VSS Vintorez

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.

The Vintorez is also featured in the video game America's Army.

In an episode of Japanese anime, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, a soldier named Kruz sent 2 high school students (Ono-D and Sazama) as decoys while he picks out sentry guns with the Vintorez. Their goal was to catch a peek of the woman's outdoor hotspring (露天温泉). They failed because the 2 sexes switch sides after 10pm.

External links

• Arms World
• Modern Firearms