AS Val and VSS Vintorez

AS Val and VSS Vintorez
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
Type	Assault rifle (AS Val); Designated marksman rifle / Sniper rifle (VSS Vintorez);
Place of origin	Soviet Union / Russia
Service history
In service	1987−present
Used by	See users
Wars	First Chechen War; Second Chechen War; Iraq War; Russo-Georgian War; Russo-Ukrainian War;
Production history
Designer	Pyotr Serdyukov and Vladimir Krasnikov
Designed	1983 (VSS Vintorez); 1985 (AS Val)
Manufacturer	Tula Arms Plant
Produced	1987−present
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	2.5 kg (5.5 lb) (AS Val, unloaded); 5.7 kg (13 lb) (AS Val, with NSP-3 night sight); 2.6 kg (5.7 lb) (VSS Vintorez, unloaded); 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) (VSS Vintorez, with PSO-1-1 telescopic sight);
Length	650 mm (26 in) (AS Val, stock folded); 875 mm (34.4 in) (AS Val, stock extended); 894 mm (35.2 in) (VSS Vintorez);
Barrel length	200 mm (7.9 in)
Cartridge	9×39mm
Action	Gas-operated long-stroke, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	800−900 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	280–310 m/s (920–1,020 ft/s);
Effective firing range	400 m (440 yd) (day); 300 m (330 yd) (night);
Feed system	10-, 20-, 30-round detachable box magazines
Sights	Iron sights, telescopic sight, night sight
References

The AS Val (Russian: АС «Вал»; Автома́т Специа́льный, romanized: Avtomát Spetsiálny "Val", lit. 'Special Automatic–Shaft'), GRAU designation: 6P30, is the assault rifle variant that features a folding stock and was developed in 1985.

The VSS Vintorez (Russian: ВСС «Винторе́з» Винто́вка Сна́йперская Специа́льная, romanized: Vintóvka Snáyperskaya Spetsiálnaya "Vintorez", lit. 'Special Sniper Rifle–Thread Cutter'), GRAU designation: 6P29, is a Soviet-designed specialised sniper rifle/designated marksman rifle that features an integral suppressor and is capable of fully automatic fire. Its initial development began in 1983.

The VSS Vintorez and AS Val were developed by TsNIITochMash to replace 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.