The Lebedev pistol is one of the latest developments by Russian gunsmiths. The Makarov pistol adopted for service by the army and law enforcement agencies, although it allows solving the assigned tasks, in comparison with the new developments of foreign manufacturers, it looks outdated or does not correspond to modern performance characteristics. The new models of Izhevsk gunsmiths PL-15 and PL-15K are worthy competitors to foreign analogues and, as expected, will find use as standard weapons for law enforcement agencies and demand in the commercial market.
History of creation
The Kalashnikov concern began developing the PL-14 model in 2014 under the leadership of lead designer Dmitry Lebedev, a student of the famous developer of Soviet sporting weapons Efim Khaidurov.
Dmitry Lebedev
Initially, the task was set to develop a model suitable for both sports and combat use. The idea and prototype of the new weapon were actively supported by the advisor to the general director of the concern, two-time world champion in practical shooting Andrei Kirisenko. The development of the first sample took less than a year and FSB specialists and sports shooters took part in it as consultants.
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Stepanov Maxim Sergeevich
Honored Master of Sports in Bullet Shooting
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The ISSF discipline is rifle shooting at a moving target. 25-time world champion (5 in individual competition, 20 in team competition). Mechanic of the 4th category for the repair of civilian and service weapons (School of Gunsmithing named after Leonard Vasev).
During testing, firing from submarines was carried out in different temperature conditions from -50 to +50 degrees and in a chamber under “double dust with sprinkling” conditions. The first prototype was ready on September 19, 2014. For the first time, the PL-14 model was presented to the attention of specialists in 2015.
Pistol PL-14
A year later, after improving some surface elements, a modification of the PL-15 was presented at the Army-2016 forum. The Lebedev PL 15K pistol was optimized in 2022. for easy wearing; it has reduced weight and size with a slight decrease in quality characteristics. In addition, by 2019, a sports model PL-15 SP1 was developed and is at the stage of official approval.
Pistol PL-15
Why were submarines created?
According to the designers, the new weapon should replace the Yarygin “Rook” MP-443 pistols in service, the practice of which most experts call a failure in the army. The main disadvantages of this model are unreliability, inconvenience of use, protruding elements that cling to clothing and a large number of small parts. Facts of injury while using Yarygin’s pistol were also noted.
Lebedev was given the following tasks:
- reliable operation with any 9x19 mm cartridge;
- better ergonomics, taking into account dimensions and weight;
- safety in operation;
- durability (lifetime of at least 10 thousand shots with 7N21-01 armor-piercing cartridges);
- versatility of the grip and mirror arrangement of levers, equally suitable for right-handers and left-handers.
Prospects for further use
In 2022, tests were carried out on a compact version of the Lebedev PLC pistol (PL 15K). Based on the test results, the PLC was approved for adoption by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. At the moment, the exact date for the launch of mass production has not been determined; according to the company’s statement, the planned date is 2022.
Pistol PL-15K
Prospects for further use
During the Army-2017 exhibition, a version of the Lebedev PL-15K pistol was presented, characterized by reduced dimensions and weight. The firing mechanism remained unchanged. A compact modification of the pistol was created to arm police officers and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The weapon must undergo comprehensive testing under various operating conditions, based on the results of which it will be possible to draw a conclusion about the chances of adoption.
At the Army 2016 exhibition, a prototype PL-15 with an elongated barrel and rifling for installation of a silent firing device (silencer) was shown.
Review of the design of the Lebedev pistol
Lebedev's pistol operates on the principle of automation, using the recoil inertia of the bolt coupled to the barrel during a short stroke. Unlocking is carried out by lowering the breech of the barrel due to the tide located under the breech. Locking occurs due to a hook in the upper part of the barrel when engaging with the cartridge case extraction window.
Tactical and technical characteristics (TTX) of the Lebedev pistol
| PL 15 | PL 15K | |
| Automation operating principle | Barrel recoil | |
| Weight (without magazine), kg | 0,8 | 0,73 |
| Length, mm | 205 | 185 |
| Height, mm | 136 | 130 |
| Thickness, mm | 28 | |
| Barrel length, mm | 112 | 92 |
| Number of cartridges in the magazine | 16 | 14 |
| Sight type | Open | |
| Sighting range, m | 50 | |
| Cartridge | 9x19 Parabellum | |
How Lebedev's pistol is ready to surprise
This weapon impresses with its aesthetic forms, resembling a sports weapon in appearance. The weapon is ergonomic and balanced. Much attention is paid to trouble-free shooting. The design of the chamber makes it possible to use ammunition with cartridges of non-standard sizes. According to expert reviews, the pistol surprises with its ease of grip and firing.
The pistol is distinguished by the ability to use high-power ammunition. According to this parameter, according to the designer’s statement, it exceeds the bulk of foreign analogues by 30%.
Specifications
| Options | Values | ||
| PL-14 | PL-15 | PL-15K | |
| Caliber | 9x19 mm | ||
| Weapon length | 220 mm | 207 mm | 180 mm |
| Weapon height | 136 mm | 130 mm | |
| Thickness (in handle) | 28 mm | ||
| Barrel length | 127 mm | 120 mm | 92 mm |
| Weight without cartridges | 800 g | 720 g | |
| Magazine capacity | 15 rounds | 16 rounds | 14 rounds |
Design specifics
Handle
In Lebedev's pistol, special attention is paid to the comfort of the grip and the ergonomics of the handle. The handle expands from the base to the center and bottom to provide a deep fit in the hand. Its angle of inclination is greater than that of its analogues, which made it possible to speed up shooting offhand. The axis of the barrel is as close as possible to the line of the hand to reduce the toss of the barrel when firing. The removable U-shaped cheeks of the handle are made of plastic; in the lower part there is a hole for attaching a pistol strap.
Muzzle
The barrel in the PL-15 modification is removable; it is possible to install an extended version with threads for attaching a muffler. The front and rear sights are replaceable, are not adjustable as standard and are mounted in dovetail mounts. There is also the option of using a collimator sight. The lower part of the receiver is equipped with a Picatinny rail for mounting a laser designator or tactical flashlight.
Lebedev pistol trigger mechanism
In the basic version, the trigger has a double action, an inertial firing pin, the trigger is closed, and the fire is self-cocking. The mechanism takes up significantly less space than in other pistols. This was done in order to ensure a minimum distance between the upper edge of the rear part of the handle and the axis of the barrel. Trigger force – 4 kg, trigger stroke – 7 mm. The relatively tight trigger makes it almost impossible to fire spontaneously, for example, if you fall or accidentally lightly press the trigger with your finger. However, subsequent modifications provide a less tight trigger of 2.5 kg and a stroke of 4 mm.
Safety and bolt
The design is equipped with an additional two-way manual safety that separates the trigger from the hammer. At the end of the bolt there is an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the barrel in the form of a protruding pin. Thus, the shooter can determine the presence of ammunition in the bolt visually and by touch. Shutter delay levers and magazine release buttons are located on both sides. All controls are recessed into the body to give the weapon a streamlined shape. The bolt frame is made of aluminum alloy.
Advantages and disadvantages of the Lebedev pistol
pros
Thickness and weight. The PL pistol is 5 mm thinner than the Austrian Glock and 100 grams lighter
More powerful cartridge compared to PM
Reliability against contamination, water ingress and temperature changes
Possibility of equipping with additional devices
Insensitive to the use of defective or non-standard ammunition
Greater accuracy of hitting the target
Ergonomics
The estimated cost of serial production of the model is lower than that of analogues
Minuses
Smaller magazine capacity compared to modern analogues. This is explained by the lack of reliable springs, but this problem is expected to be eliminated in the future.
Poor quality chrome plating of the barrel was noted
It is difficult to switch the safety lever and slide stop while wearing gloves
The tight trigger in the base model negatively affects shooting accuracy
There is no ability to adjust the trigger force
The diagonal notch on the bolt casing allows it to be held more tightly when cocking. The Picatinny rail on the receiver, in addition to its main task, plays the role of a weighting agent, shifting the center of mass concentration forward and reducing barrel toss.
The Lebedev pistol received the nickname “Kalashnikov pistol” in the foreign press. The American publication “The National Interest” responded quite warmly to the new weapon, calling it “a quantum leap for the Russian military.”
Combat and sports modifications
The Lebedev pistol has the following modifications.
- PL-14 – initial prototype 2015.
- PL-15 (MPL-1) - improved model 2016.
- PL-15K (PLK, MPL-2) – model 2022. with reduced dimensions and weight for law enforcement agencies.
- PL-15 SP1 – sports version 2022. The SP1 action is equipped with a Red Dot scope mount.
- PL-15 01 – variant of PL-1 with less trigger force.
Difference between PL-15 and PL-15K
The PL 15K pistol (compact) is a smaller version of the PL-15 model, primarily oriented to the requirements of law enforcement agencies. It is lighter due to its smaller dimensions and smaller magazine. The handle of this modification has semicircular recesses for easier magazine removal. The magazines are not interchangeable. There is a variant of the PL-15K with a polymer bolt carrier.
Main differences from other pistols of domestic and Western production
The main difference from other known pistols of similar design and size is the relatively smaller weight and thickness of Lebedev’s pistol and a more “sporty” silhouette due to the larger angle of the handle. In comparison with the main potential competitor - the Glock pistol, the warranty life of the barrel is significantly lower, at the same time, the PL-15 allows the use of more powerful ammunition (when using the domestic 7N21-01 cartridge, the pistol has a muzzle energy of 630 Joules). In general, no fundamental innovations were noted that distinguish the pistol from its foreign analogues.
The PL-15 differs favorably from its domestic analogue - the Yarygin pistol, produced by the same Kalashnikov concern, which is today declared the main pistol of the Russian Armed Forces. In the PL-15, the problems of trouble-free shooting have been eliminated, the weight of the weapon has been reduced, a metal frame has been used instead of a plastic one, and parts that cling to clothing have been recessed.
"He was a good boy"
These are the words that Dmitry Lebedev, a design engineer at the Izhevsk arms concern Kalashnikov, described the display of his creation at the Army 2017 forum. The pistol performed very well at the exhibition, hinting at its combat potential.
And if you consider that the team of engineers worked on the compact version on a residual basis, devoting most of their efforts to the full-size modification, then it turned out very well. If you still have to use the pistol in real conditions, then rest assured: the PL-15K will definitely not let you down.
Pistols
- Israel
- Spain
- Mexico
- South Korea
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- Montenegro
- Croatia
- Japan
- Norway
- Ukraine
- Vietnam
- USA
- Great Britain
- Finland
- Hungary
- Germany
- Serbia
- Switzerland
- Poland
- France
- Belgium
- Italy
- Austria
- Russia/USSR
- Brazil
- Türkiye
- Argentina
- Canada
- UAE
- Jordan
- China
- Bulgaria
- Slovenia
- Czech
Results
As of 2022, the Lebedev pistol can be characterized as the best domestic development for mass production in its class. The design takes into account the experience of predecessors and achieves the required reliability and trouble-free operation. One of the features of the weapon is the use of the 9x19 Parabellum cartridge, which is new to the domestic arms industry. The main advantages of the pistol are ergonomics and shooting accuracy. However, final conclusions about the qualities of the PL-15 can be made after the launch of mass production and taking into account the experience of combat use.
Mass production of the PL-15 was planned to begin in 2016, but the start of production was postponed to 2022. In addition to the combat version, traumatic and pneumatic replicas of the PL 15 are expected to appear on the market.
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Main differences from other pistols of domestic and Western production
Developers and manufacturers emphasize the many advantages of the Lebedev pistol, which distinguish it from other domestic models. Among them:
- Best handle ergonomics;
- Small thickness;
- The absence of weapon elements protruding strongly beyond the side edges;
- Highest reliability and safety in handling;
- The ability to fire any type of 9x19 mm caliber charge, including armor-piercing ones;
- Two-way control type (equally convenient for shooting with either of the two hands).
At the same time, the submarine, being somewhat lighter than the Boa Constrictor, which is similar in design, is inferior to the latter in terms of the power of ammunition having a longer cartridge case length.
Lebedev's pistol has high accuracy and accuracy of fire, including in the offhand and rapid fire modes. As experts note, this is facilitated by the relatively low location of the barrel axis, which reduces the toss of the pistol as a result of recoil after a shot.
The service life of the PL-15 pistol in terms of rounds is at least 10 thousand rounds, and based on Russian reinforced 7N21 cartridges, the power is superior to commercial 9x19 mm ammunition.
When shooting with sporting and hunting cartridges of normal power, the submarine's resource can show a significantly greater value. Although the standard warranty life of Glock pistols is noticeably higher - 40 thousand shots, and the actual firing of many copies of these practical Austrian pistols, famous for their reliability, amounts to several hundred thousand shots.
The undoubted advantage of the Lebedev pistol is its compactness for its class. The mass of the submarine, which is actually one kilogram, is sometimes considered “too large,” but the submarine still weighs less than the famous Berettas and Glocks comparable in characteristics.
PL-15 with all kinds of “body kit”
