PSS Vul
Пистолет Специальный Самозарядный
Overview
PSS
Left side view of PSS silent pistol as seen in 2010.
Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin -
© CC BY-SA 4.0
Russia - TOZ
ПСС / Пистолет Специальный Самозарядный
Russian for "special self-loading pistol"
6P28 (GRAU index)
Vul (design project name)
Russia
Ukraine
Description
Introduction
The PSS is a late Cold War era silent pistol of Soviet origin. It was developed in the early 1980’s as a compact silent pistol for clandestine operations. The lack of a silencer makes it extremely compact. Downside is the limited lethality compared to regular service pistols.
Design
A unique design, the PSS is a silent pistol that does not use a silencer. The special ammunition uses an internal piston to capture the expanding gasses when firing. The seal on these cartridges is apparently so good that they slowly vent over a couple of days and remain extremely hot in the meantime. Since the gasses are captured and the bullet flies below the speed of sound of firing the PSS is very quiet. It is one of the few firearms with a Hollywood level of sound suppression. Although the PSS resembles a Makarov pistol, the internal mechanism is different and none of the parts are interchangeable.
Firepower
The PSS uses the 7.62x41mm SP-4 ammunition in a six round single stack magazine. The PSS fires semi-automatic. Effective range is 10 to 25 meters due to low muzzle energy. The barrel is extremely short since there are no expanding gasses pushing to push the bullet through and only friction is imparted on the bullet. The muzzle velocity of 200 m/s is about 100 m/s lower than regular suppressed pistols.
Users
The PSS was adopted by Soviet security services and exported in limited numbers to nations with close ties to the USSR or later Russia. The PSS was adopted by intelligence services such as the KGB/FSB, some special units in the security forces and military sabotage units. Recent conflicts like the Syrian civil war and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have seen the PSS in active use. In Russian service the PSS was supplemented by the more capable PSS-2.
Details
Media
PSS
Left side view of PSS pistol with loaded magazine alongside.
Source: Albegonov
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
PSS
Right side view of a PSS pistol on display in 2013.
Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
PSS
A PSS silent pistol resting on an empty magazine with SP-4 ammunition seen alongside it.
Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
7.62x41mm SP-4
Top view of several 7.62x41mm SP-4 rounds before firing. Note the flat nosed bullet that is fully encased with the cartridge case.
Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
7.62x41mm SP-4
Top view of several 7.62x41mm SP-4 rounds after firing. Note the piston sealing the case.
Source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
Related articles
Makarov PB
The PSS was developed as more compact and even less audible alternative to the Makarov PB.