PP-19 Bizon

The PP-19 Bizon (Pistolet Pulemyot Bizon) (English: Bison) is a 9mm submachine gun developed in 1993 at Izhmash by a team of engineers headed by Victor Kalashnikov (son of engineer Mikhail Kalashnikov, creator of the AK-47 and AK-74).[1][2] Alexei Dragunov, youngest son of Yevgeny Dragunov (the creator of the SVD sniper rifle), was also a member of the design team.[2][3]

The Bizon was developed at the request of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)[3] and is primarily intended for counter-terrorist and law enforcement units that need fast and accurate fire at close ranges. Prototypes were trialed by the Special Equipment Research Institute in 1995 where they outperformed several competitors, and the weapon was accepted into service on 28 December 1996.

The Bizon is issued to armed response units of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Ministry of Justice. It was used in combat operations against separatists in the volatile North Caucasus region, namely Chechnya and Dagestan.

Design details
The Bizon is a lightweight selective fire weapon that fires from a closed bolt, a feature that enhances the gun's accuracy.[2] It is based on the AKS-74 and features a 60% parts commonality with the AK-74 assault rifle.[1][2][3][4] Chambered for the standard Russian 9×18mm Makarov pistol cartridge, the gun will also fire a new high-impulse armor-piercing 57-N-181SM round.[citation needed]

Operating mechanism
The Bizon uses a simple straight blowback method of operation; an unlocked breech system reduces cost and build complexity.[2] The Bizon's operating cycle is characterized by a very short recoil stroke; standard 9×18mm ammunition will only drive the bolt partially to the rear of the receiver and results in a cyclic rate of 700 rounds per minute.[5] High-impulse ammunition drives the bolt all the way to the end of the receiver, lightly striking the receiver wall. A rate of fire of 650–680 rounds per minute is the result. This has the effect of reducing perceived recoil and increasing firing stability and hit probability.[5]

Features
The Bizon has no gas system and the internal components have been modified accordingly. The bolt carrier with integral charging handle was recycled from the AK, but the piston rod and rotary bolt were removed and the piston extension was plugged with a steel insert.[5] The return spring and guide rod are identical to those of the AK.

The Bizon has a four-groove barrel with a 240 mm (1:9 in) right-hand rifling pitch.[5] The gun's muzzle device has a large rectangular port on each side of dead center that serves to reduce muzzle jump, although the main purpose of this device is to protect the muzzle and magazine from damage.[5]