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Arsenal P-M02 Compact pistol (Bulgaria)

Arsenal P-M02 pistol, partially disassembled

 Arsenal P-M02 Compact pistol is the most recent product of the Bulgarian Arsenal arms-making factory, which previously manufactured copies of the Russian Makarov PM pistols. The P-M02 Compact is an indigenous development and it follows some of most recent trends in firearms industry. However, it is yet to be seen if this gun will catch up with modern market.

Arsenal P-M02 Compact pistol is delayed blowback operated weapon, which utilizes gas-delayed blowback system similar to that found in German HK P7 pistol. In this system, initial opening of the slide is resisted by the pressure of the powder gases which are fed into the gas cylinder, located below the barrel. There gases act against a piston, attached to the slide. Once the bullet has left the barrel pressure in the bore and gas cylinder drops rapidly, permitting the slide to run backward and cycle the action. Barrel is made with polygonal rifling. The frame of the gun is made from impact-resistant polymer, with steel slide rails. Grip backstraps are made removable and available in three different sizes. Trigger / hammer unit is easily removable for maintenance, and is of traditional double-action type. Manual safety is ambidextrous and located on the slide, with levers pointing backwards. Magazines are double-stack, with 15 rounds capacity. Magazine catch button is located in the base of the trigger guard and can be placed on either side of the gun. Sights with fiber-optic inserts are of fixed type, and dovetailed to the slide. The front of the frame below the barrel is shaped as Picatinny rail.

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