Pistols SME and C4M: Noiselessness, privacy, two trunks
Double-barreled shotgun and noiselessness. One can hardly think of an even more incongruous "union" armory terms. But the engineers of the Central Scientific Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TsNII Tochmash) nevertheless decided to combine what previously seemed fundamentally incompatible. As a result of design work in the late 60s and early 70s of the last century, two most curious samples of special silent weapons were created. These are pistols MSP and S4M. Different sources name different years of creation of these pistols, so we will describe them in alphabetical order.
The almost complete lack of sound when fired at both pistols is achieved by cutting off powder gases. This means that in the cartridge, between the charge and the bullet, there is a special part-piston. During the combustion of gunpowder gases do not press directly on the bullet, but on the piston, which, in turn, transfers their energy to the pool. It flies out of the barrel, and the piston because of its shape gets stuck in the neck of the liner and prevents gases from escaping. Due to this, hot gases do not come into contact with the outside air and do not create cotton - the shot is obtained silently or almost silently. The pistols of SMEs and C4M use different types of cartridges, but their principle of operation is the same.
The small-sized special gun (SME) is made according to a scheme that is quite rare for domestic weapons and has two barrels located in a vertical swivel package. The small dimensions of the pistol itself and the block of barrels did not allow the equipment to be equipped with any automatic equipment. In addition, did not allow it to do and the design of the cartridge. Ammunition called SP-3 (7,62x38 mm) has in its design a piston, significantly coming out of the neck of the liner after the shot. Accordingly, he would interfere with the work of mechanics. However, it was decided to use this cartridge in the SME. SP-3 has a bullet similar to that of the standard intermediate cartridge 7,62x39 mm. American weapons expert Ch. Katshaw believes that the special cartridge was equipped with an “automatic” bullet in order to confuse the investigation of a murder made from SMEs. This expert, it should be noted, assigns the SME and C4M an exclusively subversive role, in which there is some truth, although the details of the use of these pistols are still classified. And the truth is that a bullet from a submachine gun cartridge discovered at the opening can lead the investigation along the wrong path. However, the trunks of the SMEs, because of their short length, have relatively steep cuts, which should immediately be noticed by a forensic expert when inspecting a bullet taken from a corpse.
Two cartridges SP-3 are connected by a clip and inserted into the chambers of the barrel block. Last for loading and extraction of the sleeves made turning. For the production of a shot, two pistol triggers must be manually cocked, this is done with a lever, in the stowed position located under the trigger guard. The lever is pulled down until it stops, after which it can be returned to its original position and fire or put the gun on a non-automatic safety catch. There is also an automatic mechanism to prevent the triggers with unlocked trunks. When firing from an SME, a shot is fired first from the lower barrel, then from the top — the trigger mechanism located in the handle and the back of the gun is responsible for the order. After two shots, the gun must be reloaded. To do this, press the lock block stem and it rotates around the axis forward and down. The cartridge cases are manually removed using the clip. It should be noted that for some time they represent a certain danger for the shooter, since the cooling of the powder gases and the pressure drop inside the liner does not occur immediately. On the vacant space, you can install a new clip and shoot again. The sight of the gun consists of unregulated front sight and rear sight, located on the upper edge.
Silent S4 and C4M pistols were developed to use X-PZ / PZA / PZAM 7,62x63 cartridges. From SP-3 they differ in the length of the sleeve and the shape of the piston. In addition, in the cartridges of the “PZ” family the bullet from the intermediate cartridge 7,62х39 mm is almost completely recessed into the sleeve and only a small part of its tip protrudes. The larger liner size allowed the charge to be increased, due to which the muzzle energy of the PZAM cartridge is 120 joules versus 80 for SP-3.
Structurally, С4М has some differences from SMEs, both external and internal. First of all, it has a large size, due to the larger cartridge. Also, the ammunition has affected the shape of the block of trunks, because of which the front of the C4M pistol is a bit like the corresponding part of the M1900 Browning. Another difference lies in the location of the cocking lever. If on the SME he was under the trigger guard, then on the C4M he was placed on the lower part of the handle, thanks to which the cocking was made a bit more convenient. Loading С4М is made with the help of a clip on two cartridges. It is also used to extract spent cartridges. The fuse system, sights and shot order of the С4М are completely similar to SMEs.
Both silent pistols were adopted by special forces in the first half of the 70-s of the last century. However, reliable and complete information about their use for almost forty years has not appeared. It is known that SMEs were used in Afghanistan, but under what circumstances and with what result is a secret sealed with secrecy. The same is true of the C4M information. At the same time, representatives of the American special services assert that the Soviet silent pistols had time to "inherit" in Central America. But there are no confirmations or refutations of these statements, nor is there any detailed information on the current state and use of pistols.
The almost complete lack of sound when fired at both pistols is achieved by cutting off powder gases. This means that in the cartridge, between the charge and the bullet, there is a special part-piston. During the combustion of gunpowder gases do not press directly on the bullet, but on the piston, which, in turn, transfers their energy to the pool. It flies out of the barrel, and the piston because of its shape gets stuck in the neck of the liner and prevents gases from escaping. Due to this, hot gases do not come into contact with the outside air and do not create cotton - the shot is obtained silently or almost silently. The pistols of SMEs and C4M use different types of cartridges, but their principle of operation is the same.
The small-sized special gun (SME) is made according to a scheme that is quite rare for domestic weapons and has two barrels located in a vertical swivel package. The small dimensions of the pistol itself and the block of barrels did not allow the equipment to be equipped with any automatic equipment. In addition, did not allow it to do and the design of the cartridge. Ammunition called SP-3 (7,62x38 mm) has in its design a piston, significantly coming out of the neck of the liner after the shot. Accordingly, he would interfere with the work of mechanics. However, it was decided to use this cartridge in the SME. SP-3 has a bullet similar to that of the standard intermediate cartridge 7,62x39 mm. American weapons expert Ch. Katshaw believes that the special cartridge was equipped with an “automatic” bullet in order to confuse the investigation of a murder made from SMEs. This expert, it should be noted, assigns the SME and C4M an exclusively subversive role, in which there is some truth, although the details of the use of these pistols are still classified. And the truth is that a bullet from a submachine gun cartridge discovered at the opening can lead the investigation along the wrong path. However, the trunks of the SMEs, because of their short length, have relatively steep cuts, which should immediately be noticed by a forensic expert when inspecting a bullet taken from a corpse.
Two cartridges SP-3 are connected by a clip and inserted into the chambers of the barrel block. Last for loading and extraction of the sleeves made turning. For the production of a shot, two pistol triggers must be manually cocked, this is done with a lever, in the stowed position located under the trigger guard. The lever is pulled down until it stops, after which it can be returned to its original position and fire or put the gun on a non-automatic safety catch. There is also an automatic mechanism to prevent the triggers with unlocked trunks. When firing from an SME, a shot is fired first from the lower barrel, then from the top — the trigger mechanism located in the handle and the back of the gun is responsible for the order. After two shots, the gun must be reloaded. To do this, press the lock block stem and it rotates around the axis forward and down. The cartridge cases are manually removed using the clip. It should be noted that for some time they represent a certain danger for the shooter, since the cooling of the powder gases and the pressure drop inside the liner does not occur immediately. On the vacant space, you can install a new clip and shoot again. The sight of the gun consists of unregulated front sight and rear sight, located on the upper edge.
Silent S4 and C4M pistols were developed to use X-PZ / PZA / PZAM 7,62x63 cartridges. From SP-3 they differ in the length of the sleeve and the shape of the piston. In addition, in the cartridges of the “PZ” family the bullet from the intermediate cartridge 7,62х39 mm is almost completely recessed into the sleeve and only a small part of its tip protrudes. The larger liner size allowed the charge to be increased, due to which the muzzle energy of the PZAM cartridge is 120 joules versus 80 for SP-3.
Structurally, С4М has some differences from SMEs, both external and internal. First of all, it has a large size, due to the larger cartridge. Also, the ammunition has affected the shape of the block of trunks, because of which the front of the C4M pistol is a bit like the corresponding part of the M1900 Browning. Another difference lies in the location of the cocking lever. If on the SME he was under the trigger guard, then on the C4M he was placed on the lower part of the handle, thanks to which the cocking was made a bit more convenient. Loading С4М is made with the help of a clip on two cartridges. It is also used to extract spent cartridges. The fuse system, sights and shot order of the С4М are completely similar to SMEs.
Both silent pistols were adopted by special forces in the first half of the 70-s of the last century. However, reliable and complete information about their use for almost forty years has not appeared. It is known that SMEs were used in Afghanistan, but under what circumstances and with what result is a secret sealed with secrecy. The same is true of the C4M information. At the same time, representatives of the American special services assert that the Soviet silent pistols had time to "inherit" in Central America. But there are no confirmations or refutations of these statements, nor is there any detailed information on the current state and use of pistols.
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