In early January 2019, a modernized version of the Viking pistol, the Viking-M, was presented on the official website of Kalashnikov. Media, which belongs to the Kalashnikov concern. The pistol chambered for 9x19 mm, the Parabellum cartridge is a further development of the civilian line of the Yarygin pistol (PYa, GRAU index 6P35), which was put into service in 2003. On the basis of the Yarygin pistol, also known as "Grach", the following models were created: MP-446 "Viking" (commercial version of the PYa, supplied for export), MP-446S "Viking" (sports version of the PYa, modified in accordance shooting), as well as MP-446S "Viking-M" (further development of the "Viking" pistol for practical shooting).
The modernized version of the Viking pistol, the Viking-M, differs from its predecessor in the revised balancing. Thanks to this, the weapon quickly returns to the aiming line. In addition, the magazine ejection button has been changed, now it is more convenient for the shooter. The concern also reported on the change in the shape of the guides in the chamber. The regular magazine of the Viking-M pistol has a single-row exit of cartridges for ease of loading, at the same time the pistol remains compatible with magazines that provide for a double-row exit of cartridges.
The significant changes can also be attributed to the elongation of the barrel, which was also hardened in the places of the greatest loads. The designers managed to improve the accuracy and accuracy of pistol firing, and the resource of the main parts of the Viking-M was increased to 50 thousand rounds. In addition, a Picatinny rail can be installed on the new pistol, and the standard seats allow the shooter to install the sighting devices of Glock pistols. The shape of the handle was also changed, it became more ergonomic. Thus, it can be noted that the changes affected not only the external design of the pistol, but also its internal structure.
9mm Yarygin pistol (PY)
For the first time, the MP-446C Viking-M pistol was presented at the Moscow international exhibition Arms & Hunting 2016, which is held in Gostiny Dvor. The updated version of the sports pistol, created on the basis of the Yarygin army pistol (PY), then attracted many visitors to the stands of the Kalashnikov concern. The Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, which is now part of the Kalashnikov concern, created a sports version of the Yarygin pistol designed for practical shooting (IPSC) and equipped with a polymer frame, in 2003, simultaneously with the adoption of the 9-mm Yarygin pistol (PYa). The pistol in sporting guise received the designation MP-446C Viking (MP - Latin letters, short for Mechanical Plant). In addition to the frame made of high-strength polyamide, this model was distinguished by improved accuracy and accuracy of shooting, the presence of an adjustable trigger and a magazine for 10 rounds.
The novelty of Izhevsk gunsmiths quickly occupied its niche in the market as an inexpensive, budget pistol for practical shooting and novice shooters, gaining popularity among Russian and foreign athletes. It was reported that the pistol was exported to 28 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. Users of this weapon liked its simplicity, ease of disassembly (incomplete disassembly is performed with one punch), unpretentiousness in maintenance and operation, and, of course, low price. In many ways, the characteristics and positive qualities of the pistol were explained by the fact that it was created on the basis of a model developed for the needs of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Despite this, during the operation of the Viking pistol, a number of shortcomings were identified, primarily the insufficient resource of this model.
Work on the errors began in 2013, when the designers of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, headed by Vladimir Yarygin, completed the revision of the pistol design. The work was carried out in cooperation with the Federation of Practical Shooting of the Udmurt Republic. This was of great importance, since the practical shooters were directly involved in the development of weapons, including the chairman of the federation, Andrei Utrobin. The designers managed to solve the problem with the insufficient resource of the pistol by strengthening a number of parts and making changes to the design of the model.
MR-446S "Viking" (above) and MR-446S "Viking-M"
For example, the barrel of a Viking-M pistol was thickened and lengthened to 120 mm, previously it was only possible by special order (the length of the barrel of the PYa - 112, 5 mm). According to the manufacturer's assurances, the trigger mechanism has been modified to increase the smoothness of the descent. The locking unit has also been revised - the geometry of the groove of the lower barrel tide has been changed. Changing the balance of the pistol made it possible to increase the rate of fire due to less tossing of the barrel at the time of the shot. The magazine has undergone changes, which received a single-row exit of cartridges, a similar solution allows the shooter to insert the magazine with less effort and facilitates its introduction into the receiving window. At the same time, the shape of the feed ramp was adapted for the use of both new magazines with a single-row output of cartridges, and old two-row ones.
The sighting devices of the Viking-M pistol allow the installation of "optoelectronic" light-collecting inserts for the rear sight and front sight, as well as adjustable sighting devices. The magazine latch has become more convenient, it has been made larger and protruding, which makes it easier to change the magazine by shooters with different anthropometric parameters of the hand. The bottom of the store was not made of metal, but of plastic. The ergonomics of the pistol has been improved, including by eliminating sharp edges, which caused discomfort for the shooter during prolonged shooting. An additional notch has appeared in the front of the casing, designed for a more secure grip when pulling it back.
According to Mikhail Degtyarev, the editor-in-chief of the Kalashnikov magazine, test copies of the new MP-446C Viking-M pistol during shooting in commercial shooting galleries calmly withstood 50-60 thousand shots without any serious damage to the product, this significantly exceeds the resource indicators services of the previous model. When developing a new version of the pistol, the master of sports of international class and a member of the Russian national team in practical pistol shooting, a member of the Central Council of the Federation of Practical Shooting of Russia Alexey Pichugin took part in the formulation of the terms of reference and testing.
"Viking-M"
According to Pichugin, an important factor when considering the Viking-M pistol is its price: if before that an ordinary shooting gallery had to spend about 150 thousand rubles on an imported pistol, then the new product of the Kalashnikov concern, not yielding to foreign counterparts in tempo and accuracy shooting and ease of use - several times cheaper. If five 9-mm Viking-M pistols can be purchased at a reasonable price instead of one imported pistol, this will give a huge impetus to the development of practical shooting in Russia and, in general, shooting sports in shooting ranges. Pichugin spoke about this in 2016 as part of the presentation of a new pistol to the general shooting community.
Honored Designer of the Russian Federation and designer of PYa and Viking pistols Vladimir Yarygin especially noted that the new pistol was created in collaboration with Russian sports shooters. For ease of shooting, the pistol received a new magazine and a smoother trigger. Due to design and technological changes, the survivability of the model was increased to 50 thousand rounds. At the same time, each Viking-M pistol is provided with a separate individual spare parts and accessories, so that the owner does not have any hiccups in servicing the pistol.
Pistol "Viking-M", all photos: kalashnikov.media
