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In 1993 Victor Kalashnikov and Alexey Dragunov, engineers of the IZHMASH JSC, located in the city of Izhevsk, Western Urals, Russia, created a novel submachine gun designated BIZON (Bison). 60 % of the BIZON components are interchangeable with the AK-100 series assault rifles.
Depending on the specific requirements of Customers, BIZON may have
different constructions of the rear sight and the buttstock. The rear sight
of BIZON-2
is similar to that of the Kalashnikov sliding tangent-type with
three divisions of scale for 50, 100 and 150-meter elevation. BIZON-3
features a pop-up dioptric rear peep sight, with protective ears. The
buttstock folds upward to lock into a spring-loaded latch ontop the receiver
cover. A number of modular muzzle devices is available to meet requirements
of specific tactic missions: silencers, muzzle brakes, compensators, flash
hiders, etc.
The front sight of the latter two versions - BIZON-2 and BIZON-3
- is a derivative of the AK-74M
construction, while the first configuration of the
BIZON has the front sight similar to SVD
- the Dragunov sniper rifle, with protective hood.
The BIZON trigger mechanism is exactly that of the AK74M.
The synthetic 64-round helical-type magazine provides an easy procedure of
loading - all cartridges are oriented nose forward and can not be loaded
incorrectly.
The latest modification of the magazine has four openings in the right side,
with markings 4, 24, 44 and 64 to show the number of rounds in the magazine.
Construction of the stock makes the BIZON SMG a very controllable
weapon afield.
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Judging by the results of numerous tests, the BIZON is capable of highly accurate and accented penetrating fire. Taking into account its cyclic rate varying from 650 rpm to 700 rpm, depending on the two types of the used ammunition, it makes a desirable weapon in various tactic missions.
As estimated by experts, the BIZON SMG may be successfully employed by the Law Enforcement and Anti-terrorist units where fire contacts are of rapid and intensive nature, where multiple targets are to be engaged at short intervals of time, at the range of not exceeding 100 meters. In such situations the following BIZONs characteristics may play an important role:
Army and Special Forces are also looking for a compact, effective weapon
to be employed in surgical operations where fire of high density and
accuracy at short and medium ranges is required. Being engaged in a combat,
frequently conducted under complex environmental and operational conditions,
a soldier needs a lightweight, low recoil firearm which may benefit by an
operatorâ–“s lesser fatigue as well as by a possibility of conducting fire on
the move or from shelters.
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BIZON is exactly the weapon, which can meet such challenges. It can be comfortably fired from various positions: (a) with the extended buttstock at the shoulder, (b) with buttstock folded, from the hand (as a pistol) or from two hands, with carrying sling looped over the shoulder.
All modifications of the BIZON-series have the following
operational modes: safety, semiautomatic and fully automatic. Change of
modes is achieved by placing a selector lever into a required position.
When placed into its uppermost position, the selector brings the weapon into
safety.
The trigger is blocked and the bolt carrier could be retracted only
partially - just enough to see through the opening whether there is
ammunition in the magazine. The amount of travel the bolt group performs is
not sufficient to cock the hammer and send the first round into chamber.
Shifted into extreme low position marked "OD" (odinochniy means single
in Russian), the selector brings the systems into a semi-auto operation.
Upon firing, the bolt group being driven rearward, the extractor claw
removes an empty case from the chamber, and the ejector disposes of it
through the opening in the right side of the top cover. As the bolt carrier
travels farther, the single-strand recoil spring is compressed, the hammer
is cocked and engaged with the auto-safety cocking cam. This cycle
completed, the bolt group begins its return travel driven by the recoil
spring. The mechanism goes forward, another round is stripped from the
magazine and chambered. The bolt carrier releases the hammer from the
auto-safety sear. The hammer cocked the bolt in the front position - the
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submachine gun is ready to fire. The trigger mechanism's mainspring is of
multiple-strand type, which lasts longer and offers better performance.
After the trigger has been released, its extension moves forward. The hook
in the trigger extension is held by the sear. When the trigger is pulled,
its hook moves the sear and disengages it from the hammer-cocking cam. The
hammer, actuated by the mainspring, pivots forward and strikes the firing
pin. The firing pin moves forward and impinges the primer. Another shot is
fired. The cycle is completed.
To fire in full-auto mode, the selector should be placed into the middle
position marked "AB" (avtomaticheskiy). By doing so, the sear is
deactivated and does not control the hammer. In this mode the auto-safety
sear holds the hammer back until the bolt carrier while moving forward
releases it to fire another round.
| Caliber: | 9 x 18 Makarov PM, 9 x 18 Makarov High Impulse PMM, 9x19 PARA, 9x17 Short, 7.72x25 TT |
| Operation: | Free blowback. Semiautomatic and full-auto fire modes. |
| Cyclic rate: | 650 to 700 rpm |
| Feed: | Aluminum 64-round helical-type magazine. |
| Weight, empty: | 2.47 kg (5.45 pounds); without magazine: 2.1 kg (4.6 pounds) |
| Length, overall: |
With stock unfolded, 660 mm (26.0 inches); with buttstock folded, 425 mm (16.7 inches) |
| Barrel: | Four-groove with right-hand
twist of one turn. In 240 mm (9.4 inches). The bore and chamber are chrome lined. |
| Sights: | Flip-type rear sight with protective
ears and two open square U-shaped notches with 50 and 100-meter elevation settings. Round, post-type front sight with protective hood; adjustable for both elevation and windage zero. |
| Finish: | Black phosphate. |
| Manufacturer: | IZHMASH
OJSC, 3 Derjabin St., 426006 Izhevsk, Russia |
| Status: | Current production. |
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