The 9 mm caliber cartridge used for firing from the Makarov pistol has become one of the most successful currently existing in the world. When creating it, the developers sought to obtain the maximum possible destructive force possible when firing from a weapon with a blowback bolt. It maintains its effectiveness at distances up to 350 m.
Developed in the early 1950s, it remains one of the most popular standards today. Several specially reinforced models of hand weapons, including automatic ones, are produced for it. It is produced in a dozen countries around the world and comes in several types. Let's take a closer look at them, and also what each type of PM 9mm bullet consists of.
PMM pistol - video
By the end of the 1980s, it became obvious that the pistol complex in service did not correspond to the changed conditions for the combat use of personal weapons - the widespread use of personal armor protection required increasing the penetrating effect of the bullet and improving the accuracy of fire. In the early 1990s, a modification of the PM for the new high-pulse cartridge 9x18 PMM was proposed for a competition for a new army pistol. Thanks to the new shape of the bullet, weighing 5.54 g (versus the previous 6.0 g) and the initial speed increased to 420 m/s, ballistics improved, penetration increased, and the likelihood of ricochets decreased. Under the new cartridge, at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, B. M. Pletsky and R. G. Shigapov created a sample that received the designation “modernized Makarov pistol” (PMM0 index 56-A-125M) and was mass-produced by FGUG! "Izhevsk Mechanical Plant" since 1994.
Description
70% of the PMM pistol parts are interchangeable with the PM pistol. The pistol has a reinforced frame and increased bolt weight. The PMM chamber is equipped with spiral grooves, which allows the use of high-impulse 9x18 mm PMM cartridges for firing. When fired, the pressure of the powder gases presses the walls of the case into three grooves on the walls of the chamber, holding the case in the chamber until the bullet leaves the barrel and the pressure decreases, after which the case is extracted and ejected. The maximum pressure in the gun barrel with the new cartridge increased by 15%, which slightly increased recoil.
— the PMM-8 has a standard Makarov pistol magazine with a single-row arrangement of cartridges;
— the PMM-12 has a double-row magazine at the base, which turns into a single-row neck. This scheme made it possible to do without changing the design of the frame and shutter.
The magazine cover protrudes slightly forward, which gives support to the palm and can somewhat speed up reloading. The shape of the handle has been changed to a more comfortable one, which has improved the conditions for aiming and shooting offhand from the right hand. The rear end of the handle has a notch for a more secure hold. Changing the retention devices can significantly improve the accuracy of pistol fire - some estimate the increase in accuracy by 12 times, others (primarily specialists from Izh-Mekh itself) - by 2-2.5 times. Sights are open type - front sight and rear sight with a slot.
However, the PMM cartridge never found widespread use. In addition to the problems common to the 1990s, which made it difficult to launch mass production of new ammunition, the fear that they would start firing high-pulse cartridges from standard PMs also played a role here, which could lead to accidents and injuries. Since the 9×18 PM cartridge remained the main one, the screw grooves on the walls of the chamber were also removed, so that the PMM chamber is now similar to the PM. PMM pistols were supplied to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service, and in small quantities to the army.
Design flaws
Springs in magazines work under overstress, so they quickly lose their elasticity, which leads to delays when shooting. Poor quality plastic from which the feeder is made will cause cracks and wear or breakage of the feeder tooth.
Options and modifications
PMM-8 - model chambered for 9×18 mm PMM with a magazine for 8 rounds;
PMM-12 - model chambered for 9x18 mm PMM with a magazine for 12 rounds;
IZH-70-100 (IZH-70-17A) is a sports pistol, model 1994, chambered for the 9×18 mm PM cartridge, has a magazine for 12 rounds and the appearance of a PMM pistol (differs in an adjustable sight).
“Baikal-442” is an export modification chambered for the 9×18 mm PM cartridge, a sports pistol. In September 2015, certified for sale in Russia as a sports training pistol
IZH-71-100 (since September 2008, produced under the name MP-71N) - a service modification chambered for the 9x17 mm K cartridge, magazine capacity 10 rounds.
Where it occurs[edit]
General[edit]
- Almost any work about the Soviet/Russian militia/police.
- Most of the works are about the post-war Soviet army.
- Any Russian action movie. And also a detective, crime drama or crime comedy. Be it a movie, series, book or something else.
Literature[edit]
- Books by Boris Gromov are almost everywhere. Not surprising, since the author is a riot policeman.
- Suren Tzormudyan, “There will be no second chance” - one of the cosmonauts bears the surname Makarov. Just think, Makarov and Makarov, are there not enough of them? However, the author has a tradition of naming characters in honor of historical figures he respects, and this is a clear homage to Nikolai Fedorovich. And in “The Heritage of Ancestors” Stechkin also appeared.
- Dogs of War - The PM was armed with a Soviet military expert who killed one of the mercenaries and was shot by Shannon. Shannon uses it to kill Colonel Bobi. Not Shannon. According to canon, a Belgian hit him with a bazooka. He almost sawed Shannon out.
Cinema[edit]
- “Case No. 306” is the pistol of police captain Mozarin. First appearance in cinema.
- "Planet of Storms" is the personal weapon of Professor Ivan Shcherba, commander of the Vega.
- "Makarov" is the center of the plot.
- “Atomic Blonde” - every second character, because the action takes place in East Germany. There are at least a couple of authentic GDR-made Pistole Ms present. There is also a non-existent IRL PM with a silencer.
- "The Beast" (1988) - American anti-Soviet propaganda. The spiteful Russian tank commander Daskal willingly uses his service weapon against his crew.
- “Island” - unexpectedly, as an elite weapon. Chrome plated PM in a solid case marked “Makarov 55”.
- “Sheriff’s Star”[2] - PM is used by both law enforcement officers and killers. In the USA, yes.
- "The Student" is a familiar story from Crime and Punishment, now set in modern times. Instead of an authentic axe, the Student uses a Makarov pistol.
- “24-25 does not return” - Mara wears a service pistol in an operational holster of clearly non-Soviet production and looks very fanservicey at the same time.
I know how to grip and hold a pistol like the back of my hand, absolutely!
- “Moscow Heat” - in one of the scenes, the hero of the Nevsky Uotakuot holds his PM: not only does it sideways, but he also grips the bolt from above. When fired, this threatens at least an open fracture of a finger.
Will the hammer even cock? The UPS saw instructions on hand-to-hand combat (a very long time ago, so I can’t say how effective the technique is, etc.), but the principle is the same - the trigger of the enemy’s pistol is clamped. I checked it on an uncharged Izh-79. My fingers are not as pumped up as Mr. Universe’s, but I managed to replicate them in general terms. The trigger is not closed with a finger and is cocked, albeit with difficulty, because it is inconvenient. The chance of getting hit by the trigger on the skin at the base of your thumb is not very illusory (although compared to the consequences of rolling back the shutter, this is not a nuisance at all).
TV series[edit]
- “17 Moments of Spring” is a misconception so popular that it is worthy of mention here: it is believed that Stirlitz shot Klaus with a PM posing as a Walther PP. Due to the fact that the pistol is not in the frame for so long, it is not shown in large detail, so the imagination draws the PM. In fact, he has FN Mod. 1910, depicting himself: such pistols were not uncommon in the Third Reich.
- Dexter is Isaac Sirko's weapon of choice.
- “The Far Side of the Moon” is quite naturally present in the first season of the 1979 police officers (except for the fact that the pneumatic guns were removed from the PM role). It is not particularly present in the second season - police officers in 2011 are not allowed to carry service weapons. But Dymov has Makarov. Award.
- "Boss Lady" - where you wouldn't expect to see a Makarov pistol is in a Japanese drama. But it is here - as a weapon for terrorists.
Anime and manga[edit]
- Urasekai picnic - the main characters are armed with PM pistols, picked up somewhere in the Otherworld.
- Tenki no ko (Weather Child) - the main character found PM during his wanderings. Later, the gun will play a significant role in the fate of the film's heroes.
Video games[edit]
- STALKER - PM (called PMm) is widespread in the Zone and becomes the first pistol for every protagonist. PB also exists, but it is much less common. “Call of Pripyat” contains a unique “Award PMM”, belonging to Major Degtyarev and differing from the original only by the engraving “For the successful completion of especially dangerous assignments and displaying valor and courage,” as well as slightly reduced wear. Just the thing for an undercover SBU agent, especially if he decides to sell or modernize this gun. Justify - actually, we have a Zone, here you can pretend that the pistol was simply “found” from the corpse of a military man. And this will look even more reasonable than believing that the “trunk” is in the hands of the real owner!
