Lebedev PL-14

Kalashnikov Concern · Pistol · Prototype · 2015

Also known as: PL-14, Pistolet Lebedeva PL-14

Overview

The PL-14 Lebedev is a Russian prototype semi-automatic pistol designed by Dmitry Lebedev - a student of legendary sport-pistol designer Yefim Khaidurov - and presented by Kalashnikov Concern at the Army-2015 forum. Chambered in 9x19mm, it uses a Browning-style modified short-recoil locked-breech action with a concealed hammer and double-action trigger (4 kg pull, 7 mm travel). Its defining traits are an extremely thin profile (28 mm at the grip), an ergonomic 'natural pointing' geometry derived from Khaidurov's competition-pistol heritage, fully ambidextrous controls, and a deepened chamber that accommodates the dimensional drift of Russian-made 9mm cartridges. The PL-14 served as the technology demonstrator for the production PL-15 service pistol.

Specifications

Weight (empty)800 g (28.2 oz)
Overall Length220 mm (8.66")
Barrel Length127 mm (5.00")
Width28 mm (1.10")
Action TypeShort Recoil
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeDouble Action
Trigger Pull39 N (8.8 lbf)
Magazine Capacity15 rounds
Magazine TypeDetachable Box
Muzzle Velocity380 m/s (1247 fps)
Muzzle Energy538 J (397 ft·lbf)
Effective Range50 m (55 yd)
Maximum Range100 m (109 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Rifling Twist250 mm (9.84")
Number of Grooves6
Frame MaterialAluminum
Slide MaterialStainless Steel
Barrel MaterialSteel
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Variants

Production

Estimated total produced: 50 · Production years: 2015-2017

Prototype / pre-series only; superseded by PL-15 design before serial production began

Origin

Country of origin: Russia

Designer: Dmitry Lebedev

Discontinued: 2017

Notes

Slide is blued stainless steel; frame is hard-anodized aluminum alloy. Magazine is a proprietary 15-round double-stack single-feed design. Includes a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail. Replaced in development by the striker-fired PL-15 starting in 2017.

Background

Lebedev was apprenticed to Yefim Khaidurov, the Soviet master who built world-record-setting Olympic free-pistols by hand - and that pedigree shows in the PL-14's obsessive ergonomics: testers said it 'points itself' on the draw, an almost unheard-of claim for a service-grade duty pistol.