Stechkin air pistol - review of Gletcher APS (NBB+BB) models

Story

Since, unlike the more famous Makarov pistol, some readers are currently hearing about Stechkin for the first time, let us begin with a little historical background.

APS - Stechkin automatic pistol. Introduced into the Soviet Army at the same time as the Makarov pistol - in 1951. Intended for use by officers in combat situations, as well as for soldiers and sergeants of special forces.

Combat APS

It won over the PM due to its greater combat effectiveness, the presence of a holster-buttstock in the kit, and, of course, the ability to conduct automatic fire. But due to its large dimensions, as well as dubious use in real combat, the pistol was discontinued in 1958. But even after this, Stechkin was in service with the army for a long time. Currently, it is better known for modifications and modifications based on it, as well as for the abundance of copies - traumatic and pneumatic.

Device

The APS NBB model is made of metal alloy. The only exception is the cheeks of the handle, which are made of brown plastic with small notches. All visible parts are functional. In particular, a magazine release button, a flag-type safety lock in the color of the cheek of the handle, blocking the trigger and its pull. The manufacturer even left Russian designations on the fuse. However, unlike the original, it does not have an automatic mode.

The barrel is smooth, steel, it is motionless during shooting - accordingly, the metal bolt moves. The bolt stop lever is activated when there are no balls in the cage. There are 22 of them that fit in there (to avoid jamming, it is better not to load the last ball).

The magazine is inserted into the heel of the handle from below. Nearby there is a place for a gas canister. To install it, you need to remove the plastic cover (left) by pressing on a small hook. The clamping screw is located inside; to access it, there is a hole in the heel, where you need to reach with a hexagon. Which is very inconvenient.

The rear sight is plastic, adjustable using a wheel, and here it copies the original one well. The wheels are marked with marks from 25 to 200. Naturally, our pneumatic gun will not be able to shoot at such distances, so this marking corresponds to other values. Which one we will determine experimentally. The front sight is not adjustable, however, it is the same as the original one.

Pneumatic copies

Currently, the Stechkin air pistol is produced by Umarex and Gletcher. There are also rumors about the planned launch of Stechkin by our Izhevsk plant, possibly in an airsoft adaptation.

Today we’ll focus on the version from Gletcher. In its execution there are two modifications of this pistol:

1. Air pistol Gletcher APS (Stechkina) NBB – without BlowBack system
2. Air pistol Gletcher APS (Stechkin) BB – with BlowBack system

From a functional point of view, the differences between them are precisely in the blowback, so those interested are offered video reviews of these models.

NBB

BB

Specifications

After looking at this wonderful toy, I want to summarize everything down to the level of dry numbers:

Equipment

The standard Glatcher kit is a gun, a long hexagon for tightening the hidden cylinder clamp screw, and waste paper. Among the paper, as always, the explosion diagram on the lid of the packaging box stands out, a pleasant Glatcher trifle for those who like to dig deeper.

Upgrade Gletcher APS NBB

The pistol is popular not only among collectors, but also among fans of hardball competition or as a toy for shooting at targets, bottles, and other targets. Over time, you may need to repair your weapon or want to upgrade a new APS.

It is possible to convert the NBB APS into a blowback APS. We take a syringe of 5 cubes and cut off the conical part by 5 mm with a knife. Then we cut off the back of the piston by 5 mm. Having sanded it first, drill a hole in the center. Remove the needle from the body and pull the piston onto it. We put everything back together and lubricate the cylinder with gun oil - you're done.

If the magazine and handle begin to dangle, then these defects are eliminated with the help of furniture pads, gluing them to the clip or handle. Using superglue, it is better to immediately secure the rear sight and fill the gaps between the bolt head and the weighting material to prevent cracks in the bolt. For reliable operation of the return spring, attach the trigger guard with a self-tapping screw, or replace the weak part with a spring from the Makarov pistol - MP-654.

Face

The external and weight similarity to the original is at the proper level; fans of collecting copies of military weapons will appreciate it. The main material is silumin, the handle lining is made of plastic. The bright manufacturer's inscriptions on the body can be easily “cleaned” to the base paint.

The Gletcher APS (Stechkin) air pistol has a thin non-balloon magazine, which is pulled out by sliding the lining of the clamping screw. Designed for 22 balls. When the magazine is emptied when firing, the pistol’s slide stop is triggered – and we don’t release blanks with the blowback, and this is another small pleasant addition to the selection when purchasing.

The fuse, as in the original, is a flag fuse. The manufacturer even left the classic marks in our language - PR (fuse), OD (single), AVT (automatic). But, unfortunately, the Stechkin air pistol cannot be switched to automatic mode. Considering that Gletcher already has automatic representatives (remember the BRT 92FS auto), and Stechkin is better suited for this performance than anyone else, perhaps in the future the manufacturer will come to its senses.

The pistol fires by self-cocking, but there is also the possibility of pre-cocking the hammer. Many consider the Gletcher APS (Stechkin) air pistol to be an example of an accurate, cheap air weapon, so pre-cocking will come in handy here. Although the Glacier descent is not so difficult... In any case, another plus to the surroundings.

The cylinder is located under one of the handle pads (as in Walters). To some, such a decision may seem dubious, especially in the field of its application in hardball fights. The lid fastening looks fragile, and you can break something while steaming it. But the main problem with using this pistol in operational conditions is replacing the cylinder, which is done using a special long hexagon. Although in the field of using a pistol as a beautiful additional weapon or for destroying bottles, you shouldn’t think about this.

Operating principle

A gas canister is installed in the device. Balls are poured into the magazine, then it is inserted into place. The weapon is ready to fire. When you press the trigger, the feeder moves, pushing the ball forward and feeding it into the barrel.

With further movement of the trigger, the sear is disrupted and energy is transferred to the valve stem (through the trigger and the hammer). The valve, moving, releases gas, causing the ball to fly out of the barrel. After shooting all the balls in the magazine, the pistol is locked into the slide stop.

Incomplete disassembly

Copies of domestic weapons basically copy even incomplete disassembly of military originals. Stechkin's air pistol was no exception.

1. Removing the magazine from the pistol grip.
2. Separating the bolt from the pistol frame.
3. Removing the return spring from the barrel.

In general, everything is the same as everywhere else, and like in Makarov. But unlike the latter, the bracket (necessary for separating the bolt) is not fixed here. But the effort to move it away is not at all the same here, so there will be no problems. For those who want to watch, I’ll once again recommend the videos above.

Disassembling and cleaning weapons

Incomplete disassembly of a weapon is carried out in the same way as a combat APS. First, the magazine is removed. Then you need to make sure that there is no cartridge in the chamber. Next, you need to pull the trigger guard and move the bolt back, followed by lifting it. Remove the return spring from the barrel.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not provide information about completely disassembling the pistol in the instructions.

It is recommended to lubricate contact and moving surfaces exclusively with special weapons-grade lubricants. Watch the video to disassemble the pistol:

After applying oil to the surface, it is recommended to put the gun aside for some time (1-2 hours) so that the oil eats away the dirt - after which it can be easily removed by simply wiping with a cloth. After wiping, you need to lubricate all contact surfaces again.

Sights

The sights here, like on most pistols, are open. Standard front and rear sight system. Particular attention is drawn to the design of the rear sight, which copies the original. For adjustment, a special roller with marks 25-50-100-200 is used (the numbers reflect corrections for the firing range of the combat Stechkin in meters). It is clear that the Gletcher APS (Stechkin) air pistol does not conduct targeted shooting at such distances, so you will have to choose the optimal value already in combat conditions.

Hardball application

In this aspect, we will be interested in two parameters - power and accuracy.

The declared (and actual) speed of the pistol is 120 m/s. The long barrel takes its toll. Stechkin’s Gletcher APS air pistol should not be classified as a powerful pneumatic, but it copes with the task of destroying bottles with a bang. The pistol's power is also favorable for peacefully taking out hardball players as a secondary weapon or in building fights. Let us note that the pistol is in the category up to 3 J, which means you can quite safely fire from it even in urban conditions, without particularly fearing for government sanctions.

Once again, the long, fixed barrel makes it quite accurate in its class. Of course, the version with BlowBack will give greater spread when shooting at a tempo rate.

As a nice addition, it is worth noting the number of shots from one cylinder - about 80. Sometimes this will be enough for a full game day.

Advantages and disadvantages of the model