BAGIRA AND VARYAG TO REPLACE MAKAROV

Mikhail Dragunov, Leading Design Engineer of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant
 

In terms of handling qualities and technical characteristics the new models of pistols produced by the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant are on a par with and in some respects outperform their foreign counterparts.

The Makarov pistol was modernized by the design bureau of the world s largest pistol manufacturer, the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. It was chambered for the modernized 9mm cartridge, and the magazine capacity was increased to contain 12 cartridges, which, of course, was a temporary way out of the situation. Therefore, designers at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant set out to develop a new pistol model chambered for powerful cartridges.

At present, the world witnesses a host of pistol cartridges differing in overall dimensions and power. Therefore, the tempting idea to create a gamut of models chambered for different cartridges and based on the same design is fraught with internal contradictions: a model chambered for low-power cartridges may appear excessively heavy or, vice versa, a model chambered for enhanced-power cartridges may have insufficiently long life. Experts note in particular that the Glock model chambered for the 9x17mm cartridge possesses excessive weight and dimensions.

Bagira

With these considerations taken into account, it was decided to develop two basic models that may be conventionally called light and heavy.

Both models operate on short recoil principles. Locking is obtained by engaging the barrel lug, located above the cartridge chamber, with the ejection opening of the slide. Both basic models are provided with plastic frames. Main loads are received by steel inserts that are connected to the frame by means of detachable joints.

The MR-444 Bagira model is conceived as a basic model for the family of light pistols chambered for 9mm cartridges from the 9x19 Luger to less powerful 9mm Makarov and 9x17 Browning.

The pistol frame is made of highly strong molded thermoplastic. To guide the slide, stamped front and rear guides are inserted into the pistol frame. The front guide is locked in position by the slide stop pin, and the rear one by the screw. During locking and unlocking, the barrel is moved by interaction of the bevel on the lower barrel lug with the bevel on the base of the recoil and buffer mechanism. The latter absorbs the shocks of the barrel and slide in the rearmost position. The striker-type percussion mechanism is provided with a special striker cocking device which resembles the hammer of a usual pistol. This design feature enables the shooter to manually cock the striker and thus fire by single or double action. The trigger mechanism is arranged in the front and rear guides.

Variag

The function of a loaded chamber indicator is performed by the extractor whose contour during aiming is easily discernible even in the twilight.

The safety device comprises the non-automatic safety catch located on the slide and the automatic striker interlock which prevents the striker to transmit the blow to the cartridge primer when the trigger is not completely squeezed. The safety catch in the lowermost position permits delivery of fire. When in the upper position, it interlocks the firing mechanism without uncocking the striker; therefore, one can carry the weapon in the cocked condition and, if necessary, rapidly open aimed fire at a light trigger pull. The safety lever can be moved beyond its fixed position; in this case, it operates as a lever to uncock the firing mechanism. The safety catch is returned to its locked position by the spring.

The magazine catch is located behind the trigger guard and is displaced laterally. It can be installed for right- or left-handed use.

The magazine has a double-row steel body with two-position feed arrangement of cartridges.

The fixed sights bear three contrast dots (one dot on the foresight and two dots on the backsight).

The pistol design embodies a number of rational approaches from the point of view of ergonomics: an elastic protrusion on the rear end of the grip with embossed serrations transmitting a recoil pulse to the hand, a minimum perimeter of grip grasp and arrangement of the main control elements of the pistol within an arc described by the thumb.

The family based on the MR-445 model (which may be conventionally classed as heavy) comprises three modifications: MR-445 chambered for the .40 Smith & Wesson cartridge, MR-445S compact version of the same caliber and MR-446 version chambered for the 9x19 Luger cartridge.

During locking and unlocking, the barrel is moved by interaction of the cam slot on the lower barrel lug with the lock secured in the base of the firing mechanism.

The base of the firing mechanism is locked in position by two pins in the frame which is manufactured from highly strong plastic. The base of the firing mechanism limits recoil and counterrecoil of the moving parts and is provided with front and rear guides for the slide.

The hammer-type firing mechanism is designed for double action firing and provided with a helical mainspring. The pistol safety catch is not automatic. It has an ambidextrous control lever located on the frame. When engaged, the safety catch interlocks the sear, trigger, hammer and slide. The hammer can be blocked in the cocked or released condition. When the safety catch is applied, the hammer does not go off cock, which enables one to carry the weapon in the cocked condition and, if necessary, to rapidly open aimed fire at a light trigger pull.

The function of the loaded chamber indicator is performed by the extractor which noticeably protrudes from the slide surface when a cartridge is chambered.

The two-sided lever-type magazine catch is located at the front wall of the grip near the trigger guard. The magazine has a double-row steel body with single-position feed arrangement of cartridges. The MR-445 model has sights click-adjusted in deflection and elevation, while the MR-445S and MR-446 model have fixed sights.

In terms of handling qualities and technical characteristics the new models of pistols produced by the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant are on a par with and in some respects outperform their foreign counterparts. In particular, the MR-444 and MR-445 models have a non-automatic safety catch which is absent on Glock pistols, and the MR-444 is provided with the manual striker cocking device.full article is available for subscribes only