OTs - 33 Pernach The OTs - 33 Pernach ( " ОЦ - 33 Пернач " , Russian for " multivaned mace " ) is a Russian 9x18 Makarov machine pistol , derived from the 5 . 45 mm OTs - 23 Drotik machine pistol . The Pernach is an automatic pistol designed to replace the Stechkin APS in various special OMON units within the Russian police , the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs ( MVD ) and other paramilitary units . The OTs - 33 was developed in 1995 by Igor Stechkin at the TsKIB SOO design bureau , and it went into limited production at the KBP Instrument Design Bureau . It is also known as the SBZ - 2 ( Russian : СБЗ - 2 ) , derived from the names of the KBP team responsible for the pistol , namely Stechkin , Baltser ( Бальцер ) and Zinchenko ( Зинченко ) . The designers were tasked with resolving the difficulty of controlling recoil in full - auto mode present in the Stechkin APS pistol and simplifying it for combat deployment . The new pistol has a " square " shape , which is simpler ( and less expensive ) to manufacture and has a novel operating principle that increases controllability and reduces recoil . Design details . The OTs - 33 is a selective fire blowback - operated weapon firing the 9x18mm Makarov pistol cartridge ; it can use both types of 9x18mm ammunition , the standard 57 - N - 181S and the more powerful 57 - N - 181SM round . The blowback operation incorporates a feature that separates the slide and barrel as they move to the rear during recoil ; there is no positive lock between the slide and barrel as in other conventional designs . As the slide and barrel separate , the spent case is ejected and the slide is then forced back to the barrel by a spring action , chambering a fresh cartridge in the process . The barrel and slide continue to the rear together in recoil for another before returning to the forward position . This feature improves the automatic fire accuracy , reduces felt recoil , and is responsible for slowing down the cyclic rate of fire , without using a sophisticated rate reducer mechanism such as the one employed in the APS pistol . This method of operation also allows the use of standard and higher power 9x18mm ammunition without using a locked breech action . To further reduce felt recoil and compensate for muzzle rise during firing , some propellant gases are diverted into a ported slide cavity that acts as a muzzle brake and compensator , deflecting the gases upward to stabilize the barrel . The OTs - 33 has a double action trigger mechanism and is hammer fired , with an exposed hammer . The safety / fire selection catch is provided on each side of the pistol at the rear of the slide and has three positions : " safe " ( top setting with a single white dot ) , semi - automatic fire ( intermediate position marked with a single red dot ) and fully automatic mode ( lower setting with three red dots ) . The safety / fire selection catch is provided on each side of the pistol at the rear of the slide . When the safety / selector lever is placed in the " safe " position , it safely decocks the hammer and then returns to the safe position . An ambidextrous lever is provide inside the trigger guard , in front of the trigger , and is used to disassemble the pistol for maintenance and cleaning . There Pernach also features a loaded chamber indicator . The weapon is aimed using iron sight s that consist of an adjustable rear notch and fixed forward blade . The sights have aiming inserts for improved visibility and target acquisition . Due to the difficult recoil produced by the pistol ' s lightweight design and high rate of fire , aiming can be severely affected firing in fully automatic mode . This can be alleviated by the attachment of a folding metal shoulder stock screwed on to a location at the base of the pistol grip . The OTs - 33 is fed using double - column magazines with a capacity of 18 ( standard ) or 27 ( optional ) rounds . The OTs - 33 frame has an integral accessory rail under the barrel for tactical lights or laser pointers . The pistol can be equipped with a sound suppressor . The OTs - 33 is issued with leather holster that features two separate magazine pouches and a shoulder rig .