Russia Replacing Makarov with Pistol Capable of Piercing Titanium, Steel

Russia is replacing the legendary Makarov handgun with a pistol capable of piercing titanium and steel.

France 24 reports that the new pistol will be called “Udav.” Whereas the Makarov fires a 9×18 round, which is slightly smaller than the 9mm round so widely popular in the United States, the Udav will shoot the 9x21mm Gyurza, which will allow it to “pierce 1.4 mm of titanium or 4 mm of steel armor from a 100-meter distance.”

The Gyurza round is also designed take away the advantages an enemy might otherwise gain from wearing body armor.

The Udav is designed to work in a wide range of temperatures and has been successfully tested between – 94 to 122 Fahrenheit.

Military Times reports that the Udav has a polymer frame, whereas the Makarov did not. And whereas the Makarov “could at most be fitted with a suppressor,” the Udav is can be more widely altered and accessorized, including the addition of a suppressor.

The Makarov began to be produced in the 1950s. No information was released indicating exactly when the Udav will take its place.

AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com. Sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange.