SILENT .44 MAGNUM? - QSPR Tunnel Revolver & Quiet spoken Russians:

The QSPR Quiet Special Purpose Revolver was evolved from US Army needs for a silenced multi-projectile hand-weapon for use by 'tunnel exploration personnel' - "Tunnel Rats" - operating against the tricky Vietnamese forces deployed underground in chambers dug by NVA and "VC".

There were at this time weapons of a similar concept used by Soviet Spetsnaz forces.

The US guns were based on S&W 44 Magnum revolvers but used a .410" (10mm approx.) smooth-bore loaded with six rounds of captive piston cartridges that each projected fifteen tungsten balls loaded in a plastic sabot at a muzzle velocity of 730 feet per second.

QSPR Revolver

The guns had no sights being meant for use at close contact in poor light conditions. They were reported as quiet to use as a silenced .22"L/R pistol at around 110Db. and lethal range was approx. 10 metres.

The captive-gas-seal-piston sealed-in the expanding gasses when it stopped in the cartridge mouth after driving-out the sabot charge - preventing the loud 'explosive' report of expanding muzzle gasses. There are reports that these QSPR revolvers saw action above ground and worked effectively.

- Only built in small quantities - the development program ended after three years in 1972 when the USA withdrew its forces from VietNam.

Soviet arms of similar capability were the MSP and S4M silent pistol which were double-barrelled covert-carry derringer types. - But here's a semi-auto that seems VERY quiet.

PSS Silent Pistol fires SP-4 Ammunition.

SP-4 Round compared to 9mm NATO.

The Russian OTS-38 Revolver is a five shot revolver firing from the bottom chamber - very quietly with no muzzle flash and the cylinder using full-moon clips pivots rather than swinging-out. The top "barrel" is an in-built laser and the effective range is said to be 50 metres.

A Quiet - but open Russian!

OTS-38

Russian SP-4 Silent Cartridge

Fired Clip for Russian Revolver.

 I can't find any video of the revolver - that may indicate that it's still 'current'.- I'm impressed !

 - and all this info comes from 'Googling' on the 'world-wide-wait'! - Magic.

Marty K

After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

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