Pistol PMM: description, pluses and minuses

Pistol PM, in fact, the grandfather among modern weapons. It was created in the distant 40-s by the outstanding designer-gunsmith Makarov. But the war prevented this equipment from being brought to mass production. And only after its end was organized the next contest.

The basic requirements for designers were such that the new sample was compact and had a self-cocking shock-trigger mechanism (USM). The PMM gun was perfectly suited to these conditions.

Prehistory of appearance of the PM

Actually, everything was heard about Makarov's product. But not everyone knows that he had his own special story of being born.

In the prewar years, already used not less famous TT. But nevertheless, the search for optimal weapons for the commanders of the Red Army did not stop.

The personal weapons of the commanders from the master Tokarev appeared as supporters and opponents. Therefore, the gun not only found real flaws, but also sought out the far-fetched. What kind? Well, for example, one of the conditions that TT should have met was shooting through the observation slot from the tank!

Yes, the tank without the use of a pistol became defenseless ...

The main reason for the transition from TT to PM was that the latter has a more pronounced stopping effect. The 9 mm bullet PM gives the body most of its energy, and does not stitch it through like a TT.

Competitors

Nevertheless, the artillerymen of the USSR I. Rakov, S. Korovin, P. Vojvodin, F. Tokarev and others worked in the framework of the 1938 contest to create a new personal weapon of the Soviet Army commander.

After the tests, which turned out to be lengthy and dramatic, the Voevodina pistol won. But the war that broke out did not allow it to be mass-produced.

After the war, a new contest was organized, and already at this stage the PMM pistol of the weapons master Makarov won.

PM cartridge

For the new product it was also necessary to create a new cartridge. True, there is an opinion that replacing the cartridge with a size of 7.62 × 25 mm for others (9 mm) made it possible to cut off old ammunition, which in those post-war years was very much in private hands.

The basis for the development of the new cartridge was the pre-war German "GECO 9x18 mm Ultra". But the new ammunition for "Makarov" differed from the German by the more impressive bullet diameter.

After such works, Makarov's PMM pistol became the main weapon that servicemen and police were equipped with until the end of the 1980s.

Modernization of the PM

Until the early 90's in the arsenal of law enforcement and military personnel, the PM was the main weapon. But the demands of the time led to the need to create a more powerful means of destruction. Makarov's modernized PMM pistol was developed as part of the "Grach" competition.

In the course of work under the new product, a reinforced cartridge 9x18 mm PMM was created. The new munition possessed a lighter bullet and a reinforced charge of gunpowder. Its speed has changed from 315 m / s to 430 m / s.

Under the new cartridge was created and a new pistol - PMM, the prototype of which was the standard PM. PMM received and increased in size store of high capacity to 12 cartridges. For more convenience in operation, the personal weapons of the command staff received and adapted cheeks of the handle.

Air gun

Pneumatic pistols were widely used both for sporting purposes and for leisure activities by wide sections of the population. The variety of this type of weapon is such that it will satisfy any requirements and preferences of fans of shooting sports.

The pneumatic pistol MP 654K PMM constructively reproduces the combat model of the PM. This model is completely made of weapon steel. The barrel is rifled, its length is 9.6 cm. The gun frame is slightly weakened, unlike the combat PM. But the bolt is retracted and put on the shutter delay exactly as in his gunshot fellow.

Pneumat retained almost the same weight and size, as well as combat:

• Weight - 730 grams.
• The total length is 16.9 cm.
• The height is 14.5 cm.
• The width is 3.5 cm.

In the handle of the pneumatic machine, instead of a cage with cartridges, a can of compressed gas with a volume of 8 or 12 grams is provided. It also contains a valve and a cassette for 13 bullets in a spherical shape, which can be either coppered or steel.

Traumatic PM-T

The PM-T is a completely different type of weapon than the pneumatic pistol "MP 654k Grach" (PMM). The prototype for creating a trauma was the fighting "Makarov". But in the trunk, just behind the chamber, a septum-pin is installed. The very barrel, in contrast to the combat, is made with weakening grooves.

The main goal pursued by the developers of PCB LLC and JSC ZID was to preserve the "historical value" of the weapons. For this purpose, the minimum number of modifications was made in the design of the gun.

For those who bought such a copy, it was important that it was not only a weapon of self-defense, but was also known as a collector's specimen. This is due to the fact that initially the pistols were manufactured as a product converted from combat PMs, which were manufactured from 1950 to 1980.

Among other things, the pistols that were produced during the Soviet era were distinguished both by the highest quality of steel, and by the reliability of production and processing of planes. Such characteristics favorably distinguish this version of the pistol from modern brethren.

Those who managed to buy PM-T (and they were released only about 5000 pieces), have not lost. If earlier the price of a gun in arms stores was in the range of 16-18 thousand rubles, then at present it can be bought "with hands" for a price exceeding 50,000 rubles!

PMM-12

Makarov's modernized PMM-12 pistol is a self-loading weapon, which is based on the principle of free shutter release. Also, there is a self-cocking mechanism, which makes it possible to open fire without preliminary cocking.

Tactico-technical characteristics of PMM-12:

• Cartridges - 9x18 PM (9x18 PMM) caliber 9 mm.
• The weight of the pistol is 760 g.
• The length of the whole pistol is 169 mm, with a barrel length of 93.5 mm and a rate of fire up to 30 rds / min.
• The store is increased to 12 cartridges.

At the exit from the barrel speed of the bullet:

• 315 m / s - for the PM;
• 430 m / s - at the PMM.

However, we must take into account that the improved characteristics of the PMM pistol are manifested only with cartridges that were developed specifically for PMM. And if you do not take into account the availability of a store with increased capacity, PMM in its characteristics is equal to the PM, which even in combat can not hit targets in armored vests.

The merits of the pistol include the following:

1. It's a pretty solid pistol.
2. Very reliable weapon.
3. The maintenance is quite simple.
4. Compact.
5. Availability of spare parts.

Disadvantages of MMP:

1. It is necessary to apply a sufficiently large force to the trigger.
2. Lack of advanced sighting devices.
3. Non-ergonomic handle.
4. Insufficient quality of barrel manufacturing.

At a low target range of 50 meters, PMM is mainly used by law enforcement officers. If you use a gun as a combat weapon, then, basically, it is considered by servicemen as a weapon of the last chance.

Special forces also use the PMM-12 pistol with a silencer. Such a transformation makes it possible to apply this version of the PMM during special operations. However, it should be noted that in most special forces currently used by other, more modern pistols.

The appearance of PM in the international market

But the international recognition of the PM was achieved after the 80's, when the Berlin Wall collapsed, and the guns flowed from the stocks of the former GDR.

If earlier "Makarov" was produced in the USSR not for commercial sale, but only for the needs of the army and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, now hundreds of thousands of pistols manufactured in China, Hungary, Poland and the former Czechoslovakia can be found on the arms market.

It is especially interesting that the "Makarov" product is very popular in the USA. The arms market for private owners is already quite extensive there, but it was not easy to meet Makarov before. Now PM for Americans has ceased to be an exclusive weapon, and now in the United States there are entire clubs of fans of the Russian pistol, which hold each other's superiority in shooting from the "Makarov" product!