Pb-4sp Osa Pistol-The Silent Death

The Soviet silenced pistol PB (Pistolet Bezshumniy) is a unique 9mm firearm that was developed in the late 1960s for covert operations by the Soviet military and, lesser so, intelligence agencies. It is also commonly known as the “Soviet Spy Pistol” or “Soviet Silent Pistol.”

The pistol’s leading technical and tactical characteristics:

The developer is: TsNIITochmash

The manufacturer is Izhevsk Mechanical Plant

Adopted: 1967

Pb-4sp Osa Pistol-The Silent Death

The PB pistol was designed to provide a low-profile, suppressed weapon for close-quarters combat and assassination missions. While having an aura of some Soviet James Bond tool, it was, in fact, a pretty regular Ground Forces weapon., it was used during the Soviet-Afghan War.

Specifications:

• The caliber of
• 9 mm
• The initial speed of the bullet
• 290 m/s
• With nozzle, gun weight
• 950 g
• Including the nozzle, length
• 310 mm
• The length without a nozzle
• 170 mm
• The height
• 134 mm
• The width is
• 32 mm
• The capacity of a magazine
• Eight rounds
• Fire rate in combat
• 30 rounds per minute
• Cartridge, mm
• 9×18 PM
• Maximum range, m
• 50

Brief history and key features of the PB pistol

The two are not the same thing. PB pistol was created by A. A. Deryagin at the Central Research Institute “Tochmash”. The PB is an independent system of mass changes and revisions of the mechanisms for combating the counteraction of PM. Since the shutter-casing is greatly shortened, the return spring is placed vertically in the handle, interacting through a swinging two-arm lever with the shutter-casing.

Key features and characteristics of the Soviet PB silenced pistol include:

1. Silenced Design: The most distinctive feature of the PB pistol is its integral suppressor, which significantly reduces the noise generated when firing. This made it an ideal choice for covert operations where stealth was crucial.

2. Subsonic Ammunition: The PB pistol uses subsonic ammunition, typically the 9x18mm Makarov cartridge, designed to operate at lower velocities to avoid creating a sonic boom when the bullet breaks the sound barrier. This contributes to the overall effectiveness of the suppressor.

3. Discreet Carry: The compact size and suppressed firing of the PB pistol made it easier to carry concealed and to use in situations where traditional firearms might draw attention.

4. Cultural Impact: The PB pistol has gained notoriety and recognition due to its appearances in popular media, especially in spy-themed movies, novels, and video games. It was prevalent in post-Soviet cinematography, as the 90s have seen the peak interest in silenced pistols and this one was the only available in post-Soviet lands.

The PB pistol itself was used by pretty much all ground troops units: airborne, infantry – you name it. The question is, however, if they were popular. The short answer is no, which is counter-intuitive in a way. PB pistol has some valuable positive sides when compared to the next best thing – the AKM rifle with PBS-1 silencer. However, carrying an extra weapon had its draws.

First of all, it was, by all means – dead weight. The situations when a PB pistol could have been used effectively were rare and having a dedicated man with a silencer could probably solve this problem in most cases. Secondly, silenced pistols are known to have stoppages, especially in rough terrains, like that of Afghanistan. But most importantly, soldiers and officers really did not like to take the risk of losing a pistol on a mission. This would come with so much headache and a potential criminal charge that any advantages that the pistol provided would easily be overweight by drawbacks.

The Soviet PB silenced pistol is a testament to the innovative engineering and design that emerged during the Cold War. It exemplifies the Soviet Union’s approach to developing specialized covert operations and espionage tools. Today, the PB pistol remains a symbol of Cold War intrigue and a notable piece of firearms history.

Use of PB pistol in Afghanistan

Despite the common myth, the PB pistol was not used exclusively by the Special Forces. If anything, it was more of regular ground forces weapons than SPN. The special forces would rely more on – APB.

In 1967, the silent PB pistol was introduced into service and is still used today.

He was a member of the KGB of the USSR and entered service in 1967. It has been widely believed that the PB is a replica of the Makarov pistol, but this is not the case, even though the trigger mechanism from the PM and its magazine were used during its creation. It was developed by A.A. Deryagin at the Central Research Institute Tochmash and put into operation in 1967. Even though it was indeed ordered to use the trigger mechanism, which is the most fragile part of the pistol, and the magazine from the PM, many people believe the PB was made from the Makarov pistol.

Special forces officers and soldiers can use a 9-mm self-loading pistol for silent and flameless shooting.

A pistol’s barrel has gas vents, a mesh roll, an expansion chamber, and a nozzle to ensure flameless shooting.

Pistols can be fired with or without attachments. Single shots are fired from the pistol. Makarov pistols use 9mm pistol cartridges for shooting, which are used for shooting from 9mm pistols.