In the early 90s of the last century, our Ministry of Defense announced a competition for the development of a promising pistol, which should replace the Stechkin automatic pistol. Several design bureaus (TsNIITochmash, Izhmekh, TsKIB Tula, etc.) took part in the competition, which received the name "Grach". In the original terms of reference for the competition, there were no requirements for a specific cartridge. However, the new pistol was supposed to be more powerful than the APS and PM. In 1993, the task was adjusted - the 9x19 Parabellum cartridge was assigned to ammunition for a promising pistol. After this event, one of the developments of the Klimovsky TsNIITochmash withdrew from the competition.
The fact is that the Klimovsk designers under the leadership of P. Serdyukov and I. Belyaev worked on two pistols at once. One of them was made for the Parabellum cartridge, and the second - for a completely new 9x21 RG054 ammunition. Also, the pistols had a different design of automation, although in the external appearance of both samples, you can see some similar details.
The pistol chambered for 9x21, which had the nickname "Gyurza", was removed from participation in the "Rook" competition, but work on it was not stopped. The fact is that the original version of the 9x21 cartridge had a bullet with a steel core - it was on this path that the Klimovsk engineers went, fulfilling the order of the Ministry of Defense for a more powerful weapon. But the military preferred a different cartridge, and the special services and the Ministry of Internal Affairs became interested in the new weapon. This is understandable - in the courtyard of the gangster 90s, the villains are increasingly putting on body armor, and the bullets of the Makarov pistol are no longer afraid of them. So a cartridge-pistol complex capable of penetrating a third-class body armor would be very useful.
And already in 1996, the FSB received the SR-1 Vector pistol and several cartridges: armor-piercing SP-10, SP-11 with a shell (bimetallic shell), SP-12 with an expansive and SP-13 with an armor-piercing tracer bullet. At the same time, an export version of the RG055S "Gyurza" pistol was also created. It differs from pistols "for internal consumption" by the markings in English, a slightly more accurate finish and the image of a snake on the side of the bolt. After the Vektor was adopted by the special services, the military again became interested in it. As a result, since 2000, the special forces of the Ministry of Defense began to receive a new pistol, but with a number of design changes and under the name SPS (Serdyukov self-loading pistol).
The design of the pistol is mixed. For example, the frame is partly metal, partly polyamide with reinforcement. The upper (metal) part of the frame, to which almost all parts of the pistol are attached, is firmly pressed into the plastic (handle and trigger bracket). The use of plastic made it possible, while maintaining the dimensions and fighting qualities, to reduce the weight of the pistol: about 1200 grams with a loaded magazine.
All versions of the "Vector" automatics are based on the use of recoil energy with a short barrel stroke. The latter is rigidly locked by a vertically swinging larva. Rifled barrel, 120 mm long. The return spring, as on a number of other domestic pistols, is placed around the barrel. At one end, it abuts against the shutter casing, and the other against a special retaining stop. This emphasis is a patented invention of TsNIITochmash designers. The trigger mechanism "Vector" is made according to the system of double action, the trigger is open. A characteristic feature of this particular pistol is that in order to fire from self-cocking, it is necessary to set the trigger in an intermediate position - a kind of additional safety catch.
There are two full-fledged fuses, both automatic. One is located on the back surface of the handle and blocks the sear, and the other on the trigger locks it. It should be noted that the two fuses are in dispute. There is an opinion that the safety catch on the handle is an anachronism. However, others believe that an extra system of protection will not hurt. At the same time, some arrows indicate a small trigger force, which, with automatic safety locks, can lead to an accident. Another controversial point is that in order to fire a shot from the "Vector" it must be properly taken in the hand, which in a battle may require more time and cost the shooter health or life. Therefore, some users with electrical tape firmly fix the fuse on the handle in the recessed position.
The pistol's ammunition comes from a two-row box magazine for 18 rounds. According to the old technical tradition, the store is housed in the handle. The latch securing the magazine is located on the handle behind the trigger guard on both sides.
For aiming, the pistol has an open non-adjustable sight. There are white dots on the rear sight and front sight.
The Vector pistol was produced in several versions. It:
- RG055. Several prototypes and a batch of 50 units were produced for the Federal Security Service.
- RG055S. Export version of the pistol. It has a different plastic handle, a drawing with a snake on the side and slightly different outline of the handle.
- SR-1 "Vector". Serial modification for special services. The first version of the pistol, in which the outer part of the trigger guard is not rounded, but with a protrusion for the finger, which provides a more comfortable grip with both hands. On pistols of some parties, the front part of the bracket received notches. SR-1 is produced at two enterprises: at TsNIITochmash and at the Kirov plant "Mayak". The pistols of the factories differ only in appearance: the manufacturer's logos on the side surfaces of the handle. Klimovsk pistols can be identified by stylized images of an owl, and Kirov pistols by the “√” sign inscribed in a circle.
- SR-1M. The new modification of the pistol received a safety lock on the handle of a larger size, and, therefore, the likelihood of under-pressing it due to various circumstances is reduced. Slightly changed the magazine latch button. But the most important innovation of the SR-1M is the slide delay. Moreover, the Klimovsk engineers provided for automatic removal from the delay and sending the cartridge after replacing the store.
