At the end of the twentieth century, Russian law enforcement agencies and special army units showed an increased interest in such seemingly forgotten small arms automatic weapons as PP (submachine gun). In the 90s, these models began to be developed by employees of design bureaus in Izhevsk, Tula and Kovrov. Soon, several such samples were presented to the attention of the Russian army and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Among the most popular models is the AEK-919K Kashtan submachine gun (Russia).
History
In the 1990s, the three arms capitals of the Russian Federation - Tula, Izhevsk and Kovrov - were ordered by the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to manufacture personal firearms for their employees. At the same time, attention was especially focused on ensuring that the dimensions of the new models did not exceed pistols, but had a greater rate of fire and firepower. By 1994, the employees of the Tula Design Bureau assembled the OTs-2 "Kiparis", in Izhevsk the PP-91 "Kedr" was designed, and in Kovrov, at a mechanical plant, under the guidance of designer Pavel Sedov, a submachine gun was assembledAEK-919K "Kashtan", designed for firing cartridges of 9x18 mm caliber.
Basic for Russian PP
Since 1940, design work on this type of weapon has not been carried out, not a single model of a submachine gun has been put into service with the USSR. As a result, the gunsmiths, who received the task from the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to create a domestic PP, had to use foreign analogues in their work. Thus, when developing the AEK-919K "Kashtan" submachine gun, Russian weapons designers used Austrian-made Steyr MPi-69.
Initially, a small batch of Russian PP was produced. After testing the weapon, flaws were found in it. Their correction entailed significant design changes. As a result, a completely new model of automatic small arms was created, which today is known as the Chestnut submachine gun.
Purpose
The Kashtan submachine gun was used as an auxiliary weapon by the FSB, the Ministry of Justice, law enforcement special forces and the FSO. Also, the crews of aviation equipment, military vehicles and army special forces of Russia were armed with this model of PP.
Device
The "Chestnut" submachine gun has an original design, copied from a foreign analogue. In the stowed state, the pistol is a small metal box, nothing like a weapon. The design consists of a stamped receiver, equipped with two fields of notches, which are used as a forearm. On the lidfront sights and rear sights are installed. Its left side has become a place for the location of a flag three-position fuse. Retractable buttstock containing a swivel butt pad, which, if necessary, is easily hidden in the receiver.
If the PP is expanded, it will consist of a metal handle that contains a magazine and buttstock. After folding the folded sights and cocking the bolt, the weapon is considered ready to fire.
In the manufacture of the case for the "Kashtan" submachine gun, injection molded high-strength glass-filled plastic (fiberglass-filled reinforced polyamide) was used.
How does a fuse work?
The design of the trigger mechanism allows for single and automatic firing. To change the fire mode, a special flag translator is provided, which is equipped with the Kashtan software. The 9 mm submachine gun fires single if the translator is turned all the way clockwise. If you move it all the way in the opposite direction, then the submachine gun will be on the fuse. By setting the flag in an intermediate position, you can shoot bursts from the AEK-919K "Kashtan" submachine gun.
Reviews from those who have already tested this model indicate a very convenient location of the flag translator, which is easy to move with the thumb of your right hand.
How does the shot happen?
Weapon automation uses blowback recoil. In order to reduce the size of the gun-machine gun Kovrov designers applied the scheme of the shutter, which is approaching the barrel and covers it from all sides. Before firing, the bolt must be in the cocked position. To do this, it is fixed on the rear sear of the firing mechanism.
After the trigger is pressed, the bolt breaks off the sear, and the return spring starts pushing it forward. During its movement, the bolt from the magazine captures the ammunition and directs it into the barrel chamber. The shot is carried out after the cartridge primer is broken by the drummer. The acceleration of the bullet in the barrel is due to the resulting powder gases. They also put pressure on the bottom of the sleeve, as a result of which the shutter stops and moves in the opposite direction. During his rollback, he removes the spent cartridge case. Compressing the return spring, the shutter is installed back behind the sear. The cycle repeats again after each pull of the trigger.
If the submachine gun is set to fire bursts, the sear will remain in the recessed position, and the bolt will not stop moving until the magazine runs out of ammunition.
Extraction of the spent cartridges to the outside is carried out by a spring-loaded ejector. On the damper, below the guide spring, there is a rod reflector, which also takes part in the extraction of spent cartridges from the chamber. As evidenced by the reviews of those who have already fired from this submachine gun, thanks to the polygonal rifling, the trunkshave a long service life.
Combat nutrition
For the Kashtan submachine gun, two magazines have been developed, in which twenty and thirty ammunition are placed in a checkerboard pattern.
The PP handle became the location of the store. Reliable fixation of magazines in weapons is carried out using special push-button latches.
Sights
PP "Chestnut" is capable of hitting enemy manpower at a distance of one hundred meters. Especially for these purposes, the weapon is equipped with sights: a cross-over whole and an adjustable front sight.
Additionally, a laser pointer / red dot sight can be mounted on the submachine gun. Since this weapon model is intended for the performance of narrowly focused tasks by special forces, tactical PMS silencers (low-noise firing devices) are often installed at the Kashtan BCP.
For this, the front parts of the barrels of the Kashtan submachine guns are equipped with special clutches.
About performance characteristics
- The submachine gun is designed to fire 9 mm cartridges.
- Weight of PP (with a magazine without cartridges) up to 1.8 kg.
- The dimensions of the weapon in the folded position are 335x55x190 mm.
- The length of the model with the butt unfolded is not more than 50 cm.
- The height of a SMG equipped with a magazine for 30 rounds does not exceed 24see
- The fired bullet has a speed of up to 325 m/s.
- The rate of fire of the submachine gun is 100 shots per minute in a combat burst and 40 per minute in single shots.
- In automatic and single shooting modes, you can use the "Kashtan" submachine gun. There is no information about the price of this model, since it is not intended for sale.
Combat use
100 AEK-919 K "Kashtan" submachine guns were first used by special forces of the Russian FSB in 1995 during the restoration of constitutional order in Chechnya (during the first Chechen campaign). In 2002, the PP entered service with the crews of the Ka-50 "Black Shark" (attack helicopter), performing their tasks in Chechnya and Dagestan.
Models
Three modifications were created on the basis of the Kashtan submachine gun:
- AEK-919. Unlike its counterpart, this model has a large length and weight. In addition, the receiver has a square cross-section at the top, while the base MG has rounded corners.
- AEK-918. This is a 2000 development. Unlike analogue, this model is designed for firing 9x19mm cartridges.
- AEK-918v. This submachine gun is considered a prototype for 9x19 Parabellum ammunition.
Conclusion
In 2004, complex tests of army models of small arms took place in Russia, which the Kashtan PP successfully passed. Today AEK-919K is produced at the plantthem. V. A. Degtyarev for the needs of individual units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSO and the FSB of Russia.
