PB (pistol)

The PB (Russian: Пистолет бесшумный, romanized: Pistolet besshumnyy, lit. 'Pistol Silent', English: Silent Pistol; GRAU index 6P9) is a Soviet integrally suppressed semi-automatic pistol developed and manufactured by the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, based on the Makarov pistol; since the merger of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant and the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant to form the Kalashnikov Concern in 2013, the Kalashnikov Concern has continued to manufacture the PB. The weapon entered service in 1967.

Pistolet Besshumnyy
TypeIntegrally suppressed semi-automatic pistol
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1967–present
Used byKGB/FSB
Soviet Army reconnaissance
Russian Airborne Forces (VDV)
Production history
DesignerA.A. Deryagin[1]
ManufacturerIzhevsk Mechanical Plant[2] (1967–2013)
Kalashnikov Concern[3] (2013–present)
Produced1967–present[2][3]
Specifications
Mass0.98 kg (2.2 lb)[3]
Length308 mm (12.1 in) (with suppressor)[3]
170 mm (6.7 in) (without suppressor)[4]
Barrel length105 mm (4.1 in)[4] (11,65 calibers)
Cartridge9×18mm Makarov
ActionSimple blowback, DA/SA
Rate of fire30 rounds/minute[5]
Muzzle velocity290 m/s (950 ft/s)[5]
Feed system8-round detachable box magazine (Makarov pistol)
SightsOpen iron sights

Design and features

The PB uses an integral suppressor, which, unlike most similar systems, consists of two parts. This allows the pistol to be carried and kept concealed without the front section of the suppressor attached, and for the suppressor to be quickly deployed prior to use. The pistol may also be fired safely without the front section attached, which may be important in critical situations. When fired like this, the PB sounds similar to a regular Makarov pistol. The detached suppressor is carried in a special compartment of the holster, which was designed especially for the PB.[1]

The PB's firing mechanism and design is based on that of the Makarov pistol. Because the front part of the barrel is covered by the suppressor, the slide is very short, such that it does not allow placing a return spring into it. For that reason, the spring is in the grip, and acts on the slide by means of a long lever.

The iron sights are fixed.[4] It uses standard 8-round magazines from the Makarov pistol.[4]

Users

Former users

See also

References
  1. "Pistolet besshumnyy PB (indeks 6P9), 1967, Rossiya" Пистолет бесшумный ПБ (индекс 6П9), 1967, Россия [Silent pistol PB (index 6P9), 1967, Russia]. World Weapon.
  2. Moss, Matthew (June 7, 2016). "The PB Was the KGB's Suppressed Pistol". War is Boring. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  3. "9mm Besshumnyy pistolet PB — kompaktnoye besshumnoye oruzhiye blizhnego boya dlya provedeniya spetsial'nykh operatsiy" 9мм Бесшумный пистолет ПБ — компактное бесшумное оружие ближнего боя для проведения специальных операций [9mm Silent pistol PB - compact silent weapons for special operations]. Kalashnikov Concern. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  4. Popenker, Maxim (2010-10-23). "PB silenced". Modern Firearms. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  5. Blagovestov, A.I. (2000). Tarasa, A.Ye. (ed.). To, iz chego strelyayut v SNG: Spravochnik strelkovogo oruzhiya То, из чего стреляют в СНГ: Справочник стрелкового оружия [What the CIS uses for shooting: a directory of small arms] (in Russian). Minsk: Harvest. pp. 84–86.
  6. "Disappeared persons in Belarus". assembly.coe.int. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  7. "Killings of political opponents, mass repressions, the risk of premeditated murder justified by law". Capital punishment in Belarus, analytics, Petition against the Death Penalty in Belarus. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  8. Thompson, Leroy (27 October 2022). Soviet Pistols: Tokarev, Makarov, Stechkin and others. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-4728-5349-3. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
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