Hell freezes over: Russian officials allowed to carry glocks

The Moscow Times reports that on 31 Jan. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing law enforcement officials to carry imported guns for self-defense.

The guns on the allowed list are the Beretta 92, CZ 75 and Glock 17. These are all chambered in 9mm Luger/Parabellum.

Previously they had been limited to the Makarov PM which fires the 9x18mm Makarov cartridge that is more than 30% less powerful than the 9mm Luger/Parabellum.

The Makarov pistol. Photo from AdamsGuns (used with permission)

I suspect this is the first time in the history of the Russian Empire since the Russian Tsar imported the S&W Schofield Revolver in 1880 that officials will be carrying foreign made pistols. Russian ended up canceling a large quantity of their order from S&W and produced clones themselves. Thanks to Brno223 for the correction.

UPDATE: Supernaut let me know in the comments that the internal security police have been using Glocks and other European firearms in a limited capacity for a while now.

http://spetsnaz.su/ Supernaut

Not so strange though, MVD bought tons of Glock 17, CZ75, MP5, Sako TRG and AI AWM a few years back. There are several images online of the weapons being used, for instance the AI rifles were used at Beslan. So these weapons have been used by interior forces and federal police for almost 5 years.
- http://www.thefirearmblog.com Steve
  
  Supernaut, I stand corrected! Thanks.
http://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.com/ Sven Ortmann

Captured handguns during wartime should also be an exception.

I can’t tell whether they were used by the police, but certainly by “officials”.
- http://www.thefirearmblog.com Steve
  
  Sven, nah, that doesn’t count Russians were using German weapons and Germans were using Russian weapons.
Matt Groom

Perhaps the Ruskies would have a more positive opinion of the 9×18 if they were allowed to use something other than FMJ ammo. I good, modern hollowpoint turns the Makarov from a pleasant plinker into a decent defense piece. While I can certainly see the advanages of a full sized, world-class pistol for Law Enforcment, the models mentioned are also much larger. Plain clothed and secret police types are all gonna be stuck with the Pistolet Makarov for a while.
JB

Perhaps they should add the compact/subcompact versions of the three listed pistols. From CZ, the 75 compact and 2075 RAMI have a very similar manual of arms to the full-size 75. I think some of the GLOCK 17/19 parts are interchangeable, with the 26 being a changed, smaller version. (No experience with the Beretta line here.)

I’m presupposing the allowed imports are based on manufacturer and caliber, not size. There are CZ75 variants in .40S&W for instance. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear the Russian government doesn’t want to see smaller handguns or heavier calibers, despite their efficacy for certain officials, as Matt commented.

I don’t want to veer into politics here, but it’s always seemed odd to me that a government would restrict its law enforcement from having certain weapons. (They already prevent law abiding Russian civilians from owning handguns anyway.) Thanks for the news link!
- http://www.thefirearmblog.com Steve
  
  JB, I agree. Remember that the Russians also have a long history developing arms and they have some significantly different views on what the best solution is. I think they are probably restricting it to 9mm.
  
  Why do all governments restrict what we can and can’t own? Because they can? Probably no different for the Russians
jdun1911

I doubt the Russian can afford it. They are going into a depression if not already.

I don’t want to get into another ballistic debate. Done that too many times and got tried of it. There is no such thing as a one shot stop.

http://www.theshootist.net/2009/01/one-man-got-involved-perry_12.html

http://www.lawofficer.com/news-and-articles/articles/lom/0412/the_peter_soulis_incident.html

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/37369379.html
- kagbalete
  
  Russia is not that broke, as long as the price of crude stays above $80/barrel, they have got it made…. besides, in the hierarchy of things, small arms, especially pistols, are cheap……
alex.

Hell, the Bolshevik’s sure liked the Mauser 1896, enough so that one version was nicknamed the “Bolo”, so perhaps what was old is now new.
Lance

Alot of Russian still use the Makarov PM pistol. Russian cops still use them alot. But some FSB and private security firms in Russian wanted high cap 9mm pistols and so they bought forgien. I bet they officals that use the Glocks are Russian Private and Governmet security nothing to do with the Military and or the Police.
mica

intresting about the bolo i wounder if that was with the sholder stock or not ??? \ cuse i know ton,s of em were shiped to china for the shaig hi sheck hmmm \ as for the russians if i had to gusse that probary want to be on a leavel play field with the rest of the world
kagbalete

What happened to the “Grach” pistol?
- hikerguy
  
  It was produced in snall numbers and only used by special forces. Also, it weighed in at 34 oz. to handle the powerful 7N21 +P+ round. The Glock 17 is around 21 oz. in weight. I’d rather carry the Glock all day than the Grach.

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Hell freezes over: Russian officials allowed to carry glocks

Steve Johnson

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