VSS Vintorez
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Vintorez-Sniper-Rifle.jpg
The VSS Vintorez or Vintovka Snaiperskaja Spetsialnaya (Special Sniper Rifle) is a specially designed silenced Russian sniper rifle. Sometimes seen as Vss Vintorez without the s's capitalized. The weapon fires subsonic 9x39mm SP-5 or SP-6 ammunition (a subsonic Russian rifle round specifically designed for the VSS, not to be confused with 9x19 Parabellum, a common Western pistol-caliber round). While having a shorter range than many sniper rifles, the stealth of silenced fire and stopping power of the round make it ideal in many circumstances. The Vintorez is a select-fire weapon capable of fully automatic fire at a rate of 700 rounds per minute.
Service
In use since the 1980s, the rifle has seen action in various places, most notably in Chechnya against the rebels there. It was also evident in media coverage of the Beslan school hostage crisis.
External links
- Arms World (http://www.enemyforces.com/firearms/vss.htm)
- Modern Firearms (http://world.guns.ru/sniper/sn20-e.htm)