MP-443 Grach

MP-443 Grach
MP-443 Grach Pistol with magazine standing next to it.
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
In service	2003–present
Used by	Russia
Production history
Designer	Vladimir Yarygin
Designed	1993–2000
Manufacturer	Izhevsk Mechanical Plant
Produced	2003–present
No. built	several thousand as of May 2016
Variants	MP-446 Viking
Specifications
Weight	950 g (34 oz) (MP-443 Grach) 870 g (31 oz) (MP-446 Viking)
Length	198 mm (7.8 in)
Barrel length	112.5 mm (4.4 in) (MP-443 Grach) 112.8 mm (4.4 in) (MP-446 Viking)
Width	38 mm (1.5 in)
Height	140 mm (5.5 in) (MP-443 Grach) 145 mm (5.7 in) (MP-446 Viking)
Cartridge	9×19mm Parabellum 9×19mm 7N21 +P+
Caliber	9×19mm
Action	Short recoil, locked breech
Rate of fire	40-45 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	450 m/s (1,470 ft/s)
Effective firing range	sights fixed for 50 m
Feed system	17-round detachable box magazine. After 2004 produced with magazines for 18 rounds.
Sights	Fixed iron sights, 3-dot with notch and front blade

The MP-443 Grach (Russian: MP-443 Грач, English: rook) or "PYa", for "Pistolet Yarygina" ("Yarygin Pistol"), following traditional Russian naming procedure (Russian: Пистолет Ярыгина), is the Russian standard military-issue side arm.

The development was headed by the designer Vladimir Alexandrovich Yarygin (Russian: Владимир Александрович Ярыгин).

It was developed under designation "Grach" in response to Russian military trials, which began in 1993. In 2003, it was adopted as a standard sidearm for all branches of Russian military and law enforcement, alongside Makarov PM, GSh-18, and SPS.

The PYa is a high-capacity, double-action, short-recoil semi-automatic pistol. Barrel/slide locking is a simplified Colt–Browning design, similar to that found in many modern pistols (for example the SIG Sauer and Glock families of pistols); the breech end of the barrel is rectangular in shape, rather than rounded, and fits into matching locking grooves within the slide, near the ejection port. The slide stop lever can be mounted on either side of the weapon to accommodate both left- and right-handed users. Likewise, the manual safety is ambidextrous, with safety catches on both sides of the weapon, where it is manipulated by the thumb. It is mounted on the frame, below the rear slide grooves, and directly behind the slide stop lever. The hammer is partially concealed at the sides to prevent catching on clothes and equipment. The magazine release catch is located in the base of the trigger guard on the left side, where it can be manipulated with the thumb (right-handed users) or index or middle finger (left-handed users). The front sight is formed as a fixed part of the slide and is non-adjustable. The back sight is drift adjustable for windage (dovetail type), but this requires a tool. Both feature white contrast elements to ease aiming in low-light conditions. The standard magazine capacity is 17 rounds, fed from a double-column, single feed magazine. Magazines with an 18 round capacity were produced after 2004.