As a newcomer to the Modern Warfare series, the PP90M1 has already established quite a reputation – its blend of damage and phenomenal rate of fire has earned the ire of many who have been killed by it.

The real-life weapon is less widely-known, with the weapon not attaining much success commercially. Still, with its helical magazine it’s an interesting weapon nonetheless.

Transcript

Hello, this is XboxAhoy – and these are the weapons of Modern Warfare.

In this episode, we’re taking a look at the PP90M1.

The PP90M1, or ‘Pistolet-pulemet (pis-toh-lyit pol-yeh-myot), 1990, Modernised, Mark 1’ is a submachine gun featured in Modern Warfare 3.

It’s a Russian weapon, designed and manufactured by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau – responsible for a wide variety of other armaments, since being established in Tula (too-la), in 1927.

Its designation descends from that of an earlier SMG design – the PP-90, and PP-90M – which were both Russian clones of an American folding SMG, the Ares FMG.

However, the PP90M1 is, in fact, an entirely separate weapon from these earlier models, they only share the same designation.

The PP90M1 bears a close resemblance to the PP-19 Bizon (bee-zon), which employs a similar configuration – and the PP90M1 can be considered ‘a more modern rival’ to the Bizon.

The weapon was developed in the latter part of the 20th century, and made its first public appearance in 2001.

Perhaps its most distinguishing feature is its helical magazine – unlike conventional box magazines, the magazine resembles a large tube underneath the weapon, parallel to the barrel – with 64 rounds packed into a tight spiral.

The weapon is capable of utilising 32-round box magazines as well, with the use of an adapter that also serves as a handguard.

The weapon is chambered for 9 by 19 millitre Luger Parabellum ammunition, specifically the Russian armour-piercing 7N21 and 7N31 rounds – but will function with any 9mm Luger ammunition.

Cocking the weapon is done via an unusual procedure – rather than a charging handle, there’s a button at the front of the weapon above the barrel that must be pressed to ready the bolt.

Rate of fire is between 500 and 600 rounds per minute, considerably slower than its in-game counterpart.

The weapon is of a lightweight design, a mere 1.7 kilogrammes when unloaded – but a fully-loaded 64 round helical magazine will add considerable weight.

At just 424 millimetres with the stock folded, it’s a compact weapon, ideal for use by vehicle crews – where a full-size rifle would be rather unwieldy.

The weapon has made little impact commercially, nor has it been employed in a major way by any miltary force – so the PP90M1 is unlikely to see full-scale production.

Helical magazines are a compact means of stowing large amounts of ammunition, but they’re often heavy, and the magazine feeds less reliably than a straightfoward box magazine.

It’s this unusual magazine that gives the PP90M1 much of its character, however – and its devastating performance in Modern Warfare 3 has established quite a reputation.

Although less successful in real life, the PP90M1 remains a particularly unusual Russian weapon… an SMG with a twist.

Thanks for watching, this has been XboxAhoy.

Join me for the next installment of The Weapons of Modern Warfare, when I’ll be covering a Chinese rifle that’s proven fairly popular in MW3.

Until then – farewell.