Country of origin |
Russia |
Caliber |
9 x 21 mm |
Weight (empty) |
1 000 g |
Weight (loaded) |
1 180 g |
Length |
195 mm |
Barrel length |
120
mm |
Muzzle velocity |
420
m/s |
Magazine capacity |
18 rounds |
Sighting range |
100 m |
Range of effective fire |
up to 100 m |
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The Gyurza
is a Russian semi-automatic pistol, named after a venomous pit
viper. It was developed in the mid 1990s by Petr Serdyukov alongside with
new 9x21 mm ammunition. Originally it was intended
to meet a Russian Army requirement to replace the venerable
Makarov
pistol. However in the mid 1990s Russian
Army lost interest in this gun chambered for new ammunition in favor of designs with
standard ammunition. Eventually a
Yarygin
pistol was adopted as the main Russian Army sidearm. However the Gyurza was selected by Russian law enforcement forces. In 1996 it
was adopted by the Russian FSB security service as the SR-1 Vektor.
However in 2003 its improved version was adopted for military and
police use as the SPS. So the same pistol, which was formerly known
as Gyurza, is currently known as SR-1 Vektor and SPS.
The Gyurza
is a powerful close-combat weapon. It is chambered for a
newly-developed 9x21 mm ammunition. The SP-10 is a basic
armor-piercing round with a steel core bullet. It was designed to penetrate body
armor. The Gyurza penetrates 30 layers of Kevlar plus up to 2.8 mm
titanium plate at a range of 100 meters. It also penetrates a 4 mm
steel plate at a range of 50 meters. There is also an SP-11 standard
ball round, SP-12 round with low-ricochet and expanding bullet, and
SP-13 armor-piercing tracer round. The downside of this newly
developed 9x21 mm ammunition is that it is several times more
expensive than the standard 9x19 mm ammunition. This ammunition is
also used by
SR-2 Verserk submachine gun.
The Gyurza
is a short recoil operated weapon. Upper part of the frame is made
of steel. Grip and triggerguard are made of polymer. The slide is
made of steel.
This pistol
has a double-action trigger. There are no manual safeties.
However there is an automatic grip and firing pin safety. Early
production pistols had a small automatic grip safety knob. On later
production models the knob was much larger.
The Gyurza
is fed from a double-stack magazine, that holds 18 rounds.
This pistol
has simple iron sights. A range of effective fire is up to 100
meters.
A Picatinny
type rail can be fitted. It is used to mount accessories, such as
tactical flashlight and laser pointer. Also this pistol can be
fitted with a sound suppressor.
Variants
SR-1 Vektor
is a version of the Gyurza, used by the Russian FSB security
service. It was adopted in 1996.
SPS is an
improved version of the Gyurza. In 2003 it was adopted for military
and police use.
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