Civilian version of the Lebedev pistol
At the international forum Army-2021, the Kalashnikov group of companies presented a pistol that will replace the civilian version of the Makarov pistol. We are talking about Lebedev's traumatic pistol, the combat version of which had previously been adopted by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The new pistol should go on sale by the end of 2021.
The Lebedev pistol will replace the PM
For the first time, Lebedev's pistol was presented at the Army-2015 forum. The model was originally developed as a replacement for the old PM. The pistol was proactively developed by Kalashnikov for the needs of the Russian security forces. The self-loading pistol got its name from the name of the designer Dmitry Lebedev. In May 2021, modular versions of this pistol under the designation MPL and MPL1 were adopted by the Russian Guard.
The development of the Lebedev pistol began back in 2014. Unlike the famous Makarov pistol, the novelty from Izhevsk was originally designed for the 9x19 mm Parabellum cartridge, widely represented throughout the world. Since 2014, the public has been presented with several modifications of the pistol, including compact ones. So, the PLC model is distinguished by its modest dimensions: the total length is 186 mm, the barrel length is 92 mm, and the weight with a magazine without cartridges is 0,71 kg. This model received a smaller box magazine for 14 rounds compared to other versions.
Another combat modification weapons became a model under the designation MPL. In the MPL version, the pistol is equipped with magazines for 16 rounds. The mass of the MPL pistol with a magazine without cartridges is 0,8 kg, the MPL1 model with a low-noise firing device weighs 1,15 kg. The barrel lengths of the two models are 112 and 127 mm, respectively. The total length of the MPL model is 205 mm.
It should be noted that the compact version of the PLC, designed for concealed carry, is actively promoted by Kalashnikov in the international market, including the Middle East. Weapons that can be used by members of the special services and police units initially received a Picatinny rail, as well as improved ergonomics.
Meeting modern standards for firearms, the PLC model received a fuse, a slide delay, as well as a magazine ejection button, duplicated on both sides of the pistol. This solution allows both right-handers and left-handers to use the compact version of the Lebedev pistol equally effectively.
Also, on the basis of Lebedev's pistol, a pistol for athletes and amateur shooters SP-1 was developed. The model was first shown in 2019 at IDEX 2019 in Abu Dhabi. It is known that the demonstrated sports pistol was equipped with removable open sights of the "Glock" type. The interesting features of the model included the availability of execution in two materials, which directly influenced the weight of the weapon. The steel version of the pistol without a magazine weighed 1,1 kg, the aluminum alloy version - 0,8 kg.
Very soon, Russian citizens will be able to buy another civilian version of the weapon, this time a traumatic pistol, which is also based on the Lebedev pistol. This is a pretty sensible decision, considering that the traumatic version of Makarov began to be produced in Izhevsk back in 2006. Since then, there has been no significant renewal of the assortment of traumatic weapons.
Civilian version of the Lebedev pistol
The civilian version of Lebedev's pistol received the designation PLC-T. The self-loading pistol of limited destruction was developed on the basis of a compact version of the Lebedev combat pistol, the international premiere of which took place only in the winter of 2021. In February of this year, Kalashnikov showed the PLC at the IDEX 2021 exhibition in the United Arab Emirates. Then the press service of the enterprise emphasized that the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan showed particular interest in the PLC pistol and the AK-19 assault rifle chambered for the NATO cartridge 5,56x45 mm.
Earlier, the Kalashnikov group of companies reported that the compact version of the Lebedev PLC pistol had successfully passed the stage of state tests and was adopted by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. In the police, the PLC model should replace the obsolete Makarov pistols, which have been in service since 1951.
According to the official website of the Kalashnikov group of companies, the PLC-T model has already been certified and should go on sale by the end of 2021. The preliminary price of the model announced at the Army-2021 forum will be 60-65 thousand rubles.
It is especially emphasized that the model will go on free sale at the same time as the production of all the accessories necessary for the weapon will be launched: pouches, holsters, additional magazines. It is also reported that pistol collimator sights will also be available for PLC-T, the production of which has also been launched at the enterprises of the Kalashnikov group of companies. The gun comes immediately with an adapter for their installation.
The traumatic version of the Lebedev pistol is designed to solve various kinds of problems and is suitable for a wide range of potential users. According to the developers, the PLC-T is suitable for organizing the training process, sports and recreational shooting and, of course, as a weapon of constant wearing for self-defense purposes.
The novelty is as close to the model as the progenitor - the compact PLC pistol. This is a big plus, as the weapon retains the same ergonomics. In this regard, there are no complaints about the pistol, this is a completely modern model of weapons with controls located on both sides. The ability to install a collimator sight, underbarrel flashlight, laser designator is also a plus.
The model is distinguished by the presence of an aluminum frame and a steel shutter. The PLC-T pistol is equipped with the same 14-round magazine as the combat version, but with a limiter of up to 10 rounds, in accordance with the current Russian legislation. In terms of dimensions, the PLC-T is quite a bit larger than a Makarov pistol and at the same time slightly smaller than the popular GP (Grand Power) traumatic pistol.
According to Valentin Vlasenko, who is the head of the civilian weapons design center of the Kalashnikov Group of Companies, the civilian version of Lebedev's pistol inherited all the best qualities of combat weapons. Namely: ergonomics, lightness, compactness, the ability to install a wide range of additional equipment.
According to Vlasenko, the PLC-T traumatic pistol was maximally unified with the combat version. The weight and size characteristics of the models are identical. At the same time, the design changes of the model ensured an effective adaptation of the pistol to the widespread in our country, effective and balanced ammunition for traumatic weapons - cartridge 10x28.
The traumatic cartridge 10x28 is a sleeve of a conventional 28x9 mm Parabellum combat cartridge with a rubber bullet with a diameter of 19 mm, a bullet weight of 11,5 grams (characteristics for the 1,28x10T Tekhkrim Maximum cartridge model) extended to 28 mm. For the 10x28T Fortuna cartridge, the diameter is 12 mm and the bullet weight is 2,04 grams, respectively. In length, the 10x28 traumatic cartridge is almost completely identical to the 9x19 mm live cartridges, which makes it possible to use the same magazines on traumatic and military weapons.
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