# Lebedev pistol

The Lebedev pistol (Russian: Пистолет Лебедева) is a Russian semi-automatic pistol, produced under Kalashnikov Concern and designed by Dmitry Lebedev. It was introduced in 2015 as the PL-14 and was redesignated to the PL-15 in 2016, with a compact version, the PL-15K, introduced in 2017.

## History

The PL-14 was first presented at the Army-2015 International Military-Technical Forum near Moscow, and its modernized version received the PL-15 index and was demonstrated a year later at the Army-2016 forum. The modified PL-15 and its shortened version with the PL-15K index were demonstrated at the similar Army-2017 forum. The PL-15 is intended for use in the armed forces and law enforcement agencies as a replacement for the Makarov pistol, as well as a sporting pistol for competitions of various classes. In August 2020, it was reported that the state tests were complete for the RF Interior Ministry, and the general director of the Kalashnikov Concern, Dmitry Tarasov, said that the plant was being preparing for the production of the PL-15K compact version from 2021. In March 2021, it was reported that the state tests of the Lebedev modular handgun were completed the past month for the National Guard of Russia, and the Kalashnikov Concern said that the plant was being preparing for the production of the pistol also from 2021. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has adopted a new compact Lebedev pistol in October 2021. The Kalashnikov firearms manufacturer is ready to launch the mass production. Pilot operation of the MPL and MPL1 pistols by the National Guard was successfully completed on 26 July 2023. MPL and MPL1 pistols entered service with the Russian "Interior Affairs Organs" in late 2023. MPL and MPL1 pistols passed qualification trials and adopted by the Russian National Guard in April 2024.

## Features

The PL-15 is a 9mm short recoil-operated, locked-breech handgun that uses a modified Browning cam-lock system similar to the one from the Browning Hi-Power pistol. The firearm's locking mechanism uses a linkless, vertically tilting barrel with a rectangular breech that locks into the ejection port cut-out in the slide.
It features a double-action only (DAO) trigger, requiring a long and heavy trigger pull that puts the hammer into a cocked state and then releases it with every shot. The trigger pull weight is 4 kg, and the full length of the trigger pull is 7 mm. It has a manual safety that, when engaged, disconnects the trigger from the hammer. All controls (manual safeties, slide release levers and magazine release buttons) are fully ambidextrous. A loaded chamber indicator is provided in the form of a pin that protrudes from the back of the slide when a round is present in the chamber. The PL-15-01 and PL-15K-01 variants of the pistol are striker-fired and have a single-action trigger with a significantly reduced trigger pull weight and length.
Cartridges are fed from proprietary detachable double-stack single-feed magazines. It features removable front and rear dovetail sight posts, completely interchangeable with sights designed for Glock pistols. The frame features a picatinny rail underneath the barrel for the attachment of accessories. The PL-15 pistol can be equipped with an extended, threaded barrel, intended for installing a suppressor.

## Users

* Russia: Used by Russian Armed Forces