PSM: What is special about the “general’s” pistol

The PSM or small self-loading pistol was developed by designers Kulikov, Lozhnev and Simarin in the early 70s of the last century for self-defense and special operations. The pistol was adopted for service in 1974 and is still used today by intelligence services and law enforcement agencies. Moreover, he is weapons permanently worn by the leadership of law enforcement agencies and generals, as well as award-winning weapons.

So, what is a “general’s” pistol?

Let's start with performance characteristics. The pistol weighs 460 g empty and 510 g with full ammunition (8 rounds). The length of the weapon is 155 mm.

Typically, PSM received its own unique 5,45x18 PMT caliber cartridge, which was developed by designer Alexander Bochkin.

The Soviet version had aluminum pads on the handle. In modern PSM they are replaced with polyurethane ones, which provides better grip and eliminates slipping.

The barrel of the “pistol for generals” has 6 grooves instead of 4. This is due to the fact that the bullet is very small. Thus, to provide it with greater penetrating power, the designers increased its rotation.

This is the main feature of PSM.

The original army cartridge for this pistol is capable of penetrating a steel sheet about 10 mm thick and even Kevlar body armor (up to 45 layers of Kevlar fabric, according to open sources). At the same time, the pistol has very weak recoil.

But at the same time, the stopping power of the PSM is less than that of its “colleagues” in the workshop, firing 9 mm caliber bullets. Unless, of course, the shooter hit some vital organ.

There was a case in the USSR when, during the pursuit of a criminal, 7 rounds of PSM were fired at him. At the same time, he was able to hide from law enforcement officers, and later came to the police himself.

Today, a small-sized self-loading pistol is not available for purchase in Russia and is used as a premium option.

Comments

[Amateur]

"general" pistol

He was also the “regular weapon” of 1 secretaries of regional committees of the CPSU and above. "1" of a lower level was assigned to the regular Makarov.
I wonder if governors are being “armed” now?

[mc1aren]

oh, these are fairy tales...))

[Dym71]

Quote: Amateur

I wonder if governors are being “armed” now?

Now the governors are arming.

[MAESTRO_33]

Previously, the chairmen of collective and state farms were also given pistols. If I'm not mistaken, Nagans.

[Felix]

Mom worked at a telephone and telegraph point, in their desk drawer there was a revolver, about 80 years old. Not in the safe, just in the desk drawer.

[Egoza]

I’m embarrassed to ask. And many generals or regional committee secretaries used it?

[Mordvin 3]

Quote: Egoza

I’m embarrassed to ask. And many generals or regional committee secretaries used it?

Rokhlin's wife kind of took advantage of it. And Gusinsky was sent to prison because of the PSM cartridges. Some problems, in short.

[bayard]

Quote: Mordvin 3

Rokhlin's wife kind of took advantage of it.

Generals often, during a dangerous period or in a dangerous area (after and during the collapse of the USSR), left this pistol to their wives for self-defense.
With the Rokhlins it’s completely different. In the former Ukraine, there were also cases when generals and ministers committed suicide with two shots to the head. And the examination... confirmed it. How can one not confirm this?

[Amateur]

I’m embarrassed to ask. And many generals or regional committee secretaries used it?

For what? “Makar” was usually kept in a safe at work (not with the generals, I don’t know about them). And sometimes they showed off the PSM to their friends, shooting at drunk bottles somewhere in the country.

[Mordvin 3]

Quote: Amateur

And sometimes they showed off the PSM to their friends, shooting at drunk bottles somewhere in the country.

This is why Gusinsky was imprisoned.

[Iris]

Are you a policeman? The military never kept the PM in a safe - only in the gun store. For the military was banned from carrying weapons in general many years ago. Here are the miles - a policeman could easily take a weapon and keep it under his pillow. And you can still see them with machine guns. Not in battle - in markets and train stations, for example...

[Grim Reaper]

Quote: Amateur

I’m embarrassed to ask. And many generals or regional committee secretaries used it?

For what? “Makar” was usually kept in a safe at work (not with the generals, I don’t know about them). And sometimes they showed off the PSM to their friends, shooting at drunk bottles somewhere in the country.

Well, if you are at least a colonel, maybe you could shoot at bottles. And if you have a lower rank (or position), you will get a “love session” for shooting bottles

[Grim Reaper]

Ps. I'm not even sure about the colonel.

[Yuri Vasilyev]

Essentially, the gun is ambiguous. The advantages are compactness, weight, penetrating ability. The downside is its low stopping power when compared with the same PM, which in some situations can turn out badly for the shooter. But this pistol does not pretend to be widespread, that’s why it’s special.

[Sergey_Vladimir]

It turns out that this was the case. Two almost similar cases. Oper detained the villain, and he attacked him with an ax. In the first op I fired from the PSM. He got it, but the villain still cut his collarbone. In the second opera I fired from a PM. Got it too. In the shoulder of the villain. Totupal

[Sergey_Vladimir]

He fell. He was literally thrown onto his back. They tied up the bastard. Moral: lethal force.

[Catfish]

destructive force.

The stopping effect of a bullet, there is such a term. Not to kill, but to stop the enemy.

OSS cartridges
Chance to incapacitate the target in %
.22 LR - 21
.25 ACP - 24
.32 ACP - 49
.380 ACP - 52
9x19 NATO - 58
.40 S&W - 70
.45 ACP - 63
.357 MAG - 73

[Sergey_Vladimir]

I'm aware, "teacher". And you don’t have much humor with jokes.

[acetophenone]

It’s hard to believe in breaking through a centimeter-long steel sheet. The 5,45x39 has even less armor-piercing. Lies, in short.

[Yuri Vasilyev]

Yes, they went overboard with the 10mm steel sheet...

[dmi.pris1]

This is all from those fairy tales about how a rail was pierced with an AK

[Alexander Kuksin]

Oh you! Didn't understand the main thing! What kind of criminals? Pistol *general*! So that he could shoot himself when his comrades from the FSB came for him. So that brains don’t scatter around the office and spoil the interior. ;)

[aesculapius]

"Release" does not mean hit

[lukash66]

Well, why exactly the general's? It was in service with several KGB Directorates. I have a good friend from the former 9th Directorate - it was the PSM that was the service weapon. You will also tell us that the Walther PPK was invented only for crossbow generals.)))

[Mikhail3]

7 rounds of PSM were fired at him

A cartridge cannot be “fired” at someone; this can only happen from a slingshot. The powder charge remains near the pistol in the form of gases), the cartridge case is folded to the side by the cutter. They fire only bullets, the cartridges are fired) It’s funny and sad to read an article about weapons from a person who doesn’t know basic terminology.

[Altmann]

I am an old-timer and for self-defense I would prefer a large caliber pistol or revolver. Why? This is mainly due to the stopping effect, when a large-caliber bullet is capable of stopping even a sworn criminal (enemy) in place. I had the opportunity to shoot a Colt 1911 and was surprised at how good the pistol performed. It would be interesting, and I would like to try out this general's pistol.