Submachine gun for retro cartridge. OZ-39
Last two decades in stories Domestic small arms can rightfully be called the second era of submachine guns (the first was in World War II). Moreover, in this second epoch, many more samples of automatic weapons under the pistol cartridge than in the first.
The OZ-39 submachine gun developed in the Tula TsKIB SOO serves as a peculiar link between both “eras”. Work on the new weapons began in the year 1998. What is in it from the "first era"? Cartridge. The fact is that at that time a considerable number of 7,62x25 TT ammunition cartridges were still stored in the army warehouses, which were used for PCA-41, PPS-43, TT and other domestic weapons of the time of Interbellum and the Great Patriotic War. In the middle of 90, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, taking into account the current criminal situation, was actively working on the issue of weapons of special forces. They needed automatic weapons, and the existing AKS-74U were to some extent dangerous for use in urban environments because of the high propensity of the bullet cartridge 5,45x39 mm to bounce. It was then that they remembered the good old 7,62x25 TT. And not only they remembered, but sometimes they even started offering to adopt it again together with some machine gun from the times of the Second World War: they were already outdated for military use, but for the policeman, as it seemed, they were still suitable. It cannot be said that such actions would make sense: the bullet of the TT cartridge has less stopping effect than that of the PM or Luger, although it retains sufficient energy at much greater distances.
Yes, PPS or PPD, for all its merits, were no longer suitable for operation in modern conditions. For this reason, in the Tula TsKIB SOO in 1998, on an initiative basis, the creation of an OTs-39 submachine gun chambered for TT. Works led designer V.V. Zhlobin. It was assumed that the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense would be interested in the new submachine gun. In addition, the designers offered to use the OC-39 and as a training weapon. In the latter case, novice shooters would not only learn to handle weapons, but also rationally spend 7,62x25 mm TT cartridges accumulated in warehouses.
Externally, the OTs-39 turned out to be the most common representative of its class: a stamped metal receiver, a plastic pistol grip and forearm, as well as a magazine receiver located directly in front of the trigger guard. Automation also does not stand out against the background of other domestic submachine guns and is based on a free gate. Handle loading displayed on the left side of the weapon and folded up. The trigger mechanism is made according to the Kurk scheme, which, according to the manufacturer, significantly improves the accuracy of firing single. In addition to the single mode USM allows you to fire bursts. Mode selection is carried out using the three-position flags of the fuse-translator of fire, located on both sides of the receiver above the fire control handle, just below the thumb arrow. In addition to the layout of USM greater accuracy of fire is provided by a special muzzle. Firstly, it has a relatively large mass, and secondly, the release of powder gases occurs in both directions sideways and upwards, which ultimately reduces the toss of the barrel when fired.
Weapon ammunition is made from a detachable box "horn" on 20, 30 or 40 cartridges arranged in two rows. It should be noted that usually double-row magazines for pistol cartridges are made straight box-shaped, but Tula engineers came to the conclusion that the sector-type magazine turns out to be more reliable in some situations. Approximately the same time they decided at Heckler-Koch when developing MP5.
Special tricks in terms of "body kit" Tula designers have not provided. OTs-39 has a regular metal butt folded to the right (in this case, the shoulder rest can be used as a "tactical" handle). The aiming devices of the submachine-gun consist of an adjustable front sight, closed by a namushnik, and a diopter sight with adjustment on 100 and 200 meters.
When in the early 2000s, conversations about returning to the 7,62x25 mm cartridge began to gradually subside, Zlobin and his colleagues finalized the OTs-39 to use the 9x19 Luger cartridge, which had much greater prospects. To do this, they changed the design of the store, redesigned the shutter and made some other improvements. In general, the design and principles of its work remained the same. The modification for the 9-mm cartridge was called OTs-39P.
Information about the test results OTs-39 and feedback from potential users is extremely small. However, those crumbs that are available, as well as the fact that this submachine gun has not yet been put into service, allow us to say that OTs-39 is destined to remain another purely showpiece. In addition, in our country many other more successful machine pistols have been developed.
The OZ-39 submachine gun developed in the Tula TsKIB SOO serves as a peculiar link between both “eras”. Work on the new weapons began in the year 1998. What is in it from the "first era"? Cartridge. The fact is that at that time a considerable number of 7,62x25 TT ammunition cartridges were still stored in the army warehouses, which were used for PCA-41, PPS-43, TT and other domestic weapons of the time of Interbellum and the Great Patriotic War. In the middle of 90, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, taking into account the current criminal situation, was actively working on the issue of weapons of special forces. They needed automatic weapons, and the existing AKS-74U were to some extent dangerous for use in urban environments because of the high propensity of the bullet cartridge 5,45x39 mm to bounce. It was then that they remembered the good old 7,62x25 TT. And not only they remembered, but sometimes they even started offering to adopt it again together with some machine gun from the times of the Second World War: they were already outdated for military use, but for the policeman, as it seemed, they were still suitable. It cannot be said that such actions would make sense: the bullet of the TT cartridge has less stopping effect than that of the PM or Luger, although it retains sufficient energy at much greater distances.
Yes, PPS or PPD, for all its merits, were no longer suitable for operation in modern conditions. For this reason, in the Tula TsKIB SOO in 1998, on an initiative basis, the creation of an OTs-39 submachine gun chambered for TT. Works led designer V.V. Zhlobin. It was assumed that the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense would be interested in the new submachine gun. In addition, the designers offered to use the OC-39 and as a training weapon. In the latter case, novice shooters would not only learn to handle weapons, but also rationally spend 7,62x25 mm TT cartridges accumulated in warehouses.
Externally, the OTs-39 turned out to be the most common representative of its class: a stamped metal receiver, a plastic pistol grip and forearm, as well as a magazine receiver located directly in front of the trigger guard. Automation also does not stand out against the background of other domestic submachine guns and is based on a free gate. Handle loading displayed on the left side of the weapon and folded up. The trigger mechanism is made according to the Kurk scheme, which, according to the manufacturer, significantly improves the accuracy of firing single. In addition to the single mode USM allows you to fire bursts. Mode selection is carried out using the three-position flags of the fuse-translator of fire, located on both sides of the receiver above the fire control handle, just below the thumb arrow. In addition to the layout of USM greater accuracy of fire is provided by a special muzzle. Firstly, it has a relatively large mass, and secondly, the release of powder gases occurs in both directions sideways and upwards, which ultimately reduces the toss of the barrel when fired.
Weapon ammunition is made from a detachable box "horn" on 20, 30 or 40 cartridges arranged in two rows. It should be noted that usually double-row magazines for pistol cartridges are made straight box-shaped, but Tula engineers came to the conclusion that the sector-type magazine turns out to be more reliable in some situations. Approximately the same time they decided at Heckler-Koch when developing MP5.
Special tricks in terms of "body kit" Tula designers have not provided. OTs-39 has a regular metal butt folded to the right (in this case, the shoulder rest can be used as a "tactical" handle). The aiming devices of the submachine-gun consist of an adjustable front sight, closed by a namushnik, and a diopter sight with adjustment on 100 and 200 meters.
When in the early 2000s, conversations about returning to the 7,62x25 mm cartridge began to gradually subside, Zlobin and his colleagues finalized the OTs-39 to use the 9x19 Luger cartridge, which had much greater prospects. To do this, they changed the design of the store, redesigned the shutter and made some other improvements. In general, the design and principles of its work remained the same. The modification for the 9-mm cartridge was called OTs-39P.
Information about the test results OTs-39 and feedback from potential users is extremely small. However, those crumbs that are available, as well as the fact that this submachine gun has not yet been put into service, allow us to say that OTs-39 is destined to remain another purely showpiece. In addition, in our country many other more successful machine pistols have been developed.
Information