Serdyukov SPS / Gyurza / Vector SR-1

SR-1 "Gyurza" pistol, early production variant, left side

 

Same early production pistol. right side

 

SR-1 " Gyurza" pistol, compared to the famous Makarov PM pistol

 

 

Gyurza /Vector SR-1 (intermediate variant) field-stripped

Type: Double Action
Caliber 9x21mm SP-10, SP-11, SP-12
Overall length 195 mm
Weight loaded 1180 g
Magazine capacity 18 rounds
Effective range: 200 meters
Muzzle Velocity: 420 m/s

Initially this gun was designed to meet Russian Army requirements for a high capacity pistol with effective range of no less than 50 meters. To achieve such characteristics, a new cartridge was developed - SP-10 (9x21) with AP steel core bullets, designed to deal with targets in bulletproof vests or hiding in cars etc (capable of near to 100% successful penetration of 30 layers of Kevlar plus up to 2.8mm titanium plate at 100 meters).
When, in the mid-1990s, Russian Army lost interest in this gun in the favor of the 9x19mm developments, some Russian Law-enforcement agencies picked up this gun, and in 1996 it was adopted by FSB ( Federal Security Service, a part of the former KGB) and some other agencies. The development of this pistol and ammunition for it continued into the 21st century, and, in 2003, its improved version was finally adopted by the Russian Government for military and police use as the SPS - Samozaryadnyj Pistolet Serdjukova - Serdyukov Self-loading pistol. Originally known as "Gyurza", or as SR-1 "Vektor" (in FSB service), this pistol had been developed by the designer Piotr Serdyukov at TSNIITOchMash (Central Research and Development Institute of Precision Machine Building, in Klimovsk city, Russia). At the present time this pistol is used by the various FSB and FSO (Russian state VIP protection service) troops.

The SPS is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. The slide to barrel locking is achieved by the tilting locking piece, located under the barrel, much like the Walther P38 or Beretta 92. The return spring is located around the barrel. Frame is made from steel upper part and the polymer grip and the trigger guard. Slide is made of steel. Double action trigger featured automatic Glock-like trigger safety, plus internal firing pin safety and the automated grip safety. No manual safeties are provided on the gun. Until the very recent production guns, SR-1 also lacked the slide stop. The external hammer can be put on the half-cock position for increased safety. It must be noted, that the DA mode will fork only if the hammer is on half-cock. The gun is fed using steel, double stack magazines that hold 18 rounds of 9x21 mm ammo. 

9x21mm ammunition now available in basic Armour Piercing form, as well as with expanding increased stopping power bullets, non-ricocheting training bullets, and some other types. The one downside of this ammo is that it is very expensive, at least now, having cost several times more than of any commercially available 9x19mm ammo.

I had the chance to inspect this gun (pictured above), during September, 2003, but not fired it yet. In my opinion, the grip is just too big for shooter with average palms. The grip safety also may play a dirty trick with the shooter, since it may not be disengaged if the gun held improperly during the stress situation, so, many FSB field operatives simply block this safety off by some sort of scotch tape. Sights are somewhat tiny. But, otherwise, the SPS is a fine and very powerful close combat weapon, that could be used as well as defensive, and as offensive weapon, especially in the room and car search scenarios, where single-hand controllability and good penetration of the round are welcome.