- Molot Bekas-M
-
Bekas-M 
Bekas-12M with 26" barrelType Shotgun Place of origin 
RussiaProduction history Designer Petr Mokrushin Designed 1999 Manufacturer Vyatskie Polyany Machine-Building Plant «Molot» Unit cost $US 300-400 Produced 1999-present Variants See Variants Specifications Weight 3.0 kg (6.6 lb) to 3.3 kg (7.3 lb) Length 844 mm (33.2 in) to 1,301 mm (51.2 in) Barrel length 535 to 750 mm (19 to 27.5 in) Cartridge 12 gauge or 16 gauge Action pump-action Feed system 6-round internal tube magazine Sights Bead or open sights (all iron sights). Also receiver-mount for scopes Bekas-M ("Snipe") is a series of Russian pump-action shotguns manufactured by Vyatskie Polyany Machine-Building Plant «Molot». The Bekas-M series comprises widely varying models, all of which share the same basic receiver and action, but differ in barrel length and choke options. Some models are sold in "combinations" sets with a single receiver and two barrels, and some are supplied with a plastic pistol grip (while most models have walnut stock and forearm).
Its classical design and consistent quality, together with the availability of low-priced sets with two barrels, helped it to gain popularity among hunters and home defense enthusiasts in Russia.
Contents
Development
The first shotgun targeted for civilian market, "Bekas" (based on KS-23 design), went into production at Vyatskie Polyany Machine-Building Plant «Molot» in 1997. It gained popularity among hunters but was produced only in 16 gauge, which became less common in Russia in 1990s. "Molot" started to develop a pair of shotguns - semi-automatic and pump-action - with highly unified design, chambered in more popular 12 gauge. "Bekas-Auto" and "Bekas-M", respectively, went into production in 1999.[1] The new "Bekas-M" and was produced both in 12 gauge and 16 gauge and had some changed in its design compared to the original "Bekas", most notably, the safety lever replaced by cross-bolt safety and the barrel lug moved from the end of the tube to its center.
Design details
Detachable barrel is locked in place with a dowel at the receiver and with a nut at the magazine tube. The barrel and the chamber are chrome-coated for increased durability and corrosion protection.
The chamber is sealed by rotating the sealing wedge which locks into the port in the shank of the barrel.
Trigger mechanism is located on a detachable mounting plate.
Cartridges are fed from a tubular magazine under the barrel, shells are ejected from the side of the receiver.
The forend is located on the magazine and is connected to the slide frame by two action bars.
There is a blocking lever which blocks the forend when the hammer is cocked.
Cross-bolt trigger safety prevents an accidental pull of the trigger from firing the firearm.[2]
Pricing
The popularity of "Bekas-M" in Russia was partly due to its low pricing and availability of "combination" two barrel sets which could be bought directly from the manufacturer for an equivalent of $US 300. In 2008 the manufacturer stopped selling guns to individuals due to an exclusive contract with "Deryabin-Arms" arms dealer. This led to the "combination" sets being sold at gun shops for as high as $US 1100. In 2010 the exclusive contract ended and, while "Deryabin-Arms" is going through bancrupcy,[3] the factory resumed selling to individuals directly and through different resellers.
Variants
2.75"-chambered "Bekas-M"
"Bekas-M" variants
Bekas-12M with 720 mm barrel
Bekas-12M with 535 mm barrel and walnut stock
Bekas-12M with 535 mm barrel and pistol grip
There are two major models of "Bekas-M": "Bekas-12M" and "Bekas-16M", the number denoting the gauge, both chambered for 2.75-inch (70 mm) shells. They come with four barrel lengths: 535 mm cylinder bore barrel with open sights, and 680 mm, 720 mm, 750 mm barrels that come with three screw-in chokes (0.0 mm, 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm) and have ventilated rib with bead sight. All shotguns have black finish and are equipped with walnut stock or plastic pistol grip, however, the forend is always walnut. First production runs had a revolver-style pistol grip with walnut cheeks which was replaced by the more ergonomic black plastic pistol grip.There are nine variants for each gauge, differing in packing list:[4]
Variant Two-barrel set Barrel length(s) Stock Pistol grip 00 680 mm + 01 535 mm + 02 720 mm + 03 750 mm + 04 535 mm + 05 + 680 mm, 535 mm + + 06 + 720 mm, 535 mm + + 07 + 750 mm, 535 mm + + 08 + 750 mm, 680 mm + + Packing variants are referred as "RP-12M" or "RP-16M" followed by the variant. For example, 12 gauge "Bekas-M" with a set of 535 mm and 720 mm barrels, stock and pistol grip is called "RP-12M-06".
3"-chambered "Bekas-M"
There were also a small pilot lot of 12 gauge "Bekas-M" shotguns chambered for 3-inch (76 mm) shells referred as "VPO-202".[5] In 2010 it appeared in the product catalogue of the factory.[6]
"Service" variant
"Civilian" "Bekas-M" with 535 mm barrel can be converted at the factory to "Bekas-M-S" "service" variant for private security agencies which has a bolt modified to leave a mark on the shell.[7]
Accessories
The range of accessories for "Bekas-M" is very limited. The manufacturer does not offer neither plastic forend and stock for "Bekas-M" nor magazine extenders. The manufacturer sells cylinder bore and paradox 15 cm barrel extenders. The owner's manual also states that the shotgun can be supplied with an unnamed telescopic sight, bag and belt on buyer's request.[8]
The manufacturer used to sell an adaptor for mounting a Weaver rail on top of the receiver but this item is discontinued now. There is a third-party adaptor made in Tula by "EST".[9]
References
- ^ Degtyarev, Mikhail (2010), "The birth of a Snipe", Kalashnikov (4): 20–23, http://www.kalashnikov.ru/upload/medialibrary/13f/20_23.pdf
- ^ Multi-shot hunting shotgun "Bekas-12M" gauge 12/70: Owner's manual. Vyatskie Polyani: Vyatsko-Polyansky Mashinostroitelny Zavod "Molot". 2010. p. 14.
- ^ "Bancrupcy is initiated at "Deryabin-Arms"". http://aifudm.net/news/news16840.html. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
- ^ "Pump-action Bekas-M shotguns". http://molot.biz/product/b.php. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
- ^ "VPO-202". http://talks.guns.ru/forummessage/48/346259.html.
- ^ Catalogue of firearms. Vyatskie Polyani: Vyatsko-Polyansky Mashinostroitelny Zavod "Molot". 2010. p. 35. http://kbmolot.ucoz.ru/katalog_strelkovogo_oruzhija.zip.
- ^ "Reference for converting hunting shotguns "Bekas-M" to service guns (for the directors of private security agencies". http://molot.biz/product/inst.rtf. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
- ^ Multi-shot hunting shotgun "Bekas-12M" gauge 12/70: Owner's manual. Vyatskie Polyani: Vyatsko-Polyansky Mashinostroitelny Zavod "Molot". 2010. p. 13.
- ^ ""EST" - Weaver bases". http://tula-est.ru/cat/9/page/1. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
External links
Categories:- Pump-action shotguns
- Weapons of Russia
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
