The Val family of arms has long been famous for its use of advanced technology and truly unique designs. Take even the brand new, but already won fame “Whirlwind” - a silent and compact assault machine, who managed to fall in love with special forces. His brother AS Val, a member of many military companies, has become famous even outside the Russian Federation, easily bypassing many of its counterparts. They are also worthy of Vintorez, a rifle combining the advantages of sniper and assault.
Pedigree
The echo of the Cold War between the States and the Union makes itself felt even in our time. The Vintorez VSS was developed by special government order in the 1970s. Successfully conducted tests contributed to its adoption. Back in the 80s, it fell into the hands of KGB officers, intelligence officers and some special forces units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. BCC Vintorez allowed hitting targets almost silently. And all thanks to the unique structure of the muffler. Moreover, with its help it was possible to destroy not only the enemy’s manpower, but also its unarmored equipment.
The use of the new rifle turned out to be so successful that the developer of the TsNIITOCHMASH rifle set about creating an assault rifle on its base. The novelty was liked not only by intelligence and attack aircraft, but even by snipers. "Vintorez" BCC and AS "Val" are designed for the same cartridge, their structure is largely similar, most of the parts are interchangeable. It is not surprising that almost all of their combat path these two types of weapons go shoulder to shoulder.
The device and its features
The design of the rifle is quite simple. The trigger mechanism consists of a drummer and two whispers. One of them is responsible for automatic fire, the second for single. The principle of automation is in many respects similar to that used for the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The VSS Rifle Vintorez has the following parts in structure:
- barrel with a receiver;
- wooden butt;
- group of sights;
- shutter frame with piston;
- gate;
- shock, return and trigger mechanisms;
- gas pipe;
- forend;
- receiver cover.
In addition to the above, there is a full-time store, designed for 10 rounds.
Automation works on the principle of the withdrawal of powder gases through the barrel channel into the gas chamber. The channel itself is locked by turning the shutter. The gas piston has a rigid connection with the slide frame. In its cavity, a reciprocating spring is located. The safety lock is on the right, in addition to the direct task, it also protects the box from dust and dirt. Fire modes are switched using the mechanism located in the trigger guard: its horizontal position allows you to fire single, the left position - firing bursts.
Rifle sights consist of a sector sight and front sight mounted on a silencer. The front of the barrel with six rows of holes is completely covered by a silencer. It is with the help of these holes that the extraction of powder gases is carried out. Having passed through them, they fall into the muffler cylinder, and there they are sequentially scattered into mutually extinguishing flows, leaving for expansion chambers.
The rifle can be equipped with optics PSO-1, NSPU-3, a collimator.
Full unmask
The VSS Vintorez sniper rifle has two undeniable advantages that set it apart from its counterparts. First of all, this is an opportunity to shoot almost silently.
The construction feature and small dimensions complement this useful option. Established optics, a silencer and even a butt are removable parts, dismantling which, you can easily hide the rifle in a small sports bag.
Ammunition
Like all members of the VAL family, Vintorez fires cartridges of caliber 9x39 - SP-5 and SP-6. These serious ammunition can destroy even light armor of military equipment.
It is noteworthy that they have different ballistics, they need to shoot weapons separately for each of them. Experts do not recommend the use of SP-6 cartridges without special need, as they accelerate the wear of weapons, thanks to a steel-reinforced core.
Kill Strength and Aim Range
The SP-5 cartridge can pierce two millimeter steel and hit live targets behind it. SP-6 exceeds this indicator by 20%. This weapon cannot boast of a long range of aimed shooting, and its specificity is not such. Still, Vintorez is a versatile weapon suitable primarily for attack aircraft. Therefore, in order to get into the head of the enemy, you have to get to him at least 200 meters. The body can be accessed from twice the distance. The installation of additional sights is designed for a maximum range of half a kilometer.
Vintorez in battle
Despite a number of advantages, you should not think that the Vintorez BCC is superior to all analogues. Weapons are designed primarily for assault, anti-terrorism, reconnaissance and sabotage measures. This weapon is ideal where the fighter can not reveal his whereabouts, but at the same time there is an opportunity to get close to the target. Perhaps in some cases it is more logical to use the good old SVD, albeit a large one, but it will hit targets at a distance of almost a kilometer. In addition, "Vintorez" is not designed for long battles. But where you need to appear quietly, quickly and quietly carry out the operation, and then just as silently move away - the VSS Rifle Vintorez is simply irreplaceable. The price of a combat rifle is relatively low, which makes it possible, if necessary, to equip special forces with it.
"Vintorez" in peaceful life
The love of weapons is often experienced not only by military and law enforcement officers. It beckons and peaceful adventure lovers. Therefore, specifically for this purpose, non-combat analogues of the Vintorez VSS were developed. Airsoft, laser tag, paintball - sports where you can meet the civilian version of this rifle. Of course, the design of the weapon is greatly changed, but the shape resembles the original as much as possible. A special shape of the butt, and a silencer, and a peculiar case are preserved. Airsoft BCC "Vintorez" in a specialized store you can buy for 500-600 dollars, depending on the configuration.
Participation in wars and armed conflicts
For the first time, the Vintorez rifle showed itself during the First Chechen campaign. Then she was armed with some special forces of the army of the Russian Federation. She took part in the Second Chechen. The case was widely known when a Russian sniper single-handedly destroyed the entire enemy sabotage group from the Vintorez rifle, even before the militants could figure out which side they were firing at.
During the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, both sides were armed with Vintorez.
This rifle was also noted in the infamous terrorist operation in Beslan. In the subsequent analysis of the films shot by the journalists, it was discovered that at least one action movie was armed with Vintorez.
"Vintorez" in service
Currently, this rifle is not only among Russian soldiers and law enforcement officers. It is exported also abroad. It is noteworthy that interest in it was shown not only by the countries of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and the post-Soviet space, but also by the USA.
Does the Vintorez project have a great future?
It is difficult to imagine what fate awaits this rifle. Today it does not have a single worthy analogue in its class, however, it is not necessary to talk about its mass production, which could at least somehow compete with the legendary SVD. This is primarily due to the use of a rather rare ammunition with special ballistics.
But in any case, one thing is clear - with the execution of the assigned task, Vintorez BCC copes with "excellent". And those who at least once tested it in battle, unanimously call this weapon "soundless Russian death."