Degtyaryov PPD-31
Degtyaryov PPD-31 - 7.63x25mm Mauser / 7.62x25mm Tokarev. Early model.
Degtyaryov PPD-31 - 7.63x25mm Mauser / 7.62x25mm Tokarev. Late model.
The Pistolet-Pulemot Degtyarova 1931 (Degtyaryov submachine gun 1931) was a Russian prototype submachine gun designed by Vasily Degtyarov. The submachine gun was developed in early 1931 after the previous breech-locking PPD-29 submachine gun was rejected. For this new weapon, Degtyaryov used a more basic action and a standard box magazine instead of a flat-shell drum. In 1932–1933, the Red Army tested the Model 1931 against several competing designs by Tokarev, Prilutsky, Kolesnikov, and Korovin. Of these prototypes, Degtyaryov was considered the best and received funding for further improvements, which over the next few years resulted in the development of the PPD-34 submachine gun. The PPD-31 was a simple reverse-action submachine gun chambered for the standard Soviet 7.62x25mm Tokarev pistol cartridge. It was fed from a curved, 25-round box magazine and equipped with a fire selector for semi-automatic and fully automatic firing.
The early model used a full stock extending into the front handguard, covering the entire barrel. This caused excessive heating of the barrel and decreased accuracy. The second prototype used a barrel cover with ventilation holes, which had a positive effect on the weapon’s performance. The same barrel cover was used in the later PPD-34 model.