Camp 169: United Armed Forces of Novorossiya: STECHKIN A.P.S

I will post information about this Russian pistol, APS from Wikipedia.

Stechkin APS, Russian Machine pistol

APS

9mm Stechkin APS pistol

Type

Pistol, Machine Pistol

Place of origin

Soviet Union

Service history

In service

1951-present

Used by

See Users

Wars

Vietnam war
Soviet war in Afghanistan
War in Donbass

Production history

Designer

Igor Stechkin

Designed

1948

Manufacturer

Tula Arsenal

Produced

1951–1975

Variants

APB silent variant

Specifications

Weight

1.22 kg (2.69 lbs)

Length

225 mm (8.86 in)

Barrel length

140 mm (5.51 in)

Cartridge

9×18mm Makarov, 9×19mm Parabellum.

Action

blowback

Rate of fire

750 rounds/minute

Muzzle velocity

340 m/s (9×18mm Makarov)

Effective firing range

50 m (9×18mm Makarov)

Maximum firing range

200 m

Feed system

20-round detachable box magazine

The Stechkin automatic pistol or APS (Avtomaticheskiy Pistolet Stechkina, Russian: Автоматический Пистолет Стечкина) is a Russian selective fire machine pistol. It bears the name of its developer, Igor Stechkin.

Stechkin APS pistol

Adoption and service

The Stechkin automatic pistol was originally chambered for 7.62×25mm Tokarev. Stechkin changed the pistol to the 9 mm caliber used in the new Makarov pistol (PM), as it became clear that this cartridge was set to become the new service ammunition for handguns of the Soviet Army. In 1951, both the Makarov and Stechkin were introduced into the Soviet military arsenal, replacing the aging Tokarev pistol (TT-33).

In contrast to the Makarov, the Stechkin has an automatic fire mode, which is selected using the safety lever. In burst or automatic fire, the pistol should be fitted with the wooden or metal shoulder stock; otherwise, the weapon becomes difficult to control.

The detachable stock is similar in appearance and design to that of the Mauser C96, and likewise, the pistol can be stored inside when not in use. The extra support of the stock against the shoulder helps to control the recoil.

The Stechkin was intended as a sidearm for artillery soldiers, tank crews and aircraft personnel. As a pistol, it is rather heavy, and combined with the shoulder stock (which was rarely ever used attached), it is quite bulky. This led to the APS being gradually phased out of active service, although it is still used mostly by special forces and also held in reserve. The Stechkin APS was eventually at least officially replaced by the AKS-74U compact assault rifle with folding stock, offering more firepower due to its much more powerful 5.45×39mm M74 rifle ammunition, acceptable accuracy at moderate distances, and greater magazine capacity.

A contemporary derivative of the Stechkin, the OTS-33 Pernach, is also chambered for the 9×18mm Makarov cartridge.

Stechkin APS pistol

APB silent variant

The APB (Avtomaticheskij Pistolet Besshumnyj, meaning automatic silenced pistol) version was a version of the APS optimized for silent operations. Developed in the early 1970s by A.S. Neugodov (А.С. Неугодов) under the factory name AO-44, it was officially adopted in 1972 under the service name APB and given GRAU index 6P13. Muzzle velocity reportedly dropped to 290 m/s in this variant. Instead of the holster-stock of the APS, the APB comes with a detachable stock made of steel wire. Its barrel is longer than that of the APS; it protrudes from the slide and is threaded for the attachment of a sound suppressor. The barrel itself is also wrapped around by an integrated expansion chamber, in which gasses escape from holes in the barrel. When not in use, the detachable sound suppressor can be clipped to the stock.

During the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the APB was used by Soviet Spetsnaz team leaders as an extra weapon; they usually carried on a sling with the suppressor and stock mounted. It was also employed by radio operators and even by some heavy gun crews.

In the more recent past, other special forces units of the MVD such as the OMON and the SOBR have also been equipped with this pistol.