OTs-38 Stechkin
KBP Instrument Design Bureau · Pistol · In Production · 2002
Also known as: OTs-38, OTs-38 Stechkin silent revolver, Vorchun
Overview
The OTs-38 Stechkin is a Russian five-shot, double-action silent revolver chambered for the captive-piston 7.62x42mm SP-4 cartridge, in which the propellant gases are trapped inside the case so the shot produces no muzzle report or flash without any external suppressor. Designed under Igor Stechkin at the TsKIB SOO bureau in Tula, it aligns the barrel with the bottom chamber of the cylinder to direct recoil straight into the hand, and carries an integrated laser sight. It serves with Russian special forces and security services for covert close-quarters work.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 820 g (28.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 191 mm (7.52") |
| Barrel Length | 52 mm (2.05") |
| Height | 120 mm (4.72") |
| Width | 31 mm (1.22") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 200 m/s (656 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 186 J (137 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62x42mm SP-4 · primary — also known as 7.62x41mm SP-4, SP-4
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Ambidextrous Safety
- Features: Integrally Silent Ammunition, Bottom Chamber Barrel Alignment, Side Opening Cylinder, Integrated Laser Sight, No Muzzle Flash
Service history
Operators
- Russian Spetsnaz · adopted 2002 · as OTs-38
- Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)
- Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
Production
Production years: 2002-present
Produced in limited numbers for Russian special and security services; developed under the 'Vorchun' R&D project
Origin
Country of origin: Russia
Designer: Igor Stechkin
Notes
The cylinder hinges from the front and swings out to the right rather than down. Firing from the lowest chamber reduces muzzle rise. A frame-mounted laser sight is integrated above the barrel; versions without it weigh about 820 g and with it about 880 g.
Background
The OTs-38 was the last firearm designed by Igor Stechkin, the renowned Soviet designer best known for the APS Stechkin machine pistol; it revived the silent-revolver concept of the earlier Nagant-based gas-seal experiments using modern captive-piston SP-4 ammunition.