VSS Vintorez
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VSS Vintorez | |
---|---|
![]() with a PSO-1 optic and 10-round magazine | |
Type | Marksman rifle, carbine |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1987–present |
Used by | see Users |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Designer | TsNIITochMash Pyotr Serdyukov and Vladimir Krasnikov |
Designed | 1980s |
Manufacturer | Tula Arms Plant |
Produced | 1987–present |
Variants | see Variants |
Specifications | |
Mass | 2.6 kg (5.73 lb) |
Length | 894 mm (35.2 in) |
Barrel length | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
Cartridge | 9x39mm |
Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
Rate of fire | 800–900 rounds/min |
Muzzle velocity | 282–292 m/s (925–958 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 300 m |
Maximum firing range | 800 m |
Feed system | Detachable box magazine (shared with the VSS Vintorez and SR-3M) |
Sights | Open sights: Rear notch on tangent (graduated from 100 to 800 m) and front post mounted to suppressor housing, "Warsaw Pact Rail" for optics |
The VSS Vintorez (Russian: Винто́вка Сна́йперская Специа́льная «Винторе́з», romanized: Vintóvka Snáyperskaya Spetsiálnaya "Vintorez", lit. 'Special "Sniper" Rifle "Thread Cutter"; GRAU designation 6P29) is a marksman rifle featuring an integral suppressor originating from the Soviet Union. The Vintorez was developed alongside the AS Val to replace modified general-purpose firearms, such as the AKS-74UB, BS-1, APB, and PB, for clandestine operations. Development of the Vintorez began in 1983 prior to the AS Val in 1985 by TsNIITochMash based on the prototype RG-036 completed in 1981. Manufacturing began at the Tula Arms Plant after its initial adoption in 1987.
Design
The Vintorez is integrally suppressed and chambered in 9×39mm, a subsonic cartridge, in order to reduce its report and was designed alongside the AS Val. Four rows of nine holes are drilled in the barrel which follow the rifling and allow gas to escape the barrel behind the projectile into the suppressor. The suppressor effectively hides muzzle flash and reduces the muzzle report of the firearm to 130 dB.[2] However, there are no design features which reduce the noise of the action.
The action is similar to that of AK-type rifles with a similar long-stroke gas system with the piston located above the barrel. The Vintorez design characteristically uses a rotating bolt with six locking lugs and a milled steel receiver. It accepts the same standard 10 or 20-round double-stack detachable box magazines as the AS Val, as well as the 30-round magazine of the SR-3M. Its components are shared with the Vintorez excluding the buttstock/pistol grip. Much like the AS Val, the Vintorez can be disassembled to fit into a special case for transportation.
Manipulation of the Vintorez is also similar to many other AK-type rifles: charging handle on the right side, tangent rear sight, magazine release button behind the magazine well, and safety lever above the trigger guard. The fire selector is, however, located behind the trigger within the trigger guard. The rifle also has an "AK-type" Warsaw Pact rail for various optical sights, namely the PSO-1-1, PSO-1M2-1, and 1-PN-51[3] calibrated for use with the 9×39mm cartridge. The standard open sights are graduated from 100 to 400 m in 25 m increments.
Variants and derivatives
VSSM GRAU 6P29M: The most modern iteration of the VSS rifle featuring an aluminum buttstock with an adjustable cheek and butt pad. Additionally it is fitted with Picatinny rail on the top of the dust cover and sides and bottom of the suppressor. Deliveries started in 2018.[4]
VSK-94: A variant of the 9A-91, a redesign of the AS-Val concept produced in the 1990s, outfitted for a marksman role.
Users
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Victory_Day_parade_on_Red_Square_%282490-24%29.jpg/220px-Victory_Day_parade_on_Red_Square_%282490-24%29.jpg)
Armenia: a small quantity of weapons were received from Russia among other arms before 2014.[5]
Belarus: Used by various special forces.[6]
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria[7]
India: Used by MARCOS[8]
Syria: Used by Syrian army[citation needed]
Georgia: used by army and police special forces.[9]
Kazakhstan[citation needed]
Jordan: Special forces only.[citation needed]
Russia: Special forces,[10] Federal Security Service (FSB)[11][dead link] and OMON.[12]
Soviet Union[13][dead link]
Ukraine: Used by SBU Alpha Group.[14]
See also
- AMB-17
- AS Val
- List of Russian weaponry
- List of equipment of the Russian Ground Forces
- Night Fighting Weapon System
- OTs-14 Groza
- VSK-94
References
- ^ Dolgov, Anna (19 May 2015). "Moscow Admits Two Fighters Captured in Ukraine Are Ex-Russian Soldiers". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ "Описание АС "Вал"". world.guns.ru. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009.
- ^ ИЗДЕЛИЕ 1ПН51 ТЕХНИЧЕСКОЕ ОПИСАНИЕ И ИНСТРУКЦИЯ ПО ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИИ [Product 1PN51 technical description and operating instructions] (zip) (in Russian). January 1992. p. 11. АЛ3.812.076 ТО-ЛУ.
- ^ http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2018/1001/122548950/detail.shtml
- ^ "Как обеспечивается баланс сил в Закавказье". vestikavkaza.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "Ствол, с которым идут в разведку | Еженедельник «Военно-промышленный курьер»". vpk-news.ru. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ Neville, Leigh (25 August 2016). Modern Snipers. General Military. Osprey Publishing. p. 190. ISBN 9781472815347.
- ^ P, Rajat (19 July 2019). "Elite special forces of Army, IAF, Navy get major weapons upgrade | India News – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ "Спецподразделения Грузии". АЛАНИЯинформ (in Russian). Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "ЦАМТО / Новости / В ВВО поступила партия модернизированных снайперских винтовок «Винторез»". armstrade.org. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ http://bratishka.ru/archiv/2005/2/2005_2_5.php
- ^ Neville 2016, p. 229.
- ^ http://bratishka.ru/archiv/2005/2/2005_2_5.php
- ^ "Фотовиставка: "Служу українському народу і спецназу!" :: Товариство учасників бойових дій "Спас-Україна"". www.spas.net.ua. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- "Special Purpose Sniper Rifle VSS 'Vintorez'". EnemyForces.net.
- Tula Arms Plant—manufacturers page (404, archive)
- Modern Firearms