Pistolet Samozaryadny Malogabaritny (PSM)
Pistolet Samozaryadny Malogabaritny, translating to ‘compact self-loading pistol’, the Russian PSM pistol is a small pistol chambered in 5.45×18mm. The Tula Design Bureau designed the PSM in the late 1960s as a compact pistol more suitable for concealed carry than the standard Makarov.
Developed for use by general officers and intelligence operatives the PSM was accepted by the Soviet government in 1972, with production at Izhevsk beginning a year later. It was often issued to members of the Politburo and KGB. The pistol’s design is simple, utilising a standard blowback action. It’s most interesting features are its thinness and the proprietary 5.45x18mm ammunition it fires.
The PSM is just 17mm wide and 15.5cm in overall length with an unloaded weight of 460g, thinner but heavier than a modern Glock 42. The slide and frame are milled from steel while early grips used were aluminium, later pistols have plastic grip panels. The frame and slide of the pistol are smooth and flat to minimise its profile and prevent it snagging on clothing. The slide mounted safety/decocker is flat and instead protrudes upwards at the rear of the slide so as not to increase the pistol’s width (see image #3). This, in theory, also allows the operator to take off the safety and cock the hammer in a fluid motion.
Externally the pistol’s profile is reminiscent of the Walther PPK and the PSM’s disassembly process is also similar to the Walther, however, the PSM is an even more compact weapon. It feeds from a single stack magazine which has open sides, similar to the Makarov’s magazine, to reduce weight. The PSM uses a heel magazine release rather than a push button in the frame to reduce the pistol’s profile.
The magazine holds eight 5.45x18mm rounds (see image #2). The round itself has a jacketed spitzer style projectile in an interesting necked case. The round is said to be extremely effective against kevlar vests achieving a muzzle velocity of approximately 320 m/s (1,000 ft/s) the 38.6 gr (3 g) projectile is able to penetrate approximately 40 layers of kevlar at close ranges. However, the small 5.45mm round’s ‘stopping power’ is often described as poor.
Izhevsk also manufactured an export version of the pistol, the IZh-75, chambered in .25 ACP. In the 2000s the Ukraine also began manufacturing a non-lethal version, the PSM-R, chambered in the non-lethal 9mm PA (see image #6).
Sources:
Images: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Jane’s Guns Recognition Guide, I. Hogg & T. Gander, (2005)
PSM Pistol, Modern Firearms, (source)
Self-loading pistol, small-size (PSM) and its modifications. Traumatic pistol PSM-R, shooting-ua.com, (source)
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