[2][3] It is a compact double-action revolver that chambers proprietary ammunition in the form of an unusual 12.3mm (0.484" caliber, or 41-gauge)[4] shell.

All ammunition was made by the Tula Cartridge Works (Tulskiy Patronniy Zavod) and was imprinted with either its civilian ("TPZ") or military ("539") headstamp code.

The design has met with relatively little success to date and failed to catch on with Russian police in the 1990s.

They, like the police in most European nations, were used to using semi-automatic pistols rather than revolvers and preferred their larger magazines and quicker reloading times.

The need to unload and reload the cylinder and discard partially spent mags when changing ammo types in a crisis situation also made it impractical, it was believed.