I
will post information about this Russian pistol, APS from Wikipedia.
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Stechkin APS, Russian Machine pistol
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APS
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Type
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Pistol, Machine Pistol
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Place of origin
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Soviet Union
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Service
history
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In service
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1951-present
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Used by
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See Users
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Wars
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Production
history
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Designer
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Igor Stechkin
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Designed
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1948
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Manufacturer
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Tula Arsenal
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Produced
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1951–1975
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Variants
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APB silent variant
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Specifications
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Weight
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1.22 kg (2.69 lbs)
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Length
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225 mm (8.86 in)
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Barrel length
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140 mm (5.51 in)
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Cartridge
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9×18mm Makarov, 9×19mm Parabellum.
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Action
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blowback
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Rate of fire
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750 rounds/minute
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Muzzle velocity
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340 m/s (9×18mm Makarov)
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Effective firing range
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50 m (9×18mm Makarov)
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Maximum firing range
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200 m
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Feed system
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20-round detachable box magazine
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The
Stechkin automatic pistol or APS (Avtomaticheskiy Pistolet
Stechkina, Russian: Автоматический
Пистолет Стечкина) is
a Russian selective fire
machine pistol. It bears the name of its
developer, Igor Stechkin.
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| Stechkin APS pistol |
Adoption
and service
The
Stechkin automatic pistol was originally chambered for 7.62×25mm Tokarev.
Stechkin changed the pistol to the 9 mm caliber used in the new Makarov pistol (PM), as it became clear
that this cartridge was set to become the new service ammunition for handguns
of the Soviet Army. In 1951, both the Makarov and Stechkin were introduced into
the Soviet military arsenal, replacing the aging Tokarev
pistol (TT-33).
In
contrast to the Makarov, the Stechkin has an automatic fire mode, which is
selected using the safety lever. In burst or automatic fire, the pistol should
be fitted with the wooden or metal shoulder stock; otherwise, the weapon
becomes difficult to control.
The
detachable stock is similar in appearance and design to that of the Mauser C96, and likewise, the pistol can be
stored inside when not in use. The extra support of the stock against the
shoulder helps to control the recoil.
The
Stechkin was intended as a sidearm for artillery soldiers, tank crews and
aircraft personnel. As a pistol, it is rather heavy, and combined with the
shoulder stock (which was rarely ever used attached), it is quite bulky. This
led to the APS being gradually phased out of active service, although it is
still used mostly by special forces and also held in reserve. The Stechkin APS
was eventually at least officially replaced by the AKS-74U compact assault rifle with folding
stock, offering more firepower due to its much more powerful 5.45×39mm M74 rifle ammunition, acceptable
accuracy at moderate distances, and greater magazine capacity.
A
contemporary derivative of the Stechkin, the OTS-33 Pernach, is also chambered for the
9×18mm Makarov cartridge.
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| Stechkin APS pistol |
APB
silent variant
The
APB (Avtomaticheskij Pistolet Besshumnyj, meaning automatic silenced
pistol) version was a version of the APS optimized for silent operations.
Developed in the early 1970s by A.S. Neugodov (А.С. Неугодов) under the factory
name AO-44, it was officially adopted in 1972 under the service name APB and
given GRAU index 6P13. Muzzle velocity reportedly dropped to 290 m/s in this
variant. Instead of the holster-stock of the APS, the APB comes with a
detachable stock made of steel wire. Its barrel is longer than that of the APS;
it protrudes from the slide and is threaded for the attachment of a sound
suppressor. The barrel itself is also wrapped around by an integrated expansion
chamber, in which gasses escape from holes in the barrel. When not in use, the
detachable sound suppressor can be clipped to the stock.
During
the Soviet war in
Afghanistan, the APB was used by Soviet Spetsnaz team leaders as an extra weapon;
they usually carried on a sling with the suppressor and stock mounted. It was
also employed by radio operators and even by some heavy gun crews.
In
the more recent past, other special forces units of the MVD
such as the OMON and the SOBR
have also been equipped with this pistol.
Users
- Russia: Used by various police forces and security guards of the Central Bank of The Russian Federation
- Romania: Manufactured variant known as Dracula md. 98
- Soviet Union
- Ukraine
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Pro-Russian
separatist commander Igor Girkin with his Stechkin APS Pistol.
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Igor ‘Strelkov’ Girkin pictured with his
holstered APS pistol, July 2014.
Photo credit:
‘@93Krivtsov’
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