RS-12 - 12 mm assault revolver - one of the heaviest and most massive pistols in the world. It was developed at the beginning of the 2000s at the Tula KBP under the 12.7x55 mm cartridge, which was also suitable for the ASh-12 assault rifle.
The pistol has a solid metal frame and a five-round cartridge that swings to the left. Why this weapon is considered one of the best in the world for shooting at close range, we will try to find out in this article.
Revolver RSh-12. Background of creation
According to many experts, the pistol is the most powerful combat revolver in the world, which uses a large-caliber sniper rifle cartridge.
The origin of weapons occurred in the 2000s in Tula, where the “Exhaust” rifle was designed at that time. Indeed, several decades ago, special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs used the same weapons as the army. For example, if the main combat hand weapon of the army was AKM, then the special forces owned AKM (SL). These machines used the same type of cartridges - 7.62x39 mm.
In the late 80s and early 90s, special forces switched to a 9x39 mm live cartridge and, naturally, to new weapons - the VSS Vintorez and AS Val, and after a while - to the SR-3 Vikhr.
Pistol birth
In the zero years, an updated sniper rifle for ammunition of 12.7x55 mm was created. For this cartridge in 2011 at the KBP, the assault rifle ASh-12 and RSh-12 (assault revolver) were launched.
Ammunition for the gun
To understand how powerful the described weapon has, you should plunge into the history of its cartridge. For example, take the United States, where revolvers using the .357 Magnum are very famous. This cartridge is approximately 9x33 mm in size. It is much superior in power to 9x19 mm Parabellum, has a stronger stopping effect and breakdown energy.
Such pistols are used by some armies of NATO countries. Also, Americans love .44 "Magnum", which corresponds to a caliber of 10.9x33 mm. This is an even more powerful cartridge, surpassing in its parameters even the famous ammunition for the Colt.
Such revolvers with powerful cartridges can be found among the common population and some American officers who bought it themselves. All these ammunition for pistols and even a cartridge of 12.7x33 mm caliber fade in front of our 12.7x55 mm sample, which is 1.5 times more powerful than all those described. Just under such a cartridge the pistol (revolver) RSh-12 was developed.
Variety of cartridges for a revolver
Under the RSh-12 and the ASh-12 assault rifle, several types of ammunition were created:
1. PS-12A - a very light bullet. This type of cartridge is designed for shooting in a metropolis with civilians. Indeed, such a bullet in short sections transfers to the enemy all its strength, often leading to loss of limbs. However, already at a distance of more than 100 meters, she loses her power and is not able to damage an accidental passerby.
2. The revolver, the photo of which we see in the article, is also equipped with a PD-12 cartridge, which has the same characteristics as the PS-12A, but has two bullets located in the sleeve one after the other. Thus, when shot at an enemy, not one but two bullets fly at the same time, which increases the compactness of the fire. At the same time, they also lose their destructive power after 100 meters.
3. PS-12 with a heavy bullet. The design of the cartridge is similar to the "Magnum", only more powerful. It has excellent stopping power and breakdown power. Its task is to hit bulletproof vests, and the impact force is such that even if the bullet does not penetrate the armor, its owner may not survive such a hit.
4. The assault revolver 12 is equipped with a PS-12B cartridge with a bullet of armor - piercing power. So, all of the ammunition described above is intended for firing at unarmored targets. Their task is to hit the target and drop it as far as possible.
PS-12B, possessing an armor-piercing bullet, not only has a stopping effect, but can penetrate defense of the 6th grade and higher, leaving no chance for any opponent dressed in common models of body armor.
5. The sniper cartridge STs-130, which is also the main ammunition in the “Exhaust” rifle, allows accurate shooting at distances up to 200-300 meters.
Revolver RSh-12: characteristics
Such powerful cartridges produce returns comparable to the .44 Magnum. How did the designers with these cartridges leave the return at acceptable levels? This mystery is great. But there is an assumption by specialists that while almost all revolvers in the world fire from the top of the drum, the RS-12 (assault revolver) shoots from the lowest, i.e. its barrel is located slightly lower than other similar pistols . Due to this, the recoil force is less.
The appearance of the gun
This best revolver in the world has very large shapes. It is about 35.7 cm long. Under the barrel there is a Picatinny rail, on which the LCs and tactical lights are mounted, and a tactical handle can also be mounted to hold the weapon. The same bar is installed above the barrel, most likely for optical sights.
According to some reports, the revolver store consists of a five-round quick-change drum.
Gun application
Thus, this weapon is too heavy and powerful to use as an auxiliary weapon. The revolver, the reviews of many military experts emphasize this, mainly created for use as the main weapon during the storming of buildings. Its external parameters, no matter how large they are, are still smaller than a carbine or shotgun, but the cartridges are much more powerful, allowing you to not notice walls or bulletproof vests when shooting. In addition, the gun can be equipped with a silencer or butt.
Unfortunately, there is no complete information about this weapon, as it is classified. There is an assumption that the pistol has already entered service with the FSB and GRU special forces.
Additional Information
A revolver, a photo of which we can observe in the description, is used during the storming of buildings in a cramped room. A bullet of it, even if it can’t penetrate a high-class bulletproof vest, will throw the enemy’s body with a serious injury three meters in the opposite direction, which is a plus when you come in close contact, since even a seriously wounded enemy who is nearby will try to do harm to you.
Another advantage of this weapon is that its bullets will not ricochet from the wall or from any other surface. Thanks to this, shooting from it is safe for the shooter himself, unlike the Kalash.
This revolver is great for knocking out door locks.
Why is this type of weapon chosen?
Because in the case of a revolver in the case of a misfire, the drum trigger strikes a different cartridge and in this case there is no need to juggle the shutter, which is an unnecessary waste of time. Also, it is impossible to warp the ammunition, as is the case with other types of pistols.
Some advantages of weapons
In addition to the main advantages of the gun, the following advantages of this weapon can be given:
- RSh-12 is an assault revolver that is very convenient to use in close quarters and in hand-to-hand combat, which compares favorably with long-barreled weapons that cannot penetrate bulletproof vests.
“This pistol has another important advantage: it does not leave behind fired cartridges.” The only thing that forensics can find is soft deformed bullets that do not have a clear connection with a revolver.
- The revolver is undemanding to gunpowder. Its cartridge can contain both black powder, stored for many years, and pyroxylin, with a limited shelf life.
“He's also not picky about ammunition.” It can be charged with a cartridge with shot, signal, light and noise rocket, as well as a rubber bullet, gas or syringe. In this case, the cartridge itself can be equipped with a different volume of gunpowder for different purposes. For example, for injuries and euthanasia operations - one quantity, and for piercing armor - another.
- You can use thin solid bullets with rings and feathers, which have incredible armor-piercing ability.
Due to its technical characteristics and indicators, versatility in use and huge power, the revolver was able to hit not only domestic users, but foreign military and specialists are talking about it with might and main.
Conclusion
Once again, domestic industry showed a high class of weapons production. As Soviet weapons were famous at the time, and some types became so popular and famous all over the world that they won respect not only from military experts, but also from other people, that until now, after many years and decades, they stand in service with many countries. This, for example, is our Kalashnikov assault rifle or the T-62 and T-70 tank and so on.
Also, modern Russian developments in the field of weapons are always of particular interest to foreign military personnel.
At the same time, our weapons, as we see in the example of the RSh-12 revolver, are distinguished by design simplicity, thoughtfulness and practicality. Everything should be compact, useful and without unnecessary "show off". The weapon should solve the tasks as accurately as possible with the minimum expenditure of time and energy.
At the moment, more accurate information about these weapons is classified, like the revolver itself. Its price is also unknown, since not only it was not seen on sale, the army knows very little about it. As already mentioned, it seems that this gun was adopted by the special forces of the FSB and the GRU. As a rule, secret designs and weapons never fall into free trade, or they still begin to sell them, but after some time has passed. This revolver was created only in 2011. So all that remains is to wait for more detailed information about him.
But all the same, pride remains for our designers and manufacturers that they once again did not shame the domestic military-industrial complex and presented such an impressive surprise to our Western "partners" by surpassing their "Magnums" and "Colts". There is confidence that in the near future we will still hear a lot of interesting things about this revolver.