes or shooting for fun, but is not very convenient for constant carrying;
• A “congenital” defect in the trunk, leading to inevitable swelling. Correctable by polishing and heat treatment;
• A constant problem is frequent bullet bursts in the barrel. Polishing is needed again, this time of the bullet entrance;
• Significant trigger pull inherited from the original;
• Small magazine capacity;
• High price even at the start of sales.

Stechkin design and ammunition

The design of this pistol deserves some attention. First, we should not forget that it is made on the basis of a military weapon, which already speaks of its strength. If you dig further, it turns out that the developers did not weaken the frame of the gun, which indicates the highest working life of the gun. This is a big plus for those who plan to use the pistol for sport or recreational shooting.

The design of the barrel also evokes a certain enthusiasm in every future buyer. If you look at the muzzle, you immediately get the impression that the barrel bore is thick-walled, but the first worldview does not correspond to reality. The barrel consists of two main parts pressed together. There is one obstacle inside his channel. In general, this design is more durable than that of Stechkin’s direct rival, Makarych.

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To fire this pistol, 10x22T cartridges are used. Naturally, many would prefer to use 9 mm RA charges, but at the moment all types of 10x22T ammunition are not particularly inferior in power and efficiency to the latter type. Many people are more unhappy with the fact that the developers have reduced the magazine capacity - it is now 10 rounds, as opposed to 20 in the combat version.

Technical properties:

• For shooting, 10x22T cartridges are used;
• 252 mm long;
• 140 mm - barrel length;
• 152 mm in height;
• 33 mm wide;
• An unloaded pistol weighs 950 grams;
• The magazine holds 10 rounds.

The main feature in choosing ammunition is that you won’t be able to shoot with weak cartridges - you will simply be faced with the problem of reloading after each shot, and you won’t be able to shoot with strong ones either - the cartridges will simply burst or blow out. Therefore, each client should be prepared that he will have to spend the first few months of using the gun searching for good cartridges.

Traumatic pistol Mr-355

Almost all domestic traumatic weapons are based on combat models. It has already happened historically that our manufacturer strives to save on everything, so very often, until recently, they practiced adapting combat pistols that were decommissioned or taken from warehouses. One of the last such samples was a traumatic pistol based on the Stechkin APS pistol, with the name already changed MP-355 .
As the name implies, IzhMekh was engaged in the production, or rather reworking, of this weapon, and I must say that this time the weapon turned out to be quite tolerable. Let's try to get to know him better. The most remarkable thing about this traumatic pistol is that it is completely identical in appearance to the APS pistol, because it is made from the same one. Of course, in the process of adaptation to traumatic cartridges, the pistol lost the ability to conduct automatic fire, the design of the weapon itself was weakened, and the barrel was also replaced. The result was the following device: weight - 1.22 kg without cartridges, length - 225 mm, barrel length - 140 mm .

It feeds 9mm RA cartridges from a detachable box magazine with a capacity of 10 rounds, which expands to a capacity of 20 rounds in just a couple of minutes. It’s just that the manufacturer limited the feeder’s travel to the usual depressions on the magazine, which are very easy to align, and sometimes simply do not have any effect on the feeder.

The weapon comes with the same wooden holster-butt, as well as two magazines. Despite the fact that the weapon lost the ability to conduct automatic fire, the manufacturer did not bother and the switch for the safety and operating modes of the pistol has the same three positions as the original, just one of them is useless.

As is clear from the weight and dimensions of the weapon, the pistol is not compact and is not suitable for concealed carry , especially if its owner does not have large body dimensions. However, this traumatic pistol is a real find for those people who have been blessed by nature with large dimensions and for whom even the PM seems miniature. For the average person, this pistol is more of a collector's value, since carrying such a pistol with you all the time is quite inconvenient.

However, this weapon also has its advantages, namely that this pistol is a copy of a fairly well-known and formidable model, so you can count on the attacker simply getting scared, but if not, then you’ll have to shoot.

Traumatic pistol MP-355 (delivery set)

By the way, about shooting. The effectiveness of a traumatic weapon has always been determined by the barrel of a pistol, since it was it that dictated which ammunition could be used and which not. The barrel of the MP-355 traumatic pistol turned out to be far from ideal. The fact is that there are two fairly sharp “teeth” welded into it; they are usually welded very firmly, but you still need to check this point when purchasing. So, the barrel itself and the obstacles in it can withstand the most evil ammunition that is now on the market of traumatic weapons among 9mm RA, but the design of the barrel is such that not all cartridge bullets can leave the barrel intact.

Unfortunately, bullets with kinetic energy of over 70 Joules simply explode in the barrel, and this makes the weapon ineffective. What saves the gun is that this defect can easily be corrected by “peeling”, but one must remember that the purpose of such a procedure is not to grind off the “teeth” completely, but only to slightly round off the sharp edges so that the bullets stop tearing. Sooner or later, with constant use of the weapon, this would still happen, so there is always an excuse that it was the weapon itself that was rounded so beautifully and neatly.

MP-355 pistol barrel

Since the MP-355 traumatic pistol is made of military weapons, in principle it is not recommended to stick your hand anywhere other than the barrel, since everything should work like a clock. In the barrel, you can polish the bore and chamber to a mirror shine, but the latter without fanaticism, just a little, and not so much that the cartridge case begins to dangle in it. In general, there is really nothing to add to the weapon other than the barrel, unless the sample is converted from a very used one, but then it is unlikely that anything can be done on your own, so you need to especially carefully check everything possible in the weapon when purchasing, after all, IzhMekh.

In general, the weapon turned out to be very specific and does not reach the level of a normal means of self-defense in the form of a traumatic pistol, but a good set of pistols makes it quite often chosen by the buyer, even despite the very high price. After all, virtually every person who is even slightly interested in firearms would like to become the owner of an APS, albeit not a combat pistol, albeit without the possibility of automatic fire, but still a fairly well-known pistol all over the world. It is for this reason that this pistol is often purchased for recreational shooting, and not for self-defense, although everyone has personal preferences.

Welded “teeth” of the barrel of the MP-355 traumatic pistol

Thus, we can note the following positive qualities of this type of weapon : - adaptation of a combat pistol, which allows us to talk about the quality of the components of a combat pistol, of course, except for the barrel; — use of widely used 9mm RA ammunition; — an excellent delivery set, in which only two magazines have a practical purpose; a wooden butt holster is of little use; - large capacity of stores without difficult manipulations with them.

Negative qualities include: - large dimensions, heavy weight, complete unsuitability of the weapon for self-defense due to the reasons listed above; - not the most successful design of a pistol barrel, which requires modification, while the modification procedure itself is on the verge of legality; - very high price of weapons.

Thus, we can conclude that for self-defense it is better to choose a more compact and lighter model, unless, of course, you stand out due to the dimensions of Nikolai Valuev, although why do you need a trauma weapon with such data?

/Kirill Karasik, specially for Army Herald/

• TAGS
• weapon
• traumatic weapon

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6 COMMENTS

1. Peter Mar 27, 2013 at 11:09

The review is based on inaccurate and insufficient information.

1. The delivery set includes 4 magazines (except for the pistol and the holster-butt), which is confirmed by the pistol’s passport, which indicates the complete set. 2. The MP-355 is a gas pistol (and not a “traumatic”), which is confirmed in practice at least by the fact that not a single gun store has the right to sell cartridges with rubber bullets to the owner of the MP-355; You can only buy gas or blank cartridges; there is no need to write about bullets exploding. The use of rubber bullet cartridges in the MP-355 is illegal and will result in license revocation and confiscation of the pistol. 3. It is not true that the MP-355 is completely identical in appearance to the APS pistol: the MP-355 has a very small exit from the barrel (5.5 mm versus 9 mm for the APS), the engraving on the bolt, consisting of a number and a shield with a star, has been cut off and the year of manufacture of the APS (on all APS this is immediately noticeable; the absence of engraving immediately allows us to conclude that this is not an APS). Therefore, whether the MP-355 is aimed at a person, it immediately “shines” with its signs of a gas toy. 4. It is not correct to write about the use of widespread 9 RA cartridges, since this misleads the reader: for self-defense in a pistol, only gas cartridges can be used, but they still need to be found (In Russia, only one manufacturer produces such cartridges; but supplies are not regular; gun stores stupidly don’t buy PP9G (demand for them is small); and the “cherry cherry” contained in PP9G is, in general, nonsense). 5. The MP-355 pistol does not require any modifications because There are no obstacles to firing gas cartridges. Even in 2011, when it was still possible to shoot rubber bullets from the MP-355, the pistol did not require any modification (all owners note that the pistol shoots out of the box). This conclusion is confirmed by the fact that in no forum you will not find a description of how any of the owners of the MP-355 worked on modifications and solved any problems with shooting (but there is a lot about the modification of APS-M and pistols based on PM) .

• scrabler Mar 28, 2013 at 17:35

Characteristics of the air pistol Baikal PM MP 658 K Makarov (Blowback)

Story

The development of the pistol was carried out since 1948 by the young engineer Igor Yakovlevich Stechkin, who joined TsKB-14 that same year, and the first prototype was presented in 1949. After approval of the project, factory tests, a number of modifications and military tests, the pistol was accepted into service. The weapon could fire both single shots and bursts.

The APS pistol was intended to arm officers, sergeants, soldiers of certain specialties and crews of combat vehicles that were not entitled to a machine gun or carbine. At the same time, it was rightly believed that the PM pistol would not be sufficient for self-defense in the event of a clash with the enemy.

However, the use of the pistol in the army revealed a number of shortcomings - the inconvenience of wearing a massive holster-butt, the large dimensions of the weapon and the impracticality of automatic fire. The handle with a small angle of inclination takes some time to get used to and is not very suitable for “instinctive” shooting offhand. Most officers considered this pistol to be overly large and uncomfortable for everyday carry, especially in peacetime conditions. Along with the pistol, it was necessary to carry four loaded spare magazines (each with 20 rounds) in pouches, which further burdened the serviceman.

As a result, in 1958, the APS was discontinued, and in the 1960s, the bulk of army pistols ended up in warehouses (although it was in service with certain categories of military personnel, in particular grenade launchers (RPG-7) and machine gunners (PK), until the early 1980s).

At the same time, the APS, which has better shooting accuracy, less recoil, less barrel toss when firing and much greater firepower than the PM, continued to be used by the KGB of the USSR and military personnel of some specialties of the GRU Special Forces.

Due to the increase in crime rates in the second half of the 1980s and 1990s, the Ministry of Internal Affairs required a more powerful weapon than the Makarov pistol that was in service. Since before this “police” small-sized submachine guns had not been produced in the USSR, the Stechkin pistol turned out to be quite acceptable as a temporary solution to the problem. Subsequently, along with it, submachine guns chambered for the same 9×18 cartridge were adopted, however, the proven “Stechkin” still retains a certain popularity in our time.

After the collapse of the USSR, the pistol was used in various local conflicts.

• Thus, during the fighting in Chechnya, pilots and snipers were armed with APS pistols as personal weapons of self-defense [ source not specified 1447 days
  ].
• is currently in service as a personal weapon for pilots of the Russian air group in Syria

Ammunition

In the process of creating a traumatic model, the manufacturer reduced the volume of the pistol magazine. If the Stechkin combat pistol held 20 rounds, then the MP-355 had their number halved. The reduction in store volume was carried out, in the opinion of consumers, not in the most reliable way. In these “traumas”, the rear walls of the magazines are equipped with special millimeter riveting.

Their task is to prevent the cartridge feeders from going down. If you want to equip a traumatic pistol, like a basic combat pistol, with twenty rounds, you can simply remove these rivets. When performing this work, we should not forget that these actions are illegal.

Some owners charge in a different way - without removing the rivets. To do this, it is enough to first equip the MP-355 magazine with ten rounds. Then you need to apply a little effort and start loading the eleventh cartridge. After the existing obstacle in the store has been overcome, loading the “trauma” with the remaining nine rounds will not be difficult.

Many owners of the MP-355 note that after performing these actions, problems with feeding cartridges often arise in the pistol. This is explained by the difficulties of the reverse motion of the feeder. During operation of the pistol, after repeated charging and reloading, this problem disappears.

From this we can conclude that the volume of the MP-355 magazine is unlimited. Whether to expand it or leave it in the same state depends on the owner of this “injury.”

Pros and cons of the pistol

Disadvantages of the model

APS is a heavy weapon, not ergonomic and quite large. Does not allow concealed carrying, insufficient power to conduct full-fledged combat operations. The standard cartridge has mediocre ballistic characteristics and insufficient penetration of the ammunition.

Advantages of the model

The pistol is reliable, can withstand up to 40 thousand shots without significant repairs. It has good ballistic characteristics for such a cartridge; the barrel length allows it to effectively hit targets with a small spread of bullets at distances of up to 100 meters. Also, thanks to the design, the sound of the shot is reduced, simplifying the use of the silencer. The design of the trigger allows for high-speed shooting with single shots, which is good for short-range battles.

Getting permission

Traumatic pistols are relatively affordable and quite effective for self-defense. Due to gun laws, a pistol must be licensed to purchase and use.

To obtain a purchase license, you need to collect the following list of documentation:

1. Application form to the district Ministry of Internal Affairs for a license.
2. Document confirming completion of courses on the rules of using and handling a pistol.
3. A check that confirms payment for the services of licensing authorities and the production of a form for the right to use a pistol.
4. Report from the local police officer on checking the correct storage of weapons (installation of a gun safe, security of locks).
5. Certificate of good conduct.
6. A medical report confirming the absence of contraindications for obtaining a pistol permit (given at the clinic at your place of residence).

If the licensing department makes a positive decision, then within one month, if you have a civil passport, permission is given to purchase a traumatic pistol. Otherwise, a justified refusal will be sent.

The range of pistols is large. When purchasing, it is best to choose a weapon that is reliable, easy to maintain and operate, for example, a Stechkin pistol. The purchased weapon must be submitted for shooting within 14 days.

At the same time, the following documentation is submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs:

1. Shot cartridges, which are sealed in special packaging and accompanied by accompanying documents (if the cartridges are provided by the manufacturing company).
2. A copy of the permit to purchase a weapon with the store’s note about the sale.
3. Application form for permission to store and use.
4. Receipt for payment of the state fee for registering a pistol.
5. Two 3x4 photos.
6. An insurance policy that is issued when obtaining permission to purchase a pistol.

Ammunition

Initially, this traumatic pistol was equipped with Italian-made 10x22T cartridges. However, many owners of these “traumas” prefer to use the optimal 9 mm R.A. ammunition. AKBS company.

When choosing ammunition for the MP-355, the owner must take into account the peculiarity of this traumatic pistol, which is that shooting with weak cartridges can lead to problems with reloading: the pistol will have to be reloaded after each shot.

Also, in order to prevent ruptures and inflation of cartridges, it is not recommended to use reinforced ammunition in this traumatic pistol. When firing cartridges designated “Lethal+”, the high speed of the bullet-ball will lead to its rupture while passing intra-barrel barriers.

The best situation has developed with Magnum ammunition from the manufacturer AKBS. When passing through obstacles in the barrel, bullets explode much less often. However, when using these cartridges, you need to be prepared for the fact that if the ball does explode, you will have to shoot again.

Many MP-355 owners recommend using cartridges produced by . The kinetic energy of this ammunition is 70 J. From this we can conclude that low-power cartridges such as 9 mm R.A. are ideal for the MP-355 Stechkin traumatic pistol. They are very effective for target practice. But, due to their low power, they are of little use for self-defense.

Selecting the optimal cartridges for this traumatic pistol will take some time. Anyone who is planning to purchase an MP-355 should be prepared for this.

Specifications

• Caliber: 9mm R.A.
• Weapon length: 225 mm
• Barrel length: 140 mm
• Weapon height: 170 mm
• Weapon width: 34 mm
• Weight without cartridges: 950 g.
• Magazine capacity: 10 rounds

Photo nobninsk.ru

Traumatic self-defense weapon - ooop

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