MP-443 Grach

The MP-443 Grach (MP-443 Грач ) is Russian standard military-issue side arm.

It was developed under designation "Grach" in response to Russian military trials, which began in 1993. In 2003, it was adopted under designation PYa (GRAU index 6P35) as a standard sidearm for all branches of Russian military and law enforcement, alongside GSh-18 and SPS.

Design details


The PYa is a double-action, short-recoil semi-automatic pistol. Locking is performed by engaging a rectangular breech with the ejection port in a simplified Colt-Browning design, similar to that found in many modern pistols (for example the SIG-Sauer and Glock families of pistols). The slide stop can be mounted on either side by the user. The manual safety is ambidextrous and is located below the slide, above the grip. The hammer is partially concealed at the sides to prevent catching on clothes and equipment. The magazine release is located in the base of the trigger guard. The front sight is formed as a fixed part of the slide and is non-adjustable. The back sight is adjustable for windage (dovetail type). Both feature white contrast elements. Magazine capacity of PYa is 17 rounds, fed from a double-column, single feed magazine.

Though the grips of the pistol are polymer, the weapon is largely made of metal (stainless steel for the barrel, carbon steel for the frame and slide).

It is chambered for the high-powered 9x19mm 7N21 cartridge, the Russian version of 9mm NATO, loaded to comparable pressure specifications The 7N21 features an armour-piercing bullet with a tempered steel core. The weapon can also use standard 9mm Parabellum or 9mm NATO cartridges.

The pistol is named after its designer, Vladimir Yarygin, who had earlier specialized in designing sport pistols. The Yarygin PYa employs a simplified version of the century-old Browning short recoil system.

Adoption in Russia
As of 2008, it was supplied only in small numbers to selected special forces units, presumably those in the North Caucasus.

In October 2008 the Russian interior minister planned to equip more Russian police with PYa pistols. But due to financial problems and the fact the Makarov pistol is so plentiful in Russia, the Makarov remains as primary police service pistol in Russia.

Variants

 * MP-446 Viking - is a civilian market version. It has a magazine capacity of 17 or 18 rounds. It is an identical pistol, except it is not designed to take high-powered +P and +P+ rounds like the 9x19mm NATO or 9x19mm 7N21.
 * MP-446C Viking - is a civilian market version. It has a magazine capacity of 10 rounds
 * МР-353 - civilian market version, non-lethal pistol which fire only ammunition with rubber bullets.
 * МР-472 - non-lethal pistol

Accessories

 * "крепление Б-8" - dismountable Weaver rail mount
 * "2КС+ЛЦУ мини-Клещ" - Gun-mounted flashlight combined with a laser sight which can be mounted below the barrel.

Users

 * 🇷🇺 Russia - in 2003 it was adopted as a standard sidearm for all branches of Armed Forces of the Russian Federation; since September 2006 used as service pistol in law enforcement. It is adopted as a standard sidearm for special police units (SOBR ) and rapid response units of riot police (OMON ).
 * 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan - since 2007 used as service pistol in private security companies