One of the means of self-defense is a traumatic weapon, in particular a revolver, although in certain circles such weapons are not considered seriously. The reason lies not only in his striking ability. The relatively small dimensions play a role here, as well as the small amount of ammunition in the drum.
Although it is necessary to note the reliable and trouble-free operation of revolvers, which cannot be said about pistols. This negative attitude is confirmed by statistics. In the market of domestic self-defense equipment classified as limited destruction firearms (LLD), revolvers were not in demand due to the low impact characteristics of .380 GUM ammunition. But the idea of weapons was radically changed by the Ratnik revolver, which was developed in Nizhny Novgorod and produced at the Degtyarev plant.
We are talking about the device in the past tense for the reason that the first model has already been discontinued, and it was replaced by an improved version that has undergone some tuning. To appreciate the changes, it is necessary to briefly review these models. Let's start with the “Warrior” model, the name of which did not have any indexes.
History of the pistol
Travmatika Ratnik is a conversion of the previous AKBS revolver for 13x45 mm ammunition, so first you need to separately describe the parts changed in the weapon. In general, the design of the Ratnik is practically no different from its analogue. This is an angular traumatic weapon, where there are no parts that cling when removing the revolver from the pocket.
It appeared on store windows in 2010, and at the same time the range of .410x45 Runner cartridges was expanded. It cannot be said that the revolver is inferior in performance to its predecessor, which uses two-bullet 13x45 ammunition, since the new caliber has many advantages.
In other words, the revolver has not yet received popular recognition, despite the fact that its performance is much higher than its predecessor. This was probably due to the fact that the cartridge in the new Ratnik is single-bullet, while the old analogue used a two-bullet cartridge. It showed effective results, although it did not have high accuracy when fired. The new trauma equipment does not externally attract consumers because it looks angular, it is quite heavy and uncomfortable.
The weapon has a large mass of 750 g when loaded, which is 250 g more than the mass of its predecessor, but it must be said that this weight is the result of a metal drum, while in the previous model of the Warrior it was silumin.
This added mass to the weapon, but at the same time made it reliable. The revolver frame is made, as before, from silumin. Thus, it is easy to conclude that the gun is more reliable only during loads on the drum; if there is an increased load on the frame, then, most likely, it will not be able to withstand, even though the pistol perfectly withstands accidental falls.
There is also no need to worry about the new Ratnik breaking during shooting. It not only has a metal drum, but also a trigger. In addition, the new .410x45 caliber ammunition has a reliable cartridge case, which reduces pressure on the chambers.
The updated cartridge contains only one rubber ball, which, by and large, benefits accuracy when shooting. In addition, the bullet power has been increased and, importantly, the new ammunition is now almost 2 times cheaper.
The reason for the price reduction is that the cartridges are made from a .410 caliber metal case. But, alas, initially there was an unfortunate mistake with this ammunition, because, despite the fact that the cartridge was shortened to 45 mm, Ratnik often inflated it, which significantly complicated the extraction of spent cartridges.
The problem was solved very simply; a felt wad was included in the design of the ammunition. The cartridges began to be loaded with red or black rubber balls, their weight is 3.6 g, and the actual diameter is approximately 15 mm.
The updated barrel of the weapon is also interesting; while in the previous model there were two partitions in the barrel, in the new Ratnik it is smooth. This significantly reduced the load when shooting, and, accordingly, increased the service life of the revolver. By and large, the barrel in Ratnik plays its role only partially, since the main part of the ball moves along the sleeve and only then along the barrel channel. The length of the weapon remained unchanged, so after shooting the ball encounters almost no obstacles on the way before hitting the target.
If we consider other improvements in the design of the Warrior, then there are none. This is a five-shot weapon with a double trigger. The trigger in the updated model does not protrude as in other revolvers and is not completely hidden; on the back there is a small slider with notches.
It must be said that this decision was quite successful, since in models with an open trigger there was a huge chance that it would get caught on clothing when removed. In weapons with a hidden trigger, shooting is carried out only by self-cocking. Naturally, during self-defense, when sometimes there is no time even for preliminary cocking, this is not so critical, but for entertainment this is a disadvantage, since the trigger force is higher.
The weapon has not changed in appearance, only the drum is different. But along with the advantages of the previous model, the new Ratnik also acquired disadvantages. Firstly, this is a poor coating on the weapon frame; it will peel off after just a few shots. But here it is necessary to clarify that most owners see this only as an advantage, since it is possible to personalize the weapon. But now it is much more difficult to scrub a metal drum.
In general, the traumatic Ratnik is a fairly convenient and reliable revolver that uses cartridges of excellent quality and performance. They are quite effective for self-defense from a distance of 4 m, and are also great for shooting on vacation.
The only thing that confuses me is the appearance of the revolver, but to remove all doubts, you just need to pick it up. The small amount of ammunition that fits in the drum is compensated by the effectiveness of the weapon. But five charges is not so little, if you think about it.
The issue of security also worries many people. Like almost all revolvers, the Ratnik does not have a safety lock, however, this is not a disadvantage at all. Its absence is an advantage of the weapon for self-defense, since it is not necessary to disable the safety mechanism before use.
Moreover, operational safety is at the highest level; of course, significant effort when pressing the trigger is not enough to protect against an involuntary shot, which is why it is recommended to leave the drum chamber near the firing pin unloaded. Thus, the weapon is absolutely safe, and in self-defense you only need to press the trigger twice.
Review and shooting of the Ratnik traumatic revolver can be seen in this video
Review of the Ratnik traumatic revolver
When the Ratnik revolver went on sale in 2004, many buyers treated it rather coldly. Among other models of traumatic weapons, it looked angular and a completely inconvenient weapon to use. However, all this was just an optical illusion, and therefore, despite the unusual design, this traumatic weapon has proven itself to be a completely effective weapon. At the time of its release, “Ratnik” was one of the weapons of that time that would not fail after just a few shots.
The basis of the “Ratnik” was the “Udar” revolver complex, although the travmat itself had few elements left from its predecessor.
Technical characteristics of Ratnik
| Characteristic | Parameter |
| Barrel length | 6 cm |
| Overall length of the revolver | 16.9 cm |
| Width with drum | 4.4 cm |
| Frame thickness | 2.2 cm |
| Height | 14.2 cm |
| Caliber | 410x45 Rubber |
| Weight without ammunition | 0.5 kg |
| Number of cartridges in the drum | 5 items |
Ammunition for the Ratnik traumatic revolver
Special mention must be made of the cartridges used in the Ratnik. Traumatic cartridges 13x45 were made only for the “Ratnik”, and therefore this set of revolver and cartridges was beyond competition. In principle, this ammunition could not be used in other revolvers.
A special feature of the 13x45 steel cartridges (which were originally made of aluminum) was that they were equipped with two rubber balls mixed with metal powder. With a diameter of 12.5 mm, these balls were quite heavy - up to 2.2 g.
Due to the duality of the projectile when fired, the accuracy of the combat has a natural scatter of bullet balls, which must be taken into account for the type of weapon. When shooting for self-defense at a distance of 1-2 meters, the ammunition falls close to each other, but when hitting a target at a distance of 5 meters, their spread is 10-15 cm. This rather large distance is undoubtedly a disadvantage for the Ratnik revolver, as for self-defense weapons.
Design
Ammunition
The Ratnik 410×45 traumatic weapon chambered for the Rubber cartridge was created by the AKBS weapons plant from Novgorod on the basis of the Udar combat revolver. Unlike the previous model, Ratnik uses 410x45 ammunition, which has the same metal sleeve as the 410 caliber cartridge, but it is shortened to 45 mm and equipped with a rubber ball. The updated traumatik was called “Ratnik 410×45”.
Trunk
The main feature is the smooth barrel and drum chambers, which have neither cones nor narrowing. The drum of a traumatic weapon is no longer silumin, but metal. In addition, the frame of the weapon is reinforced with a steel plate near the firing pin so that it is not broken by shell casings. Thus, the power, reliability of the revolver and safety margin have increased significantly.
The traumatik is made according to the classic design of a revolver-type weapon with the extraction of spent cartridges using a folding drum, the latter tilts to the left. The latch is also located on the left side of the case. Loading is done one round at a time. The spent cartridges are removed by pressing the axis of the extractor head. Trigger trigger, double, with semi-hidden trigger. The aiming bar is open and not adjustable.
The Ratnik traumatic weapon, like the Udar combat revolver, is a very original model that has an angular futuristic appearance. By and large, the Ratnik is an effective revolver, designed for use for self-defense, and not for the stylistic features and design of the revolver. It does not have the classic look of a Smith & Wesson or Colt weapon, but is primarily a self-defense weapon.
The disadvantages include the large thickness of the revolver, this is the result of the installed 4.4 cm drum, but only in terms of choice when comparing the Warrior, both with pistols and revolvers. According to other indicators, such as length, height and weight, it can be classified as a medium-sized short-barreled revolver.
For Ratnik, it makes sense to choose a comfortable holster so that the weapon fits comfortably, and is also invisible and quickly accessible. When choosing a Ratnik traumatic weapon to wear, with the right holster, the owner of this revolver will receive a truly effective weapon for self-defense.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of this model are the following:
- smooth barrel without narrowing, which eliminates bullet jamming and ensures shooting accuracy;
- high muzzle energy;
- large bullets, which increase the likelihood of hitting the enemy, including those wearing thick clothing;
- durable frame;
- steel and fast-loading drum;
- long service life;
- comfortable handle.
The traumatic revolver is not without a number of disadvantages. In addition to the unattractive appearance, users pay attention to the large size for such pistols and poor shot accuracy.
Dismantling Ratnik
The main stages of disassembling the Ratnik revolver are as follows:
- We take the bolt with the groover and the washer out of the handle and set it aside. You need to be careful with the latch spring;
- we remove the feeder spring from its stop, which is located on the mainspring shaft;
- remove the trigger pin using a drift (you can use a drill with a diameter of 3.3 mm). We take out the trigger assembly with the pusher;
- we take out the drum latch, and then, by removing the trigger pin, we remove the trigger assembly together with the feeder;
- We remove the pin of the mainspring shaft and take out the shaft itself. This operation can be avoided if you subsequently install the trigger and mainspring from the rear, but in this case you will need to waste your nerves or use an assistant;
- Thus, you get a trigger mechanism that can be upgraded, ground or polished.
Disassembly of the Ratnik traumatic revolver can be seen in this video
Disadvantages of the design and operation of the Ratnik revolver
"Ratnik", according to many buyers of this weapon, for all its advantages, does not have too many disadvantages. One of them is the unstable coating of the revolver frame.
The coating begins to peel and peel almost immediately after the first shot. Therefore, if you often use a revolver, then soon the revolver will turn from a beautiful, black weapon into an unsightly and unaesthetic specimen.
True, this drawback of the revolver does not bother many owners, and they cover their pet with a different color, changing its appearance to their liking.
Another not very pleasant aspect of the injury is its sighting mechanism, which is not quite familiar to shooters - the rear sight sits high above the frame and is offset in the center. This need compensates for the deflection of projectiles when firing. However, Ratnik still cannot boast of the accuracy and accuracy of fire.
Recommendations before purchasing
Today, many consumers choose the Ratnik traumatic revolver. In general, many are happy with this weapon, but it has certain disadvantages. For starters, this is a small amount of ammunition (only 5 rounds), and their quality sometimes leaves much to be desired. Naturally, you need to periodically practice with it, practice quickly loading the drum, but five shots is still not enough. By and large, if you want to buy a second traumatic pistol. Multi-charge systems may be considered.
What needs to be achieved in this case:
- Great resource. The only way to master a pistol well is to periodically and quite actively train with it. Therefore, there is absolutely no need to buy a weapon that will simply break after 500 shots. Many people are not rich enough to buy a new traumatic weapon every six months.
- Reliability. A traumatic pistol is a weapon of last chance, and if it comes down to it, then, accordingly, when choosing “to take risks and go to jail or take risks and go to bed,” many choose the first. Therefore, refusal at a crucial moment is unacceptable. Therefore, only mechanical shooting, no need to use electric pistols. Reliability also includes acceptable accuracy - if a weapon from 7 m gives a large spread, then by aiming at the body you can hit the head - there is no need to buy this pistol.
- Reasonable dimensions and weight. This gun will always be with you. All the time, regularly and daily. Therefore, you should not consider models based on sawn-off shotguns and submachine guns.
- Efficiency. Usually, no one offers a more unfortunate 90 Joules - however, you still don’t want to have a pistol when the most effective use is to hit an attacker in the head, grasping the barrel like a hammer.
- Fast charging. Yes, it is virtually unlikely that anyone will be in a situation where they need to reload a weapon while shooting. However, this possibility should not be ruled out.
The issue of cost in this case is secondary; it is better to spend the money once and then use it for a long time.
How to buy a traumatic pistol
Before purchasing a traumatic weapon, you must obtain the appropriate permit from the licensing department. The presence of such a document is determined by the law “On Weapons”. In modern online stores it is possible to purchase trauma equipment at low prices, and no documents are required. The client has different payment methods and many ways to deliver the purchase.
However, it must be remembered that permitting documents will have to be issued for further storage of weapons. It is not a fact that the seller will provide all the documentation with which you can register the barrel and obtain a license. Buying a revolver in a gun store is more preferable, although the price can reach 25-30 thousand rubles, while online stores offer Ratnik for only 17-20 thousand. Despite the marketing moves, no one has yet canceled the legal framework.
