Type: pump-action
Gauge: 4 / 23 mm (rifled barrel)
Length: 904 mm / 35,6"
Barrel length: n/a
Weight: 3,8 kg / 8,4 lbs
Capacity: 3 rounds in underbarrel tube magazine
During 1990s attempts were made to produce more compact and maneuverable weapon in the same caliber, for operations in cramped areas (inside buildings). Of two prototypes, KS-23M (with detachable buttstock) and KS-23K (with bullpup layout and box magazine) only the former saw some use.
The standard range of ammunition for KS-23 includes following rounds:
- 23mm blank "grenade launching" cartridge
- 23mm "Barrikada" (Barricade) car-stopping cartridge with solid steel projectile which can easily destroy engine block at ranges of up to 100 meters
- 23mm "Volna-R" (Wave-R) less-lethal cartridge with rubber ball bullet. Minimum "safe" range is ~40 meters (at closer ranges it can cause serious body damage and death), maximum effective range is about 70 meters
- 23mm "Cheremukha-7M" (Bird cherry) tear-gas grenade loaded with CN agent. Maximum effective range is about 100-150 meters, tear gas cloud volume is about 50 cubic meters
- 23mm "Siren-7" (Lilac) tear-gas grenade loaded with CS agent. Maximum effective range is about 100-150 meters, tear gas cloud volume is about 50 cubic meters
- 23mm "Zvezda" (Star) flash-bang grenade round
- "Shrapnel-10" and "Shrapnel-25" "lethal" buckshot rounds (max. effective range 10 and 25 meters respectively)
- 36mm "Cheremukha-6" tear-gas grenade loaded with CN agent; launched using 36mm muzzle mortar and blank cartridge. Grenade weight is ~70g, maximum effective range is 200 meters, tear gas cloud volume is about 60 cubic meters
- 82mm "Cheremukha-12" "high efficiency" tear-gas grenade loaded with CN agent, for using on open areas; launched using 82mm muzzle mortar and blank cartridge. Maximum effective range is 120 meters
KS-23 is manually operated weapon with rifled barrel and underbarrel tubular magazine. Barrel is locked using rotary bolt with four locking lugs. Bolt carrier is operated by sliding handguard, made of polymer. Trigger is of single action type; manual safety is cross-bolt button located at the front of the trigger guard. Sights are of rifle type, with fixed V-notch rear and drift-adjustable front. Buttstock on KS-23 carbine is made from wood, with rubber buttplate; on KS-23M carbine, there is a separate polymer pistol grip and a detachable metallic butt. Standard accessories include carrying sling and cleaning kit. Optional accessories include removable muzzle-loading mortars of 36mm and 82mm caliber.
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