Objective limitations versus promised performance. Large-caliber rifle PG-14,5 "Nichny hizhak"
General view of the PG-14,5 rifle
The development and production of ultra-long-range high-precision rifles is a particularly complex technical task, which only a few enterprises in the world can solve. Several years ago, the Ukrainian industry announced that it had managed to create a new model of this kind - the PG-14,5 "Nichny Khizhak" rifle. Moreover, during its development, no complex technologies were used, and the design was based on available components.
The problem and its solution
In 2014, the Ukrainian army, which started a civil war, faced the problem of a lack of a mass of necessary military products, as well as the impossibility of obtaining them. In this regard, the mass production of various "ersatz" began in all areas, incl. in the field of large-caliber rifles. Several enterprises at once offered their samples of this kind, made on the basis of available components and ammunition.
The rifle or "infantry cannon" PG-14,5 "Nichny Khizhak" ("Night Predator") was developed by the Kiev plant "Mayak"; it was first presented in 2015. The task of simplifying and reducing the cost of development and production was solved due to the widespread use of parts from the so-called. auxiliary gun 2X35, as well as the common cartridge 14,5x114 mm. Subsequently, they began to use barrels from KPV machine guns.
The project was based on ready-made components, which were supplemented with several details of the new development. When forming the appearance of the product, several well-known technical solutions were used, due to which it was planned to obtain high tactical and technical characteristics. In particular, an effective firing range of 4 km was declared with an accuracy of 1-1,5 MOA. It was planned to use modern sighting systems and a silent firing device.
Detachable cannon 2X35 - base for the "Predator"
It was argued that in the near future the rifle will go into series, and then go to the troops. In addition, it was planned to bring it to the international market. However, the PG-14,5 has not yet been adopted by the Ukrainian army, and the successes abroad are mainly reduced to the interest of the exhibition visitors.
Specific appearance
From the point of view of design, the "Night Predator" is an ersatz rifle based on a self-loading insert gun for tank guns 2X35. In the course of such processing, the gun lost some of its key components and received new parts. As a result, the fire characteristics remained at about the same level, but some capabilities were lost.
The main PG-14,5 is a unit in the form of a 1330 m cannon barrel with a gas block and a gas engine tube above it. At the same time, the gas piston and disc retaining devices for installing the gun into the barrel of a tank gun were removed. Also, the gun lost its standard receiver with a movable bolt, ammunition supply, electric trigger, etc.
For the rifle, a simplified receiver has been developed in the form of a pipe of sufficient diameter, worn over the barrel shank. Under it is a small trigger casing with a pistol grip. A longitudinal rail is attached to the top of the box with a place for installing the sight and mounts for the butt.
The rifle is single-shot and has a rotary bolt that can be locked by turning with a side handle. To send the cartridge, the bolt is removed from the receiver. At the rear end of the bolt there is a T-shaped handle of the striker. The firing mechanism, apparently, is built according to the striker scheme and has the simplest design.
An adjustable buttstock is mounted on the rear rail. Due to its large size and weight, "Nichny hizhak" has three points of support. A bipedal bipod is installed in the middle part of the trunk. In this case, the trunk is below the attachment point of the bipod, which to some extent stabilizes weapon... There is an additional folding support under the trigger cover.
Compatibility of the rifle with various optical sights is declared, incl. night. The possible range and accuracy of fire depend on the type and characteristics of the sight.
The muzzle of the barrel has a thread for mounting a silencer. The latter is made in the form of a cylinder with a length of approx. 770 mm and a diameter of the receiver. It is alleged that thanks to this device, the sound of the shot is not audible at ranges from 700-800 m.
The total length of the PG-14,5 rifle in the firing position is approx. 2,5 m. The length without a silencer is reduced to 1,7 m. The weight of the product without a sight is 33 kg. The muzzle velocity of the bullet is 1050 m / s. Sighting range - up to 4 km. Depending on the range, the rifle is capable of penetrating personal protective equipment or armor of certain classes of vehicles.
Declared successes
In 2015, "Night Predator" passed factory tests, after which small-scale production began. Later it became known that a certain number of such products ended up in Donbass and were used in the “anti-terrorist operation”. Allegedly, rifles were used to destroy living targets and equipment at long range in all conditions and showed themselves from the very best side. However, the declared successes did not help the rifle enter service.
The developers say that the rifles were effective at a range of more than 3 km. At the same time, the thermal imaging sight and the silencer made it possible to work at any time of the day and not to unmask the position. In general, PG-14,5 receives the highest marks, in places similar to banal boast.
This year they announced the creation of an export version of the rifle called the PG-14.5 Dezert Snake. It is said to be adapted to the climate of Saudi Arabia, which is now set to be a launch customer. Several rifles were handed over to the Arabian army for study and testing. Positive forecasts were made, but nothing is known about the signing of a real contract.
Whether Saudi Arabia will order the Ukrainian ersatz rifle is a big question. Certain doubts are also caused by the ability of such a sample to interest other foreign customers. However, this does not stop the developers from praising their creation.
Objective limitations
In general, the Nichny Khizhak rifle is an interesting model, but the reasons for such interest are mostly negative - and do not correspond at all to the cheerful advertising and praise from the developers. This sample has a specific origin, which negatively affects its characteristics and potential. In addition, there are reasonable doubts about the veracity of claims about the capabilities of this rifle.
In 2014-15. the Ukrainian army suddenly realized its deplorable situation, which led to the emergence of a mass of artisanal and factory projects of ersatz weapons and equipment. The PG-14,5 rifle belongs to this conditional class. It was carried out on the basis of an existing insert gun, which was chosen not for its characteristics, but solely because of its availability. Obviously, this origin of the project imposes the most serious restrictions on its technical result.
So, for the "Night Predator" declared high characteristics of range and accuracy of fire, and the reliability of such data is questionable. The fact is that effective single shooting at 3-4 km makes special demands on the rifle, cartridge and related equipment. Obviously, the barrel from 2X35 or KPV, as well as the gross 14,5 mm cartridge, do not meet these requirements. The same is the case with other elements of the sniper complex.
Experiments with high-precision long-range shooting are well known. They use specialized weapons, originally created and manufactured for such tasks. Moreover, each shot is preceded by a long and complex preparation. The result of such events is new world records, confirmed in the prescribed manner. Ukrainian "achievements" with the PG-14,5 rifle are confirmed only by words.
With dubious prospects
Thus, the Mayak plant was able to convert the ready-made insert gun into a “sniper” large-caliber rifle, but the results of this project are questionable. Due to a number of design features, such weapons cannot show characteristics at the level of specially designed high-precision long-range rifles - despite all the assurances of the developers.
However, all this does not prevent Mayak from promoting its development, offering it to the Ukrainian and foreign armies. Whether it will be possible to get the desired orders is a big question. Any potential customer, having tested PG-14,5, will determine its real characteristics and draw the necessary conclusions that sellers are unlikely to be satisfied with.
In the context of the "Night Predator" and its supposed records, a lot of similar samples should be remembered. The fact is that the conversion of KPV machine guns into large-caliber long-range rifles in recent decades has been actively practiced by participants in local conflicts. Such a weapon copes with fire missions, but its owners do not boast of records for range and accuracy - probably due to their absence. However, such handicrafts do not enter the official market and therefore do not need advertising.
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