Bizon PP-19
Summary
| Country | 🇷🇺 Russia |
| Category | Submachine gun |
| Manufacturer | Izhmash |
Technical specifications
| Bizon PP-19 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 600 - 700 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 9 x 18 mm or 7,62 x 25 mm Tokarev or 9 x 19 mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 64 - 45 rounds |
| Length | 660 mm (26.0 in) |
| Weight | 2.1 kg (4.6 lb) |
| Range | 200 m (656 ft) |
Description
The PP-19 Bizon is a 9×18mm Makarov submachine gun developed in 1993 by the Russian company Izhmash. Designed by a team led by Victor Kalashnikov and Alexei Dragunov, it was created at the request of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) for counter-terrorist and law enforcement units needing rapid and accurate close-range firepower. Prototypes were tested in 1995 and the weapon was accepted into service on December 28, 1996.
The Bizon is a lightweight, selective fire weapon that fires from a closed bolt, increasing accuracy. It features a helical magazine under the barrel for increased capacity. Based on the AKS-74, it shares 60% parts commonality with the AK-74 rifle. Chambered for the 9×18mm Makarov, it can also fire the 57-N-181SM high-impulse armor-piercing round. It employs a simple straight blowback operation. It has no gas system, with modified internal AK components. The receiver, stock, pistol grip, trigger, and safety mechanisms are derived from the AK/AKS-74 and AK-100 series. The selector is on the right side with safe, full auto, and semi-auto settings. The 64-round helical magazine is made from glass-reinforced polyamide 6, and early aluminum magazines held 67 rounds. Sights resemble those of the AKS-74U, with a flip-up rear sight (50m, 100m) and a caged front post sight.
The original Bizon was later designated Bizon-1 following the introduction of the improved Bizon-2, which incorporates:
- AK-style adjustable sights (50m, 100m, 150m)
- A side rail for optics
- A slotted flash hider for suppressor attachment
Bizon-2 variants include different calibers and firing modes such as the Bizon-2-01 (9x19mm), Bizon-2-02 (.380 ACP), Bizon-2-03 (9x18mm with integral suppressor), Bizon-2-04 (9x18mm semi-automatic), Bizon-2-05 (9x19mm semi-automatic), Bizon-2-06 (.380 ACP semi-automatic), and Bizon-2-07 (7.62x25mm Tokarev).
The Bizon-3 features a rear peep sight and a stock that folds upwards, and its barrel allows mounting various muzzle devices. Derivatives include the PP-19-01 Vityaz-SN, chambered in 9x19mm, which entered Russian service in 2005, and the later PPK-20 modernization of the Vityaz-SN.
The Bizon saw combat in the North Caucasus, including Chechnya and Dagestan. It has been largely replaced in Russian service by the PP-19-01 Vityaz, partly due to reliability issues with the helical magazine.
Users of the Bizon include Russia, where it is issued to armed response units of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Ministry of Justice. Vietnam uses a domestically produced 9×19mm clone known as the SN9P, manufactured by the Z11 Factory with modifications such as a Galil-style stock, for limited use by Special Forces units.