The compact LLC Shark 9mm PA is one of the most compact self-defense weapons on sale in the Russian Federation. The pistol is manufactured by the Turkish company Target Technologies LLC and is designed specifically for the purpose of concealed carry - its compact dimensions, as well as the minimum number of protruding parts, speak for themselves. But, unfortunately, it is the compact dimensions that create difficulties in operating the weapon - the internal parts are located literally flush against each other, and if the weapon is seriously contaminated, the entire pistol can become wedged.
Review of the traumatic pistol "Shark"
The Shark pistol belongs to the class of subcopact weapons. It is convenient to hide under clothes due to its small size and light weight. But despite its rather unimpressive appearance, it is a fairly effective weapon, not inferior to many models of larger trauma weapons.
This injury appeared on the arms market relatively recently - at the end of 2010. The manufacturer took the design of the Streamer traumatic pistol as a basis. But, it must be said, the characteristics and parameters of the Shark have proven themselves to some extent even better than its predecessor.
The Shark traumatic pistol model is designed in such a way that it has virtually no protruding parts, which is convenient for everyday wear. Either in a holster under light summer clothes, or in a coat pocket. The handle fits quite comfortably in the hand and is stable during recoil. The weight of the pistol is practically not felt, the sight is well adjusted, and this leads to good shooting results.
Characteristics of the Shark pistol
In order to make the right choice when purchasing any weapon, first of all, note all the pros and cons of the chosen model. Let's look at the main characteristics of the Shark traumatic pistol:
- Pistol weight – 460 grams;
- Caliber – 9 mm;
- Barrel length – 51 mm;
- Fire mode – single;
- Cartridge – 9 mm RA;
- Single-row magazine capacity is 6 rounds.
Thanks to the way the barrel is designed, the Shark pistol allows you to shoot cartridges of any power, although it is designed for bullets with kinetics of 70 J. True, the barrel of a traumatic gun can hold charges with high kinetic energy for quite a long time, but the constant use of such cartridges leads to that the shutter fails prematurely. The use of bullets with less than 50 J of power leads to a delay in the cartridge case in the ejection window or in the form of an already fired cartridge case remaining in the chamber.
Pistol design
The design of the Shark traumatic pistol, as already mentioned, is best suited for everyday carrying of weapons.
Although the weight of the weapon is low, the pistol is made almost entirely of steel. However, some manufacturers can replace the material of the shutter casing with TsAM alloy, reinforcing it with steel inserts.
The frame of the pistol is made of plastic that is pleasant to the touch, the rough surface of which helps to hold the pistol while shooting. The shape of the frame itself also has special finger-friendly ridges, which helps to hold the weapon in your hand.
The handle does not have a special protrusion for the little finger due to its small size. A recess for the finger is made at the bottom of the handle.
The magazine of the Shark pistol is made of steel, with a developed heel, which helps to better hold the weapon in the hand. It is easily removed and has the same locking lever design as the “Makarych”.
The fuse for this model of traumatizer operates in two positions. The advantage is that the trigger can be locked even when it is cocked.
The pistol's trigger, like the entire body, is made of steel, but the hook itself and some pistol control elements were replaced by the manufacturer with a zinc-aluminum-magnesium alloy. This does not affect the weight or strength of the model.
And although the design of this type of injury is not impressive, it also plays the role of an “unpleasant” surprise during self-defense. This traumatic pistol, despite its small form, poses a tangible threat to the attacker due to its high destructive power.
Design
The barrel of the pistol, as befits a traumatic weapon, has limiters, the distance between them is quite large. The design includes a safety cock, which is made to compensate for the shortcomings of the single trigger.
The magazine includes 6 rounds, it is removed according to a similar principle as a Makarov pistol - the latch is located at the bottom of the handle. The magazine has a plastic cover with a front lip for easy holding. The controls are located on one side; these are a non-automatic safety and a bolt stop. The sights are open and non-adjustable.
The shooting accuracy, power and rate of fire of the Shark model are similar to the characteristics of another well-known pistol among Russian consumers, the Streamer.
The barrel design is similar to that of this model, but it does not have channels on the sides. The firing pin is external, and at the same time it is an indicator of the location of the cartridge in the chamber.
Safety during use is ensured by the safety catch and safety cocking of the hammer. You can safely carry a pistol in combat readiness only with the safety on.
Features of cleaning the Shark traumatic pistol
Due to the small size of the gun, all the parts are very close to each other, and this affects their condition - the parts become dirty quite quickly. Dirt, as you know, has a bad effect on the condition of the weapon, and therefore it is necessary to process the Shark traumatic pistol on time.
Neither the trigger nor the gun barrel need modification, and therefore it will be ready for use immediately after the first cleaning and lubrication. If desired, you can polish both the contacting parts and the channel in the barrel of the pistol, but this will not bring any changes to the operation of the weapon. The only thing that must always be remembered is that if you use a gun for a long time without cleaning and lubricating it, then, like any weapon, it will fail without the right to restore its working qualities.
The cleaning itself will not take much time - the Shark can be easily disassembled and assembled:
- We remove the magazine and twist the bolt to make sure that there are no cartridges in the chamber;
- We remove the weapon from the safety catch and turn the safety flag 180 degrees;
- We remove the flag at the moment it comes out above the frame;
- We move the shutter to the rearmost position;
- Raise the back of the shutter above the frame;
- We remove the shutter by moving it forward.
Assembly is also easy - all steps are performed in the opposite direction. The only difference is that the flag should enter the frame at an angle not of 180, but only of 90 degrees, and after it is engaged, we turn it another 90 degrees.
Disassembling the pistol
The barrel and mechanisms must be cleaned to ensure reliable operation. The disassembly sequence is as follows:
- remove the magazine;
- turn off the fuse;
- pull the bolt to make sure there is no cartridge in the chamber;
- Pull back a little and hold the shutter, remove the shutter stop lever;
- pull the shutter completely, lift the rear part from the guides;
- remove the bolt from the barrel, smoothly releasing it forward;
- Remove the return spring and guide rod.
When cleaning a Shark weapon, you need to start with the chamber and barrel, which become dirty more quickly after firing. Apply neutral oil to the puff and lubricate the barrel and other contaminated parts. Wait 5-7 minutes, insert the brush into the trunk and move it along the trunk several times. Remove remaining oil with a visher. Clean all remaining parts. You need to reassemble the gun in reverse order.
The Shark pistol must be cleaned after each use. After work, carbon deposits form in the bore, rubber particles and unburnt gunpowder remain. Together they create an aggressive environment that is harsh on the metal, which will gradually lead to shorter lifespan, shot delays and failures.
The pros and cons of Shark trauma
In principle, all the positive aspects of this model of traumatic pistol have already been discussed above. The small dimensions and weight of the weapon, and its ability to fire high-power charges with a short barrel speak in favor. In a positive aspect, both the build quality itself and some aspects of using the weapon are considered.
However, like any model of traumatic, and indeed any weapon, the Shark also has its drawbacks:
- Due to the design of the trigger, the first shot cannot be fired by self-cocking even if there is a cartridge in the chamber. The hammer must be cocked first, immediately before firing;
- The pistol magazine has one row of cartridges, which requires time and skill to reload;
- The magazine is inserted into the handle at a certain angle, which also requires certain skills and time;
- Problem with ammunition. The kit includes only one magazine, and it will not be possible to quickly replenish the stock, because the latch is located at the bottom of the handle and is inconvenient to use, especially if the shooter is wearing gloves;
- If there is a large grouping of fire, you will still have to adjust the shooting accuracy yourself by adjusting the rear sight and front sight. When firing, the gun deviates a little higher and to the left.
Shooting from the Shark is carried out with precision, single shots and only after preliminary cocking, but the speed and accuracy of fire are quite high due to the easy operation of the trigger mechanism
Pistol design
The trigger mechanism is single action, which is a little incompatible with the concept of a self-defense weapon - quick extraction and a lightning-fast shot. If there is no maintenance for a long time, the owner runs a high risk of being left without a weapon - the breakdown of one part often entails the breakdown of one or two more. Only one physical fuse is responsible for safety when worn, the control flag of which is located on the left side of the pistol.
That is, the pistol allows the weapon to be carried in a loaded state, but in this case it is necessary to either release the trigger or set the safety to a safe position - the design of the pistol allows this.
The small dimensions of the pistol do not allow people of large build to grasp the weapon normally - the handle is designed to be grasped with only three fingers, while the little finger will “hang”. Also, for the sake of size, the magazine has also been trimmed down - the Shark Shark pistol, caliber 9 P A, holds only six rounds. The magazine is made of steel, but the heel of the magazine is made with a plastic stopper. The magazine release button is located on the bottom of the handle, similar to the latch on the PM.
The firing pin is external and also serves as an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber. The barrel is steel, capable of withstanding cartridges of greater power, but at the same time it has a chamber that is too thin for this. The trigger mechanism is also made from weapon grade steel, as is the bolt housing, and the pistol frame is made from glass-filled polyamide. But thanks to the successful design of the trigger, the Poseidon P18 Shark airsoft pistol is produced on the basis of this pistol.
Also in the Russian Federation you can find the Shark Kurs SO pistol - a cooled model of a traumatic pistol, which is also called the “Shark Kurs SHP pistol”
Shark is one of the most effective traumatic self-defense pistols
Taking into account all of the above about the Shark injury, we can say that it is one of the most convenient and effective pistols of this class:
- With all its advantages and a minimum of disadvantages, it is an excellent competitor not only to pistols of its subcompact class, but also to many large traumatic models;
- The pistol is comfortable enough for shooters with both small palms and those with large hands;
- The holster of the Shark traumatic pistol can be easily hidden under clothing even in the summer;
- Handling and maintaining the weapon does not require much effort, since the pistol can simply be disassembled.
The Shark traumatic pistol is ideal for self-defense and target practice.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Shark pistol is attractive, first of all, due to its compactness and lightness, perfect for concealed carry. It uses standard, common bullets. Made from lightweight modern materials, strong and durable. Good firing range, low recoil. Disadvantages of the model: trigger mechanism, few cartridges in the magazine.
As a traumatic pistol, the Shark fully justifies its purpose. The small weapon fits into a pocket and is not noticeable under clothing, which will be appreciated by users. The handle is ergonomic, comfortable to hold in your hand.
