VSS - Special Sniper rifle

[Richard]

Anybody ever have experience with this one?

Richard

Caliber: 9x39mm SP-5 and SP-6 subsonic cartridges
Action: auto, selective fire, gas-operated, striker-fired.
Length: 894mm
Barrel length: 200 mm
Weight: empty: 2.6 kg, loaded w. scope PSO-1: 3.41 kg
Magazine: 10 or 20 rounds detachable box VSS (Vinovka Snaiperskaja Spetsialnaya = Special Sniper Rifle) was designed for special operations. Designed at TSNIITochMash (Central Institute for Precision Machine Building ) by team lead by Petr Serdjukov, the new rifle was intended to replace some AK-47/AKM rifles, fitted with silencers, in the hands of various Special Operations (SpetsNaz) troops of Soviet Army, KGB and MVD. To achieve desired lethality against targets, protected with body armor, TSNIITochMash had to develop a new subsonic cartridge, based on the 7.62x39 case, necked out for 9mm bullet. The bullets used in new cartridges are long and heavy (about 16 gram), and of ball (SP-5) and AP (SP-6) type. The latter bullet features a hardened steel penetrator as the core, and can defeat most military issue body armors at ranges up to 300-400 meters. VSS is in use since late 1980s, and is widely used in Chechnya against separatists. VSS is quite popular among its users for its stealthy capabilities and great lethality of heavy 9mm bullets. The effective range of VSS is limited to 300-400 meters. The VSS is a gas operated, selective fire weapon. The long stroke gas piston is located above the barrel. The rotating bolt has 6 lugs and locks into the receiver, which is machined from solid steel for greater strength. The trigger unit differs significantly from AK-47 type firearms, being striker-fired. The safety switch and charging handle are AK-style, but the fire selector is a cross-bolt button, located inside the triggerguard, behind the trigger. The barrel at the front has a set of tiny holes, drilled in the rifling grooves, which lead into the integral silencer. The silencer is the integral part of the weapon, and while it could be easily removed for storage or maintenance, the VSS should not be fired wit silencer removed. Standard sighting equipment consists of side rail on the receiver, which usually accommodates the 4X PSO-1 scope, graduated for 9x39 ammo. Any other scope or night vision sight can be mounted on appropriate mount. backup iron sights consist of tangent rear and blade front. Rear sight is graduated up to 400 meters. The wooden, skeletonized buttstock is fitted with rubber buttplate and can be removed for compact storage and transportation, the compact forend is made from polymer. Feeding is achieved from 10 or 20 round box magazines, made from polymer

[JJ_BPK]

I have been curious about this rifle,, 1st heard about it +- 3 yrs ago on the AK boards.

Accuracy from a sub-sonic or even a super-sonic .35 cal 250 grain slug at 300-400 yards has to be a stretch of the imagination?? With a trajectory between a 30-30 Win and .44 Rem Mag??

For CQC/CQB and hostage situations,, I think it could do real well..

Oh,, and I'd like one. I have alway had a thing for big slow rounds.. Should be a great white tail & hog round..

Here is another picture:

[yasnevo]

I've shot this a few times in Russia and I can tell you that its less than impressive as far as accuracy is concerned.
When you fire this is sounds like a hard baseball hitting an aluminum bat and the round cracks down range... so, it can discomboble whom you are shooting at...or so I have been told.
Its manufacture and assembly is rough at best...typical Russian stuff. The optics are the usual PSO-1 scope that is on the SVD as well... I find it hard to believe that its a wise thing to use the same optics for the 7.62x54R and the 9.3mm round.

Accuracy was less than spectacular as well. Seems like we were getting like 2.5" at 100 yards...

Rounds are kept in a 10 round box magazine.

The round itself is interesting... very complex round and I believe the best thing about this round is its weight, and penetration capabilities. The outter jacket was often stuck to the the outside of metalic targets we used, and the inner steel core penetrated the target. The base of the cartridge is unmarked... complete clean... which is interesting.

Its been a while since I fired this weapon, I have some pics at home with it. currently I am at Camp Slayer, VBC right now.

I have some reference books too...

In short, its interesting, but so are Vespa's and fat girls... neither of which would you want your buddies to see you riding either.

Y -

[kgoerz]

looks like another AK with a long Barrel. Unless there is something I'm missing...

[yasnevo]

Indeed, I am seeing a trend also...
and it has an integral supressor as well...
perhaps WWII era supresor technology...