{"id":2575,"date":"2025-03-17T16:40:59","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T16:40:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextgun.ch\/wiki\/pps-43-soviet-machine-pistol\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T12:47:05","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T12:47:05","slug":"pps-43-soviet-machine-pistol","status":"publish","type":"wiki","link":"https:\/\/nextgun.ch\/en\/wiki\/pps-43-soviet-machine-pistol\/","title":{"rendered":"PPS-43 | Soviet machine pistol"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>

The PPS-43<\/strong> is a Soviet machine pistol designed during the Second World War to offer a lighter, easier-to-produce alternative to the PPSh-41<\/strong>. Intended for front-line use by Soviet troops, it is distinguished by its simplicity, maneuverability and effectiveness in close combat<\/strong>. Officially adopted in 1943<\/strong>, it was widely used by theRed Army<\/strong> and other military forces around the world. Today, it is considered one of the most emblematic machine pistols of its time, alongside models such as the German MP 40<\/strong> and the American Thompson<\/strong>. <\/p>

History of PPS-43<\/strong><\/h2>

Background and development<\/strong><\/h3>

In 1942<\/strong>, in the midst of the Battle of Stalingrad and faced with massive Red Army losses, the USSR was looking for a weapon that would be cheaper and quicker to produce<\/strong> than the PPSh-41<\/strong>. The latter, although high-performance, required complex machining and used a lot of materials. It was against this backdrop that the PPS-42<\/strong> was developed in besieged Leningrad<\/strong>, under extreme conditions. <\/p>

Designer Alexei Sudarev<\/strong> is working on a more compact and robust machine pistol<\/strong>, with minimal use of strategic materials. The design is based on a stamped steel body<\/strong>, enabling mass production without the need for complex processes. <\/p>

After successful testing, the weapon was slightly modified and went into production as the PPS-43<\/strong>. Widely distributed to Soviet troops from 1943<\/strong> onwards, it became the standard weapon of many Red Army units and played a key role in late-war offensives. <\/p>

Military use and distribution<\/strong><\/h3>

PPS-43<\/strong> was used extensively on the Eastern Front, in particular by :<\/p>

  • Mechanized troops<\/strong>: Its compact size makes it easy to use in armoured vehicles.<\/p><\/li>

  • Soviet paratroopers<\/strong>: light and foldable, perfect for airborne operations.<\/p><\/li>

  • Partisans and resistance fighters<\/strong>: Easy to conceal and maintain, it is popular with guerrilla groups.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

    After the war, the USSR exported the PPS-43<\/strong> to many Allied countries, including China, Poland and Finland<\/strong>, where it was used for several decades.<\/p>

    Technical data<\/strong><\/h2>
    Features<\/strong><\/th>Detail<\/strong><\/th><\/tr>
    Caliber<\/strong><\/td>7.62\u00d725 mm Tokarev<\/td><\/tr>
    Weight<\/strong><\/td>3.0 kg<\/td><\/tr>
    Length<\/strong><\/td>825 mm (stock extended) \/ 615 mm (stock folded)<\/td><\/tr>
    Barrel length<\/strong><\/td>250 mm<\/td><\/tr>
    Magazine capacity<\/strong><\/td>35 shots<\/td><\/tr>
    Firing rate<\/strong><\/td>600-700 shots\/min<\/td><\/tr>
    Mechanism<\/strong><\/td>Open cylinder head, blowback<\/td><\/tr>
    Materials<\/strong><\/td>Stamped steel<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

    Ergonomics and design<\/strong><\/h2>

    The PPS-43<\/strong> is designed for ease of production and handling<\/strong>. It features several key innovations: <\/p>

    • Folding metal stock<\/strong>: Unlike the fixed wooden stock of the PPSh-41<\/strong>, the PPS-43<\/strong> ‘s stock can be folded down for easy transport.<\/p><\/li>

    • 35-shot curved magazine<\/strong>: more reliable than the 71-shot drums of the PPSh-41<\/strong>, which tended to jam.<\/p><\/li>

    • Fast, economical production<\/strong>: thanks to stamped steel, production is 50% faster than with PPSh-41<\/strong>.<\/p><\/li>

    • Short barrel and recoil compensator<\/strong>: Improves manoeuvrability without sacrificing short-range accuracy.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

      Comparison with other submachine guns<\/strong><\/h2>
      Model<\/strong><\/td>Caliber<\/strong><\/td>Weight (kg)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
      PPS-43<\/strong><\/td>7.62\u00d725 mm<\/td>3,0<\/td><\/tr>
      PPSh-41<\/strong><\/td>7.62\u00d725 mm<\/td>3,6<\/td><\/tr>
      MP 40 (German)<\/strong><\/td>9\u00d719 mm<\/td>3,97<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

      Compared with the PPSh-41<\/strong>, the PPS-43<\/strong> is lighter, more compact and easier to produce<\/strong>, although its ammunition capacity is slightly reduced. Compared with the MP 40<\/strong>, it offers a higher rate of fire<\/strong> and greater penetration thanks to its Tokarev 7.62\u00d725 mm<\/strong> ammunition. <\/p>

      Contemporary use and collection<\/strong><\/h2>

      After the Second World War, the PPS-43<\/strong> remained in service in many Eastern Bloc countries and in Asia. Today, it is sought after by : <\/p>

      • Military weapons collectors<\/strong>: For its history and rarity.<\/p><\/li>

      • Sport shooters<\/strong>: Semi-automatic versions are available on the civilian market.<\/p><\/li>

      • Museums<\/strong>: Testimony to Soviet military know-how of the time.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

        Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>

        The PPS-43<\/strong> is an emblematic machine pistol of the Second World War<\/strong>, appreciated for its simplicity, reliability and ease of production<\/strong>. Designed to meet the urgent needs of the Red Army, it represents a milestone in the evolution of Soviet small arms, and remains an essential historical reference<\/strong> for military arms enthusiasts. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"featured_media":2392,"template":"elementor_theme","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"class_list":["post-2575","wiki","type-wiki","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextgun.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wiki\/2575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextgun.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wiki"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextgun.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wiki"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nextgun.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wiki\/2575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2576,"href":"https:\/\/nextgun.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wiki\/2575\/revisions\/2576"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextgun.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextgun.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}