Lebedev pistol PL-15: a weapon you can fall in love with

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it allows solving the assigned tasks, in comparison with the new developments of foreign manufacturers, it looks outdated or does not correspond to modern performance characteristics.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

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”

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

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%.

The Russian Lebedev PL-15 pistol is the best in its class.

The Russian Lebedev PL-15 pistol has become a real “quantum leap,” writes The National Interest. The publication notes that the PL-15 is significantly superior to existing analogues and combines the best qualities of Russian and Western pistols. The main advantage is…

... its automation using the recoil inertia of the bolt coupled to the barrel. The magazine's experts also highlighted the double-action trigger mechanism.

In addition, Lebedev’s pistol is lighter than many analogues, smaller in size and more durable (at least 10 thousand shots). The PL-15 will be adopted by army special forces.

Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (part of the Kalashnikov concern) plans to launch serial production of the PL-15 this year.

Overcome the limit of perfection

It is extremely difficult to make a new self-loading pistol with a movable barrel according to the classical design, which would not be inferior to its famous analogues. It would seem that everything that could be improved has already been improved. Let's say more, recently the best weapons designers in the USA, France, Germany, and Great Britain have tried unsuccessfully to improve the design of the short barrel.

And the cart, as they say, is still there. As a result, the forty-year-old Glock is still considered the ultimate in perfection. More precisely, it was such before the advent of the PL-15. Of course, new metals and alloys, as well as innovative engineering equipment, expand the boundaries of the flight of engineering, but the imagination of developers is quickly limited by the price: the pistol must not only be super, but also affordable for the consumer.

Designer Dmitry Lebedev managed to solve such a difficult problem. Consequently, the appearance of the Russian superpistol speaks of the high competence of the specialists of the Izhevsk arms concern Kalashnikov.

For the first time, the prototype of Lebedev’s pistol was presented to the general public at the Army-2015 military-technical forum. A modified and improved version of this pistol chambered for the world-famous 9x19 mm Parabellum cartridge was presented a year later at the Army 2016 forum. And in 2022, at the Army-2017 forum, the PL-15K pistol was presented to the public, which is a compact version of the standard PL-15 developed in an extremely short time. The pistol is equipped with a Picatinny rail for mounting additional tactical devices; the PL-15 magazine is designed for 14 rounds. According to the Kalashnikov concern, the new product has a number of advantages, which include accuracy and accuracy of fire, the small thickness of the pistol and the ergonomics of the handle.

Russians surprise the world again

So, the PL-12 pistol is the brainchild of the well-known Kalashnikov concern, which explains a lot in the approach to its development. There is no doubt that reliability, convenience during shooting and technological accessibility were put at the forefront. After all, the weapon should replace the workhorse of the operatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and combat officers of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation - the Makarov, which is more than 70 years old. Let us remember that in the 2000s they already tried to change the Makarov to the Yarygin, when an experimental batch of pistols with this name entered military units. However, officers complained about its heaviness, unreliability and even inconvenience. In many ways, this was due to tolerances during metal processing with the simultaneous increased complexity of manufacturing parts. As a result, the assembly of the short barrel left much to be desired, and its protruding parts literally interfered with removal from the holster. In short, the Yarygin was abandoned, but the idea of ​​making a new Russian pistol received new impetus.

In 2015, the general public first heard about the PL-14 pistol, in which the numbers indicated the year of its presentation. Nevertheless, work on its development continued. Soon the PL-15 appeared, but even after the display of this weapon at the Army-2016 exhibition, testing and design of a new version, the PL-15K, was underway. However, it has already become known that the Lebedev will definitely enter service.

"Lebedev" with long and short descent

Each pistol has a safety (and sometimes several), however, people forget to install it, or the lever is triggered by accidental actions of the gun owner. Then spontaneous shots happen with serious consequences. Shots are also common when falling on the floor. All this is called careless handling of weapons.

Pistols PL-15K and PL-15 together Taking into account this negative experience, the PL-15 implemented both long and short triggers. In the first case, the likelihood of accidental use of a short-barreled weapon is significantly reduced, and in the second, the speed of reaction to threats from the enemy sharply increases. True, such a sensitive pistol is intended for real professionals from the special services. It is also stipulated that the Lebedev will be supplied to the army and for sale, both with a standard and with a long barrel - 120 mm and 207 mm, respectively, as well as with magazines for 15 and 30 rounds. It can also be equipped with a collimator or laser sight, as well as an under-barrel flashlight. Will not let you down in battle

Knowledgeable fighters say that the worst thing in a shootout is the pistol misfiring, when the difference between life and death depends on a split second. Numerous tests, including those under extreme conditions, have shown that the Lebedev can be trusted just like a Kalashnikov assault rifle. It was tested during dust storms, in heavy rain, in severe frost, and it never failed. But everyone’s favorite “Glock” is terrified of water, even in small quantities. For example, if caught in moderate rain, it can misfire fatally.

The Lebedev also differs from the Makarov in that the PL-15 fires a 9x19 mm Parabellum cartridge, which provides the bullet with energy up to 620 J. And this is twice as powerful as the 9x18 Makarov bullet. Even with these powerful cartridges, the new pistol will last up to 10 thousand shots. Convenient and unnoticeable

The Lebedev is 5 mm thinner than the Glock - 28 mm versus 33 mm, which allows it to be carried concealed. Its dimensions are adjusted so that the holster does not treacherously protrude from the hem of the jacket. And it is lighter than its famous Austrian “colleague”. The weight of a standard PL-15 is only 800 grams, while the Klok has a mass of 900 grams, and the Beretta 92 has a mass of 950 grams.

It is also important that the pistol at the Kalashnikov concern was developed taking into account the wishes and recommendations of specialists from the FSB special forces training center, as well as famous sports shooters. Designer Dmitry Lebedev adapted the weapon as much as possible for convenient shooting in order, firstly, to reduce the negative effects of recoil and, secondly, to avoid a significant upward throw after the shot. As a result, the fighter, using the PL-15, easily and quickly returns the barrel to aiming, thereby gaining valuable time for a second shot.

Considering that successful pistols have been in demand for decades, or even more, the Lebedev will most likely become the personal weapon of several generations of Russian officers.

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.”

Disadvantages of the design

The safety and bolt stop levers, which do not protrude in the submarine beyond the side edges of the frame, are noted by many experts as a disadvantage of the weapon. In their opinion, this may cause difficulties when accessing these controls while wearing thick gloves. This point, as well as the small contact surface of the rear notch on the bolt and the insufficiently wide trigger guard, put a big question mark on the successful operation of the submarine as a military pistol.

Lebedev's pistol, even in the PL-14 version, was harshly criticized for having too long a barrel, which is especially significant for a police weapon. In this regard, a direct analogy was drawn with the Stechkin pistol, which, primarily due to its size, was supplanted by the less bulky and more convenient to carry PM. In addition, a very tight trigger, which increases the safety of the weapon, on the other hand, cannot but have a negative impact on shooting accuracy.

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.

For what?

Does the Russian Federation need another pistol now?
After all, Russia is not America, where millions of pistols and revolvers, both domestic and foreign manufacturers, find their buyers in stores every year. In our country, we can talk about launching mass production only if there are prospects for government procurement for law enforcement agencies. Of course, there are still athletes who have the right to rent short-barreled weapons through clubs, but there are too few of them to count on independent production, and not the possibility of the appearance of a “sports” version of the serial model for security forces.

PYA, GSh-18, SP-1

At the moment, not counting the legacy of Soviet times - the Makarov and Stechkin pistols - three pistols have officially been adopted by the security forces of the Russian Federation: 6P35 (PYa, Yarygin pistol), 6P54 (GSh-18, Gryazev-Shipunov) and 6P53 (SP-1 , Serdyukov pistol). But, although they were adopted by the Russian Ministry of Defense back in 2003 (and in some law enforcement agencies even earlier), not a single one was able to gain a firm foothold in the system.

The Yarygin pistol has the best position simply due to the production capabilities of the Kalashnikov concern.

But there are also perhaps the most complaints against the PY - even to the point of mentioning defects in the pistol in connection with the death of fighters, as was the case in October 2022.

The next - at one time actively advertised candidate - "Strizh", aka AF-1 Strike One, did not pass tests at TsNIITochmash (Central Scientific Research Institute of Precision Engineering - Ed.), and now it is just “one of » Numerous Western pistols.

Since not only sports shooters, but also special forces of various law enforcement agencies have purchased Western weapons in recent years, this eloquently indicates that the proposals of the domestic manufacturer did not satisfy their requests. Alas, not everyone can “break through” into purchasing Glocks.

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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