Aiming range of the screw cutter. Weapons of the KGB and the GRU: VSS sniper rifle "Vintorez. Rifle VSS Vintorez - video

VSS "Vintorez" AS "VAL" SR-3M "Whirlwind" and VSK-94

Father of VAL and Vintorez RG036.

In the early eighties, a group of designers from the Klimovsky Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering began to develop a fundamentally new weapon for snipers.
When creating a silent sniper rifle, it was necessary to find a solution that would ensure high accuracy and confident defeat of various targets at a distance of up to 400 meters. The development of weapons was carried out under the 7.62-mm automatic cartridge US (reduced speed). IN
At the end of 1981, a prototype rifle was ready under the symbol RG036. The military was struck by its appearance: with a total length of 815 mm, it weighed only 2.2 kg. It is not surprising that the nickname “toy” immediately stuck to the rifle. This "toy" at a distance of 400 meters easily pierced an army helmet and a 25-mm pine board. However
new requirements that emerged around the same time pushed for the invention of a more powerful cartridge capable of penetrating standard army body armor. Therefore, the design idea, which had calmed down, worked again.
The result was not long in coming. In the mid-eighties, new 9mm ammunition was created.

The SP-5 sniper cartridge, which provided 75 mm accuracy at a distance of 100 m in a group of five shots, and the increased penetration cartridge - SP-6, which was able to penetrate an 8 mm steel plate at a distance of the same 100 m. The RG036 rifle was redesigned for new cartridges and in 1987 it entered service with special units of the KGB reconnaissance detachments of the Soviet army under the name VSS (special sniper rifle).

In the silent VSS sniper rifle (the designers of Klimovsk call it "Vintorez"), the main role is played by an integrated silencer, which extinguishes both the sound of the shot and the flame. The reduction in the sound of the shot occurs due to the cooling and dispersion of powder gases, as well as the elimination of the supersonic wave from the bullet. VSS has automation based on the removal of powder gases. The barrel bore is locked by turning the bolt. In contrast to the SVD, the Vintorez uses a striker type impact mechanism. The light striker gives the rifle little push when fired, which contributes to good accuracy at a high rate of fire.

The main mode of firing from a rifle is single fire, but the possibility of automatic fire is provided.

Shops are made of plastic and are designed for 10 and 20 rounds. The Air Force is easily disassembled into 3 main units: a barrel with a receiver, automation parts, a trigger mechanism and a forearm, a silencer with sights and a stock. These parts fit easily into a specially made case. A PSO type sight is attached to the rifle, as well as any regular night sight. It should be noted that the noiselessness of firing is achieved thanks not only to the silencer, but also to a special cartridge. Therefore, Vintorez is not called a sniper rifle, but a sniper complex.

The design of the rifle was recognized as so successful that on its basis they created the Special (AS) “Val” Automatic Machine and the small-sized SR-3 “Whirlwind” assault rifle.

The silent assault rifle system, which includes a special assault rifle (AS "Val", index 6P30) and the SP6 cartridge, which entered service in 1989, constitutes one "family" of weapons with a silent sniper complex. 70% of the parts and assemblies of the VSS rifle and the AS assault rifle are unified.
The assault rifle has a left-folding skeletal metal butt of steel tubes, a plastic pistol grip, and is used with a magazine with a capacity of 20 rounds.
The St. Petersburg cartridge designed by Yu. S. Frolov and ES Kornilova is equipped with a bullet of increased penetrative action. A hardened steel core longer than that of SP5a protrudes from the shell. The SPb cartridge, with a slightly worse accuracy than that of the SP58, allows you to hit live targets at ranges up to 400m, protected by class 2-3 body armor and an armored helmet, or unarmored vehicles - the bullet pierces a 4-mm steel sheet. The similarity of the ballistics of the SP5 and SPb bullets allows them to be fired on the same sight setting.
For an assault rifle, noise reduction serves not only for secrecy of use, but also to reduce the acoustic load on the shooter and provide the possibility of voice communication during combat in a cramped room, underground structures, etc.
VSS and AS are produced by the Tula Arms Plant for special forces units of several law enforcement agencies.

SR-3 "Whirlwind" is a compact Russian assault rifle developed in Klimov TsNIITOCHMASH by designers A. D. Borisov and V. N. Levchenko in 1994. It was brought to production by the designer A. I. Tashlykov and was put into mass production in 1996. It was created on the basis of the AS Val silent assault rifle, with which it is unified in terms of its main details, which has a positive effect on the production and operation of weapons.

When using special armor-piercing cartridges SP-6, the machine allows you to successfully hit opponents in bulletproof vests of protection class 5 at a distance of up to 50 m, class 4 - up to 120 m, class 3 - up to 200 m, class 2 - up to 300 m, class 1 - up to 500 m. The small size of the CP-3 contributes to covert wearing.

Later, a modernized version of the SR-3M was developed, which was supposed to combine the advantages of the SR-3, VSS and AS.

The financial problems of our defense industry in a market economy in the 90s opened the way for many of the latest developments abroad. VSS "Vintorez" was acquired by the countries of the Near and Middle East, South America. For the creation of the VSS designers - A. Deryagin, P. Serdyukov, N. Zabelin and other specialists a few years ago became the owners of the State Prize.

Successor

The military sniper complex VSK-94, built on the basis of the 9A91 assault rifle, incorporated all the best that could be taken from its predecessor - light weight, traditional reliable design and already proven subsonic ammunition of 9x39 mm caliber. If almost nothing is known about the use of VSK-94 by special forces units during the first Chechen campaign, then in the second Chechen campaign, all the silent weapons that the Russian army then possessed showed their best side.

From June 23 to 24, in the village of Alkhan-Kala, a joint detachment of special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB carried out an operation, during which one of the field commanders of Chechen militants, Arbi Baraev, was liquidated along with his group. It was in this special operation that the leading role was played not only by the special forces soldiers who stormed the positions of the militants, but also by the snipers of the Russian special forces, who worked on the positions of the militants from silent weapons.

Nikolai Rychkov, one of the participants in those events, in an interview with the Zvezda TV channel, told how it was: “The work of silent weapons in Chechnya, in general, it seems to me, is a topic for writing a scientific dissertation. So many applications and almost 100% efficiency. Why almost? Well, because sometimes the weather interfered, sometimes the situation did not allow. The rest of the weapon has always worked like clockwork. As for Baraev's gang, the snipers, whose work I observed, literally crawled along the ground. Later I found out that they worked from VSK-94. The silhouette of the weapon is unusual. The height and overall dimensions are so thought out that only later, when I personally took this weapon to see, I realized that it can only give such an effect - hitting the target and silence. As far as I remember, snipers shot at one magazine in total. That is, about twenty rounds, or even less. And the deed was done."

A special role in the liquidation of the Baraev gang, in addition to the competent actions of the special forces and operational intelligence reports, was played by the VSK-94, which was equipped with the usual PSO-1 sniper scope. The armor-piercing cartridge SP-6, with the help of which Russian special forces snipers hit the enemy, “closed” by body armor, deserves special mention in the course of this carefully conducted operation.

In addition to participating in the elimination of Baraev, the Tula complex had a chance to participate in a good dozen operations of the second Chechen campaign. The liquidation of the field commander Movsan Suleimenov, the special operation in Argun, the operation to liberate Urus-Martan ... a dozen or even a hundred operations were successfully carried out thanks to silent weapons, and it was the VSK-94 complex that made a big contribution to the overall victory.

During the hostilities, almost no field changes were made to the design of the VSK-94 by the military forces, which usually occur with combined arms weapons. Almost not a single detail was finalized, with the exception of a small lining near the sight, which was responsible for mounting a more powerful optical sight.

The trigger mechanism, devices for silent and flameless firing of the VSK-94 complex in combat conditions were not finalized at all and in no way caused any complaints from the military. "Kalashnikov sniper rifle" - such a nickname was given to the VSK-94 in the special forces for its reliability.

The results of silent operation

VSK-94 and its predecessor 9A91 during the course of real combat work proved that weapons chambered for 9x39 mm can be much more deadly and useful than conventional sniper and other special weapons. During the hostilities, the military, who had a chance to work with Tula weapons, noted that the resource of the VSK-94 and 9A91 barrel and the overall survivability and reliability of the scheme would soon make it possible to almost completely abandon the use of the SVD rifle during special operations.

According to the confessions of the military, both the earlier 9A91 and the modernized VSK-94 have enough range to hit the enemy and guarantee the secrecy of the sniper's work. One way or another, the Tula weapon went through all the stages of silent armament: from the drawing board to real, harsh operation in battle and in thirty-degree frost and in forty-degree heat.

The design engineers of the Tula design bureau were once again able to prove in practice that silent sniper weapons are perhaps the main tool for treating a disease called international terrorism. As for the Tula 9A91 and VSK-94, they gained well-deserved respect and honor among the military, along with other silent weapons, such as the special VSS sniper rifle and the small-sized VAL machine gun from TSNIITOCHMASH. The entire range of silent weapons with minor modifications and improvements is used by Russian special forces to this day.

download a video about the rifle VSS Vintorez No. 3 download a collection of detailed photographs of the VSS Vintorez rifle

The silent sniper complex was created at TsNIITOCHMASH by Serdyukov P.I. and Krasnikov V.F. and put into service in 1987. The silent sniper complex includes a special sniper rifle (VSS "Vintorez" index 6P29) and a special cartridge 9x39 mm SP-5 (index 7N8)

The SP-5 sniper cartridge was developed by N.V. Zabelin. and Dvoryaninov L.S.. The well-proven 7.62x39 mm automatic cartridge US (reduced speed) was taken as the basis for the cartridge. As you know, this cartridge was created back in the early 60s for firing from an AKM assault rifle with a device for silent and flameless firing PBS-1.

Disassembly for transport

The subsonic speed of the bullet with a lead core of this cartridge (about 310 m / s) provided the necessary reduction in the sound level when firing with PBS, and its significant mass (12.6 g) and design, a sufficient lethal effect of open manpower at a distance of up to 400 meters. However, the accuracy of fire with this cartridge, especially at extreme ranges, did not meet the specified requirements, because it was necessary to use it for sniper shooting. What was good for the 60s was clearly not enough in the 80s.

As a result, on the basis of a 7.62x39 mm automatic cartridge case, a sniper cartridge with a subsonic (300 m / s) bullet speed was developed, which received the working designation RG037. It had a length of 46 mm, with a total weight of 16 g, a bullet weight of 10.6 g, and had good accuracy of fire. At a distance of 100 meters R50=4 cm, and at 400 m - R50=16.5 cm.

Automation works by removing part of the powder gases from the bore. The barrel bore is locked by six lugs of a rotary longitudinally sliding bolt. The shock-type trigger mechanism allows both single and continuous fire. Sighting devices of an open type consist of a front sight and a sector sight and are located on the silencer body. For daytime shooting, the PSO-1 optical sight is used, and for night shooting, the ESPU-3. Double-acting flag-type safety: it locks the trigger and limits the movement of the bolt carrier (similar to the SVD safety). Shop plastic, box-type, with a capacity of 10 rounds. The integral silencer covers the entire barrel in front of the short forearm. It is put on the barrel of a rifle and acts as follows. After the shot, when the bullet passes through the front of the barrel, part of the powder gases rush through six rows of transverse holes in the barrel, into the expansion chamber of the muffler. In this case, the pressure of the powder gases in the bore and their speed are reduced. A jet of powder gases flowing from the muzzle of the barrel enters the separator, which "dismembers" it into numerous multidirectional flows, intensively reducing their speed and temperature. As a result, the gases flowing out of the muffler have subsonic speed and negligible temperature, which does not create pop and muzzle flame, and the shot becomes almost silent. The use of an integrated silencer made it possible to reduce, in comparison with a silencer that is worn on the muzzle of the barrel, the overall length of the weapon.

Butt wooden, detachable, skeletal type. For transportation and concealed carrying, the rifle can be disassembled into three parts and folded into a case.

Disassembly-assembly of the special sniper rifle VSS "Vintorez":

Weapons of the VSS and AC types, have an expansion type silencer, and during firing are subject to heavy contamination with powder deposits. For cleaning and lubrication, as well as elimination of minor malfunctions of the VSS and AC, they are partially disassembled. It is carried out without the use of a special tool and is similar for both types of weapons in terms of operations, with the exception of separating and attaching the butt of a rifle. The order of incomplete disassembly of the VSS and AC:

1. Disconnect the magazine (holding the rifle with the forearm with your left hand, grab the magazine with your right hand, press the latch and, moving the lower part of the magazine forward, separate it from the weapon), remove the weapon from the fuse and, moving the bolt frame back, check if there is a cartridge in the chamber . Release the shutter, make a control trigger release from the combat platoon.

2. Prepare the accessory.

grabbing the fore-end with your left hand, sink the case latch with your index finger, turn the muffler clockwise with your right hand, and, pushing it forward, separate it from the weapon.

4. Having pressed the separator latch with a screwdriver, push the separator into the housing with your finger and then, pushing it with a ramrod, separate it from the housing. Separate the separator spring by sliding it forward along the barrel.

5. Drown the latch of the receiver cover, press the protrusion of the stop of the return mechanism with your finger and, lifting the rear end of the cover, separate it from the receiver.

6. While holding the rifle, move the stop of the return mechanism forward until its protrusion leaves the groove of the receiver; lifting the stop, remove the mechanism from the channel of the bolt carrier.

7. While holding the rifle, move the guide forward until it exits the receiver socket, then remove it while holding the firing pin.

8. Pull the drummer back to the stop and, lifting it, separate it from the receiver.

9. Pull the bolt carrier with the bolt back until it stops and move upwards to separate them from the receiver.

10. Holding the bolt carrier in a vertical position, while lifting and simultaneously turning the bolt clockwise, remove it from the bolt carrier.

11. Having sunk the housing latch with your thumb, remove the fore-end, moving it forward.

12. Turning the tube clockwise until the ledge of the box aligns with the slot on the receiver, separate it from the barrel, moving it back.

13. To separate the butt of a VSS rifle – sink the butt lock and, moving the butt back, separate it from the receiver.

Assembling weapons is done in reverse order. For maintenance of weapons, rifle grease RZh OST 38.01439-88 is used. It is strictly forbidden to lubricate cartridges. After cleaning and lubricating the weapon, all surfaces should be wiped dry.

Caliber 9 mm

Cartridges 9x39 mm SP-5, SP-6

Weight without sight with empty magazine 2.65 kg

Magazine weight without cartridges 0.15 kg

Weight with equipped magazine and sight 3.43 kg

Length 894 mm

Barrel length 200 mm

Height 159 mm

Width 59 mm

Muzzle velocity 290 m/s

Rate of fire 600 rpm

Rate of fire 40-100 rpm

Magazine capacity 10 rounds

Range of a direct shot at the chest figure 185 m

Sighting range 600 m

Drawing VSS Vintorez (freestyle variation)

VSS "Vintorez" (" special sniper rifle”, index GRAU 6P29) is a Soviet and Russian silent sniper rifle designed to arm special forces units.

Covert penetration behind enemy lines and, if necessary, the destruction of important objects, setting up ambushes, combating terrorists - the implementation of these and other special tasks is difficult without effective covert weapons of various types. Therefore, in the 80s. of the last century, with the increasing role of special forces in local wars, the fight against terrorism and crime, special complexes of silent weapons for special forces begin to be developed. One of the most famous such complexes of domestic development was the unified system of silent small arms, developed by the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TsNII Tochmash, Klimovsk, Moscow Region) in the 80s. It included a special sniper rifle VSS, a special AS machine gun and special cartridges SP-5, SP-6.

VSS "Vintorez" history of creation

There are samples of combined arms weapons modified for silent and flameless firing, but for special forces it is often preferable to use highly specialized systems. Usually, weapons in silent versions become less convenient and lose their combat properties to a large extent: effective firing range, accuracy, bullet penetration. Thus, pistols PB (PM with a silencer) and APB (APS with a silencer) are of considerable length, in addition, the silencer mount gradually wears out, which leads to a change in the battle of the weapon. When creating the PBS-1 silent firing device for the AKMS assault rifle, it turned out that the propellant charge of the US subsonic cartridge could not ensure the operation of the weapon's automation. In order to increase the pressure of the gases, an obturator was introduced into the design of the PBS-1 - a rubber plug, which the bullet pierced when it took off, and the gases pushing it remained in the barrel and did the work of reloading the weapon. When breaking through the obturator, the bullet received certain perturbations that reduced the accuracy of the battle, especially in the cold period. As a result, the aiming efficiency of AKMS with PBS-1 did not exceed 100 meters. Therefore, instead of disparate samples, it was decided to create a single complex of silent small arms for special forces, and unified ammunition for it. All special forces of the USSR were to receive four silent rifle complexes: pistol, sniper, machine gun and grenade launcher.

Tactical and technical requirements for the VSS rifle

An important stage in the creation of small arms is the development of tactical and technical requirements for it. When creating a complex of silent weapons, this stage was delayed, as customers from different law enforcement agencies often formulated conflicting requirements for new weapons. By 1983, only the requirements for the sniper complex, which received the Vintorez code, were agreed upon. Due to the great need of the troops for silent weapons, work on the creation of a new sniper rifle was started immediately, without waiting for the approval of the requirements for the automatic complex. The task was to create a silent automatic weapon that is not inferior in combat power to the AKS-74U.

During development and some time after creation, " Vintorez"was also designated as BSK (silent sniper complex), but now this designation is not used. The requirements that were placed on the Vintorez complex were high and sometimes contradictory. It was supposed to provide a covert defeat of enemy manpower at a distance of 400 m, moreover, providing at the same range, penetration of a steel army helmet.To solve these problems, the complex needed a new cartridge with a heavy bullet and increased accuracy, optical (day) and electro-optical (night) sights.In addition, the rifle had to have a small weight and dimensions, as well as, to solve some specific problems, disassemble into small components that allow you to covertly transport it, and quickly assemble it.

Development of Vintorez One of the main problems in the development of Vintorez was that in order to effectively mask a shot, the bullet must have a subsonic muzzle velocity, but in this case it has insufficient muzzle energy and effective firing range. Therefore, the designers abandoned the idea of making weapons for the already existing 7.62x39 US submachine gun cartridge. Calculations showed that the accuracy of fire with these cartridges, especially at extreme ranges, is unsatisfactory for sniper shooting. Therefore, after lengthy research, the developers created a fundamentally new 7.62 mm cartridge, which received the index RG037. With such a cartridge, it turned out to be quite acceptable accuracy for the range at which it was supposed to use the VSS.

Prototype VSS - rifle RG036 The first prototype VSS chambered for 7.62x39US received the index RG036. At the end of 1981, the second prototype of the rifle was created under the same index, but chambered for RG037. The new rifle was striking in its compactness - with a length of 85 cm, it weighed only 1.8 kg, giving the impression of a toy weapon. But at the same time, it met the stated requirements for aiming range and penetrating action, penetrating an army helmet or a steel sheet 1.6 mm thick at a distance of 400 m. However, despite the quite satisfactory test results, further work on the RG036 rifle chambered for RG037 was terminated. In 1985, the requirements for a silent automatic system were finally approved. According to them, a silent weapon was supposed to hit manpower protected by 6B2 body armor (corresponding to the 3rd protection class) at a distance of 400 m. In this regard, the developers came to the conclusion that a weapon chambered for a 7.62-mm cartridge with a subsonic will ensure the defeat of manpower, provided with advanced personal protective equipment. Therefore, by the mid-80s. designers N.V. Zabelin and L.S. Dvoryaninov (who previously created the RG037 cartridge) developed a new 9x39-mm cartridge SP-5. The bullet of this cartridge at an initial speed of 300 m / s has a mass of 16.2 g, which is twice the mass of a bullet of a 7.62x39 mm cartridge model 1943. The bullet of such a cartridge, despite subsonic speed, has a fairly high muzzle energy , and at a distance of 400 mm is able to break through a 2-mm steel sheet and at the same time maintain the necessary lethal effect. The RG036 sniper rifle has been completely redesigned for new cartridges. So there was rifle VSS "Vintorez". As for the AS “Val” assault rifle system (the design of which is 70% unified with the rifle), it received the SP-6 cartridge, whose bullet at a distance of 400 m is capable of hitting manpower in bulletproof vests of the 3rd protection class. In 1987, the Vintorez entered service with the special forces of the KGB and reconnaissance and sabotage units of the Soviet Army under the designation VSS (“9-mm special sniper rifle”). The rifle was equipped with daytime sights - PSO-1-1 and 1P43 and night sights - 1PN75 and 1PN51. The production of the VSS Vintorez rifle was mastered at the Tula Arms Plant.

Ammunition for VSS "Vintorez"

SP-5, SP-6 The VSS Vintorez rifle can be fired with SP-5 (sniper) and SP-6 (high armor penetration) cartridges. These cartridges have the same charges, but differ in the design of the bullets. Cartridges SP-5, SP-6 The bullet cartridge SP-5 has steel and lead cores, placed in a bimetallic shell. The shape of the bullet provides it with good ballistic properties when flying at subsonic speeds. The SP-5 cartridge does not have a special marking; packing cardboard boxes with such cartridges have the inscription "Sniper". Bullet cartridge SP-6 consists of a hardened steel core of increased length, placed in a lead jacket and a bimetallic sheath. The bullet tip of the SP-6 cartridge is painted black, and there is a black stripe on the box. Cartridge cases are steel, coated with green lacquer. Both cartridges have similar ballistics and can be used in both VSS and AC. At the same time, the SP-5 cartridge has better accuracy, and the SP-6 cartridge has better armor penetration. The latter should be used to defeat manpower in personal protective equipment, as well as in cars or behind light shelters. Cartridges SP-5 and SP-6 are produced by the Klimovsky stamping plant. In addition to regular ammunition, there are training cartridges SP-6UCH - for training in loading weapons. On its sleeve there are longitudinal grooves, and on the box there is an inscription "Training". To check the strength of the weapon locking unit, the SP-5UZ cartridge is used. On the packaging box with these cartridges there is an inscription "Enhanced charge". They are used only in the factory, the use of such cartridges in the troops is strictly prohibited.

Complete set of the VSS rifle "Vintorez"

Each VSS rifle is equipped with an individual set of ZIP-O spare parts. It consists of: ramrod; belonging; butter dish; scraper; knife; five 10-round magazines; belt. Stores AS "Val" and VSS "Vintorez" are interchangeable, so the rifle can be fed from both 10-round and 20-round (automatic) magazines. Lubricator and accessory - from AKM. The scraper is used to remove carbon deposits from the walls of the bore. He screwed on the ramrod. The knife is intended for removal of a deposit from surfaces of a separator. Barrel and gas piston. It has two blades: one for cleaning the separator, the other for external surfaces, barrel and gas piston. Rifle stowage includes: a bag for carrying a rifle and a bag for carrying an optical sight, four magazines and ZIP-O.

Firing mode from VSS "Vintorez"

For a sniper rifle, the priority fire mode is single. When firing from a stop, the dispersion diameter of a series of 10 shots is no more than 10 cm. Since the capacity of a regular VSS magazine is only 10 rounds, automatic fire should be fired in bursts of 2-4 shots. In exceptional cases, fire can be fired in a long burst until all the cartridges in the magazine are used up.

Buy a paracord bracelet with a wearable emergency supply

VSS (Special Sniper Rifle) is a silent sniper rifle for special forces. Index GRAU - 6P29. Developed in the 1980s at TsNIItochmash in Klimovsk under the direction of P. I. Serdyukov. The name "Vintorez" remained in use after its use in the design documentation.

Until the 1970s, special forces units of the USSR used mainly modified samples of small arms and grenade launchers for combined arms, equipped with integrated silencers and using special cartridges with a subsonic bullet flight speed. As an example, we can cite the Silence complexes based on AKM and Canaryka based on AKS74U, as well as PB and APB pistols. However, such solutions had their drawbacks (for example, a significant increase in the size of pistols with silencers, a sharp decrease in the effective firing range of machine guns with PBS-1 and its limited resource), therefore, in parallel, TsNIItochmash, under the leadership of the KGB National Research University and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the USSR, created special samples of a narrowly targeted appointments that could provide greater secrecy for the actions of special forces.

The conflicting tactical and technical requirements for a sniper rifle and an assault rifle put forward by various departments became the reason that by 1983 only the requirements for a sniper rifle were agreed with customers, which consisted of the following:

covert destruction of enemy manpower at ranges up to 400 m;
penetration of a steel army helmet at a distance of 400 m;
the possibility of using optical sights during the day and electron-optical sights at night;
compactness and lightness;
the possibility of disassembly into the main components for covert transportation and quick assembly after that.

To meet competing requirements, designers had to develop new 9 × 39 mm ammunition.

The first version of the rifle, which received the index RG036, was created under the leadership of V. F. Krasnikov chambered for 7.62 US, which was used in silent complexes based on the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The rifle had an original design of the gas exhaust system: an annular gas piston located around the barrel also acted as the rear wall of the muffler expansion chamber. This simplified and facilitated the design of weapons, but had a negative impact on reliability in various operating conditions.

At the end of 1981, a second version of the rifle was created under the same index, but chambered for RG037 and with a more traditional gas outlet through a side hole in the barrel wall, which was rigidly locked by turning the bolt. The shot sound suppression system consisted of a chamber muzzle silencer and an expansion chamber and made it possible to reduce sound pressure to the level of a PB pistol. In addition, a distinctive feature of the rifle was its small dimensions (length - 815 mm) and low weight (only 1.8 kg), despite which it ensured the destruction of manpower in army helmets or behind 1.6 mm thick sheet steel.

The new rifle passed preliminary tests, but in 1985 the requirements for a silent machine gun were approved, on the basis of which it was supposed to defeat the enemy in 6B2 bulletproof vests at a distance of 400 m. In this regard, the designers of the rifle came to the conclusion that the RG037 cartridge would be ineffective for fighting the enemy in advanced personal protective equipment, so further work on it was stopped, and the sniper rifle was completely redesigned for the 9 × 39 mm cartridge developed soon. It entered service with the KGB and GRU units in 1987 and later served as the basis for the development of the Val AS.

VSS "Vintorez". Sniper rifle. (Russia)

The principle of operation of automation is a gas outlet. Locking is carried out by turning the larvae of the shutter with the translational movement of the bolt frame - with locking on six lugs. The trigger mechanism provides both single shot firing and burst firing. It should be noted that conducting automatic fire through a silencer, regardless of its design, always has a negative effect on the quality of suppression. Powder gases do not have time to dissipate and cool, the pressure does not have time to fall. The VSS rifle has an expansion-type muffler integrated into the design with annular diaphragm elements that reflect the shock waves of powder gases. The barrel has several holes to relieve pressure in the rear silencer cavity (which distinguishes an integrated silencer from a conventional one). The silencer can be removed for cleaning and storage, but shooting without it is prohibited. Muting the sound of a shot is based on the integrating principle. When a bullet passes by many holes in the walls of the barrel, the powder gases penetrate through them into the expansion chamber of the muffler not immediately, but sequentially. With such a consistent expansion of hot powder gases, their temperature drops, therefore, the volume and “exhaust” pressure are reduced. In addition, in the process described above, a single sonic exhaust is broken up into many components. Residual sound waves, reflected from the oblique separator partitions, are superimposed on each other in opposite phases and are mutually absorbed.

The sights of the rifle consist of an open mechanical sight (on the back of the muffler there is an adjustable rear sight, graduated up to 400 m, and a front sight with a protective rack located on the muzzle of the muffler), as well as a side bracket for mounting a number of optical and night sights. In particular, the standard PSO-1-1 optical sight (which differs from the PSO-1 by a different aiming mark for a much steeper trajectory of the bullets of the SP-5 and SP-6 cartridge).

VSS is equipped with a wooden clumsy butt, very similar in design to the butt of the SVD rifle, but with a wider and more comfortable control handle. The butt is removed to reduce the size when storing weapons.

On the basis of the VSS, the “Val” AS assault rifle (special assault rifle) was developed and put into service. It differs from the VSS in the presence of a folding metal stock, a larger capacity magazine - 20 instead of 10 rounds (the magazines are interchangeable). The store can be equipped with clips.

The VSS has a dovetail mount, as a result of which a PSO-1 type sight, any regular night sight (NSPUM, NSPU-3), as well as PO 4x34 type sights with a special adapter can be attached; an open sector sight is also installed on the silencer cover.

The VSS resource is officially 1,500 shots, but with timely care, cleaning and lubrication, this weapon can withstand up to 5,000 shots without compromising the quality of combat.

The VSS is not a completely silent weapon. The sound of a shot is roughly equivalent to a small-caliber rifle and can only be distinguished in silence, which is much better than weapons with silencers. However, weapons equipped with a silencer and using, like the VSS, subsonic ammunition, are often able to have a comparable loudness of the shot.

VSS "Vintorez". Sniper rifle. (Russia)

Characteristics:

Weight, kg: 2 6 (without magazine and sight), 3 41 (loaded and with PSO-1 sight)
Length, mm: 894
Barrel length, mm: 200
Cartridge: 9 × 39 mm (SP-5, SP-6)
Caliber, mm: 9х39
Principles of operation: removal of powder gases, butterfly valve
Rate of fire, shots / min: 40-100
Muzzle velocity, m/s: 280-295
Sighting range, m: up to 100 in the head target, up to 200 in the chest, up to 350 in the growth.
Maximum effective range, m: 400
Type of ammunition: box magazine for 10 or 20 rounds
Sight: sector, it is possible to install optical (originally supplied with 1P43 and PSO-1-1) or night (1PN75 or 1PN51)

VSS "Vintorez". Sniper rifle. (Russia)

The sniper complex, which was created in Tula, at TsNIITOCHMASH by designers P. I. Serdyukov and V. F. Krasnikov. The complex, which included VSS Vintorez itself ( IN intovka WITH special i - explanation website) and cartridge SP-5 9 * 39 mm, adopted in 1987. The rifle is still used by the army special forces of the Russian Armed Forces to this day.

Ammunition for VSS

SP-5 - a sniper cartridge, which was developed by other inventors, N. V. Zabelin and L. S. Dvoryaninov, was also adopted in 1987.

When creating the SP-5, the good old cartridge of caliber 7.62 * 39 US was taken as the basis ( At smaller WITH crusts). Such cartridges were used in machine guns with the PBS-1 device. The bullet from this cartridge had a subsonic speed of 310 m / s, which, when using a silencer, made firing from a machine gun quiet. At the same time, the bullet had a decent weight of 12.6 g and a design that ensured the effective defeat of enemy manpower at a distance of up to 400 meters. However, there was a drawback: low accuracy of fire. In the 60s, the indicator was satisfactory, but in the 80s it was clearly not enough.

So, on the basis of the sleeve from this 7.62 * 39 mm cartridge, a sniper cartridge was developed with a subsonic (300 m / s) bullet speed, which received the working designation RG037. It had a length of 46 mm, with a total weight of 16 g, a bullet weight of 10.6 g, and had good accuracy of fire. At a distance of 100 meters R50=4 cm, and at 400 m - R50=16.5 cm.

TTX rifle VSS "Vintorez"

Caliber	9 mm
ammo	9х39 mm SP-5, SP-6
Weight without scope with empty magazine	2.65 kg
Weight of magazine without cartridges	0.15 kg
Weight with loaded magazine and scope	3.43 kg
Length	894 mm
barrel length	200 mm
Height	159 mm
Width	59 mm
muzzle velocity	290 m/s
rate of fire	600 w/m
rate of fire	40-100 w/m
Magazine capacity	10 rounds
Range of a direct shot at the chest figure	185 m
Sighting range	600 m

Description of Vintorez

A sniper rifle can conduct both single and continuous automatic fire according to the good old principle of removing powder gases from the bore. The locking of this channel is carried out by 6 lugs of a rotary longitudinally sliding bolt. There is a double-action flag type safety, similar to a rifle safety. SVD: it locks the trigger and limits the action of the bolt carrier. Butt at VSS "Vintorez"- skeletal type, detachable and made of wood. The entire rifle for concealed carrying and transportation can be disassembled and folded into a case.

The magazine of a box-type rifle has a capacity of 10 rounds (but a magazine from a machine gun is also suitable AS VAL for 20 rounds), made of plastic. The rifle is equipped with sighting devices of an open type: a front sight and a sector sight located on the silencer body. For sniper shooting during the day, the PSO-1 sight is used, and for night shooting, the ESPU-3.

The entire barrel ahead of the forearm is covered by an integrated silencer.

The silencer operates as follows: after the shot, when the bullet passes through the front of the barrel, part of the powder gases rush through six rows of transverse holes in the barrel into the expansion chamber of the silencer. In this case, the pressure of the powder gases in the bore and their speed are reduced. A jet of powder gases flowing from the muzzle of the barrel enters the separator, which "dismembers" it into numerous multidirectional flows, intensively reducing their speed and temperature. As a result, gases flowing from the muffler have subsonic speed and low temperature, which does not create pop and muzzle flame, and the shot becomes almost silent. The use of an integrated silencer made it possible to reduce, in comparison with a silencer that is worn on the muzzle of the barrel, the overall length of the weapon.

Disassembly-assembly of the special sniper rifle VSS "Vintorez"

Disconnect the magazine (holding the rifle with the forearm with your left hand, grab the magazine with your right hand, press the latch and, moving the lower part of the magazine forward, separate it from the weapon), remove the weapon from the safety and, moving the bolt frame back, check if there is a cartridge in the chamber. Release the shutter, make a control trigger release from the combat platoon.
Prepare accessories.
Grasping the forearm with your left hand, with your index finger, drown the latch of the body, with your right hand, turn the silencer clockwise, and, pushing it forward, separate it from the weapon.
Having pressed the separator latch with a screwdriver, push the separator into the housing with your finger and then, pushing it with a ramrod, separate it from the housing. Separate the separator spring by sliding it forward along the barrel.
Drown the latch of the receiver cover, press the protrusion of the stop of the return mechanism with your finger and, lifting the rear end of the cover, separate it from the receiver.
While holding the rifle, move the stop of the return mechanism forward until its protrusion leaves the groove of the receiver; lifting the stop, remove the mechanism from the channel of the bolt carrier.
While holding the rifle, move the guide forward until it exits the receiver socket, then remove it while holding the firing pin.
Pull the drummer back until it stops and, lifting it, separate it from the receiver.
Pull the bolt carrier with the bolt back until it stops and move it upwards to separate them from the receiver.
Holding the bolt carrier in a vertical position, while lifting and simultaneously turning the bolt clockwise, remove it from the bolt carrier.
Having sunk the latch of the body with your thumb, remove the forearm, moving it forward.
Turning the tube clockwise until the projection of the box aligns with the slot on the receiver, separate it from the barrel, moving it back.
For separating the butt of a VSS rifle – sink the butt lock and, moving the butt back, separate it from the receiver.