A special purpose unit stationed in the Trans-Baikal Territory received a batch of modern 9-mm Yarygin (PYa) "Grach" semi-automatic pistols of the latest modification.

It was reported by the press service of the Eastern Military District (VVO).

“The new pistol features a magazine with an increased capacity (up to 18 rounds), a smooth descent with a small trigger stroke, which allows firing at a higher rate.

The pistol is also equipped with a bar for attaching an under-barrel flashlight with a laser designator, ”the RF Ministry of Defense website says.

"For reconnaissance units"

The development of the Rook began in the 1990s as part of a competition announced by the Ministry of Defense for a more ergonomic and powerful individual weapon in comparison with the Makarov pistol.

Initially, the military expected to receive a pistol in which modular structures were integrated for firing 9-mm cartridges from PM and 7.62-mm cartridges from TT (Tulsky Tokarev).

It was assumed that the transition to a different caliber would be carried out by replacing the minimum number of parts (primarily the barrel and magazine).

After tests in 1993, the Ministry of Defense made it easier for specialists to design the task by abandoning the modular scheme.

According to the test results in the late 1990s, the version of the pistol proposed by Vladimir Yarygin satisfied almost all the requirements of the military.

On March 21, 2003 by the decree of the government of the Russian Federation №166 "Grach" was adopted by the Russian army.

Now the PYa enters the troops to replace the Makarov pistol.

The peculiarity of the "Rook" is the ability to introduce fire with armor-piercing cartridges, which ensure the defeat of enemy manpower protected by anti-fragmentation body armor.

As noted in the military department, "weapons are especially valuable for reconnaissance units in the event of close combat."

The armor-piercing cartridge used in the "Grach" is capable of penetrating class 1 and 2 armor.

This pistol can be fired at temperatures ranging from -50 ° C to + 50 ° C.

The Rook weight with a magazine without cartridges is almost 1 kg, total length - 198 mm, sighting range - 50 m, muzzle velocity - 450 m / s, rate of fire - 40-45 rounds per minute, barrel resource - 4 thousand. shots.

The pistol is produced at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (Izhmekh), which is part of the Kalashnikov concern.

  • Upgraded pistols "Grach"

  • © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

“According to its characteristics, the Yarygin pistol is one of the best pistols in the world, it is distinguished by its high fighting qualities, good penetration and stopping action.

The pistol is capable of hitting targets protected by individual means of body armor at a distance of up to 25 m, ”the concern says.

For more than 17 years, the Yarygin pistol has been supplied to the army, the FSB, departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, prosecutors, special-purpose departments, and is also exported.

During this period, several modifications of the Rook appeared.

The pistol was improved, among other things, through the manufacture of body parts from modern glass-filled high-strength plastic, which made it possible to lighten the weapon.

According to Kalashnikov, the weight of the improved version of the Rook is 0.95 kg, the total length is 195 mm.

The resource of the barrel of Yarygin's pistol was doubled - up to 8 thousand shots - thanks to the use of high-strength steel grades.

The concern notes that the modernized PYa has increased combat effectiveness, improved ergonomic qualities and protective properties of the sight in the event of a fall.  

"Higher rates were achieved by providing the possibility of installing combined target designators and an adjustable sighting device on the pistol, which allows you to quickly bring the pistol to normal combat, taking into account the individual characteristics of the shooter's aiming," according to the Kalashnikov website.

In addition to the improved military version of the PYa, on the basis of the "Grach" Izhevsk gunsmiths have developed a civilian pistol of limited firearms MP-353 chambered for the traumatic action .45 Rubber and a sports training complex MP-446C "Viking", which is used in training, including by law enforcement officers departments.

“In addition to creating new types of weapons, R&D (development work. -

RT

)

does not stop at Izhmeh 

to develop other options for the pistol (Yarygin. -

RT

): a bracket for installing attachments, a charger for accelerated filling the magazine with cartridges and 30-round magazine ", - says the materials of" Rostec ".

"Ergonomics and smooth descent"

According to experts interviewed by RT, the "Grach" is a modern powerful pistol that provides penetration of personal protective equipment at a distance of up to 25 m. In addition to good fire capabilities, they attributed convenient aiming means, ergonomics, quick reloading, relative ease of shooting from the left to the main advantages of the pistol. hands.

At the same time, in comparison with the PM, the weapon developed by Yarygin is structurally more complicated, heavier in weight, more overall, whimsical and not very comfortable for everyday wear.

According to experts, taking into account these qualities, "Rook" is optimal for use by physically strong men in special forces.

“I shot quite a lot from the Rook.

I can say that this is a decent army pistol, it has good ballistic characteristics.

I like its ergonomics and soft smooth descent, which went to the PY from the sports pistols developed by Vladimir Yarygin, "weapons expert Konstantin Lazarev said in an interview with RT. 

  • Russian special forces soldier with a pistol "Rook"

  • © Wikimedia commons / Vitaly V. Kuzmin

An important advantage of the modernized version of the "Rook", the expert called the ability to quickly attach the laser designator to the Picatinny rail.

According to him, the special forces "missed this option very much."

“The concept, the idea of ​​the creator of the PY, in my opinion, deserves high marks, but, of course, the pistol is not without a number of shortcomings.

For example, in the basic version, high-quality materials were not always used, reliability was lame, plus the "Grach" store has very rough processing that interferes with normal operation, "says Lazarev.

However, in general, as the expert notes, the military praise the PY, preferring it to the famous Austrian Glock.

According to Lazarev, the "Rook" turned out to be an effective weapon that is suitable for performing tasks by law enforcement officers and for the self-defense of army special forces in the event of a shortage of ammunition.

In a commentary on RT, columnist for the Fire Frontier magazine Alexander Butyrin emphasized that Izhevsk specialists and Vladimir Yarygin had carried out a serious amount of work to create and improve the Rook.

In terms of key characteristics, the expert believes, the PY is not inferior to the newest Boa constrictor.

“Of course, a pistol is not the main weapon for a special forces soldier.

As a rule, it is used when working in a confined space or in close combat, when a light and maneuverable weapon is required.

However, the special forces need a pistol.

I think that the modernized version of the Rook will prove itself well, including in the field, ”concluded Butyrin.