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MP-443 Grach

Semi-automatic pistol From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

MP-443 Grach
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The MP-443 Grach[a] (Russian: MП-443 Грач, lit. 'rook') or "PYa", for "Pistolet Yarygina" ("Yarygin Pistol"), following traditional Russian naming procedure (Russian: Пистолет Ярыгина), is a Russian 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

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Development

The development was headed by the designer Vladimir Alexandrovich Yarygin [ru].

It was developed under designation "Grach" in response to Russian military trials, which began in 1993.

In 2003, it was adopted as one of the standard sidearms for all branches of Russian military and law enforcement, alongside the Makarov, GSh-18, and SPS.

Mass production of PYa pistols started in 2011.[3]

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Design

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An MP-443 Grach field stripped to its main parts

The PYa is a high-capacity, double-action, short-recoil semi-automatic pistol.

Composition

Even though the grips of the pistol are polymer, the weapon is largely made of metal (stainless steel for the barrel, carbon steel for the frame and slide).

Operation

Its barrel/slide locking is a simplified Colt–Browning design, similar to that found in many modern pistols (e.g. the SIG Sauer and Glock families of pistols).

The breech end of the barrel is rectangular in shape, rather than rounded, and fits into matching locking grooves within the slide, near the ejection port.

The slide stop lever can be mounted on either side of the weapon to accommodate both left- and right-handed users.

Safety

The manual safety is ambidextrous, with safety catches on both sides of the weapon, where it is manipulated by the thumb.

The safety is mounted on the frame, below the rear slide grooves, and directly behind the slide stop lever. The hammer is partially concealed at the sides to prevent catching on clothes and equipment.

The magazine release catch is located in the base of the trigger guard on the left side, where it can be manipulated with the thumb (right-handed users) or index or middle finger (left-handed users).

Sights

The front sight is formed as a fixed part of the slide and is non-adjustable.

The back sight is drift adjustable for windage (dovetail type), but this requires a tool.

Both feature white contrast elements to ease aiming in low-light conditions.

Magazine

The standard magazine capacity is 17 rounds, fed from a double-column, two position feed magazine. Magazines with an 18-round capacity were produced after 2004.

Ammunition

It is chambered for the 9×19mm 7N21 cartridge, the Russian loading of the ubiquitous 9mm NATO pistol cartridge, which is broadly equivalent to NATO standard loadings,[4] loaded to comparable pressure specifications.[5]

The 7N21 features a semi-armour-piercing bullet with a tempered steel core.[6]

The weapon can also use standard 9×19mm Parabellum/9mm Luger/9×19mm NATO cartridges, including civilian loads such as hollowpoints for law enforcement (only full metal jacket bullets are permitted for use in military weapons).

Accessories

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Adoption

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Military

In 2003, the PYa was adopted as a standard sidearm for all branches of Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.[8]

As of 2008, it was supplied only in small numbers to selected special forces units, presumably those in the North Caucasus.

The massive deliveries of PYa pistols to the Russian Armed Forces started in 2012.[9] Scouts of the intelligence compound, belonged to the Central Military District and stationed in Siberia, fully rearmed on Yarygin pistols in early 2015.[10]

As of 2015, it is the service pistol of the Russian Airborne Troops.[11] Since 2018 it is supplied to the National Guard of Russia.[12]

The fielding of PYa pistols continues as of 2021.[13][14][15][16][17][18]

Law enforcement

Since September 2006 used as a pistol in law enforcement, though it never fully replaced the Makarov PM.[19][20]

It is adopted as a standard sidearm for special police units (SOBR[21]) and rapid response units of riot police (OMON[22]).

In October 2008 the Russian interior minister planned to equip more Russian police with PYa pistols.[23] But due to financial problems and the fact the Makarov pistol is so plentiful in Russia, the Makarov remains as primary police service pistol in Russia.

Variants

MP-446 Viking

Main article: MP-446 Viking

Civilian version of the Grach with a magazine capacity of 17[24] or 18 rounds.[25] 10-round magazines are available.

It is identical to the Grach, except it is not designed to take high-powered +P and +P+ rounds like the 9×19mm 7N21.

MP-446C Viking

Civilian version designed for competition.

MP-353

Civilian version.

Non-lethal pistol which fires only ammunition with rubber bullets[25].

MP-472

Non-lethal pistol[25].

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Users

  • Armenia: used as service pistol in police[26]; since June 10, 2021, the Armenian government authorized the use of MP-443 pistols as firearms for customs service personnel[27]
  • Kazakhstan
    • Since 2007 used as service pistol in private security companies.[28]
  • Russia

See also

References

Sources

External links

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