"The main highlight of the PL-14 is its ergonomics and balance"
Leading design engineer of the Kalashnikov concern Dmitry Lebedev about the new gun
The author of the new pistol PL-14 Dmitry Lebedev in an interview with the Russian Planet told about stories creation and about characteristics weapons, the prototype of which was first presented at the Army-2015 forum. Potential customers of the PL-14 can be both power structures (army, special forces), and athletes.
Dmitry Lebedev is a student of the legendary designer of sports weapons Efim Leontyevich Khaidurov and for many years engaged in the creation of experimental pistols. The development of the PL-14 model was launched in 2014, with the active participation of the multiple Russian champion in practical shooting Andrei Kirisenko.
The PL-14 is based on: optimal ergonomics and balance, safety in handling, high reliability with any 9х19 cartridges, full “two-sidedness”, a considerable resource (at least 10 000 shots when using reinforced 7HXXUMUM armor-piercing cartridges; should be significantly more).
At the moment (summer 2015 of the year) PL-14 is at the stage of testing the prototype. It will be ready for serial production no earlier than 2016 of the year, and during this time the pistol will necessarily undergo changes as compared with the sample demonstrated at the Army-2015 forum.
It is too early to talk about the cost of serial versions, but, according to Dmitry Lebedev, the issue of product competitiveness in terms of price - quality is given sufficient attention.
- What is the need to create a PL-14? Is the "old man" "Makarov" so much outdated?
- The Makarov pistol was created more than sixty years ago. During this period, virtually any equipment becomes obsolete. The question of replacing the PM did not arise yesterday, already in the 80-s of the last century, the overwhelming majority of countries in the world re-equipped their armies and police with more powerful and modern pistols than the PM. And in our country at that time, work was intensified in this direction. As a result, fairly well-known samples have emerged today: CP-1, PJ, GSH-18, and many other, lesser-known systems to the general public.
At that time, I was already working in the Khaidurov design and research group, and although our main activity was sports weapons, we also fought in the sphere of interest, since we worked closely with representatives of many special units who turned to us for technical and methodological assistance. At the same time, there was an opportunity not only to study a large number of foreign-made weapons, but also to discuss with specialists with combat experience the features of structures and the use of weapons. Over time, the ties strengthened and expanded, and today we are in constant interaction with the people for whom we work: these are the Alpha and Vympel officers, the security services of the president, other law enforcement agencies and divisions, the arrows-athletes. Now in the Kalashnikov Concern, we have begun to implement the existing experience and knowledge.
- Will the PL-14 be as reliable in the harsh Russian conditions as the same PM?
- The path from the prototype to a well-functioning serial machine is not close and difficult. The same PM did not immediately acquire its glorious reliability. So far, taking into account the testing of our gun, there is every reason to hope that we will bring the car to the required level of reliability.
- How does Lebedev's gun compare favorably with other systems, such as the Yarygin pistol or the Swift? And what is the advantage of the PL-14 compared with Western counterparts?
- The main highlight of the submarine is its ergonomics and balance. Today, according to the results of the testing, we see that our main idea was a success. The machine fits well in the hand, is stable when aiming, has less withdrawal during recoil and allows you to transfer fire to other targets faster.
Next - controls. We try to make them as clear and familiar as possible, but taking into account the shortcomings of other well-known systems (for example, the shop latch button on many good handguns is not protected from being accidentally pressed, as well as the slide latch and the fuse). Of particular note is the informative indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber.
Such a device is in many systems, but we have brought its readability to the maximum possible: whether a weapon is loaded, you can determine it by touch with one hand, even when wearing a glove, without removing it from the holster. Disassembling the maintenance pistol is simple and easy.
Mechanical "stuffing" does not carry inventions - we try to use proven, reliable and technological design solutions, but pay much attention to their harmonious combination. Now the main task is to bring the design to the level of the best world samples according to these criteria.
- And what exactly is the feature of the pistol grip? Can you tell us more about the ergonomic characteristics of the PL-14?
- The applied principles of ergonomics and balance of weapons were elaborated by Efim Leontyevich Khaidurov, who was not only a talented gunsmith designer, but also a highly qualified shooter, and an outstanding trainer-methodologist. We tried to implement this knowledge and ideas about the biomechanics and psychology of the shooter, about the production of an accurate shot in our car. Simply put, the gun must be a continuation of the hands of the shooter, both physically and psychologically.
In addition, in the basic configuration, the handle has a small thickness (28 mm) and small coverage, which makes the gun convenient for the shooter with a small hand, and with the help of interchangeable linings, the handle is adapted for users with larger hands: today it is “a good tone rule "For the gun, as well as bilateral controls, allowing unrestricted work with both right and left hands.
- It was stated that the PL-14 is designed for military, security personnel and athletes. The conclusion is that the gun will be a kind of universal model. Is that so or not? For whom is the PL-14 primarily intended?
- Yes, we are working on the design as a universal platform. The main option is designed for users of “basic” qualifications - these are officers of the army and police for whom the pistol is not the main weapon and therefore there is no need to spend a lot of time on their training in shooting. In this embodiment, the gun has a longer and tighter descent than usual (4 kg force, 7 stroke mm).
Such characteristics of the descent will save the user with a small rifle skill from an accidental shot. At the same time, testing has shown that the shooters of such qualifications confidently conduct accurate shooting at a pace that is accessible to their skills.
Another option is a gun for people who often use it and spend a lot of time in the shooting range. For them, a shorter and easier descent is provided (kg force 1,5, mm stroke 5). Such a descent allows high-speed shooting. Finally, there is a trigger mechanism with adjustable characteristics that satisfy the requirements for an open-class sport pistol.
In addition, there are options with different lengths of the barrel and handles. Standard, with 112 – 127 mm trunks and handles for 15 – 16-local stores; long, with 152 trunks mm; compact with 80 – 90 mm trunks and handles for 12-local stores.
There are also various versions of the framework: impact-resistant plastic for the basic models, as well as light alloy and steel for special versions. Various equipment includes tactical lights, laser designators, muzzle devices (up to silencers) and various sights (up to collimator), universal and special holsters for wearing all this in the collection. In general, everything that can boast of good modern pistols.
- You mentioned that the descent force of the PL-14 is 4 kg. For comparison: in the Nagan revolver, which is considered the benchmark of a very difficult descent, this indicator is equal to 3,5 kg. Would not such a tight descent an obstacle to shooting in a real battle?
- The mentioned descent in 4 kg is tested by us as possible. Examples of the use of similar pistols with intentionally weighted descent to improve safety are numerous in world practice. In particular, in many US police departments on the "Glocks" put down with an effort 5 kg.
I repeat that testing of this descent by arrows of various qualifications (from basic to high) showed that they all quickly become accustomed to such descent. Nevertheless, for "advanced" users there are options for easy descent.
- Is the PM-14 too large? Are the latest plastic materials used in the design of the gun?
- The mass of the gun without cartridges 800 grams. For weapons of this class is completely normal weight. The most popular modern guns classmates weigh about the same. Of course, the design provides for the maximum use of modern materials, including polymers. While in the prototype, these parts are made of aluminum alloy, but this is only because there is no point in making rather expensive molds.
- What can you say about the accuracy and rate of fire of the PL-14?
- Accuracy in relation to the gun - the parameter is crafty. There are examples when shooting a pistol from the “machine” shows high accuracy and accuracy, but when shooting from the hands does not provide the necessary accuracy. The accuracy of our pistol is quite ordinary, but thanks to the ergonomics and balance solutions already described above, it shows good results in accuracy and speed of repeated shots.
- How many PL-14 to be tested, and when can we approximately expect the start of mass production?
- We are preparing a gun to the standard test procedure without discounts and exemptions. These tests will be carried out in accordance with the program approved by the customer, both in content and in terms. Specific dates I have no right to make public. I can only say that the deadlines for us are very tight.
- Alex Zakvasin
- http://rusplt.ru/sdelano-russkimi/glavnaya-izyuminka-pl14--eto-ego-ergonomika-i-balans-18352.html
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