ARMOURY: GRACH MP-44 GBB

WHEN IT COMES TO UNIQUE HANDGUNS FOR OPFOR PLAYERS, MODELS THAT ARE BOTH HISTORICALLY ACCURATE BUT ALSO PERFECTLY USABLE IN GAME, IT’S BEEN A BIT LIMITED BUT FINALLY BILL HAS GOT HIS HANDS ON THE RAPTOR GRACH MP-443 GBB AND TAKES A LOOK TO SEE IF IT’S THE PISTOL HE’S BEEN WAITING FOR!

Okay, it’s true, my OPFOR head is never far away! Whilst I am quite happy hitting a game with whatever AEG or GBB I am handed, or with whatever needs testing, if I’m going to a game or MilSim as a player like anyone else, then the chances are that I’m going to be playing OPFOR!

Yes, I know that OPFOR can use just about anything they can lay their grubby little “threestriped” hands on, but if I’m going OPFOR then I’m going all the way, and that will mean some form of Soviet or Russian primary platform, and a sidearm to match, but up until recently my choices for a properly “themed” handgun have been limited to one of several Makarov GBB models, or an aging WE TT-33 Tokarev…

Some of these are superb little shooters but showing their age badly after giving, in some cases, years of service and I’ve been looking to “modernise” a little for some time. I’ve added a couple of AK-12 models (those appearing in Red Cell this month) to the team armoury, and I’m finally (slowly) pulling together my personal take on usable “Ratnik” gear in Digiflora, which I will mix and match up with my “three stripe” kit and my favourite Partizan Gorka for a properly “insurgent” feel!

So, you can imagine a little while back when I heard that RAPTOR Airsoft had released a replica of the current-issue GRACH MP-443 that I was a little excited! The MP-443 GRACH or “PYa” (for “Pistolet Yarygina” or “Yarygin Pistol”) is chambered for the 9×19mm 7N21 cartridge which features a semi-armour-piercing bullet with a tempered steel core. The pistol can also use standard 9×19mm Parabellum 9mm or Luger 9×19mm NATO cartridges, including civilian loads such as hollowpoints for law enforcement, with full metal jacket bullets provided for military users.

The development of the GRACH was led by the designer Vladimir Alexanderrovich Yarygin (hence PYa) and was developed under the designation “GRACH” in response to Russian military trials, which began in 1993. In 2003, it was formally adopted as a standard sidearm for all branches of the Russian military and law enforcement, alongside the Makarov PM, GSh-19 and SPS.

However, the venerable Makarov remains as the most-seen police service pistol in Russia due to financial constraints and the fact the “Mak” is so abundantly available, plus the GRACH was initially only issued in small numbers to select Special Forces units. Full production started in 2011, with widespread issue of the new pistol to the Russian Armed Forces starting in 2012. It was hoped that all Maks in military service would have been phased out in favour of the GRACH by 2019, but for many reasons it is said that this is still to happen completely. So, although the GRACH is most certainly “up there”, if you have a Mak it’s still more than valid, especially if you’re playing “irregular OPFOR” and not “main force”.

THE RAPTOR REPLICA

Sadly, when the RAPTOR MP-443 was released I heard varying opinions on its efficacy in airsoft form, which ranged from the usual “this thing is awesome” to “it makes a nice paperweight”, with the latter actually coming from someone inside the industry! As always though, I reserve my own judgement until I’ve actually handled a new model and put it through its paces on the range.

RAPTOR aren’t exactly new kids on the block, being established in early 2017 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, mainly producing some very interesting airsoft replicas and working on OEM projects for some of the “names” out there. And before RAPTOR was established, the self-same team owned TWI, making airsoft accessory parts, so they do know their way around what pleases us! Their SV-98 went down well with the AA crew, as did their PKP and for me the bullpup PKP is still a drool-worthy “I want THAT” item!

However, making the jump from spring-powered bolt-action rifles and AEG support guns to a GBB pistol is a tall order, so the mixed reception the GRACH initially got made me think long and hard

about getting one for myself… However, as I said, I always need to find out personally how good or bad a model is, so when iWholesales recently got some into stock I took the plunge - and boy, am I glad that I did!

The RAPTOR “take” actually is a very good one and features all the same controls and details as the real service pistol. If you’re used to a Glock or 1911, then the GRACH is most definitely going to feel different, as the neatly-grooved pistol grip is far more chunky (even more so than a SIG) and for players with smaller hands it may just be a bit too much! Featuring a relatively high beavertail, the pistol sits well in the hand and all the controls are right where you need them to be and easily accessible.

Again, completely unlike a Glock or 1911, the GRACH has a hammer that is shielded on both sides, protecting it from both damage and accidental activation. This, to me, is unusual and a little perturbing as you can’t easily check if the pistol is cocked and, as its single-action only, you most certainly can’t carry it in “Condition 1” - which is both good and bad. Whilst you must first work the action to make the GRACH ready, you then have to carry it with the hammer “live” and sadly one thing I don’t like about the RAPTOR, is that the ambi safety is stiff to the point of being unusable! On the plus side, if it ain’t cocked, it won’t rock!

Okay, with that grumble aside, the fact is that in operation the GRACH slide is lightweight and cycles very effectively. The outer barrel comes internally threaded and suppressor-ready, although you will need an adapter. I opted for the “Regular” version of the MP-443 which does not come with an taclite rail but RAPTOR make one as an accessory, however, if you buy the “Deluxe” version of the GRACH you get both the accessory rail and an extra 25BB magazine.

DOWNRANGE

With an overall length of 190mm and weight of 991g, the “feel” of the GRACH with that chunky grip for me is superb and this is further enhanced by the almost-rubberised-in-texture pistol grip that’s wrapped around the rear. It gives you confidence that once you have the pistol in your hand it’s going to stay there, whatever the weather, whatever the situation!

I’ve been running the GRACH on green gas, using .20g BBs for testing and the chrono settles consistently at 0.83 Joule/300fps on that weight, with little variance. The pistol has now had about 20 mags worth down the barrel (a mix of .20 and .25g), and to date I’ve experienced no misfeeds. Accuracy is actually getting more consistent as it beds in, and at 10m I’m now down to nice tight groupings when I try. Consistently at 10m it’s a breeze hitting steels each and every time, even when I’m moving.

I have to say that I’m actually truly happy (apart from that safety!) with the look, feel, quality and performance of the finished product; it absolutely looks the part and spits BBs with purpose! Okay, it’s not the cheapest GBB on the market as you’re going to need to find iro UK£180 for one, the taclite rail is another UK£35-ish, and mags are iro UK£40 but it does deliver on all fronts, even down to the threaded outer barrel… C’mon, every good “gopnik” needs a suppressor, don’t they?

The RAPTOR GRACH MP-443 is most certainly the OPFOR handgun that I’ve been waiting for and that, ultimately, is all I can tell you. I am hoping that the safety will improve with use and a little gentle “fettling” and, of course, I’ll report back on this at a later date. For now though, the GRACH will take pride of place with the Maks and the TT-33 in the “OPFOR Pistol Case of Doom” and I am 100% looking forward to getting it out to a game soon!

My thanks as always go to www.iwholesales.co.uk for kindly providing the pistol to me direct, you should be able to find the RAPTOR GRACH MP-443 in most good stores now. AA