Traumatic carbine Keserű HDM (Hungary)
The HDM traumatic carbines family represents a further development of older Home Defender systems, which, in turn, were created on the basis of the Rubber Rain product. These samples of self-defense weapons have a distinctive appearance and specific features related to the requirements of the Hungarian weapon legislation. The laws of this country prohibit citizens from using “full-fledged” small arms for self-defense, although they provide for the existence of gas weapons and separate loading cartridges with a rubber bullet. The latter are used in a number of projects of the company "Keseriu Myuvek".
Carabiner Keserű HDM with a fixed wooden butt
Before the beginning of the current decade, Hungarian gunsmiths presented two “generations” of self-defense carbines for a specific ammunition. The first was a Rubber Rain product, on the basis of which Home Defender was later developed. In the case of the latter, it was about the release of weapons in different configurations, distinguished by the presence of the front handle or forearm, the use of the butt, etc.
Both traumatic carbines of the first two “generations” had a distinctive and recognizable appearance that distinguished them from other types of firearms. In its new project, Keserű Művek decided to abandon the original exterior and repeat one of the existing types of weapons. It was proposed to preserve the already mastered principles of work, but implement them in a weapon that is most similar to the Hungarian army machine AMD-65.
The perspective carbine was supposed to repeat as much as possible the design of the existing Home Defender, which, among other things, affected its designation. A new model of the family was called Home Defender Módosított (“Home Defender, Modified”) or, in abbreviated form, HDM. Subsequently, the abbreviation was repeatedly supplemented with those or other letters, allowing to determine the specific modification.
To obtain the desired similarity, the existing weapons mechanisms should be moved to a new receiver box, repeating units of a combat machine. In addition to the new box, it was necessary to create decorative elements, such as a gas tube simulator. Also, the civilian carbine needed a set of accessories of appropriate shapes and sizes. However, complete similarity could not be achieved. This, in the first place, was hampered by the caliber: the new carbine, like its predecessors, had to shoot a spherical rubber bullet with a diameter of 19,3 mm. In addition, separate loading ammunition was planned to be placed in a drum shop, which also did not add similarities with AMD-65.
HDM in original packaging
Being outwardly similar to the army machine, the new HDM still represented an updated version of the existing “Home Defender” and basically repeated its design. This resulted in the use of a characteristic receiver, divided into two large blocks. The front was a U-shaped forearm with openings for the supply of air to cool the barrel. The rear, in turn, was used as the casing of the firing mechanism. Between themselves, the two parts of the box were connected using a longitudinal strap mounted above them. From above on such a receiver it was proposed to put on a removable cover, similar to the detail of an automaton.
The self-defense carabiner received a smooth barrel with a caliber 19,3 mm and a length 365 mm. The barrel was fixed in front of the receiver. His breech reached the store receiver. As before, a cylindrical recharge spring of the recharge system was to be put on the barrel. It was possible to mount a flame arrester or other decorative device on the muzzle of the barrel. His main task was to stop moving parts in the extreme forward position.
The product Keserű HDM retained the principles of the work of its predecessors, but it had to have a special “automatic” appearance. Among other things, this has affected the configuration of the recharge means. It was proposed to put on the barrel an external cylindrical casing on which the front sight and the gas tube simulator were placed. The latter differed a great length, and its back part went inside the receiver. From below the governing body joined the tubular casing. The carbine could be equipped with a movable forearm or a vertical handle.
Incomplete disassembly of weapons
The “gas pipe” located above the barrel was needed only to give the weapon a special appearance, but it was decided to make it a full-fledged component of reloading mechanisms. The shank of this detail went inside the receiver. He had several pins to interact with different devices and provide recharging. One of the pins was used to rotate the drum with cartridges, the second - for cocking the firing mechanism.
For the Keserű HDM carbine, a new firing-trigger mechanism of a hammer type was developed, markedly different from the weapon models of previous models. This time it was decided to use double-acting trigger. Thus, for cocking the firing pin before the shot, one could use both the front handle and the trigger pull. However, to perform the second shot, you still had to use the reload knob. Fire control was performed using a standard trigger. There was no fuse - the shooter had to rely only on the characteristic capabilities of dual-action trigger.
In the new project they decided to use the existing design of the drum shop. However, some changes were made to it. For storage and supply of blank cartridges and rubber bullets to the 10 barrel, it was proposed to use an aluminum drum of sufficient size, on the edge of which there were cavities of variable diameter. The smaller rear of the chamber was offered for the 9-mm blank cartridge, the larger front for the 19,3-mm bullets. On the outer surface of the drum there were oblique grooves needed to rotate during reloading.
Carabiner HDM-VT
The drum with chambers was placed inside a cylindrical steel body. In the upper part of such a body there was a slot for supplying the chamber to the breech of the barrel and ensuring the rotation of the drum. Behind the store was a curved plate placed on the T-shaped guide of the receiver. Fixing the store was carried out using a simple latch at the bottom of the guide.
Processing the trigger mechanism had a definite influence on the design of the carbine, but the principles of its operation, in general, have not changed. Preparation for the shot was carried out by successive movement of the handle / forearm back and forth. In this case, the shank of the "gas tube" made the drum rotate around its axis, and also acted on USM, cocking the drummer. After returning the handle / handguard forward, you could pull the trigger and shoot.
Despite the low firepower and limited fire characteristics, the Keserű HDM carbine received well-developed aiming devices. On the movable tube connected to the handle / fore-end, there was a stand with a front sight. In the middle of the receiver cover there was a simple unregulated rear sight. Such sights were quite suitable for firing at a range of not more than a few meters.
HDM-VT with the magazine removed
Traumatic carbines, built “based on” AMD-65 machines, had similar ergonomics and corresponding additional devices. HDM products in different versions could differ in the composition and design of fittings. So, to control the recharge, you could use both a vertical grip and a shank. At the rear of the receiver was attached plastic handle fire control.
On the back wall could be mounted a fixed wooden or plastic butt. Also produced carbines with folding wire butt. He had a pair of longitudinal elements to which the curved shoulder rest was pivotally attached. Butt folded up and forward, shoulder support while lying on the cover of the receiver, covering the scope.
Regardless of the design and accessories, the Keser-HDM self-defense carbines reached 830 mm in length (with a fixed or unfolded stock). Mass - about 4 kg. The 9-mm turret chuck transferred energy to the rubber pool to 120 J. This made it possible to show acceptable fire efficiency at ranges up to several meters. With an increase in the distance, the shooting efficiency was sharply reduced.
Serial production of new carbines was established at the beginning of the current decade, and soon the first samples of the new model entered the Hungarian gun shops. Depending on the configuration and configuration, 90-95 thousand forints (Euro 290-300) were requested for the Keserű HDM product.
Butt of version "VT"
As before, as the serial production of new batches, the developer continued the development of the existing project. From time to time there were new modifications of the carbine, distinguished by its finishing and fittings. So, the HDM-VT modification received a new butt. Instead of a wooden device, a system of a pair of metal tubes and a shoulder rest with a rubber butt pad was proposed. For some reason, a carbine with such a butt differs from the base product by a slightly higher cost.
The first modifications of the Keserű HDM product corresponded to the initial ideas and to some extent repeated the exterior of the AMD-65 submachine gun. A little later, creating a new version of the traumatic weapon, the designers abandoned a number of details that gave a resemblance to the combat model. Several years ago, the HDM Compact carbine was introduced, which was a smaller and lighter version of the original “Home Defender, Modified”.
The HDM Compact carabiner lost its decorative elements imitating the gas tube of the machine. The receiver remained unchanged, but received an elongated cover. Now its front part complemented the perforated barrel casing. The barrel was shortened, and the movable tube on it lost the front sight. The latter was transferred to the receiver cover. The rear sight, in turn, was moved to the back of the weapon. The compact carbine was also distinguished by the lack of a butt.
In its dimensions, the new HDM Compact was similar to the products of previous “generations” - Rubber Rain and Home Defender. The shortened version of the HDM was slightly cheaper than its full-size predecessor. Despite the less long barrel and other technical differences, the HDM Compact showed approximately the same characteristics as other self-defense carbines from Keseru Myuvek.
Carabiner Keserű HDM Compact
To date, the traumatic Keserű HDM carbines of several modifications have completely changed the weapons of previous models in mass production. A buyer who wants to purchase a weapon in the form factor of an army machine gun can buy Home Defender Módosított in the basic configuration. Those who prefer small dimensions to appearance are offered HDM products with a folding stock and HDM Compact. Thus, as before, by creating a number of modifications, the development company was able to firmly occupy an ambiguous, but profitable niche.
As far as we know, in the recent past, the development of the line of traumatic carbines, launched from the product Keser Ke Rubber Rain, has virtually ceased. The factory "Keseru Myuvek" continues to produce weapons of the latest models, but is not in a hurry to develop new ones. However, now this company is expanding its presence in other areas and regularly shows new pistols or revolvers, suitable for use as a means of self-defense. The presence of products in several niches at once leads to obvious positive consequences of a financial nature.
Hungarian legislation imposes certain restrictions on the appearance and characteristics of civilian weapons, but at the same time it becomes a kind of incentive for the emergence of unusual concepts and designs. Developing the idea of weapons with limited characteristics, suitable for use in self-defense, the company Keserű M сталаvek began to develop carbines of an unusual appearance. Successive modifications of existing structures led to the emergence of a whole family of traumatic weapons consisting of several lines. All this clearly shows that even under the conditions of severe restrictions, gunsmith designers can propose and successfully implement the most interesting ideas.
On the materials of the sites:
http://keseru.hu/
https://all4shooters.com/
https://casatic.livejournal.com/
http://kickgunner.blog.hu/
- Ryabov Kirill
- Keserű Művek / keseru.hu, Casatic.livejournal.com
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