9A-91
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 200 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.10 kg
- Introduced
- 1994
About
What it is, and why it matters
The 9A-91 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 9x39mm, produced by KBP Instrument Design Bureau since 1994. This Russian-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 20-round magazine capacity, this assault rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 7.9-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 2100g (74.1 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The steel frame provides a solid, premium feel with the durability to withstand decades of regular use and thousands of rounds. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The 9A-91 was designed as the 'budget' alternative to the expensive and complex SR-3 Vikhr compact assault rifle. While both fire the same 9x39mm subsonic ammunition, the 9A-91 uses a simpler and more robust gas-operated mechanism compared to the Vikhr's short-stroke system, making it easier and cheaper to manufacture. The weapon gained fame in the West primarily through its appearance in the Battlefield video game series.
The 9A-91 uses proprietary 20-round magazines that are not compatible with AS Val or VSS Vintorez magazines despite sharing the same caliber. The weapon can be fitted with an optional detachable suppressor for reduced sound signature, though unlike the AS Val it is not integrally suppressed. A sniper variant designated VSK-94 adds a longer barrel, bipod, and PSO-1 type optical sight. Production was carried out by KBP in cooperation with the Kovrov Mechanical Plant. The cyclic rate of 700-900 RPM makes full-automatic fire difficult to control given the weapon's light weight, and short controlled bursts are recommended.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- KBP Instrument Design Bureau
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Russia
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1994
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 200 mm
- Overall length
- 604 mm
- Weight, empty
- 2.10 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 2.80 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 20
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 270 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 590 J
- Effective range
- 200 m
- Maximum range
- 400 m
- Rate of fire
- 800 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Rotating bolt
Select fire
Folding stock
Compact design
Flip up rear sight
Suppressor compatible
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 274 assault rifles | 2.10 kg | 3.59 kg | Among the lightest tenth |
| Overall lengthAmong 271 assault rifles | 604 mm | 915 mm | Among the shortest tenth |
| Barrel lengthAmong 271 assault rifles | 200 mm | 415 mm | Among the shortest tenth |
| Magazine capacityAmong 276 assault rifles | 20 | 30 | Among the smallest capacities |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the 9A-91
How much does the 9A-91 weigh?
The 9A-91 weighs 2.10 kg (4.63 lb) empty and 2.80 kg (6.17 lb) loaded. It is the 3rd lightest of 274 assault rifles in the catalogue.
What caliber is the 9A-91?
The 9A-91 is chambered in 9x39mm.
How many rounds does the 9A-91 hold?
The 9A-91 holds 20 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the 9A-91?
The 9A-91 is 604 mm (23.8 in) long overall, with a 200 mm (7.87 in) barrel.
Who makes the 9A-91?
The 9A-91 is made by KBP Instrument Design Bureau (Russia). It was designed by Vasily Gryazev.
When was the 9A-91 introduced?
The 9A-91 was introduced in 1994.
How does the 9A-91 operate?
The 9A-91 uses a gas operated long stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
- 1994
- Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)
- 1996
- Syrian Armed Forces
- 2015
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/kbp-9a-91' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "kbp-9a-91", "name": "9A-91", "manufacturer": { "id": "kbp-instrument-design-bureau", "name": "KBP Instrument Design Bureau", "countryCode": "RU", "foundedYear": 1927, "website": "https://www.kbptula.ru", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "8cf3636cc6feb712f7e7bc2310f7debf3eeaf1744eafd9ea9064629b666dd69c" }, "category": { "id": "assault-rifle", "name": "Assault Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "RU", "year_introduced": 1994, "barrel_length_mm": 200, "weight_empty_g": 2100, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}