Traumatic pistol MP 355: characteristics, manufacturer

To manufacture domestic traumatic weapons, many manufacturers use combat models of pistols. Among the large assortment of different models, according to many fans, the most effective is the legendary Stechkin automatic pistol.

Created in 1951 and armed with some Soviet and later Russian special forces, the APS is now used by the Russian arms manufacturer as a basis for manufacturing traumatic weapons. It was on the basis of the Stechkin pistol that the workers of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant created a traumatic MR-355. The non-combat model in its appearance is completely identical to the legendary APS, as was intended by the manufacturers.

It is thanks to the presence of an external similarity with a combat pistol that this "trauma" is so loved today by many connoisseurs of weapons.

Beginning of design work

Traumatic pistol MR-355 for the first time on the Russian arms counters appeared in 2007. In those years, many "traumatics" already had an acceptable capacity, sufficient for effective self-defense. This is explained by the fact that firms specializing in manufacturing of traumatic cartridges have improved production. Ammunition was equipped with a sufficient amount of gunpowder, necessary to ensure that in the canal the bullet was given the right speed.

Requirements for traumatic weapons

During the design works by the Izhevsk manufacturer, the provision of the current legislation of the Russian Federation was taken into account, according to which the possibility of shooting bursts and steel bullets should be deprived of civilian weapons.

Stechkin as a result has undergone minor design changes. By weight, size and its external design, "trauma" is absolutely no different from its combat analogue.

Dimensions

In its design, the traumatic MR-355 is very similar to APS. He has the same impressive dimensions as the Stechkin pistol, which can be used by the owners of these "traumas" in various conflict situations. Directed toward the aggressor, the MP-355 is able to exert a strong psychological impact. Due to the large size, this "trauma" is noticeably distinguished from the total mass of traumatic weapons.

Arrangement of the barrel channel

The Stechkin MR-355 traumatic pistol is a remake of a combat APS using a caliber of 9 mm. In a non-combat model, these ammunition have been replaced by cartridges of 9 mm RA that are capable of producing traumatic effects.

Adaptation of combat weapons to traumatic cartridges entailed changes in the trunk. In "trauma" the diameter of the barrel channel is less than that of Stechkin's combat pistol. As a result of the adaptation, the barrel in the MR-355 was rigidly fixed to the frame. In addition, the barrel channel is equipped with two special teeth, which do not allow the shooting of solid bullets.

Also, these teeth prevent the use of those munitions, whose bullets are capable of developing speed above the level allowed by the legislation of Russia. The size of each tooth is half a diameter of the trunk canal. They are located at a distance of 10 mm from each other. One is behind the chamber, and the other is on the opposite side of the barrel.

In addition to these teeth, weapons designers also provide six-millimeter narrowing in the muzzle sections of the MR-355. The feedback of the owners of these traumatic pistols indicate that due to the presence of teeth and constrictions, the weapon has completely lost the ability to shoot a solid bullet.

Similar modifications are also susceptible to the models created by the Makarov pistol. If we compare the "traumata", designed on the basis of such combat pistols as PM and APS, then in the MP-355, unlike the "Makarych", no bulging of the barrel channels and tearing of the teeth from frequent shooting was found.

With an external inspection of the muzzle, many potential buyers often think that the stem channel of the trachtical Stechkin is very thick. But this is not so. The trunk consists of two compressed main parts containing one barrier. By its design, the MP-355 pistol is more robust than its competitor, "Makarych".

What remained unchanged in the "trauma"?

By adapting the automatic Stechkin pistol to the traumatic cartridge, the designers of the Izhevsk mechanical plant replaced the barrel and weakened the structure of the MR-355 a little. The characteristics of this traumatic weapon, obtained as a result of modernization, exclude its use for conducting automatic fire.

The designation "АВ" (automatic fire) on the safety device was decided by the designers to remain unchanged. As a result, the "trauma" fuse is equipped with a switch with three modes of fire, which is equipped with the original combat weapon Stechkin. The difference between APS and "trauma" is that in a civil non-combat pistol the three-mode switch is completely useless and is left only as a decoration.

Design of the shock-trigger mechanism

The pistol MP-355 Stechkin is equipped with an automatic system with a free shutter. Due to the double-action shock system, shooting from this traumatic weapon is possible in two versions: self-cocking and after the preliminary cocking of the trigger.

Tactical and technical characteristics

• The caliber of MR-355 is 9 mm.
• Ammunition used: 9 mm RA And 10x22T.
• The gun has a length of 225 mm.
• The width of the MP-355 is -34 mm.
• The height is 170 mm.
• Weight MP-355 without cartridges does not exceed 0.95 kg.
• The weapon is designed for a single shooting mode.
• The pistol shop is designed for 10 rounds.

What is the "trauma"?

There are two stores attached to the gun. With the help of a regular wooden holster for MP-355 borrowed from the APS, the manufacturer managed to give a "trauma" to a specific charisma.

Fighting

The manufacturer in the process of creating a traumatic model reduced the volume of the pistol shop. If there were 20 cartridges in Stechkin's combat pistol, then in MP-355 their number was halved. The decrease in the volume of the store was carried out, according to consumers, not the most reliable way. In these "traumata", the back walls of the shops are equipped with special millimeter-type rivets.

Their task is to not let the keepers of the cartridges go down. If you want to equip a traumatic pistol, like a basic combat, twenty cartridges, it's enough just to remove these rivets. In carrying out this work, we should not forget that these actions are illegal.

Some owners charge in another way - without removing the nippers. To do this, it is enough to equip the MR-355 store with ten cartridges. Then you need to apply a little effort and begin charging the eleventh cartridge. After the existing barrier in the store is overcome, it will not be difficult to load the "traumat" with the remaining nine cartridges.

Many owners of the MR-355 note that after the performance of these actions in the gun often there are problems with the supply of cartridges. This is explained by difficulties in the backward movement of the submitter. During the operation of the gun, after repeated charging and recharging, this problem disappears.

Hence, we can conclude that the volume of the magazine MP-355 is unlimited. Expand it or leave it in its former state depends already on the owner of this "trauma".

Advantages and disadvantages

The strengths of MR-355 are:

• Robust construction. This is explained by the fact that "trauma" is a successful conversion of a very reliable combat pistol.
• MP-355 has a great service resource: 40 thousand shots.

The drawbacks of this traumatic pistol include:

• High cost: 35 thousand rubles.
• Thin fly.
• The long travel of the trigger.

Ammunition

Initially, for this traumatic pistol were provided cartridges of Italian production 10x22T. However, many owners of these "traumatized" prefer to use the optimal ammunition 9 mm RA. Company АКБС.

Choosing ammunition for the MP-355, the owner must take into account the peculiarity of this traumatic pistol, which consists in the fact that shooting with weak cartridges can cause problems with recharging: the pistol will have to be recharged after each shot.

Also, to prevent tearing and blunting of the cartridges, it is not recommended to use reinforced ammunition in this traumatic gun. When firing cartridges with the designation "Slaughter +", the high speed of the bullet-ball will lead to its rupture during passage of intra-barricades.

The best situation was with the ammunition "Magnum" from the manufacturer AKBS. With the passage of obstacles in the barrel, bullets are ruptured much less often. However, using these cartridges, you need to be prepared for the fact that if the ball is still ruptured, you will have to shoot again.

Many owners of the MR-355 recommend the use of cartridges produced by Tekhkrim. The kinetic energy of these munitions is 70 J. Hence, it can be concluded that for the Stechkin MP-355 traumatic pistol, such low-power cartridges as 9 mm RA are ideal. They are very effective for training shooting. But, in view of their low power, they are of little use for self-defense.

The selection of optimal cartridges for this traumatic pistol will take some time. Everyone who is going to buy an MP-355 should be ready for this.

Reviews about the model

Those who have purchased and use this traumatic pistol, speak of it exclusively positively. According to the owners of this weapon, the MP-355 has the following strong qualities:

• All spare parts of the gun are large. Due to this, during the disassembly-assembly, losses of individual parts are excluded.
• Convenient location of all controls. As a result, the weapon can be used even with one hand in the glove.
• The presence of a third position for the fuse, in addition to giving the "trauma" an external resemblance to a combat analog, may be confused by some owners. This is explained by the fact that, according to the legislation of the Russian Federation, traumatic pistols are completely deprived of the opportunity to carry out automatic shooting. However, for commercial reasons, the manufacturer did not remove the third position of the MR-355 fuse. If in the MTA using this flag is switching from automatic to single fire and vice versa, then in the "trauma" such a switch is completely impossible. In MP-355, this safety lever does not function.
• The weapon is ideal for regular practice shooting. According to the owners, because of the weak power of the used cartridges, this "trauma" is not very effective as a means for self-defense.
• MR-355, due to its large size, according to some owners, can be used in case of a real threat as a means for psychological suppression of the aggressor. However, large dimensions can be considered a drawback, especially if the weapon is worn daily. Firstly, because of the large dimensions, the concealed wearing of this model is completely excluded. Secondly, the weight of this traumatic pistol without cartridges is almost one kilogram. According to the owners, with a full clip worn all day MR-355 is not so easy, especially in cases where the holster is picked up unsuccessfully.

Analogue of traumatic MR-355

Stechkin also became the basis for such a "trauma" as APS-M (automatic Stechkin automatic pistol). This gun is a converted combat weapon, adapted for shooting with stop-action cartridges. This traumatic weapon is characterized by the following drawbacks:

• Frequent sponges and ruptures of barrels and cartridges when using reinforced cartridges.
• The use of ammunition, for which a small amount of powder is provided, as well as low-power cartridges, entails frequent failures of pistol automatics during recharging. During the shooting with such cartridges the sleeve often jams.

Despite its low cost, compared to the MP-355, APS-M is not able to make it worthy of competition.

Is it released today?

Since recently, the manufacture of traumatic pistols on the basis of combat was prohibited. This was the reason for the suspension of the serial release of the MR-355. But since a lot of Stechkin's pistols had been adapted to the traumatic ammunition in due time, the MR-355 had not yet been removed from the shelves of the weapons shops.

According to amateurs of traumatic weapons, this situation can drag on for several years. After this, most likely, the model MR-355 will still be replaced. No matter how the situation with the MP-355, today this gun is one of the best "traumas".