Manurhin MR 73
| Industry | Firearms manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Revolvers, including the MR 73 |
Manurhin MR 73
The Manurhin MR 73 is a French-made double-action/single-action revolver chambered for the .357 Magnum and .38 Special cartridges. Produced by Manurhin, it is available with a variety of barrel lengths, including 2.5", 2.75", 3", 4", 4.25”, 5.25", 5.75", 6", 8", and 10".
History
Following World War II, French law enforcement encountered an escalating challenge due to military-grade firearms left from the occupation and liberation periods, which criminals used to overpower officers.
To counter this, French police forces progressively transitioned to locked-breech pistols and robust revolvers chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum and .357 Magnum, replacing older blowback pistols in .32 ACP.
Launched in 1972, the MR 73 was developed specifically for police tactical units and became the primary sidearm for the French National Gendarmerie. It gained particular prominence with elite groups such as GIGN and the National Police’s RAID.
Beyond France, the MR 73 was adopted by various military and police agencies worldwide, notably within nations of the former French colonial empire.
In 2021, Beretta commenced importing the MR 73 Gendarmerie and MR 73 Sport variants into the U.S. market.
Design details
Designed chiefly as a duty weapon intended for continuous carry, every MR 73 undergoes factory testing to ensure match-grade precision, with targets fired using selected ammunition that must not exceed a specified group size over an average of 15 rounds.
The frame, barrel, and cylinder are crafted from ordnance-grade steel, providing exceptional mechanical durability to withstand rigorous use and accommodate the high bolt thrust generated by C.I.P.-compliant .357 Magnum rounds such as the 158 gr Norma ammunition favored by GIGN. RAID personnel predominantly employed Lapua hollow point rounds, while standard police issue consisted of 161 gr soft point bullets produced by SFM (Société française de munitions).
Manufacturing each MR 73 involves more than twelve hours of meticulous hand-fitting at the factory, resulting in a price approximately 50% higher than comparable revolvers produced in the United States.
Trigger
The MR 73 incorporates an adjustable trigger pull weight for both double-action and single-action modes, akin to premium revolvers from manufacturers like Korth and Janz. These adjustments do not alter the main spring tension, which ensures dependable primer ignition via a distinct flat spring dedicated to trigger control.
This secondary spring operates on a roller mechanism to minimize friction; it resets the trigger after firing and elevates the safety block to prevent unintended discharges. The assembly of springs, sliders, and roller within the trigger system demands extensive expert hand-fitting and polishing to achieve a consistently smooth trigger pull.
Although patents protecting this mechanism expired many years ago, no other manufacturer has successfully replicated the MR 73’s unique trigger design.
Barrel
Barrels are produced through a cold-hammer forging process that simultaneously forms rifling with a twist rate of 400 mm (1 turn in 15.75 inches) during forging, eliminating separate rifling cuts. This technique results in an exceptionally hard barrel with an ultra-smooth internal surface at a microscopic level.
.357 Magnum/.38 Special cylinder
Cylinder chambers receive an impact finishing treatment that produces an extremely hard and glass-smooth surface. Each cylinder undergoes factory proof-firing with .357 Magnum rounds generating pressures approximately 30% above the maximum allowed by C.I.P. standards for this cartridge. The manufacturer guarantees that cylinders will neither rupture nor deform under pressures reaching up to 600 MPa (43.5 tons per square inch), which is twice the standard piezo pressure limit.
Optional 9×19mm Parabellum Cylinder
One notable aspect of the MR 73 revolvers is the ability for users to swap the cylinder to accommodate 9×19mm Parabellum rounds. This cylinder utilizes the Pilorget mechanism, featuring a flexible piano wire ejector that engages with the extractor groove. Nevertheless, since French regulations categorized 9×19mm as war ammunition from the early 1980s onward, this cylinder option ceased to be available within France.
HKS manufactures a Model 10A speedloader compatible with cylinders chambered in .38, .357, and 9mm calibers.
MR 73 Series
Starting in 1973, fixed-sight MR 73 models intended for police and defense purposes were produced with barrel lengths of 2½", 3", and 4", chambered in both 9×19mm Parabellum and .357 Magnum.
Match Models
In 1974, Manurhin expanded the lineup with Match and Sport editions featuring barrels of 4", 5¼", 6", and 8" lengths, all chambered for .357 Magnum. By 1977, specialized GIGN models were introduced with barrel options of 3", 5¼", and 8", also in .357 Magnum.
The Match sporting variants incorporate single-action trigger mechanisms and an extended rear sight ramp to enhance sight radius while remaining within competitive length restrictions.
MR Models
Between 1980 and 1981, Manurhin introduced several new sporting revolvers: the MR 32 chambered in .32 S&W Long, the MR 38 Match in .38 Special, and the MR 73 Long Range featuring a 9" barrel. Further additions to the center-fire MR series came in 1983 with the MR 73 Silhouette sporting a 10¾" barrel (.357 Magnum) and a limited edition stainless steel commemorative MR 73.
In 1986, rimfire models were added with the MR 22 (.22 Long Rifle) and the compact five-shot Remora (.38 Special). The series culminated in the versatile Convertible model released in 1987, offering interchangeable barrels and hand-removable cylinders compatible with .38 Special, .32 S&W Long, and .22 Long Rifle cartridges. This model also featured a frame-mounted firing pin capable of switching between center-fire and rimfire ignition modes.
MR 73 Gendarmerie
The MR 73 Gendarmerie variant is distinguished by its adjustable rear sights paired with larger front sights for enhanced targeting.
Later Production
In 1998, Chapuis Armes acquired Manurhin and recommenced revolver manufacturing at Manufacture d'Armes de tir Chapuis located in Saint Bonnet Le Chateau, France. This production utilized original Manurhin machinery from Mulhouse dating back to the period between 1972 and 1998.
MR 73 Successor Series
The successor line to the MR 73 includes models such as the Special Police F1/X1, MR 88 (which is based on the Ruger Security-Six), MR 93, and MR 96. These firearms were designed with manufacturing efficiency in mind, aiming to streamline production processes and reduce costs relative to the complex construction of the original MR 73 series.
Users
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- Previously employed by EKO Cobra
Literature
- Revolver Manurhin MR 73 // «Střelecká revue», issue 11, 1974