Large-caliber sniper rifles. Special forces weapon: large-caliber sniper rifle

Large-caliber sniper rifles- This special kind sniper rifles of caliber from 9 mm to 20 mm inclusive. As a rule, such models are significantly superior to ordinary sniper rifles in terms of effective firing range, bullet energy, dimensions, weight and recoil, which leaves an imprint on their use. Currently, Russia has created a sufficient number of interesting solutions in this area, which are presented by both state and private manufacturers of small arms.

The main area of application of large-caliber sniper rifles is the disabling of unarmored and lightly armored enemy equipment, including low-flying or grounded helicopters and airplanes; protected firing points (firing at embrasures and observation devices of pillboxes); control, communications and reconnaissance equipment (satellite communication antennas, radar, etc.); destruction of unexploded bombs and mines. Also, such rifles are quite effective means conducting anti-sniper combat.

The modern development of large-caliber sniper rifles dates back to the appearance in the United States of the M500 sniper rifle, which was created in 1981 by RAP. It was the M-500 rifle that was the first to be put into service American army and was intended to solve problems of combating enemy lightly armored vehicles, fortifications and other rather complex tasks. At the same time real success came to the new weapon after the appearance of the M82 rifle, developed by weapons designer Ronnie Barrett. The rifle he created chambered for the NATO 12.7x99 mm cartridge effectively solved all sniper tasks at firing ranges above 1500 meters. In the army, this rifle received the nickname “Light Fifty” (“Light fifty dollars”). It was after the appearance of the M82 rifle in the United States that a real boom in such weapons began. Currently, overseas, more than fifty companies have created solutions for the 12.7x99 mm cartridge, as well as special ammunition. 308, .338 Lapua Magnum, and later the most interesting and promising ammunition 408 Cheyenne Tactical, or CheyTac for short.

Russia has not remained aloof from the development of such weapon systems. At the same time, Russian large-caliber sniper rifles are a completely competitive product. To create such rifles, both here and in the USA, cartridges were used that were borrowed from heavy machine guns: 12.7x99 mm (USA and NATO) and 12.7x108 mm (Russia). This decision is rational and has a rather impressive basis: the power of such a cartridge would be enough to penetrate any standard military means of protection and armor throughout the entire flight path of the bullet. But such rifles also have disadvantages. Due to high energy and large mass, the potential of large-caliber sniper rifles cannot be realized within the framework of maneuverable combat. They can be used from specially equipped sniper positions or for anti-sniper activities as part of groups special purpose.

OSV-96 "Burglar"

Large-caliber sniper rifles today are a special source of pride for Russian gunsmiths. One of the brightest representatives of this class of weapons is the OSV-96 rifle with the sonorous nickname “Burglar”, which was so nicknamed for unique characteristics. It is considered the first Russian model of a large-caliber sniper rifle, which is able to hit not only manpower, but also various equipment enemy at long distances. The rifle was created in Tula at the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) in the mid-1990s (designer Arkady Georgievich Shipunov). OSV-96 "Burglar" was put into service in March 2000.

The OSV-96 rifle is designed to engage unarmored and lightly armored targets at distances of up to 1800 meters, as well as enemy personnel behind cover and in means personal protection at a range of up to 1000 meters. When firing sniper cartridges in series of 4-5 shots at a distance of 100 meters, the dispersion diameter does not exceed 50 mm. One of the main disadvantages of the rifle is the very loud sound when fired. Because of this, it is recommended to fire from the OSV-96 large-caliber sniper rifle while wearing headphones.

OSV-96 is a self-loading large-caliber sniper rifle that operates on the principle of using powder gases. The issue of large dimensions, which is typical for weapons of this class, was resolved due to design features. In the stowed position, the rifle can be folded: the barrel, together with the gas exhaust system, is tilted back to the right and pressed against the receiver, while the receiver and the breech end of the barrel are closed from possible clogging using a cover. In the folded position, the Burglar does not exceed the dimensions of a regular SVD rifles, which allows the shooter to easily place himself in vehicles and armored vehicles. The rifle is transferred from the folded position to the firing position and back in a matter of seconds.

The weapon's features include self-loading and an effective muzzle device, which reduces the sniper's fatigue and allows him to fire at a high rate of fire. And the height-adjustable bipod allows you to take the most comfortable position for shooting. The rifle also has 24-hour use due to the use different types sights, including night vision. AND long range effective shooting, which allows the sniper to be out of range of aimed fire from small arms regular calibers. At the same time, a 12.7 mm sniper bullet has three times less drift than a 7.62 mm bullet.

TTX OSV-96 “Burglar”:

Cartridge type: 12.7x108 mm (sniper SPTs-12.7) or 12.7x108 mm cartridges from heavy machine guns.
Sighting range shooting - up to 1800 m.
Weight without magazine and optical sight- 12.9 kg.
Dimensions: in combat position - 1746x431x425 mm, in stowed position - 1154x132x190 mm.

Shooting mode - single.

VKS/VSSK "Exhaust"

For cases that require shooters special approach, in the arsenal of Russian gunsmiths they found a fairly effective system - the VKS/VSSK “Exhaust”. Of course, the effective firing range of such a rifle is lower than that of its counterparts. Sighting range - 600 meters. But the STs-130 ammunition of 12.7x55 mm caliber, weighing 76 grams, used in the rifle allows it to hit almost any target almost silently, as far as the caliber of this ammunition allows. At the same time, one more competitive advantage sniper rifle has become its mass, which is almost 3 times less than the mass of its “louder” brothers in caliber.

This sniper rifle was created by designer Vladimir Zlobin from 1999 to 2004. The rifle was created under a special order, which came from the Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia. This sniper rifle is produced at the Central Design and Research Bureau of Sports and Hunting Weapons (TsKIB SOO) in the city of Tula. The STs-130 cartridges used in this rifle allow you to penetrate a 15-mm steel plate at a distance of 200 meters or a body armor of class 5 protection at a distance of 100 meters.

The main task that the “Exhaust” sniper rifle must solve is the destruction of protected targets, including those using personal armor protection (PIB) of class 4-6, targets located behind shelters, obstacles, as well as enemy vehicles, unarmored and lightly armored vehicles at a distance of up to 600 meters with a flameless and silent shot due to the use of a silencer of an original design and special powerful ammunition with subsonic bullet speed. Structurally, this rifle is a non-automatic weapon with manual reloading with the layout of its mechanisms and parts according to the “bullpup” scheme. The rifle is equipped with an integrated silencer, which can be removed for cleaning and when transporting the weapon.

TTX VKS/VSSK "Exhaust":

Cartridge type: 12.7x55 mm (SPTs-130).
The target firing range is up to 600 m.
The weight of the rifle with an empty magazine and without an optical sight is 6.5 kg.
Dimensions without optical sight: 1125x220x220 mm.
Magazine capacity - 5 rounds.
Shooting mode - single.

Sniper complex 6S8

Currently " royal crown"among all Russian rifles large caliber belongs to the 6S8 sniper rifle, created at the plant named after. Degtyareva. This rifle was created back in 1997, but due to various reasons for a long time was not accepted into service and was not mass-produced. Having collected all the developments over 10 years and worked on the mistakes, the Degtyarev team managed to get their weapons accepted into service. This happened in June 2013. The ASVK rifle (large-caliber army sniper rifle) was adopted by the Russian Armed Forces under the designation 12.7 mm sniper complex 6S8.

The 12.7-mm 6S8 sniper rifle is designed to solve special fire missions to defeat unarmored and lightly armored enemy vehicles, as well as openly located manpower, including personal armor, group targets and other technical means at a distance of up to 1500 meters. The rifle can be used with a specially created 7N34 sniper cartridge and the entire range of conventional 12.7x108 mm caliber cartridges.

Structurally, this large-caliber sniper rifle was made according to the bullpup design. When using this scheme, as is known, the trigger is located in front of the firing mechanism (trigger mechanism), which makes it possible to reduce the size and weight of the weapon, resulting in increased maneuverability and compactness. In general, this sniper rifle turned out to be quite simple and reliable, which is very important for army weapons. And reviews of its combat operation are mainly positive character.

Cartridge type: 12.7x108 mm (sniper 7N34).
Sighting range - 1500 m.
The weight of the rifle with an empty magazine and without an optical sight is 12.5 kg.
Rifle length - 1420 mm, barrel length - 1000 mm.
Magazine capacity - 5 rounds.
Shooting mode - single.

SVLK-14S

But what to do when it comes to hitting targets located beyond the mark of 1500, or even 2000 meters? Russian gunsmiths will also have an answer to this. It's about about sniper rifles, which are created by Vladislav Lobaev. His companies “Tsar-Pushka”, Design Bureau of Integrated Systems and his own brand “Lobaev Arms” are the first in our country to begin the development and production of high-precision and long-range weapons, starting from the barrel and ending with the butt. If previously Lobaev's sniper rifles were produced for an individual client (most of the Lobaev Arms rifles are a commercial product intended for sale to individuals), now the company presents a whole series of sniper rifles, polished and monstrously powerful, designed for different calibers . The leader among them is one of the best sniper ammunition available today - .408 CheyTac.

According to Lobaev, the main tasks of Lobaev Arms production are distributed almost equally - this is the commercial component and work with Russian law enforcement agencies. If we talk about the second point, then, for example, the FSO is well familiar with rifles designed by Lobaev. Employees Federal service guards have repeatedly won victories in various competitions in sniper shooting precisely with his rifles. Currently, in terms of range (one of the most important indicators) rifles Russian company Lobaev Arms is one of the first in the world.

One of the most powerful solutions from Lobaev Arms in terms of effective firing range is the SVLK-14S rifle. It is worth noting that beyond two kilometers is already an prohibitive distance for sniper fire. Cases when snipers hit real goals at such a range are known, but there was more luck in them than real opportunities modern weapons. At the same time, the SVL rifle was originally developed in order to break through this barrier, turning an accurate hit on a target at a distance of more than 2000 meters into a guaranteed result. The rifle completed its task successfully, but the Lobaev Arms company decided not to stop there and presented an improved version of the rifle under the designation SVLK-14S.

Latest world record for longest scoring distance sniper shot is 2475 meters. But in reality, the vast majority of snipers work at significantly shorter shooting distances. It is worth noting that effective shooting at a distance of more than a mile requires not only high personal skill of the shooter, but also specialized shooting weapon systems of the highest level of accuracy, which are simply not available to the vast majority of shooters of special services or army units. At the same time, the SVLK-14S is just such an ultra-precise sniper system.

As you can easily guess, the index “14” in the name of the ultra-long-range rifle indicates the year of its development. SVL stands for “Lobaev sniper rifle”, and the letter “K” in the index indicates the use of the King v.3 bolt group. This bolt group consists of a receiver in an aluminum body in which a hardened steel insert is secured. The "C" index at the end of the rifle's name is a reference to English word Single. The basic model of the large-caliber sniper rifle SVLK-14S was and remains single-shot. This approach ensures sufficient rigidity of the bolt box due to the presence in it minimum quantity grooves and as a result very high level accuracy when shooting. The SVLK-14S rifle allows the shooter to confidently hit targets at a range of up to 2300 meters.

TTX SVLK-14S:

Cartridge type: .408 Cheytac/.338LM/.300WM.
Technical accuracy: 0.3 MOA/9 mm between centers (5 shots at 100 meters).
Maximum effective range: 2300 m.
Rifle weight: 9.6 kg.
Dimensions: 1430x96x175 mm.
The store is not.
Shooting mode - single.

Sources of information:
http://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201501200818-lu9j.htm
http://www.kbptula.ru
http://lobaevarms.ru
http://www.zid.ru
http://sniper-weapon.ru/rossiya
https://ru.wikipedia.org

A sniper is a military or law enforcement officer who is fluent in the art of marksmanship. Snipers must be excellent at camouflage, surveillance of the enemy, and have self-control and composure. Snipers are the real elite of the ground forces.

The main targets of a sniper on the battlefield are enemy officers, machine gunners, grenade launchers, operators of anti-tank systems, and signalmen. Sniper fire not only destroys the most dangerous opponents, but also undermines the enemy's morale and sows panic among his fighters. The sniper's task is to destroy his target with the first shot. The best sniper weapons can hit the enemy at distances of up to four kilometers.

To perform his functions, the sniper uses a special weapon - a sniper rifle, as well as other devices necessary to ensure an accurate shot. A sniper rifle is usually equipped with an optical sight and is characterized by high accuracy and accuracy of fire compared to conventional small arms. Modern sniper rifles - the embodiment latest technologies and innovative design solutions. Therefore, the best sniper rifles can cost tens of thousands of dollars. According to modern requirements for sniper weapons, dispersion should not exceed 1 minute of arc (MOA).

A sniper rifle requires special handling - this weapon must be regularly cleaned, lubricated and maintained, because even a minor defect can seriously affect shooting accuracy.

Sniper rifles can be non-automatic (bolt-action) or self-loading. As a rule, non-automatic rifles are more accurate, since vibrations from the automatic operation reduce the accuracy of the weapon. However, sometimes the ability to quickly fire a second shot is more important than shooting accuracy.

For a sniper, not only a rifle is important, he also needs special cartridges. In addition, for an accurate shot (especially on long distances) is used additional equipment: range finders, ballistic computers, sensors for determining wind speed and direction, humidity, air temperature.

There are often fierce debates on the Internet about which sniper rifles in the world are the best. This question is very complex - it is very difficult to make a choice from large quantity outstanding examples sniper weapons. We have prepared the top 10, which includes the best rifles different countries and historical periods.

10. CORD (ASVK)

This is a Russian powerful large-caliber rifle, work on the creation of which began in the Soviet Union. It went into mass production in 2004, and since then these sniper rifles have been used by the Russian armed forces.

9. M2010

In ninth place in the top 10 is a sniper rifle specially designed for the US military. It is a deep modernization of the M24 rifle, which for many years used by the American army.

The modernization was carried out taking into account the experience gained by the Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq. The M2010 uses a more powerful 300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, the ergonomics of the weapon are significantly improved, and a muzzle brake with a silencer is installed.

The disadvantages of the M2010 (compared to the M24) include a brighter shot flash and stronger recoil due to the use of more powerful ammunition.

8. SVD

In eighth place in the top 10 is the legendary Soviet self-loading sniper rifle SVD, adopted for service Soviet army in 1963. Even if this weapon is not the most powerful, accurate and convenient, due to its cheapness and reliability, the SVD is the most popular sniper weapon in the world.

The rifle's automatic operation works by removing powder gases from the barrel; the magazine has a capacity of ten rounds.

The target range of the SVD is 1.3 thousand meters, but at such a distance the shot accuracy will not be high.

Currently, sniper rifles of the SVD type are called “Marksman” in the West. This term refers to the weapon of an infantry sniper operating as part of his unit. Its main task is to defeat the enemy at short and medium distances. Such rifles occupy a middle position between conventional small arms and high-precision bolt-action sniper systems.

7.PSG1

In seventh place in the top 10 is the German self-loading rifle PSG1, manufactured by the famous arms company Heckler & Koch. This weapon was developed after tragic events at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Then German law enforcement officers failed to save the hostages due to the inability to quickly neutralize the terrorists. Gunsmiths Heckler & Koch were tasked with creating a new sniper rifle for special police forces.

The PSG1 uses the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, has magazines with a capacity of 5 or 20 rounds and an effective firing range of 600 meters. This rifle is considered one of the most accurate self-loading sniper systems.

6. "Vintorez"

This is a silent sniper rifle, developed in the late 80s in the USSR for the needs of special units of the armed forces, state security and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

5. CheyTac M200 Intervention

In fifth place in the top 10 is the large-caliber sniper rifle CheyTac M200 Intervention, developed in the USA at the beginning of this century. This rifle embodies almost all the achievements of technologists and gunsmith designers.

The CheyTac M200 Intervention sniper complex uses .408 CheyTac and .375 CheyTac ammunition, has manual reloading and a number of additional options: a computer to which you can connect a set of various sensors (wind, temperature, humidity sensors). All this allows an experienced shooter to hit targets at distances of up to 2 km. However, the CheyTac M200 Intervention costs a lot: the price can reach 50 thousand dollars. The weight of the rifle is 12 kg.

4. Orsis T-5000

In fourth place in the top 10 is the newest Russian sniper rifle, developed by private company"Promtekhnologii" at the beginning of this decade. The Orsis T-5000 is considered one of the most accurate sniper systems in the world, its accuracy level is 0.2 MOA. This is a very good result for a serial weapon.

The rifle is manufactured in two calibers: 8.6 mm and 7.62 mm, it weighs only 6.5 kg, which distinguishes the weapon from many domestic and foreign analogues. During testing, the rifle was exposed to low and high temperatures, moisture, polluted. However, these factors could not reduce the accuracy of the weapon.

In 2012, thanks to this rifle, the Russian team won gold at prestigious international sniper shooting competitions.

3. Barrett M82

In third place in the top 10 is the legendary American large-caliber rifle Barrett M82. It was invented and embodied in metal by the American Ronnie Barrett (before that he served in law enforcement agencies) in 1982. For a long time, Barrett could not find clients who would be interested in his weapons. Only after the start of Operation Desert Storm did the American military department pay attention to the new sniper complex. Since then, Barrett has developed several models of high-caliber rifles that are popular with both the military and law enforcement officers.

This is a self-loading rifle that uses the powerful 12.7x99 mm NATO cartridge (used in the Browning M2 heavy machine gun). Automation works due to the short stroke of the barrel, which is equipped muzzle brake original design. The weight of the rifle (it differs slightly for different modifications) can reach 15 kg. The accuracy of the Barrett M82 is 1.5-2 MOA, which is quite good for a self-loading rifle of this caliber.

The Barrett family of rifles are often called "anti-material". The fact is that they were developed not so much to defeat infantry on the battlefield, but to destroy enemy material objects. A 12-gauge bullet can hit lightly armored vehicles, destroy enemy radar, or detonate an unexploded shell or mine. For these purposes, the accuracy of this sniper system is quite sufficient.

Barrett rifles are very popular with Hollywood directors and it is easy to understand: these weapons are truly beautiful, they literally radiate power and lethal force.

2. Accuracy International AW50

In second place in the top 10 is another large-caliber rifle - the Accuracy International AW50. This weapon was created in Britain, the rifle uses 12.7x99mm NATO cartridges (like the Barrett) and is equipped with a bolt-action bolt. Magazine capacity is five rounds.

The maximum firing range of this weapon is 2 thousand meters. Currently, the Accuracy International AW50 rifle is in service with Great Britain, Germany, Australia, Portugal, South Korea and a number of other countries.

1. Accuracy International L96A1

Another development takes first place in the top 10 British company Accuracy International - L96A1 rifle. It can be called a real symbol of sniper weapons. The L96A1 was developed in 1982 and has been in service with the British Army ever since. It was from this weapon that the longest successful shot from a sniper rifle was fired - 2475 meters.

The L96A1 has a bolt-action design and can change calibers and use 6.2, 7.62 and 8.6 mm cartridges. The effective firing range of the L96A1 is one and a half thousand meters. The cost of the rifle is 10-12 thousand dollars, which can be called a quite affordable price for a weapon of this class.

In addition to Great Britain, the L96A1 is in service with another two dozen armies around the world.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

Reliability in combat, enormous destructive power, unique technologies - this is all about the Kord family of weapons. Over the long years of its existence, it managed to take part in several wars. The machine appeared quite recently, but has already been able to show decent results. Confidently holds its position in the TOP of the best samples Russian weapons and a Kord sniper rifle. What is remarkable about this weapon, what made it so popular among both professional soldiers and simple theorists, what qualities distinguish it from its peers? This is what we will talk about.

Pedigree

The end of the 1980s was a difficult era in the life of our country. The spirit of impending change was in the air, but a whole series of events did not allow one to naively dream that these changes would turn life around. better side. The approaching collapse of the empire was no longer in doubt. Sunset was coming an entire era, it was impossible not to notice it.

I felt the breath of the wind of change and the underworld. The criminal establishment protected itself by stocking up on weapons of all calibers. However, he always did this... But at that turbulent time, things uncontrollable by the authorities assumed simply gigantic proportions. In conditions of corruption and lack of funding, the criminal world is better armed than the state-controlled security forces. This is what served as the impetus for the development of a fundamentally new sniper rifle, which could penetrate not only body armor and a helmet, but also the armor of a car, and at a fairly respectable distance. This need was also confirmed by events in Chechnya - regular troops needed to update their arsenal no less than law enforcement officers.

Several design bureaus took on the development at once. And soon a new weapon was created.

Sounded again good name Degtyarevsky arms factory. Designers M. Yu. Kuchin, E. V. Zhuravlev, Yu. N. Ovchinnikov and V. I. Negrulenko developed and presented to experts a fundamentally new rifle, named “SVN-98”. It was made according to the "Bullpup" scheme. This name refers to the location of the magazine behind the trigger. This design made it possible to significantly lengthen the barrel while maintaining the same dimensions.

Already the first tests showed how powerful the Kovrov gunsmiths were able to achieve. The length of the new rifle was 1350 millimeters, 1000 of which were on the barrel.

Later the rifle was renamed KSVK (Kovrovskaya). In 2004, another rebranding awaited it: under the new name ASVK it was put into service in some army units Russian Federation. But this name was not final either. Large-caliber sniper rifle "Kord" - that's what this weapon is now called.

Recoil

Minimizing recoil was one of the main requirements for new rifle. After all, it was assumed that the caliber of the ammunition would be quite large, and the lethal range was required to be considerable. Recoil, as a rule, is the payment for such advantages, but the Degtyarevites managed to reduce it to a minimum. One of the main factors can be safely called the muzzle brake-compensator, worked using a special technology. According to experts, only thanks to him it was possible to reduce the impact by 2.5 times. The design of the barrel also played an important role - it itself is quite massive, it was made of a floating type. Experts trimmed the butt plate of the butt with a special porous material that cushions the shot.

Ammunition

At that time, the most powerful Kord needed a solid cartridge. Its development was headed by V.N. Dvoryaninov. Based on the standard 12.7 x 108 mm cartridge, a special 12.7CH sniper cartridge was created. This ammunition has increased destructive power and shows better accuracy. In addition to it, for the Kord rifle you can also use standard cartridges BZT-44, BZT-44M, BZ with a B-32 bullet. It should be noted here that the listed cartridges do not provide such high accuracy rates at long distances.

Optics

"Kord" can be equipped with additional, including night sights. The most often used for it are 1P71 and 1PN111 (for shooting in the dark). It is also possible to install such sights as PSO-1, POS 13x60, POS 12x50. Of course, lead targeted shooting You can also use the "rear sight - front sight" group.

Purpose

The main tasks that the ASVK Kord sniper rifle was supposed to perform were defeating manpower and light armor enemy at a considerable distance. Tests have shown that an enemy wearing a bulletproof vest can be hit from this rifle from a distance of one and a half kilometers.

Device Features

Even when the Kord large-caliber sniper rifle was just being developed, a number of innovative and non-standard solutions were envisioned. The floating barrel for this weapon is made by cold forging. It is fixed in a cantilever manner, without touching any other part. also functions as a flame arrester.

The Kord sniper rifle has a longitudinally sliding bolt, which makes it easy to work without taking your eyes off the target. Like most analogues, there is no burst firing mode. The rigid box of the massive barrel and manual reloading contribute to increased accuracy of fire.

Even in the first versions of the rifle, the charging handle was located on the right. The fuse box also played the role of a latch for the receiver window cover. The cartridges were supplied from a removable box magazine with a capacity of 5 cartridges. Between the butt and the handle there was a cartridge receiving cabin. The spent cartridges were ejected through the window on the right. In the neutral position, the window was covered with a lid to prevent foreign objects, moisture and dust from getting into it.

The modern Kord sniper rifle has a number of features compared to the first versions, but most of them are minor. Like the ASVK, it has a carrying handle; the folding bipod is attached to a special rod on the bottom of the receiver.

"Kord" in service

As initially expected, the first thing the Kord rifle fell into the hands of law enforcement officers. It is currently in service with some special forces units in Russia. The military also received a rifle: reconnaissance officers, motorized riflemen, and paratroopers. The track record of this weapon includes participation in both Chechen campaigns.

Prospects

What do those who have already owned the Kord sniper rifle say? The characteristics given to her by everyone are almost the same. It has proven itself both in field conditions and in densely populated cities. It can be assumed that the Degtyarevites will not stop there and will continue to improve their brainchild.

On at the moment The Kord sniper rifle, the price of which usually does not exceed 15 thousand dollars, firmly occupies a position among the ten best sniper rifles ever produced in Russia.

MENSBY

4.2

The area of application of large-caliber sniper rifles is to disable enemy equipment and protected firing points; controls and are a fairly effective means of conducting anti-sniper combat.

Large-caliber sniper rifles are a special type of sniper rifles with a caliber from 9 mm to 20 mm inclusive. As a rule, such models are significantly superior to ordinary sniper rifles in terms of effective firing range, bullet energy, dimensions, weight and recoil, which leaves an imprint on their use. Currently, Russia has created a sufficient number of interesting solutions in this area, which are presented by both state and private manufacturers of small arms.

The modern history of the development of large-caliber sniper rifles dates back to the appearance in the United States of the M500 sniper rifle, which was created in 1981 by RAP. It was the M-500 rifle that was the first to be put into service with the American army and was intended to solve the problems of combating enemy lightly armored vehicles, fortifications and other rather complex tasks. At the same time, real success for the new weapon came after the appearance of the M82 rifle, developed by weapons designer Ronnie Barrett. The rifle he created chambered for the NATO 12.7x99 mm cartridge effectively solved all sniper tasks at firing ranges above 1500 meters. In the army, this rifle received the nickname “Light Fifty” (“Light fifty dollars”). It was after the appearance of the M82 rifle in the United States that a real boom in such weapons began. Currently, more than fifty companies overseas have created solutions for the 12.7x99 mm cartridge, as well as special ammunition. 308, 308 Lapua Magnum, and later the most interesting and promising ammunition 408 Cheyenne Tactical, or CheyTac for short.

Russia has not remained aloof from the development of such weapon systems. At the same time, Russian large-caliber sniper rifles are a completely competitive product. To create such rifles, both here and in the USA, cartridges were used that were borrowed from heavy machine guns: 12.7x99 mm (USA and NATO) and 12.7x108 mm (Russia). This decision is rational and has a fairly impressive basis: the power of such a cartridge would be enough to penetrate any standard military means of protection and armor throughout the entire flight path of the bullet. But such rifles also have disadvantages. Due to high energy and large mass, the potential of large-caliber sniper rifles cannot be realized within the framework of maneuverable combat. They can be used from specially equipped sniper positions or for anti-sniper activities as part of special forces teams.

OSV-96 "Burglar"

Large-caliber sniper rifles today are a special source of pride for Russian gunsmiths. One of the brightest representatives of this class of weapons is the OSV-96 rifle with the sonorous nickname “Burglar,” which was so nicknamed for its unique characteristics. It is considered the first Russian model of a large-caliber sniper rifle, which is capable of hitting not only manpower, but also various enemy equipment at long distances. The rifle was created in Tula at the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) in the mid-1990s (designer Arkady Georgievich Shipunov). OSV-96 "Burglar" was put into service in March 2000.

The OSV-96 rifle is designed to engage unarmored and lightly armored targets at distances of up to 1,800 meters, as well as enemy personnel behind cover and wearing personal protective equipment at ranges of up to 1,000 meters. When firing sniper cartridges in series of 4-5 shots at a distance of 100 meters, the dispersion diameter does not exceed 50 mm. One of the main disadvantages of the rifle is the very loud sound when fired. Because of this, it is recommended to fire from the OSV-96 large-caliber sniper rifle while wearing headphones.

OSV-96 is a self-loading large-caliber sniper rifle that operates on the principle of using powder gases. The issue of large dimensions, which is typical for weapons of this class, was resolved due to design features. In the stowed position, the rifle can be folded: the barrel, together with the gas exhaust system, is tilted back to the right and pressed against the receiver, while the receiver and the breech end of the barrel are closed from possible clogging using a cover. In the folded position, the Burglar does not exceed the dimensions of a conventional SVD rifle, which allows the shooter to be easily placed in vehicles and armored vehicles. The rifle is transferred from the folded position to the firing position and back in a matter of seconds.

The weapon's features include self-loading and an effective muzzle device, which reduces the sniper's fatigue and allows him to fire at a high rate of fire. And the height-adjustable bipod allows you to take the most comfortable position for shooting. The rifle also has 24-hour use due to the use of different types of sights, including night vision. And a long effective firing range, which allows the sniper to be out of range of aimed fire from small arms of conventional calibers. At the same time, a 12.7 mm sniper bullet has three times less drift than a 7.62 mm bullet.

TTX OSV-96 “Burglar”:

Cartridge type: 12.7x108 mm (sniper SPTs-12.7) or 12.7x108 mm cartridges from heavy machine guns.
The target firing range is up to 1800 m.
Weight without magazine and optical sight - 12.9 kg.
Dimensions: in combat position - 1746x431x425 mm, in stowed position - 1154x132x190 mm.

Shooting mode - single.

VKS/VSSK "Exhaust"

For cases that require a special approach from shooters, Russian gunsmiths have found a fairly effective system in their arsenal - the VKS/VSSK “Exhaust”. Of course, the effective firing range of such a rifle is lower than that of its counterparts. Sighting range - 600 meters. But the STs-130 ammunition of 12.7x55 mm caliber, weighing 76 grams, used in the rifle allows it to hit almost any target almost silently, as far as the caliber of this ammunition allows. At the same time, another competitive advantage of the sniper rifle was its weight, which is almost 3 times less than the weight of its “louder” brothers in caliber.

TTX VKS/VSSK "Exhaust":

Currently, the “royal crown” among all Russian large-caliber rifles belongs to the 6S8 sniper rifle, created at the plant named after. Degtyareva. This rifle was created back in 1997, but for various reasons it was not accepted into service for a long time and was not mass-produced. Having collected all the developments over 10 years and worked on the mistakes, the Degtyarev team managed to get their weapons accepted into service. This happened in June 2013. The ASVK rifle (large-caliber army sniper rifle) was adopted by the Russian Armed Forces under the designation 12.7 mm sniper complex 6S8.

Cartridge type: 12.7x108 mm (sniper 7N34).

Sighting range - 1500 m.
The weight of the rifle with an empty magazine and without an optical sight is 12.5 kg.
Rifle length - 1420 mm, barrel length - 1000 mm.
Magazine capacity - 5 rounds.
Shooting mode - single.

SVLK-14S

But what to do when it comes to hitting targets located beyond the mark of 1500, or even 2000 meters? Russian gunsmiths will also have an answer to this. We are talking about sniper rifles, which are created by Vladislav Lobaev. His companies “Tsar Cannon”, Design Bureau of Integrated Systems and his own brand “Lobaev Arms” are the first in our country to begin the development and production of high-precision and long-range weapons, from the barrel to the butt. If previously Lobaev's sniper rifles were produced for an individual client (most of the Lobaev Arms rifles are a commercial product intended for sale to individuals), now the company presents a whole series of sniper rifles, polished and monstrously powerful, designed for different calibers . The leader among them is one of the best sniper ammunition available today - .408 CheyTac.

According to Lobaev, the main tasks of Lobaev Arms production are distributed almost equally - this is the commercial component and work with Russian law enforcement agencies. If we talk about the second point, then, for example, the FSO is well familiar with rifles designed by Lobaev. Employees of the Federal Security Service have repeatedly won victories in various sniper shooting competitions with his rifles. Currently, in terms of range (one of the most important indicators), rifles from the Russian company Lobaev Arms are among the first in the world.

One of the most powerful solutions from Lobaev Arms in terms of effective firing range is the SVLK-14S rifle. It is worth noting that beyond two kilometers is already an prohibitive distance for sniper fire. Cases where snipers hit real targets at such a range are known, but there was more luck in them than the real capabilities of modern weapons. At the same time, the SVL rifle was originally developed in order to break through this barrier, turning an accurate hit on a target at a distance of more than 2000 meters into a guaranteed result. The rifle completed its task successfully, but the Lobaev Arms company decided not to stop there and presented an improved version of the rifle under the designation SVLK-14S.

The latest world record for the range of a successful sniper shot is 2475 meters. But in reality, the vast majority of snipers work at significantly shorter shooting distances. It is worth noting that effective shooting at a distance of more than a mile requires not only high personal skill of the shooter, but also specialized shooting weapon systems of the highest level of accuracy, which are simply not available to the vast majority of shooters of special services or army units. At the same time, the SVLK-14S is just such an ultra-precise sniper system.

As you can easily guess, the index “14” in the name of the ultra-long-range rifle indicates the year of its development. SVL stands for “Lobaev sniper rifle”, and the letter “K” in the index indicates the use of the King v.3 bolt group. This bolt group consists of a receiver in an aluminum body in which a hardened steel insert is secured. The "C" at the end of the rifle's name is a reference to the English word Single. The basic model of the large-caliber sniper rifle SVLK-14S was and remains single-shot. This approach ensures sufficient rigidity of the bolt box due to the presence of a minimum number of grooves in it and, as a result, a very high level of accuracy when shooting. The SVLK-14S rifle allows the shooter to confidently hit targets at a range of up to 2300 meters.