Russia’s sole state intermediary for the importation and exportation of defense-related products – Rosoboron Export – has just made their two latest products open to the market. The Legion Multi-Purpose shooting shield and the PB-4SP OSA traumatic cartridge firing pistol. Each of the two products is aimed at providing security forces with non-lethal options against selected targets.

The New Russian PB-4SP Barrelless Traumatic Pistol

The pistol is named the Osa or Wasp nodding to the fact that while it won’t kill you, it’s very unpleasant to be stung by one. The PB-4SP isn’t a completely new concept.  The pistol was produced in limited numbers between 1997 and 1999 and was a break-action, four-shot non-lethal handgun. This early version featured a shorter 45mm traumatic cartridge and a less streamlined look.

The modern version of the PB-4SP carries with it an updated look as well as a much larger 18x60mm traumatic cartridge with a rubber bullet (traumatic), signal, stun, illuminating, marking, and lachrymatory (tear gas) rounds available for use without any parts changes.

The pistol is quite compact being only 5.25 inches long 1.5 inches wide and nearly 4.75 inches tall making it fairly small. The pistol is also fairly light, weighing less than one pound unloaded making it convenient to carry as a part of a security details daily kit.

A promo video from Rosoboronexport:

The pistol is said to be effective at up to 5 meters but target engagement can also be accomplished up to a distance of 10 meters. Aiming the pistol is accomplished by the use of an integrated sighting laser, the internal battery also powers the electrical priming system – which is another feature carried over from the previous PB-4 pistol. All cartridges are electrically primed so they cannot be used in a traditional firearm.

Although the Osa is said to be a non-lethal weapon, an incident in which the weapon was discharged using a traumatic round at a distance of about 1 meter resulted in a penetrative injury to the individual with the rubber bullet going through most of the brain resulting in the victim being reduced to a vegetative state. Proper training and marksmanship are still required even when using less-lethal weapons.

Finally, for those cold Russian winters, the pistol is said to be capable of functioning even at -30 Celcius (-22 f) ensuring functionality even in the harshest of conditions. The PB-4SP is available to the civilian public and is being imported into the United States as the M11 Pistol, however, the weapon will come in a 50 caliber cartridge size and is currently waiting on BATF approval.

Photo Credit: Rosoboronexport