VKS sniper rifle

VKS
300px The VKS sniper rifle
Type	Bullpup sniper rifle
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
In service	2004
Used by	Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation
Production history
Designer	CKIB SOO (Central Design Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Weapons)
Designed	2002
Manufacturer	CKIB SOO (Central Design Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Weapons)
Produced	2002
Specifications
Weight	7 kg (total weight)
Length	1120 mm (overall length with suppressor)
Barrel length	450 mm
Width	220 mm
Height	220 mm
Cartridge	12.7×55mm STs-130
Action	Bolt-action
Muzzle velocity	300 m/s
Effective firing range	600 m
Feed system	5-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Folding iron sights or telescopic sight

VKS (ВКС) is a Russian bullpup, straight-pull bolt-action, magazine-fed sniper rifle chambered for the 12.7×55mm STs-130 subsonic round. The weapon is also known by the name VSSK and the additional name Vykhlop (or, incorrectly, Vychlop), which comes from the development program. It was developed in around 2002 for the special force units of FSB.

The 12.7×55mm VKS silenced sniper rifle is intended for special operations that require silent firing and penetration much superior to that provided by 9×39mm VSS silenced sniper rifle. Typical targets for the VKS are combatants in heavy body armor or behind cover. The weapon uses an integral suppressor.

The special round has an overall length of 97 mm. The accuracy is claimed as 1 Minute of arc at a 100 meter range with precision bullets.

Cartridge variants :

• SC-130 (СЦ-130) - standard
• SC-130U (СЦ-130У) - for training
• SC-130PT (СЦ-130ПТ) - increased accuracy (59 gram bullet)
• SC-130PT2 (СЦ-130ПТ2) - increased accuracy (solid bronze bullet)
• SC-130VPS (СЦ-130ВПС) - increased penetration (76 gram bullet). Armour penetration : 16 mm of steel at 200 meters, or a heavy body armor at 100 meters.

In popular culture

• The VKS appears in Contract Wars, an online FPS, in the game the rifle is named VSSK or Vikhlop.
• In Call of Duty: Ghosts, the VKS makes an appearance in the campaign, multiplayer, and Extinction modes.
• Appears in Metro: Last Light. in the game it is referred to as the Clapper.
• A similar looking weapon is found in the ArmA 3 Marksmen DLC, the "ASP-1 Kir".

See also

• List of Russian weaponry
• List of bullpup firearms
• List of sniper rifles

References

• Modern Firearms
• http://www.militaryparitet.com/nomen/russia/strel/patroni/data/ic_nomenrussiastrelpatroni/1/

External links

• VKS
• Pic 1 Pic 2
  (Photos of what appears to be a different variant of the VKS, or one of the similar competitive weapons of the same or similar development program. One of the differences is the muzzle suppressor, which can be removed and the weapon fired without it.)
• [1]