The PSM is a blowback-operated handgun with a double-action trigger and slide-mounted manual safety without a slide stop. The grip panels are made from thin
aluminum and new model with hard plastic. The weapon is made from
steel. The pistol as designed around the newly developed
5.45×18mm cartridge, which was developed for the weapon by Precision Mechanical Engineering Central Research Institute. The cartridge is capable of penetrating 55 layers of
Kevlar at realistic engagement distances. However, this is purely a consequence of its hard metal core and the bullet wasn't designed to defeat body armor. This cartridge has a bottlenecked case and a
spitzer-pointed jacketed bullet. ==Other designations==