MR-444
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (August 2006) |
| Caliber | 9x17mm Browning Short, 9x18mm Makarov, 9x19mm Parabellum |
| Firearm action | Magazine fed, Double action |
| Barrel length | 101 mm |
| Overall length | 186 mm |
| Magazine Capacity | 10/15 rounds |
| Weight (empty) | 760 g |
The MR-444 "Baghira" pistol is a modern pistol designed in Russia at the Izhevsk Mechanical plant; it was built to replace the Makarov pistols. This handgun is available in three main chamberings: 9x17 Short (.380 ACP), 9x18mm Makarov (PM and PMM), 9x19mm Parabellum. It also uses a detachable, box-type, double-column magazine.
[edit] Composition
The frame of the pistol is made of strong thermosetting plastic, with the operational steel elements--which makes this a lightweight weapon--built into a plastic construction. Travel of barrel in the close/open cycle is achieved by interaction of two slopes--a primary slope located on the lower part of the barrel and the secondary one located on the basis of the return/buffer mechanism. The buffer is made available to absorb and reduce shock loads of both barrel and slide in their extreme rear positions. The striker has a special cocking feature that looks like a hammer of a standard pistol. This construction allows a pistoleer to cock the striker manually, thus enabling a double-action operation or an operation with preliminary cocked striker. An extractor has a dual function: that of extracting an empty case and the second one - an indicator of ammo in the magazine. If the extractor's front tip is slightly elevated, the pistol has ammunition. If the extractor is flush and even, this tells the pistoliero that he ran out of cartridges.
[edit] In Popular Culture
The MR-444 is the army-issue handgun of the Middle Eastern Coalition, MEC Special Forces, Insurgents, Russian Spetznaz, and the Rebels in Battlefield 2.
