Russian less-lethal weapon proves surprisingly dangerous

[Well-Armed Lamb]

Interesting article from the cheerfully reprehensible THE EXILE, a proudly scurrilous English-language newspaper for expats in Russia. Apparently, a lot of shootings in Russia involve a four-barrelled "less lethal" handgun-type weapon, the PMB-4M. In Russia, you can't legally carry a handgun, and I'm not sure if you're even allowed to buy one. You can buy a shotgun or rifle if you jump through the hoops; an article at http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20050811/41139012.html gives one Russian journalist's couple-of-years-old personal account of the gun-buying process there. To get around these restrictions, THE EXILE tells us -- article reproduced below, with pictures attached; the original is at http://www.exile.ru/blog/detail.php?BLOG_ID=13242 -- folks buy and carry the PMB-4M, which is one of the ugliest suckers I've ever seen.

OTOH, you can apparently buy flash-bangs for it in any Russian gun store. I kind of want one now.

"Road Rage Shooting: An Update"
by Yasha Levine & Mark Ames
posted October 9, 2007

You might remember yesterday's post on The eXile Blog about a road rage shooting that took place outside a synagogue right next to Ames' apartment. Three pedestrians were shot as a result of a conflict between them and two men driving a Lada (although a woman who works at a corner pharmacy next to the shooting told Ames she thought it was a typical "razborka," or "settling of accounts"). No one was killed, but two of the victims were wounded seriously enough to require hospitalization. At the time of the shooting, it wasn't clear what type of handgun the two Lada goons used.

We now learned that gun used was an OSA-type gun (in Russian the acronym decodes to self defense weapon) model name PMB-4M, a powerful Russian-made less-than-lethal handgun. This weird-looking 4-barrel gun wouldn't look out of place in the 18th century world of pirates and duels, but relies on some serious modern technology. It was designed in the mid-1990s for close-range personal protection for the ordinary citizen and uses a computer chip to figure out which chamber is empty to prevent misfires.

Under current Russian law, people are not allowed to carry firearms, although rifles and shotguns used for hunting are legal, provided the buyer has a license and passes a psychological exam. The OSA sidesteps this technicality by billing itself as a non-lethal weapon, a sort of beefed up BB gun. But BB gun it ain't. The OSA is a bonafide kinetic energy weapon that can cause some real damage at close range. Although it doesn't shoot metal-tipped bullets, it shoots just about anything else: rubber bullets, flares, and small shock grenades (which are capable of blinding and rendering an entire room of individuals unconscious). Any Russian citizen can buy one.

Searching around on the Russian web, we weren't surprised to find out that the OSA is commonly used in all sorts of random shootings. Coincidentally, according to a Russian gun store, the OSA is one of their most popular items.

As we were writing this post we found out that earlier today, RBK, a business daily, wrote about a regional effort on the part of Tatarstan's Duma to outlaw exactly these types of weapons on a national level. The chinovniki behind the initiative complained about a spike in crimes committed with these easily-accessible weapons.

 

[CK]

I want one. Can I buy them in Southeast Asia?? hehe

 

[cwmcgu2]

Oooooooooo, I want one with the shock grenades. It would be great for home defense. With a handgun mounted with a flashlight in one hand and the PMB-4M in the other you are set to go. Think about it, pop one of these shock grenades into the room of your house where you hear the noise coming from; then enter and make a "shoot-don't shoot" decision against a stunned intruder. Even if just for a second or two, the critical addition of time could prevent a homeowner from taking an impulsive shot at a non-threatening invader (think delinquent unarmed teenage son of the guy next door). The additional time would also allow a homeowner the chance to overwhelm several armed intruders who prior to the shock grenade had the tactical advantage.

Now I haven't taken any type of handgun/tactical/home-defense training so don't jump on me if I'm wrong here, I'm just postulating a possible practical application I saw for the lil gadget. Also, I am well aware that such a device would not now, nor in the near future ever be allowed for sale on the civilian market here in the US.

 

[frankcostanza]

it looks like a pistol version of arnold's rocket launcher in Commando. i want one

 

[max popenker]

Well, i do carry one like that for past 2 years.
Weird it is, powerful - hardly. It fires rubber slug of about 180 grains in weight, ~ .60 caliber, for about 50 ft-lbs of muzzle energy.
At point blank range and with light clothing, it may cause a broken rib or jaw, or other such impact damage, but with heavy winter clothing it effectiveness degrades severely.

as for flash-bang, it does work to some extent. It gives a muzzle blast couple of feet long, and sounds like magnum-caliber rifle or something like that.
At night, when fired into the face of attacker, it will bling him / them for good several minutes, providing escape time. It also beats the sh*t out of roaming dog packs.

The problem with this weapon (and with any other less-lethal weapon IMO) is that people tend to consider them as toys, or at least non-life-treathing devices, which results in irrseponsible use (use of knuckles to settle some personal disputes here, especially among youngers, is almost "socially acceptable", and less-lethal weapons often are considered just as long-range kickers, not real guns). Other problem is that police will often ingnore any minor damage to people and refuse to open the investigation case

UPD some pics of my "gun" (sorry for quality, used my cameraphone)

 

[O.F.Fascist]

Thats kind of neat.

 

[Odd Job]

Max, how does the fire selection/cartridge selection work? Is it sequential or can you discharge more than one at a time?

 

[jojosdad]

Man - that's uglier than a mud fence, but I want one anyway.

 

[max popenker]

Max, how does the fire selection/cartridge selection work?

The thing is electrically ignited; there are versions with Lithium battery or trigger-operated impulse generator (like mine). It also has a "smart" chip that runs low-voltage test through all chambers each time trigger is pulled to find the first loaded one, and fires it. I think it could be "hacked" to fire in salvos but see no reason for that.
It also has a built-in laser pointer (with separate battery in the butt), which is useful due to almost non-existant sights; it also permits more or less accurate hip-firing.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Sounds like a useful little device. Better than nothing. Shame it's battery-powered though.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I think I'll stick with magnum revolvers, thanks all the same, if only because I'd be embarrassed to show a criminal such a nekulturny device.

 

[tinygnat219]

AH HA! I see that the Russians have FINALLY upgraded the 1895 Nagant Revolver.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Reminds me of Lee van Cleefs gun from Sabata, the one with the flip down hand grip lol

 

[Titan6]

I think under old communist rule that would have been called a Soviet People's Glock maybe?

 

[romma]

Makes the Glock platform look like Ms. America... Seriously, there is a certain "pug like" charm about them....

 

[armoredman]

Can we get this thing imported? Call EAA!

 

[Stephen21B]

I want one too, that would go great with my Makarovs

 

[FuzzyBunny]

How much do these cost?

Do they do internet orders?

Just wondering.
Looks easy enough to build.

 

[alucard0822]

WOW, the media even treats it like some evil assault weapon, looks like a pirate duelling pistol, fires grenades that will knock an entire room of people unconcious(guess you have to fire it INTO a room to avoid being knocked out yourself), anyone can buy one, the duma is trying to ban them, even the news isn't surprised they are used in all sorts of random shootings

I have to have one, its like a hand held 4th of july celebration.

 

[fletcher]

shock grenades (which are capable of blinding and rendering an entire room of individuals unconscious).

WTB?

 

[chris in va]

Hmm. Now do people in Russia have access to pepper spray, or is this their version of it? Are you allowed to 'open carry' the device anywhere?

At night, when fired into the face of attacker, it will bling him

I'm sorry, I know it was a typo but thought that was extremely funny... Mental picture of Borat getting shot with one, turning into Ali G.

 

[romma]

We need these! They are useful for militia 2nd ammendment purposes.

 

[jefnvk]

Flashbangs?!

Count me in!

 

[AJ Dual]

Reminds me of the four-barrel COP derringer. And the opening scene in "Blade Runner" when the android/replicant "Leon" says "Let me tell you about my mother" and blows the "Blade Runner" detective testing him through the wall.

 

[Horsesense]

"It also beats the sh*t out of roaming dog packs."


Sounds like there is a good story behind that comment.