OTs-20 Gnom explained

OTs-20 Gnom
Origin:Russia
Type:Revolver
Is Ranged:yes
Service:MVD[1]
Designer:TsKIB SOO
Manufacturer:KBP Instrument Design Bureau
Production Date:1994
Number:200
Weight:1.1 kg (1.17 with ammo)
Length:250 mm
Part Length:100 mm (3.93 inches)
Width:45 mm
Height:132 mm
Cartridge:12.5x40mm STs-110
Action:Double action or single action
Velocity:350–400 m/s (lethal ammunition)
100 m/s (non-lethal ammunition)
Feed:5-round cylinder
Sights:Fixed; front blade and rear notch

The OTs-20 Gnom (ОЦ-20 "Гном")[2] is a Russian revolver manufactured by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. It uses a proprietary 12.5x40mm STs-110 cartridge developed from a 32 gauge shotgun cartridge. It can fire lead slug (STs-110-04), lead shot (STs-110-02), and armor-piercing steel-core slug (STs-110) cartridges, as well as three types of non-lethal ammunition. The revolver is smooth bore and so it lacks accuracy[3] but has high muzzle velocity and stopping power.

A tactical laser projector is available that mounts on an accessory rail under the ejector rod shroud. It is turned on and off via a pressure switch that can be attached on the grip; the operator just squeezes the grip and the projector goes on or off.

The manufacturer claims that the steel-core slug can penetrate 4.5 mm of "standard body armor plate" at 25 m. They also claim that the dispersion of this bullet at this distance is about 5 cm.

Development

The gun was designed by A.N. Nevizhin (А.Н. Невижин), V.I. Seregin (В.И. Серёгин) and S.V. Zotov (С.В. Зотов) at TsKIB SOO.[4] Its production started in 1994, and only 200 pieces have been known to be made as of 2013. The gun was partially derived from the 9 mm OTs-11 Nickel revolver previously developed by Nevizhin and Zotov.[5]

Similar Weapons

Before the Gnom, the MVD had already in service a similar item: the KBP 12.3mm UDAR revolver.[3] Derived from the 9mm R-92 revolver, the UDAR was designed to be used as a self-defense and riot-control weapon for undercover or plainclothes police. It uses rounds derived from cut-down 36-gauge shotgun shells and can fire shot, slug or aerosol gas shells.

See also

Notes and References

  1. С. Монетчиков. Арсенал: Револьверы: Оружие российских правоохранительных органов XXI столетия // Братишка, March 2008
  2. 12,5-мм револьвер ОЦ-20 "Гном" // журнал "Оружие", № 1, 2000. стр.49
  3. Book: Cutshaw, Charlie. 1998. The New World of Russian Small Arms & Ammo. Paladin Press. Boulder, CO. 0-87364-993-1. 81–82.
  4. Оружие ближнего боя России / Russian Close Combat Weapon (2010), pp. 125-127, ; Moscow: Association "Defense Enterprises Assistance League"; almanac publication sponsored by Rosoboronexport
  5. Виктор Рон. "Револьверы ЦКИБа", Оружие, 2010/3, pp. 16-20; page 19 for this gun