Lebedev pistol

PLK/MPL/MPL-1
Lebedev pistol
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Russia
Production history
Designer	Dmitry Lebedev
Designed	2014
Manufacturer	Kalashnikov Concern
Specifications
Mass	MPL: 0.80 kg PLK: 0.71 kg (without magazine)
Length	MPL: 205 mm PLK: 185 mm
Barrel length	MPL: 112 mm PLK: 92 mm
Width	36 mm [1]
Height	MPL: 136 mm PLK: 130mm
Cartridge	9×19 mm Parabellum
Action	Recoil-operated
Feed system	MPL: 16-rounds PLK: 14 rounds box magazine

The Lebedev pistol (Russian: Пистолет Лебедева) is a Russian semi-automatic pistol, which produced under Kalashnikov Concern and designed by Dmitry Lebedev. It was introduced in 2015 as PL-14 and later changed it designation as PL-15 in the year 2016.^{[2] [3]}

The compact version of the pistol designated as PL-15K was introduced in the year 2017.

History[]

The PL-14 was first presented at the Army-2015 International Military-Technical Forum near Moscow,^[4] and its modernized version received the PL-15 index and was demonstrated a year later at the Army-2016 forum. The modified PL-15 and its shortened version with the PL-15K index were demonstrated at the similar Army-2017 forum. The PL-15 is intended for use in the armed forces and law enforcement agencies as a replacement for the Makarov pistol, as well as a sporting pistol for competitions of various classes.^[1] In August 2020, it was reported that the state tests were complete for the RF Interior Ministry, and the general director of the Kalashnikov Concern, Dmitry Tarasov, said that the plant was being preparing for the production of the PL-15K compact version from 2021.^[5][6] In March 2021, it was reported that the state tests of the Lebedev modular handgun were completed the past month for the RF National Guard, and the Kalashnikov Concern said that the plant was being preparing for the production of the pistol also from 2021.^[7][8] The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has adopted a new compact Lebedev pistol. The Kalashnikov firearms manufacturer is ready to launch the mass production.^[9]

Features[]

The PL-15 is a 9mm short recoil-operated, locked-breech handgun that uses a modified Browning cam-lock system adapted from the Hi-Power pistol. The firearm's locking mechanism uses a linkless, vertically tilting barrel with a rectangular breech that locks into the ejection port cut-out in the slide.

It features a double-action only (DAO) trigger, requiring a long and heavy trigger pull that puts the hammer into a cocked state and then releases it with every shot. The trigger pull weight is 4 kg, and the full length of the trigger pull is 7 mm. It has a manual safety that, when engaged, disconnects the trigger from the hammer. All controls (manual safeties, slide release levers and magazine release buttons) are fully ambidextrous. A loaded chamber indicator is provided in the form of a pin that protrudes from the back of the slide when a round is present in the chamber. The PL-15-01 and PL-15K-01 variants of the pistol are striker-fired and have a single-action trigger with a significantly reduced trigger pull weight and length.^[10]

Cartridges are fed from proprietary detachable double-stack single-feed magazines. It features removable front and rear dovetail sight posts, completely interchangeable with sights designed for Glock pistols. The frame features a picatinny rail underneath the barrel for the attachment of accessories. The PL-15 pistol can be equipped with an extended, threaded barrel for installing a silencer.^[10]

References[]