So gun "Oplot", named so in honor of one of the units of the Armed Forces of the DPR, whose commander at one time was the head of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko. The gun resembles the famous Tokarev pistol in its form and looks like its upgraded version. Some experts consider it a hybrid of TT pistols and APS (Stechkin).
The pistol system is taken from Browning.
The versatility of the gun is that it has a 2 removable barrel and, accordingly, the 2 magazine (so that you can use two-caliber cartridges: 7,62 × 25mm TT and 9 × 19mm Parabellum). Barrels and shops each have their own marking caliber.
Ammunition:
7,62 × 25mm TT - Soviet unitary pistol cartridge, developed on the basis of the German 7,63 × 25mm Mauser cartridge.
The initial bullet speed 420-500 m / s.
The energy of the bullet 480-700 J.
9 × 19mm PARA (Parabellum) - pistol unitary cartridge, developed by Austrian gunsmith Georg Lugger. The cartridge is also known as 9 × 19mm Luger.
The initial bullet speed 360-410 m / s.
The energy of the bullet 480-620 J.
Left cartridge 7,62 × 25mm TT, right 9 × 19mm Parabellum
Alexander Zakharchenko personally talks about this gun in the project War Gonzo on YouTube-channel. He demonstrated the Oplot pistol in action and spoke about its production in the DPR.
We learn that the 7,62 × 25mm caliber is mainly used for military units because of its higher performance. Such weapon able to pierce body armor II and III classes of hidden wear. While the caliber 9 × 19mm has a lower penetrative ability and is more suitable for use by the police. Another reason why there is a need to change the caliber of the pistol to 9 × 19mm, is that it allows the use of NATO trophy cartridges used by the APU. Given the limited number of captured small arms and the lack of capacity to manufacture their own ammunition, the production of a pistol for two cartridges looks quite logical. “Different cartridges for different tasks,” says Zakharchenko.
In the DNI there is no production of ammunition. “What kind of patron you have is what you are working for,” says a military engineer with the call sign “Tashkent” in the weapons workshop. He demonstrates the replacement of the barrel of this gun and shows us the main production cycles.
Shops to the gun "Stronghold" are 10 cartridges in one row. Someone will find this amount of ammunition inadequate. But the increase in the capacity of the store, possible due to the additional number of cartridges, will entail an increase in the thickness of the handle and make it less convenient to grip when shooting.
A pistol is a melee weapon. And, as my commander said, if you don’t get from three rounds, it’s all the same how many of them you have in the store.
TTX pistol "Stronghold":
2 stem / 2 clips.
Calibers: 7,62mm (TT) / 9mm (Parabellum).
Store capacity - 10 cartridges.
Rate of Fire - 30 shots per minute.
Aim range - 50 meters.
Initial bullet speed: for cartridge 7,62mm - 420 m / s / for cartridge 9mm - 320 m / s.
Destructive power: for the 7,62mm cartridge - 600 meters / for the 9mm cartridge - 200 meters.
“The gun is completely made on the territory of the DPR. Everything is up to any screw - up to any wires and springs here - everything here consists of our materials, our hands are made and developed by our designers and engineers ",
- The head of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko, said.The remaining equipment is still the Soviet military industrial complex (turning and milling machines with CNC) successfully cope with the task, allowing you to produce up to 200 pistols per shift.
Anticipating your questions, I honestly answer that I don’t know why the gun was demonstrated at the exhibition that took place on 9 in May. 3M stronghold chambered for 9 × 18mm PM.
We can only assume that “What cartridge is there, so you work”.