PSS silent pistol
| PSS | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Pistol |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1983–present |
| Production history | |
| Designer | TsNIITochMash |
| Designed | 1979–1983 |
| Manufacturer | Tula Arms Plant |
| Variants | PSS-2 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 700 g (1 lb 9 oz), 850 g with cartridge |
| Length | 165 mm (6.50 in) |
| Barrel length | 35 mm |
| Cartridge | 7.62×41 mm SP-4 |
| Caliber | 7.62 mm |
| Action | Recoil-operated |
| Muzzle velocity | 200 m/s (660 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 25 m |
| Maximum firing range | 50 m |
| Feed system | 6-round detachable box |
| Sights | Fixed blade sights |
The PSS silent pistol or MSS "Vul" ("Вул") [1] is a Soviet silent pistol operating on a sealed cartridge system. Its GRAU designation is 6P28 while "Vul" comes from the codename for its development program.[2]
Cartridge
[edit]
The PSS uses a specially developed 7.62×41 mm necked round SP-4 (СП-4), also used by the OTs-38 Stechkin silent revolver.[3]
The cartridge contains a propelling charge which drives an internal piston in contact with the base of the bullet.
On firing, the piston propels the bullet out of the barrel with enough energy to achieve an effective range of 25 meters.
At the end of its travel, the piston seals the cartridge neck, preventing noise, smoke, or blast from escaping.[4]
Action
[edit]The PSS is recoil-operated. It has a slide designed to operate silently, in keeping with the pistol's design for silent operation.
In other respects, the PSS generally follows traditional conventions, except for the slide's guide rod, which is located above the barrel and instead of guide rails on the pistol frame.[citation needed]
The weapon uses a special cartridge with an internal piston. It has been measured to produce a sound level of 122 dB.[5]
Adoption
[edit]Developed around 1980 for assassinations and reconnaissance, the PSS was first issued to KGB Spetsnaz in 1983. It is under production in the special weapons foundry at TsNIITochMash. PSS pistols are still in use by some FSB and MVD units.
The PSS has been used in the Syrian civil war.[6] It has seen use by both sides in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7] Within Russia the gun has also been issued to OMON and SOBR.[8]
The PSS-2 was adopted by the Russian FSB security agency in 2011.[9]
- Users
Variants
[edit]The PSS-2 silenced pistol was developed in Russia. It is based on the original PSS but with some features of the SR-1M pistol and some improvements. It fires the SP-16 noiseless 7.62×43 mm ammunition, more powerful than, but incompatible with, the original 7.62×41 mm cartridge.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Пистолеты НИИ Точмаш". Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
- ^ Ferguson, Jonathan (17 September 2025). The ‘Silent’ Soviet Pistol: The PSS with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson. Royal Armouries. Event occurs at 2:39-3:02. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ "SP-4". worldweapon.info (in Russian). Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ *Hogg, Ian V.; John Weeks (2000). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-824-7.
- ^ "Functioning of the Soviet PSS Pistol with SP4 Captive Piston Ammunition". sadefensejournal.com. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ @CalibreObscura (6 September 2021). "One of the very few (likely less than 4) PSS Silent Pistols in #Idlib. Captured from Russian SF, these pistols are…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Ferguson, Jonathan (17 September 2025). The ‘Silent’ Soviet Pistol: The PSS with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson. Royal Armouries. Event occurs at 0:33-1:26. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ Ferguson, Jonathan (17 September 2025). The ‘Silent’ Soviet Pistol: The PSS with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson. Royal Armouries. Event occurs at 33:31-33:45. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ "PSS-2 - Silenced pistol". Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "Armament of the Georgian Army - Firearms - Handgun". geo-army.ge. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
External links
[edit]
- Modern Firearms Page
- video
- Пииссттооллеетт ддлляя ббеессшшууммнноойй ии ббеессппллааммеенннноойй ссттррееллььббы