The Russian sidearm designed to pierce through armor

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1993, Russian military trials sparked the development of a new standard sidearm. The result was the MP-443 Grach, a 9mm pistol engineered not just for standard combat, but to fire specialized semi-armour-piercing rounds capable of defeating modern protection.

Designed by Vladimir Alexandrovich Yarygin, the MP-443 Grach—also known as the PYa or 'Rook'—was developed in response to Russian military trials that began in 1993. It was officially adopted in 2003 as a standard sidearm for all branches of the Russian military and law enforcement, serving alongside the Makarov, GSh-18, and SPS. While mass production did not begin until 2011, the pistol has seen widespread deployment, including by the Russian Airborne Troops since 2015 and the National Guard of Russia since 2018.

The weapon utilizes a short-recoil, double-action/single-action mechanism with a simplified Colt–Browning locking design, similar to the Glock or SIG Sauer families. While the grips are made of polymer, the frame and slide are constructed from carbon steel, and the barrel is made of stainless steel. One striking quality is its varied ammunition; it uses the 7N21 cartridge, a Russian 9×19mm round containing a semi-armour-piercing projectile with a core of tempered steel. While it can fire standard 9mm NATO or Parabellum rounds, military use is restricted to full metal jacket bullets.

The Grach is highly adaptable to its user, featuring an ambidextrous manual safety and a slide stop lever that can be mounted on either side. It typically utilizes a 17-round magazine, though 18-round versions were produced after 2004. Beyond the Russian military, the pistol has seen international use, such as in the Armenian customs service since June 2021, and in Kazakhstan, where private security companies have used it since 2007.

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