Manurhin MR 73
French .357 Magnum revolver considered one of the finest in the world for build quality, adopted by GIGN, RAID and Gendarmerie for over 50 years.
Manurhin MR 73
Community
Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- Manurhin MR 73
- Manufacturer
- Manurhin (Beretta Defence Technologies)
- Country
- France
- Year
- 1973
- Category
- Pistol
- Status
- In service
Ballistics
- Caliber
- .357 Magnum (.38 Special)
- Muzzle velocity
- 440 m/s
- Effective range
- 50 m
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 152 mm
- Overall length
- 295 mm
- Empty weight
- 0.98 kg
Mechanics
- Operating system
- Doppia azione / singola azione
- Bolt / action
- Revolver a tamburo basculante
Feed
- System
- Tamburo rotante
- Standard capacity
- 6 rounds
Fire modes
Historical profile
Developed by Manurhin (Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin) in Mulhouse from 1973 as a service revolver for the Police Nationale and Gendarmerie, building on Manurhin's experience producing the Walther PP under license.
Adopted by the GIGN from its founding (1974) as the main duty weapon and retired only in 2022, replaced by the Glock 17. Renowned for its accuracy — sub-MOA groups at 25 m with match ammunition — and reliability guaranteed for tens of thousands of rounds.
Acquired by Beretta Defence Technologies in 2018, production continues at Saint-Étienne with the MR 73 Sport (sport shooting) and Gendarmerie (2.5" and 3" barrels) lines.
Variants
Main users
Francia (GIGN, RAID, Gendarmerie) · polizia europea
Key components
- ●Stock — Shoulder rest.
- ●Receiver — Weapon body with internal mechanisms.
- ●Grip — Primary grip.
- ●Magazine — Cartridge feed.
- ●Barrel — Guides the projectile.






