Around the legendary Soviet Union submachine gun There are many stable legends that wander from film to film and from word of mouth. One of the most common and absurd is the story that the barrel of these weapons was allegedly bent to shoot from around the corner, without exposing itself to enemy return fire. This story is so firmly rooted in the popular consciousness that many still believe that the PPSh-41 had some unique, curved trunk geometry, allowing you to work the wonders of ballistics.
Actually. PPSh-41 It is a classic automatic weapon with a straight barrel, and no magic or secret curvilinear firing technology was used in it. Trench channel geometry Strictly straight, which is a prerequisite for stable bullet flight and accuracy of combat. If the barrel were bent even at a minimal angle, the bullet would simply tear the barrel channel at the first shot or fly out with a completely unpredictable trajectory, having nothing to do with aiming.
Where did this myth come from and why is it so tenacious? The fallacy is likely to have its roots in post-war cinema, where filmmakers sometimes took liberties for the sake of drama, or confusion with the German experiments of World War II that remained prototypes. In this article we will discuss in detail design PPSh, its real capabilities and the reasons why the straight barrel was the only true solution for the mass weapon of the Victory.
The Nature of the Ballistic Myth
The legend of arched It is often associated with the desire of Soviet soldiers to fire from shelters without protruding from the trenches. However, the physics of the bullet flight is inexorable: in order for the projectile to leave the barrel channel with the necessary initial speed and twist, it must move strictly along the axis of the channel. Any curvature, even microscopic, will cause the bullet to crash into the barrel wall, causing it to swell or rupture. Powder gases, creating a huge pressure, will not allow the bullet to "around" the bend.
There is a version that the confusion arose because of the German developments of the end of the war. The Third Reich's engineers were experimenting with the curve-head For guns to watch and shoot around the corner. However, these devices are known as KrummlaufThe slacks were intended primarily for StG 44 assault rifles and infantry machine guns, not for PPSh. Moreover, these nozzles quickly wore out and often ruptured after several bursts, as the bullet when out of the bend lost stabilization.
Why can't a bullet fly along a curved trajectory inside the barrel?
The bullet gets spinning from the barrel's cuts. If the barrel is curved, the bullet, moving inertia, will crash into the outer wall of the bend. The pressure of powder gases at this moment reaches thousands of atmospheres, which is guaranteed to lead to the destruction of the barrel and the shooter's wound with shrapnel.
In the case of PPSh-41 The situation is even simpler: these weapons were created for mass production in conditions of severe shortage of time and resources. The manufacture of a complex bent barrel or special nozzles would completely contradict the concept. technologicalIt was founded by Georgy Shpagin. The weapons were to be simple, reliable and cheap, and any excesses in design were excluded.
The design of the barrel PPSh-41
Gun Submachine gun Spagin is a steel pipe, made by hot forging or pulling. Inside the canal, cut. four-handedThey are the ones that twist the bullet, giving it gyroscopic stability. The barrel length is 269 mm, and the caliber is 7.62 mm. This length is not chosen by chance: it provides optimal combustion of gunpowder and acceleration of the bullet to the required speed in a compact weapon.
An important feature is the presence of muzzle-brakeThis is often confused with the part of the trunk itself. This element has a complex shape with side holes, but the trunk channel inside it remains perfectly straight. The compensator is necessary to reduce the tossing of the barrel during automatic shooting, which is especially important at a high rate of fire PPSh - about 1000 rounds per minute.
Note the muzzle slice of the PPSh-41: it was often performed with a ledge or waste, which helped center the bullet when exiting, but did not affect the straightness of the channel.
The material for the barrel served Alloy steel, capable of withstanding high thermal and mechanical loads. During wartime, when a single plant could have multiple contractors, the quality of the metal varied, but the geometry of the barrel always remained the number one priority. Controlling straightness The war was carried out at the production stage, and defective barrels with defects of the channel did not fall into the troops.
Technical specifications and TTC
To finally dispel doubts, it is enough to turn to the dry figures and facts contained in the technical and tactical characteristics (TTH) of this weapon. The PPSh-41 was created under the cartridge of 7.62×25 mm TT, which has a high penetration capacity and flat flight trajectory. These characteristics are possible only when using a high-quality, straight barrel.
Below is a table with basic parameters showing the standard design of the weapon, which has no room for curved elements:
| Parameter | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| caliber | 7.62 mm | Patron TT |
| The length of the barrel | 269 mm | Direct channel |
| Initial bullet speed | 480-500 m/s | Depends on the batch of bullets. |
| Targeting range | 500 m m m m | Real effective up to 200 m |
| Rate of fire | 900-1000 squirrels/min | High pace requires a rigid barrel |
High rate of shooting, reaching 1,000 rounds per minuteIt imposes extreme requirements on the strength of the structure. If the barrel had a bend, vibrations and heat loads at such a rate of fire would destroy the weapon in a matter of seconds. Engineering calculation Shpagina envisioned the creation of the most survivable mechanism capable of working in dirt, snow and dust.
A high rate of fire of the PPSh (up to 1000 squirts / min) is physically impossible when using a curved barrel due to the colossal vibrations and the risk of instant destruction of the structure.
History of creation and mass production
Development The PPSh-41 was conducted in 1941, in the most difficult conditions of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. The designers had the task to create weapons that could be produced at non-core factories, using a minimum amount of machine time and scarce materials. In this situation, the idea of implementation arch-geometry It would look like sabotage or madness.
The production technology was simplified to the limit: the receiver was often made by stamping, and stock And the bed was made of available wood. The barrels were produced in specialized factories, where the main requirement was speed and unification. Any deviation from the standard, such as bending, would require reconfiguring all equipment, which was unacceptable in wartime.
Massiveness of output The PPS is amazing: over 6 million of these weapons were produced during the war. If there were a modification with a curved barrel, it would certainly be reflected in archival documents, production reports or preserved samples in museums. However, none of the thousands of surviving specimens, stored in museums in Russia and the world, found traces of the curvilinear channel of the trunk.
Where did PPS come from?
The main producers were factories No. 56, No. 74, No. 202, as well as many evacuated and newly established enterprises. All of them worked according to the uniform drawings approved by the GAU.
Comparison with German analogues
It is interesting to draw a parallel with German. MP-40It was also a massive submachine gun during the war. The Germans, known for their perfectionism and a craving for technical experiments, also did not use curved barrels in serial weapons. Their prototypes with nozzles Krummlauf remained rare wonders that did not affect the course of the war and did not go into mass production.
Both weapons - and Soviet PPSh, and German MP-40 – used the principle of automatics based on the return of the free shutter. This scheme requires rigid fixation of the barrel in the receiver. The presence of a bend would disrupt the balance of the weapon and make it impossible for the normal operation of the moving parts. Shutter., moving backwards, simply could not properly interact with the chamber of the curved barrel.
In the arms race of the Second World War, neither side ventured to introduce the curve-firing mass infantry weapons. This confirms that the PPSh-41 was a model of advanced, but pragmatic engineering thought, devoid of fantastic elements.
☑️ Signs of the original PPSh-41
Why is the myth still alive?
The persistence of the myth arched This is due to several factors. First, human psychology: we love stories of wonder weapons and wit that outsmart the enemy and the laws of physics. Second, the influence of pop culture. In computer games and some feature films, you can sometimes find similar weapons, which perpetuates a false representation in a wide audience.
There is confusion with terminology. Sometimes people call themselves "curved." gun-box Or the casing of the barrel of the PPSh, which really has a cylindrical shape and covers the barrel along the entire length. The skin serves to cool and protect the shooter’s hands from burns, but it is not a channel of the barrel and does not affect the trajectory of the bullet.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to independently check the straightness of the barrel channel by looking at the end or using improvised means on real weapons or their layouts. This can be dangerous and damage the historical exhibit.
Also, the “spoiled phone” factor should be considered. Stories of German experiments with curved barrels could be transformed into stories of Soviet weapons, especially in the postwar period, when details of military technology were often overgrown with speculation. PPSh-41, being a symbol of Victory, became a kind of "magnet" for various legends.
Conclusion: triumph of engineering logic
To sum up, it is safe to say: PPSh-41 I never had a curved barrel. It is a myth that has no technical or historical basis. The greatness of this weapon lies not in fantastic properties, but in ingenious simplicity, reliability and efficiency. Georgy Shpagin created the Victory Instrument, which was understandable to any soldier and accessible to any industry.
The direct barrel, high rate of fire and powerful cartridge made the PPSh-41 a formidable melee weapon that German soldiers rightly feared. Studying the real history of this machine allows you to better understand the level of engineering thought of that time and evaluate the work of those who forged the Victory in the rear and at the front.
If you collect weapons or their models, pay attention to the condition of the barrel channel. The presence of corrosion or coarseness is normal for age, but mechanical deformations or bends indicate either a forgery or combat damage that makes the weapon dangerous.
⚠️ Attention: Any attempt to modify the barrel of a historic weapon, including its heating or bending, is illegal and destroys the historical value of the item. Keep the original look of the exhibits.
So the legend is debunked: ballistics The PPSh-41 remains the standard of direct and honest Soviet weapons, which did not need tricks to perform its task.
The PPSh-41 is a symbol of engineering practicality: a straight barrel, mass and reliability were more important than any fantasy about “miracle weapons”.
Is it true that a curved barrel could be used to fire tanks?
No, that's a myth, too. For firing from tanks and bunkers there were special periscopic sights and loopholes, but the barrel of the weapon always remained straight. A bullet cannot change direction inside the barrel.
Did the USSR have submachine guns with a curved barrel?
In serial production, no. There were only a few experimental models in the world (mostly German), but they were not used in the Red Army and were not effective.
Why does the PPS have such a high rate of shooting?
The high rate (up to 1000 speakers / min) is due to the mass of the shutter and the length of its stroke. This allowed for high fire density at short distances, which was critical in street combat.
Can I buy a PPSh-41 model today?
Yes, there are refinished (SKP) and mass-oversized models of PPSh-41, which can be legally purchased with the appropriate permits or as souvenirs that do not require a license (depending on the country and the specific model).