celebrating the Red Army day

[max popenker]

Hi
for those unaware, the February 23th for many years was the "day of Red Army" (Soviet Army) here in USSR/Russia. These days it is a "day of Fatherland defenders" and official holiday.

So, i was called to celebrate this day at local Russian Army range which has some cool stuff you won't find in local gun shops.
Surprisingly, my wife (which i considered as a moderate anti') asked me if she can join... sure i was glad to take her along.

She started up with 1911-wintage Nagant m1895, loaded with very mild "target" ammo, and after some practice actually shoot pretty well at 25 meters.
Then i let her try the big and heavy Stechkin APS, and, to my and her surprise, she shot it even better.

Myself, i tried the new Yarygin PYa pistol, the new official sidearm of Russian army; ammo was in limited supply but the gun shot well and recoil was rather mild (not surprisingly, as the gun is quite heavy);
also, i shot an older IZh-94 O/U gun in 32 gauge that belonged to one of participants... and it was FUN!

now, some pics

my beautiful lady with Nagant

me making smoke with old shottie

happy me with PYa

the case of toys

pocket stuff

 

[Cosmoline]

Nice handguns. But where are the Mosin-Nagants? I hope we didn't buy all of them from you. I'll cap off a few 54R's in honor of the Red Army Men for you.

 

[max popenker]

Cosmoline, it was basically a handgun range; its backstops are not up against 7.62x54R; as the weather will became warmer, we'll step out to rifle range, with all m1991/30's, kar98's, SVD's and a whole bunch of AK's and even an M16A1, liberated from Vietnam some 35 years ago

 

[kahr404life]

Well I guess, happy red army day. I was not aware you could own private handguns in Russia these days. If you can your country is changing for the better every day. I would like to here more about shooting in your country.

 

[max popenker]

kahr404life,
so far we are prohibited from handgun ownership (rifles & shotguns are ok, but under strict police control & registration), but there are rumors that in the year or two things may change for best, and i really hope for it

 

[armoredman]

Well done, sir. Freedom is catching, isn't it?

 

[mcg-doc]

спасибо за поздравления. випейте рюмочку и за меня.

1986-88, московский во

 

[Cosmoline]

even an M16A1, liberated from Vietnam some 35 years ago

I guess bringbacks work both ways!

What's the one with the luger-style shoulder stock?

 

[chuckles]

That new pistol looks like it was modeled after a CZ. Very similar in appearance. Great underated pistols the CZs. Congratulations to the Red Army and happy holiday to you and your family. (And she is beautiful!)

 

[default]

Nice pics, Max. Happy Red Army Day! In the future I may have to make a tradition of taking my '44 Mosin-Nagant M38 to the range on February 23 to touch off a few celebratory fireballs. By the way, your website is the best of its type on the internet, in my opinion, and is usually the first place I look when I have a technical or historical question about a firearm.

 

[4v50 Gary]

You have toys that make me envious!

I'm no communist, but thank God for the Red Army for they are largely responsible for the defeat of the Nazis.

 

[jeremywills]

Well hell, if I had known feb 23rd was the RED army day I would have burned off some 7.62 in the 54R and the 39 variety for the occassion LOL

Its ok, gives my Mosins and SKS something to look forward too. Maybe its an excuse to be sure to have an AK style rifle and or a Tokarev Pistol by this time next year.

I had a great idea just now, organizing a Commie Gun day shoot on the 23rd next year, that would be a lot of fun

 

[M.E.Eldridge]

I shot off my Mosin-Nagant rifles on the 23rd and my Nagant revolver. I had no idea that it was Red Army Day though. Hmmm, this might become a yearly occurance. Maybe I should get an AK too.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Let's see...in the "box of toys", there's a Mauser broomhandle, a Makarov, a Tokarev, some kind of Walther PP/PPK clone--maybe a Polish "Makarov" P-64? AND a REAL Walther P-38...a Thompson beside the box, an early suppressed auto...something in a wooden stock-box...and a revolver and two others guns under other guns I can't see...

All in all, a nice variety.

 

[mustanger98]

I'm no communist, but thank God for the Red Army for they are largely responsible for the defeat of the Nazis.

Me neither. My Grandpa and two great-uncles fought the Germans too- in France and Italy- and in defense of the US Army, it took both armies- US and Soviet- coming from each's respective side having the Germans retreating on both ends. And a while back I was watching an Episode of "War Stories" on our FOXNews Channel and our Col. Oliver North (USMC, retired) interviewed several Russians and some said they hoped we could always be allies. The Colonel also interviewed an American paratrooper who was captured by the Germans during the Normandy Invasion and wound up fighting the Germans on the Soviet side. And on both fronts, by rights, Hitler should have expected what he got. Idiots like him start wars and bite off more than they can chew... then their people suffer.

You know, I grew up during the last few years of the Cold War and I find communication between Americans and Russians really interesting. We're all probably a lot more alike than some of us could realize during the 50yrs after WW2.

 

[jobu07]

something in a wooden stock-box...

Looks like an Englis Hi-Power?

 

[Herself]

Happy day of Fatherland defenders, Max! Certainly the men and women who ground the German Army to a standstill so bravely and at such a terrible cost and then pushed them all the way back to Berlin deserve to be remembered.

Had I known, I would have taken my Tokarev to the range! Even though it is a Norinco 9 x 19 version.

The Yaryagin PYa is certainly a nice-looking firearm.

I'm curious about the handgun in the "box of toys" that looks like a broomhandle Mauser. The original design was built (under license and in various "borrowed" copies) all around the world by various companies and I seem to recall a more recent gun that looked a lot like the Mauser that was under development. Whatever it is, it's an intriguing gun.

It's not a perfect world and it will never be but it's sure a relief the Cold War is over.

--Herself

PS: Jobu07, I'll bet you the gun in the wooden stock/holster is a Stechkin APS.

 

[mfree]

...... is that a PSM?

 

[The-Fly]

i shot off 50 rounds in my Mosin for Mother Russia

 

[White Horseradish]

The pistol in the wooden stock-holster is APS, Stechkin Automatic Pistol. It's a select-fire pistol in 9mm Makarov.

Do I win a prize?

 

[max popenker]

list of guns in a box...

the "silenced Mak" at the top is PB
The revolver with wooden grip is 1911-wintage Nagant M1895
the small and thin pistol (also on inmage with my wallet is PSM
Gun in wooden holster/stock is APS indeed
Then, there's Tokarev TT, C96 Mauser, Makarov, P38 (WW2 trophy) and PYa at the bootom

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Wow! If I had known it beforehand, I would have brought out my MN 91/30 to shoot today! At any rate, looks like you had a nice time enjoying those guns. Thanks for sharing these photos and also thanks again for your terrific website.

 

[Medusa]

To whom a glorious red army, to whom a sorry bunch of murderers, robbers, pillagers, rapists and deporters, F-ing commies, and we're proud here of killing so many of them and only sorry of not creating more casualties. Call it the hate of many centuries (like 10+) long.

Nice guns though.

 

[max popenker]

О, горячий эстонский парень...
medusa, please keep your opinions to yourself - i also can share some thought on that sorry part of the Europe called Baltic states, but i won't.
I just wish Russia will sue those states for damage caused by Teutonic and Livon knight's invasions

 

[Medusa]

I wouldn't call the baltic states a sorry part (though the life sucks out here as the freedom brought all kinds of low-life into goverment), but surely there has been a lot of rumble in centuries, and none of those have helped to make a more friendly relationship.

Since the germany is punished a lot because of WW2, there's a slight chance of suing the teutons, though. CCCP could be sued for occupation of most of Eastern europe for a half of the century etc. Different countries now doesn't make the past obsolete.

How did the PYa handled?