Jump to content

AS Val and VSS Vintorez

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from VSS Vintorez and AS Val)

AS Val and VSS Vintorez
VSS Vintorez (top) with the PSO-1-1 and 10-round magazine. AS Val (bottom) with a 20-round magazine
TypeAssault rifle (AS Val)[1]
Sniper rifle (VSS Vintorez)[2]
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1987–present
Used bySee Users
WarsIraq War[3]
Russo-Georgian War
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
DesignerTsNIITochMash
Pyotr Serdyukov and Vladimir Krasnikov
Designed1980s
ManufacturerTula Arms Plant
Produced1987–present
VariantsASM and VSSM
Specifications
Mass2.5 kg (5.51 lb) AS (empty)
3.54 kg (7.80 lb) AS with PSO-1-1
4.95 kg (10.91 lb) AS with 1PN51
2.6 kg (5.73 lb) VSS (empty)
Length875 mm (34.4 in) AS (stock extended)
615 mm (24.2 in) AS (stock folded)
894 mm (35.2 in) VSS
Barrel length200 mm (7.9 in)
Cartridge9×39mm
ActionGas-operated, closed rotating bolt
Rate of fire∼900 rounds/min [4]
Muzzle velocity280–295 m/s
Feed system10-, 20-, 30-round detachable box magazine (shared with the SR-3M)
SightsOpen sights: Rear notch on tangent (graduated from 100 to 425 m) and front post mounted to suppressor housing
"Dovetail mount" for optics

The AS Val (Russian: АС «Вал»; Автома́т Специа́льный, romanized: Avtomát Spetsiálny «Val», lit. 'Special Automatic' "Shaft"), GRAU index (6P30) is an integrally suppressed assault rifle chambered for the 9×39mm subsonic cartridge.[5]

The VSS Vintorez and AS Val were developed to replace the modified general-purpose firearms, such as the AKS-74UB, BS-1, APB, and PB, for clandestine operations, much like the PSS Vul. Manufacturing began at the Tula Arms Plant after its adoption by the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union in 1987.

The ASM (GRAU index – 6P30M) and VSSM (GRAU index – 6P29M) are modernised variants of the AS Val and VSS Vintorez, respectively. Its notable changes include an aluminium buttstock with an adjustable cheek and butt pad for the VSSM. Both have a redesigned dust cover that features a Picatinny rail on top. The VSSM is primarily equipped with the 1P86 optical sight. The handguard has been extended to feature Picatinny rails on 3-, 6-, 9-o'clock position. A 30-round magazine was also introduced, which is intended for the ASM. The mounts which shroud the suppressor can be removed. Production began in 2018.[6]

Design details

[edit]
The instruction sheet of the AS Val which includes a field stripped model

The AS Val and VSS Vintorez are integrally suppressed and chambered for the 9×39mm subsonic cartridge. Four rows of nine holes are drilled in the barrel which follow the rifling and allows gas to escape the barrel behind the projectile into the expansion chamber which surrounds the barrel and extends about 20 cm (7.9 in) forward of the end of the barrel where three baffles are located. The baffles are stamped out of a single sheet about 1 mm (0.039 in) thickness and welded to a removable frame which is pressed against the front of the suppressor housing by a spring placed between the baffle assembly and the end of the barrel. The suppressor effectively reduces muzzle flash and muzzle report of the firearm to 130 dB. There are no design features which reduce the noise of the action.

Both rifles share AK-type controls: 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 calibrated for use with the 9x39mm cartridge. The standard open sights are graduated from 100 to 425 m (328 to 1,394 ft) in 25 m (82 ft) increments.

ASM with a 30-round magazine

The action is also similar to that of AK-type rifles with a similar long-stroke gas system with the piston located above the barrel. However, the design characteristically uses a rotating bolt with six locking lugs and a milled steel receiver. The AS and VSS share the same standard 10 or 20-round double-stack detachable box magazines and are compatible with the 30-round magazine of the SR-3M. Many of the components are shared between the AS and VSS with the main discrepancy being the fixed wooden buttstock on the VSS and tubular metal buttstock which folds to the left on the AS. The AS can be fired with the stock folded but the mounting of an optic will not allow the buttstock to close completely (like many other rifles with similar mounting solutions for optics). The handguard, pistol grip, and magazines are made of a synthetic polymer.

Both the AS Val and VSS Vintorez can be disassembled to fit into a special compact case for transportation.

VSS Vintorez

[edit]
VSSM with a 20-round magazine

The VSS Vintorez (Russian: ВСС «Винторе́з»; Винто́вка Сна́йперская Специа́льная, romanized: Vintóvka Snáyperskaya Spetsiálnaya «Vintorez», lit. 'Special Sniper Rifle' "Thread Cutter"), GRAU index (6P29)[7][8][9] is a Soviet-designed integrally suppressed sniper rifle chambered for the 9×39mm subsonic cartridge. It primarily differs from the AS Val by having a fixed wooden buttstock.

The Vintorez was a Soviet-designed rifle featuring an integral suppressor, which was based on the RG-036 prototype, and the final design was completed in 1981 by TsNIITochMash.[10] The production started around the start of 1983 for the Vintorez, then later the Val was designed around early 1985.

Derivatives

[edit]
SR-3 Vikhr with the 20-round AS Val magazine
VSK-94 with a PSO-1
  • The SR-3 Vikhr (Russian: СР-3 «Вихрь», romanized: Spetsialnaya Razrabotka 3 "Vikhr", lit. 'Special Development 3 "Whirlwind"') was designed for improved concealability by replacing the stock and omitting the integral suppressor and charging handle. The design process began in 1989, manufacturing began in 1994, and was adopted in 1996. The design was further improved and modernised to enhance reliability and manufacturing cost. The result was the SR-3M and a further improved variant, the SR-3MP. Key improvements include a similar buttstock to the AS Val, a 30-round magazine that is cross compatible on both the AS Val and VSS Vintorez. The handguard was also redesigned to house a built-in foldable front grip, Picatinny rails on both sides and the rear sights was moved forward.
  • The 9A-91 and VSK-94 (Russian: ВСК-94 Войсковой Снайперский Комплекс, romanized: Voyskovoy Snayperskiy Kompleks, lit. 'Military Sniper Complex') are cost-reducing redesigns of the two rifles by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau completed in 1992 which also omit the integrated suppressor. Manufacturing began in 1994.

Users

[edit]
National Guard of Russia troops carrying the AS Val in the 2018 Moscow Victory Day Parade

Former users

[edit]
[edit]
  • SR-3MP with the buttstock equipped on the bottom rail of the pistol grip
    SR-3MP with the buttstock equipped on the bottom rail of the pistol grip
  • 9A-91 compact assault rifle
    9A-91 compact assault rifle

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "9 mm special assault rifle AS | Catalog Rosoboronexport". roe.ru. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. ^ "9 mm special sniper rifle VSS | Catalog Rosoboronexport". roe.ru. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  3. ^ Besedovskyy, Vlad (2 May 2023). "VSS Vintorez used by Ukrainian special forces in Iraq". Safar Publishing. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  4. ^ "The Elusive Vintorez 9×39 Sniper Rifle – Small Arms Defense Journal". Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  5. ^ "9 mm special assault rifle AS | Catalog Rosoboronexport". roe.ru. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Modernized ASM and VSSM". YouTube. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  7. ^ "9 mm special sniper rifle VSS | Catalog Rosoboronexport". roe.ru. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  8. ^ VSS special sniper rifle, retrieved 19 May 2023
  9. ^ Jones, Richard D. (2008). Jane's guns recognition guide. Internet Archive. New York : Collins. ISBN 978-0-06-137408-1.
  10. ^ AS Val, VSS Vintorez, OTs-14 Groza, and more: 9x39mm with Max Popenker, retrieved 7 May 2023
  11. ^ "Как обеспечивается баланс сил в Закавказье". vestikavkaza.ru (in Russian). 14 July 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Ствол, с которым идут в разведку | Еженедельник "Военно-промышленный курьер"". vpk-news.ru. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Tropas Especiales "Avispas Negras"". cuba-militaria.org (in English, Spanish, and German). 8 April 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Спецподразделения Грузии". АЛАНИЯинформ (in Russian). Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Armament of the Georgian Army". geo-army.ge. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "ЦАМТО / Новости / В ВВО поступила партия модернизированных снайперских винтовок "Винторез"". armstrade.org. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  18. ^ a b "— " "". bratishka.ru. Archived from the original on 21 February 2007.
  19. ^ Neville 2016, p. 229.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ "ЦАМТО / Новости / Разведчики ВВО в Приамурье получили партию специальных автоматов АСМ 'Вал' последней модификации". armstrade.org. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  22. ^ "ЦАМТО / / Разведчиков ЦВО в Самарской области впервые вооружили модернизированным бесшумным оружием".
  23. ^ "ЦАМТО / / Около тысячи автоматов АК-12 получил спецназ ЦВО в Новосибирской области в 2021 году".
  24. ^ "Фотовиставка: 'Служу українському народу і спецназу!' :: Товариство учасників бойових дій 'Спас-Україна'". www.spas.net.ua. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  25. ^ Neville, Leigh (25 August 2016). Modern Snipers. General Military. Osprey Publishing. p. 190. ISBN 9781472815347.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=AS_Val_and_VSS_Vintorez&oldid=1262802573"