Russian Large Caliber Sniper Rifle

The VSS, also called the Vintorez ("thread cutter"), is a suppressed sniper rifle developed in the late 1980s by TsNIITochMash and manufactured by the Tula Arsenal. It is issued primarily to Spetsnaz units for undercover or clandestine operations, a role made evident by its ability to be stripped down for transport in a specially fitted briefcase. The VKS (ВКС) is a Russian bullpup, straight-pull bolt-action, magazine-fed sniper rifle chambered for the 12.7 x 54 mm subsonic round. The weapon is also known by the name VSSK and the additional name Vykhlop, which comes from the development program. It was developed in around 2002 for the special force units of FSB. The 12.7 x 54 mm VKS silenced sniper rifle is intended for special operations that require silent firing and penetration much superior to that provided by 9 x 39 mm VSS silenced sniper rifle. Typical targets for the VKS are combatants in heavy body armor or behind cover at a range of up to 600 meters. The weapon uses an integral suppressor. The special round has an overall length of 97 mm. The accuracy is claimed as 1 MOA at a 100 meter range with precision bullets.