Revolver RSh-12: "elephant fighter" from Tula
The RSH-12 (12 mm assault caliber revolver) is one of the most weighty revolvers I've ever heard of. It was developed at the beginning of the 2000-s at the branch of the Tula KBP: the Central Design Bureau of Sports and Hunting weapons under the same cartridge 12,7х55 mm as the assault machine ASH-12.Not so long ago, I read with great pleasure the article by Sergey Yuferev “Russian large caliber revolvers". At first, I wanted to supplement his article with a commentary in which another revolver would appear, but the comment was quite large, and so I decided to collect maximum material for a separate publication.
I can’t call this material a review, much less an article, as there is very little information on this product: I didn’t search for it - there is only one description and only a few photos everywhere. Here is the first:
Photo №1. Taken from the “Igor Korotchenko War Diary”.
Big revolver lies on the table. Nearby is a printout with the performance characteristics of the RSH-12 product. In the upper left corner of the sheet with TTX visible logo Tula KBP.
According to the description of the RSH-12, I had more questions than answers. I will try to describe in my own words the product with photo No. 1 as detailed as possible, then for comparison I will post photos No. 2 and No. 3 with my comments. And I will ask you, dear readers, to supplement my description with your observations and thoughts, and we will call this publication a survey.
From a technical point of view, the revolver complex RSH-12 is a revolver with a solid metal frame and with a reel to the left on 5 cartridges. I believe that the drum lever (tide axis) RSH-12 has two degrees of freedom.
Fastening unit drum to the frame of the revolver RSH-12.
The first degree of freedom gives the opportunity to tilt the drum of the revolver aside. This is enough to remove the cartridges or cartridges.
I think that its capabilities can be used in this way: I threw the drum aside, raised the weapon with the barrel upwards - and the sleeves spilled out of the drum themselves. The second degree of freedom makes it possible to charge the weapon in the “barrel forward” position, but the drum's chambers are directed downwards. He pivoted the drum to the left, then it should be turned away from itself in such a way that the chambers would be located vertically and then “top-down” to load the revolver with cartridges.
This solution allowed developers to combine two fundamentally different schemes for loading and extracting liners: 1) opening (“breaking”) the body of the revolver and tilting the barrel down;
2) tilting the drum to the side.
Two methods for the simultaneous extraction of liners: opening the case and tilting the drum.
A trigger-type revolver with an open trigger. Like many revolvers chambered for powerful cartridges (Colt Python 6 ", Taurus Raging Bull, S&W 929, Mateba Model 6 Unica), the RSh-12 revolver has a reinforced barrel casing, which is equipped with ventilation holes. Above the barrel and under the barrel, there are rail interface systems of the Picatinny type for the installation of all kinds of scopes, flashlights, LCCs, etc.
Barrel revolver RSH-12 with ventilation holes close up. Please note: the trunk is located at the level of the lower chamber.
To ensure a small recoil shoulder and, as a result, to reduce the toss of the barrel, the RSH-12 revolver does not shoot from the upper chamber of the drum, but from the lower one. This solution was used by I. Ya. Stechkin when creating the OTs-38 revolver. From the lower chamber, shooting is carried out in such revolvers as Rhinoceros AEK-96, Chiappa Rhino 60, Chiappa Rhino 200DS, Mateba Model 6 Unica.
The drum lock button is located on the left side of the frame, above the handle and behind the drum. If this is indeed the drum lock button, then the fuse is located either on the right side (which I strongly doubt), or it is automatic (I also doubt it), or it does not exist at all (all the signs are there). Remember the design of the TT pistol: it does not have a fuse as a separate part, its functions are performed by a safety cocking of the trigger. Maybe something similar is implemented in this revolver.
And I did not notice signs of an automatic fuse ...
Button lock drum, trigger and rear sight on the revolver RSH-12 close-up. Note the serial number stamped on the frame under the drum: 100001. Whether stotychschppervy, whether the first.
Aim devices include a front sight and a rear sight. Possibly combinable: the adjustable diopter sight and the fixed sight with a V-shaped slot.
From the photo it is impossible to determine for sure the type of trigger mechanism, although I believe that it should have a double action.
It is also impossible to determine how the problem of obturation is solved.
(breakthrough of powder gases into the gap between the breech section and the front end of the drum). I doubt that the Pipera scheme was used, which has proven itself so well in the revolver of the Nagant system: the shape of the cartridges does not allow. In Colt Python, for example, before shooting a chamber is tightly worn on the barrel cone, which reduces the leakage of powder gases and contributes to an increase in shooting accuracy and bullet velocity.
The principle of loading a revolver is unknown:
- a quick-detachable drum, like a revolver “Strike” of the Klimovsky Central Research Institute for Radio and Teaching Machinery, (which is unlikely: if the drum axis has two degrees of freedom, the knot turns out to be too complicated and unreliable);
- cassettes (clips) of the type “Speed Loader”, as in the revolver “Strike” of the Tula KBP;
- or in the old-fashioned way: manually, one cartridge each.
I think that the extraction of cartridges in the RSH-12 revolver occurs simultaneously: with the help of an extractor, and loading - with the help of clips.
The P-92 revolver uses just such a scheme: due to the fact that the pistol cartridges do not have a protruding lip, flat steel clips are used to speed up the loading and simplify unloading, combining all 5 cartridges into one block.
Cartridge cartridge next to the revolver P-92
Drum axis rod head in RSH-12 revolver close up
The handle of the RSH-12 plastic. Judging by the photo, she passed the test of strength. It would not hurt to make its surface grooved. At the base of the handle there are some rectangular holes. Apparently, thanks to them the butt is attached to the revolver.
Handle revolver RSH-12 close-up. Pay attention to the holes in the base of the handle. Perhaps they are inserted into the butt fasteners: more like there is no place
Judging by the inscriptions on the “price tag”, the RSH-12 revolver is completed with a set of 3 accessories:
* butt removable folding;
* removable grenade handle (most likely from ASH-12);
* tactical silencer (most likely from ASH-12).
TTH revolver RSH-12
ASH-12 assault rifle in the hands of the chief designer Viktor Zelenko. The ASH-12 is equipped with a tactical (rifle) handle. Perhaps it was this handle that was supposed to complete the assault revolver RSH-12.
ASH-12 assault rifle with a tactical silencer. Perhaps it was they who were supposed to complete the RS-12 assault revolver.
I believe that the list of accessories could be added. Would be superfluous:
* Holster.
* Belt tactical one-point.
* Removable compensator (like S&W 929).
* Bipod (it was supposed to use sniper cartridge SC-130).
* Marks (markers) on the sight and front sight (contribute to the rapid detection of targets in the daytime and in low light conditions up to complete darkness).
* Collimator.
* LZU: it is possible removable, it is possible built in the revolver handle.
* Tactical flashlight.
* Cartridge belt for clips with cartridges like this:
But the great thing about The North Mountain: Speed Loader Holder
“What was it created for?” You ask. Apparently, for arming special forces, as a highly effective assault weapon for close combat, providing a high stopping effect at short distances in a confined space (storming premises, etc.), while reducing the likelihood of hitting third parties due to the rapid energy drop of a bullet with range.
For this automaton in KBP, a whole series of cartridges with different types of bullets were developed, providing high tactical flexibility when using the RSH-12 assault revolver in various conditions.
The basis of the rifle complex, which includes the large-caliber assault revolver RSH-12, is a family of special cartridges of the caliber 12,7 mm, developed in TsKIB SOO. The basis of the new cartridge is a cylindrical sleeve with a length of 55 mm from the subsonic sniper cartridge 12,7х55 СЦ-130, created in the same TsKIB SOO for the VSSK “Exhaust” silent sniper rifle. The cartridges for the assault rifle are equipped with several types of bullets: light, heavy, armor-piercing, there is also a two-gun version with a tandem arrangement of bullets.
PS-12B Cartridge mm 12,7x55 mm with armor-piercing bullet
PD-12 Automatic rifle cartridge 12,7х55 mm two-bullet
PS-12A Automatic rifle 12,7x55 mm with light bullet
PS-12 Cartridge mm 12,7x55 mm with a heavy bullet
Sleeve cartridge 12.7x55 (right) in comparison with the cartridges .499 LWR, .50 Bushmaster and 7.62x39
Photo ammunition: Ilya Kedrov, magazine "National Defense"
Photo ammunition: Ilya Kedrov, magazine "National Defense"
The ballistic characteristics of cartridges for the RSH-12 revolver have not been published, however, it became known that the light bullet has a hollow aluminum core bared in the nose, a bimetallic shell and a mass of about 7 grams.
The muzzle velocity of such a bullet obviously significantly exceeds the speed of sound, but the combination of a small bullet mass with a large caliber leads to the fact that such a bullet quickly loses speed and energy with increasing distance. Most likely, the effective firing range of such a bullet will not exceed 50-100 meters, but at short distances such a bullet will have a very high stopping effect. A heavy bullet most likely has a subsonic speed, which makes it possible to effectively use such cartridges in combination with a removable silencer to ensure the secrecy of the use of weapons.
Photo #2 (taken from “Weapons")
The photo shows a solid man holding a big revolver in his hand. In the background, another man is eyeing an ASH-12 assault rifle. In terms of dimensions, the revolver is close to the RSH-12, but with closer comparison of enlarged images, significant differences can be found.
Pay attention to some details.
* Barrel. The air vents of the barrel cover in the second photo are much larger, and their 3, not 4, as in the first photo. In the second photo, the revolver's barrel is equipped with a muzzle nozzle (DTK).
** Drum. In the first photo, the shape of the drum is rectangular, made in the form of a bar, and in the second - round, in the form of a cylinder. We decided to equip the round drum from the second photo with valleys (longitudinal grooves). As far as I understand, they serve to facilitate the construction and to more conveniently roll the drum: after all, different ammunition can be used in one drum, and there is an opportunity to choose them according to the situation.
*** PURPOSE. The second photo shows the simplest sight.
**** The trigger. On the second photo the trigger looks smaller.
Here is an additional photo of the same massive revolver from the second photo, but in a different perspective.
Photo #3
Most likely, in these photos we are witnessing the evolution of the assault revolver RSH-12.
The development team of the ASH-12 machine gun and the RSH-12 revolver consisted of the following specialists: the chief designer of the TsKIB SOO for shooting and gun armament Viktor Zelenko, V. V. Zlobin, V. V. Kazakova, A. Yu. Karetnikova, R.V. Rusanov. In 2006, the same team was awarded the title of laureate of the B.S. Prize in the field of science and technology for the development of the VKS (Exhaust) complex. Stechkina. In 2009, for the work “12,7-mm sniper complex VKS” diploma laureate award them. S.I. Mosina received: V. V. Zlobin, P. V. Akatov, V. D. Gavrishov, V. V. Kazakova, S. V. Trukhachev.
Some of the winners
TTX assault revolver RSh-12
prehistory
Usually the prehistory is located at the beginning of the article, but I decided to place it in the “basement”, since it turned out to be quite voluminous. And who is curious where the legs of RSH-12 and ASH-12 grow from and how it all began, let him read on.
It all began with the creation of a new ammunition according to the tactical and technical requirements of “Developing a 12,7-mm sniper complex with a small unmasking action” under the “Exhaust” cipher.
In 2001, the designers of the branch of OJSC “KBP” - “TsKIB SOO” started to perform this task. According to the TTZ, the complex was to consist of a sniper rifle, optical sights (day and night) and two rounds: a sniper enhanced accuracy and sniper with a high penetrating ability. Above the creation of a technical proposal for an ammunition and a sniper rifle took part: G. A. Korobov, B. A. Borzov, L. V. Bondarev, A. B. Adov, Yu. P. Platonov, V. V. Zlobin.
The Scientific and Technical Council approved two versions of the rifle design for the technical project: lead designer A. B. Adov and lead designer V. V. Zlobin.
In the further development there was a variant of V. V. Zlobin, as he proposed a more promising cartridge for the rifle, which allowed the creation of other types of small arms. Soon a rather wide range of cartridges with special-action bullets of the SC-130 series was developed.
Large-caliber sniper cartridges
SC-130 PT, SC-139 PT2, SC-130 VPS, SC-130 PU
SC-130 PT, SC-139 PT2, SC-130 VPS, SC-130 PU
Later, assault rifles were developed (ASH-12) and a revolver (RSH-12). For them, a proprietary nomenclature of cartridges based on the cartridge cartridge of the SC-130 was developed, including a cartridge with light, heavy, armor-piercing bullets, and a two-cartridge cartridge.
In 2011, TsKIB SOO presented the MC-558 hunting carbine, designed for the civilian version of the 12,7 × 55 caliber cartridge mm.
Hunting carbine MC-558 (civilian version of “Exhaust”)
In the same year, the FSB of the Russian Federation adopted the ASH-12 assault rifle.
About the further fate of the assault revolver RSH-12 I could not get any official data. I read somewhere that the RSH-12 revolver was adopted by the FSB of the Russian Federation, but there is no such information on the developer’s official website. Found only a mention on the site of the parent company (PCU):
“Based on the design of the VKS rifle, 7,62-mm high-precision sniper rifle VSV and 12,7-mm assault ASh assault rifle adopted by the FSB of the Russian Federation were developed.”
Perhaps the RSH-12 revolver will “grow out” into a revolver gun, because that is how the fate of the Klimovsk OTs-20 revolver “Dwarf” formed: on the basis of this large-caliber revolver, revolver-type guns of both military and civilian purposes are manufactured.
The assault revolving gun with a folding butt of MTs 255-12
for law enforcement officers chambered for 12 / 70 and 12 / 76.
for law enforcement officers chambered for 12 / 70 and 12 / 76.
Revolving shotguns MC 255-12, MC 255-20 and MC 255-.410
for commercial and amateur hunting in calibers 12, 20 and .410.
for commercial and amateur hunting in calibers 12, 20 and .410.
That's all the information on the RSH-12 assault rifle that I was able to find and comprehend. What do you think? At least in something I was right? Is the pistol good? Do I need this? Write, share information!
Thank you for attention!
Sources:
http://i-korotchenko.livejournal.com
http://world.guns.ru
http://oruzheika.mybb.ru
http://www.yaplakal.com
http://popgun.ru
http://sniper-weapon.ru
http://www.kalibr.ru
Information