Izhmash SV-98

     Notes: This Russian weapon was developed in response to Russian snipers' needs for a more precise weapon.  It is a bolt-action weapon based on the Record-1 civilian competition rifle, heavily-modified into a military weapon.  In its standard form (chambered for 7.62mm Nagant), it is hampered somewhat by its ammunition, but other chamberings are available (though it is not known whether or not the Russian military makes any use of the other chamberings, and the .338 model will not be available until late 2006).  The SV-98 was first used in Chechnya in 1998.

     There are numerous differences between the Record-1 and the SV-98.  Early production models used a stock of laminated plywood, but current production rifles have stocks of fiberglass/polymer composite.  Both stocks are skeletonized, with a semi-pistol grip, a padded buttplate adjustable for length, and a cheekpiece adjustable for height.  The SV-98 is equipped with a folding bipod adjustable for height and cant.  The barrel is 25.6 inches long, cold hammer-forged, free-floating, has an unlined polished bore, and is tipped with a compact but effective muzzle brake.  The muzzle brake may be easily removed, revealing threads which can take a suppressor.  The standard scope is a modified form of the PSO-1 called the PKS-07, with a 7x magnification.  This scope is mounted on rail above the receiver which is very similar to a MIL-STD-1913 rail and is capable of mounting any Russian/Eastern European optic or night vision device, and even some Western ones.  Iron sights are also available.  The trigger is adjustable for pull weight, and the safety simultaneously blocks the firing pin, bolt, and trigger.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: This weapon is one of Russia’s most popular firearm exports.

Izhmash SV-99

     Notes: The SV-99 was developed primarily for police use, but is increasingly in use by the Russian military – it does have some narrow military/espionage uses, such as close-range silent sentry removal, the elimination of guard dogs and other potentially loud animals, taking out of spotlights and security lights, and assassination.  It is a modified form of the BI-7-2 rifle designed for Biathlon athletes, with some features taken from the Sobol hunting rifle, and then further modified for police and military use. Police forces find it useful for short-range sniping – the .22 Long Rifle round offers little chance of ricochet, is somewhat frangible even in its normal form, does not overpenetrate, and therefore is not a great danger to civilians nearby (in the hands of a competent sniper).

     The SV-99 fires .22 Long Rifle ammunition – easily silenced with most .22 Long Rifle ammunition.  There are several changes from its biathlon rifle relative, such as a skeletonized laminated plywood stock with a semi-pistol grip (the pistol grip is separate from the stock), a recoil pad on the adjustable buttplate, and an adjustable cheekpiece.  As befits its biathlon ancestry, the stock has a compartment which can hold a pair of 5-round magazines.  The buttstock is detachable, allowing the use of the SV-99 as a heavy pistol (and still capable of using the bipod in this configuration).  A rail in the fore-end allows for the use of a removable folding bipod, adjustable for height and cant; optionally, a target-style handgrip may be mounted. The action is rather odd for a modern weapon – toggle-action locking similar to that of the old Luger pistol, and it uses a very short pull length.  The barrel is cold hammer-forged and of excellent quality; it is 13.8 inches long and tipped with a small but very effective silencer.  The receiver has a modified Weaver rail, allowing most Russian and Eastern European optics to be used, as well as a wide variety of Western optics; no iron sights are provided.  The standard telescopic sight in Russian use is 4x34 fixed-focus scope.  The trigger is not adjustable, but requires only a short pull and a light touch to operate.  The safety is directly in front of the trigger guard and easily reached by the trigger finger. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The SV-99 is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: Though little used by military or police forces, the SV-99 has found two types of large-scale buyers – game wardens and local animal control agencies (in many parts of the world), who use them to cull herds without spooking the rest of the herd, and for stray and small animal/pest control.

ORSIS T-5000

     Notes: Part of the Promtechnologies Group, ORSIS rifles are relatively new in the West (as of the time I write this in June of 2014), but have been in circulation in Russia and former Soviet Republics for several years.  They are primarily meant for hunting and competition use, but are built to sniper rifle-like precision.  They cooperate with several international sport shooting organizations, and their rifles are primarily sold directly from ORSIS or through stores that also cooperate with sport shooting organizations.  I have included the T-5000 here due to the rifles’ features and accuracy potential; it just seems to me to be built more like a modern sniper rifle than anything else.

     The T-5000 has the skeletonized appearance which is more often being used by modern sniper rifles and antimateriel rifles.  Construction is largely of light alloy, with polymer pistol grip and fore-end and parts of the stock.  Working parts and the barrel, of course, are of stainless steel. Atop the receiver is a MIL-STD-1913 rail. Tolerances are extremely tight; some parts have a tolerance of only 0.0025 millimeters.  The stock has an adjustable cheekpiece and is adjustable for length, and has a recoil pad on the butt.  Barrels are 26 inches for the 7.62mm and .300 versions, and 27.5 inches for the .338 version.  The barrel may also be replaced with an international match-length 24 inches. The barrels are tipped by a large muzzle brake; the muzzles are threaded, and a silencer. flash suppressor, or alternate muzzle brake may be fitted. The rifling methods are proprietary and a company secret. The barrel is of a heavy profile, match-quality, free-floating, and it is believed, cold-forged. The trigger is likewise proprietary and match-grade; the hull of the trigger group is of hardened stainless steel, while the components are made from the same steel that surgical scalpels are made of – with special thermal and chemical treatment. Bipods are similar to several Harris designs, and are adjustable for height and cant.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Neither the T-5000 nor ORSIS exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

SVD Dragunov

     Notes: The SVD has apparently been around since the late 1950s; however, its existence was merely conjecture and rumor until the mid-1960s when examples were captured by US troops in Vietnam.  The SVD is basically a highly-modified Kalashnikov, using a similar bolt system, but using a short-stroke piston system with a lightweight piston instead of the long-stroke heavy piston of the Kalashnikov series.  Thus, while the Dragunov may look like it uses the Kalashnikov action from the outside, internally the Dragunov is a very different weapon. 

     The 24.4-inch barrel is better than that used on the typical Russian rifle of the period, but is still not equal in quality to comparable Western sniper rifles of the period (such as the M-21).  This barrel is tipped with a long, slotted flash suppressor, and also has a bayonet lug (an unusual feature for a sniper rifle).  The trigger group is also simply adequate for a sniper’s weapon, but nothing exceptional; the fire controls include a safety sear and a disconnector, which ensures that the trigger must be released after each shot (or trigger bar will not reconnect with the sear, and the weapon will not fire).  The SVD is equipped with a sight mount attached to the left side of the receiver; this mount accepts the PSO-1 4x24 telescopic sight (standard until recently for the SVD series).  The PSO-1 includes an illuminated reticle low-light conditions, and is powered by a battery which is essentially a proprietary Russian design that will fit into very few other devices.  The mount will also accept the PSO-1M2, an updated PSO-1 which includes a metascope that can detect IR light sources (but is not sensitive enough for use as night vision device.  Another device usable by the SVD is the NSPU-3 3.46x image intensifying scope.  Iron sights are also provided.  The stock has a distinctive skeletonized profile, built of weatherproofed beechwood and including a semi-pistol grip and a raised cheekpiece.

     In the early 1980s, an upgraded version of the SVD (sometimes referred to as the SVDM) was introduced.  This version is basically the same as the standard SVD, but the wooden stock has been replaced by one made of synthetic materials, and a mount is provided for a detachable bipod.  In addition to the standard telescopic sights available to the SVD, the SVDM can mount a Minuta 3-9x42 scope.  This scope includes an orange light filter to improve image contrast, a rangefinder and an aiming reticle, both illuminated (either simultaneously or individually).

     The SVDS is a folding-stock variant of the SVD that was designed for airborne, air assault, and special operations troops, but eventually distributed to the other parts of the Soviet Army.  It was introduced in the late 1970s using experience gained in Afghanistan.  It is basically an SVD with a tubular metal folding stock and a shorter 22.2-inch barrel with a shorter and less bulky flash suppressor; no bayonet lug is provided.  (Originally, there was to be an SVDS-A, with a standard-length barrel, and an SVDS-D, with a shorter barrel, but the SVDS-A was not accepted for service.)  The rifle is not intended to be fired with the stock folded, as when it is the trigger, pistol grip (which is no longer a part of the stock), and charging handle are obstructed.  If fired with the stock folded, hit rolls are at -2. The pistol grip and fore-end are made from polymer.  A new 15-round magazine was designed to be used with this rifle, and it will not fit in the SVD or SVU.  The scopes which may be mounted are identical to those on the SVDM; however, some of these rifles have been seen in the hands of troops in Chechnya with unknown-model scopes of 6x24 and 8x24 powers.  The Russians have of late been trying to sell the SVDS on the export market; to this end, a version chambered for 7.62mm NATO has been developed in recent years.  This version of the SVDS is also capable of mounting a wider variety of telescopic sights and night vision equipment.

     The SVU, more properly called the OTs-03AS, is more-or-less a bullpup variant of the SVD Dragunov, though it is so heavily modified that it is very much a different animal.  Early rumors suggested that the SVU was designed as a compact SVD for use by female snipers; however, the First Chechen Revolution provided the answer to the design of the SVU.  The SVU is compact, has a capability for automatic fire, and can also serve as an effective sniping weapon; it was meant to be the support weapon for a sniper’s partner in a sniping team or as a sort of CQB sniper rifle.  Numbers of these rifles were used in the conflicts with Chechnya by internal security forces and the military.  The muzzle has a large cylinder near the end that acts as a combined flash hider and low-efficiency suppresser.  The SVU may be fitted with a bayonet.  The SVU may use the same optical sights as the SVDS, and also has flip-up iron sights. The SVU is equipped with a folding bipod; this bipod may also be locked to one side or the other, in order to steady the weapon against a horizontal support such as a wall or tree.

     One of the newest variants of the SVD is the SVDK.  Afghanistan and Chechnya taught the Russian Army that sometimes a sniper rifle firing a heavier cartridge with better penetration is called for, especially in urban conflicts.  To that end, the Russians developed a magnum-type 9.3x64mm cartridge and redesigned the SVD to fire it, producing the SVDK.  60% of the parts of the SVDK are interchangeable with the SVD, but there have been many changes, both for functionality and to accommodate the larger cartridge.  The SVDK uses the stock and pistol grip of the SDVS, and most of the furniture is made from black polymer; however the SVDS stock has been modified to include an adjustable cheekpiece and is made from polymer instead of steel.  The barrel is cold-hammer forged and 22.2 inches long, with a conical muzzle brake/flash suppressor and no bayonet lug.  A folding bipod is provided, with legs adjustable for height.  The top cover of the receiver has been strengthened by adding 0.3mm of thickness.  The SVDK has new iron sights appropriate to the new cartridge; though Russian literature says that the standard telescopic sight is the PSO-1, this is probably not completely true since the PSO-1 would be inadequate for the range of the 9.3mm SN cartridge.  It is more likely that the telescopic sights used are the new 6x24 and 8x24 sights, which are also often referred to as the PSO-1.

     There is one further variant of the SVD: The TSV-1 training rifle.  This is essentially an SVD which is modified to fire .22 Long Rifle ammunition; other than certain operating parts, the modifications include the magazines (they use inserts for the smaller cartridge) and a barrel insert.

     NORINCO in China makes their own version of the SVD and SVDS, called the Type 79 and Type 85 respectively.  They also make a version of the SVDM in 7.62mm NATO, called the NDM-86; this is designed for export, primarily to civilians.

     The Polish make what is possibly the ultimate version of the SVD: the SWD-M.  This version uses synthetic furniture and magazines, a light detachable bipod, and a new scope mount that in standard Polish Army issue uses a PCO LD 6x42 telescopic sight.  The barrel is the same 24.4 inches long, but tipped with a compact muzzle brake and using a heavier bull profile.  The SWD-M is not issued outside certain units of the Polish Army.

     Interesting fact: Romanian-made Dragunov magazines will not feed reliably in the Dragunovs of any other country.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The SVU is a very rare rifle in the Twilight 2000 timeline; the SVDK does not exist.  The SVDS is found only in 7.62mm Nagant caliber.  The SWD-M does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

TSKIB SOO MTs-116M

     Notes: Developed from the MTs-116 target rifle, the MTs-116M differs from it's target rifle cousin primarily in being magazine-fed and having a longer and better-quality barrel.  The MTs-116M uses a match-quality operating mechanism, including a trigger group adjustable for pull weight and travel.  The MTs-116M has a folding rear sight and a sight mount that can use both Russian and Western sight bases, including a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  The 25.6-inch barrel is cold-forged and match-quality, and tipped with a small flash suppressor.  The walnut stock has a deep-pocket pistol grip wrist, an adjustable cheekpiece, a butt adjustable for length and angle, and a rubber recoil pad.  The fore-end has finger grooves and a detachable bipod that is adjustable for height and cant.  Currently, the MTs-116M is produced only to order, and its customers are unknown.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The MTs-116M does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

TsKIB SOO OTs-48

     Notes: This is a Mosin-Nagant M-1891/38 Sniper’s Rifle brought up to late-20^th century standards.  It is a very different weapon than the old M-1891/38; other than the far superior construction and materials, the wooden stock is thicker and easier to grip, and is adjustable for length and cheekpiece.  The buttplate is also equipped with a recoil pad.  The detachable backup iron sights are far better than the primitive ones of the M-1891/38s, and the modified receiver is topped with a scope mount able to use the PSO-1 or PKS-07 telescopic sights.  The mount can also take the PKN-03 telescopic night scope. The 28.75-inch free-floating barrel is tipped with a large brake, which can be removed and replaced with a silencer or a conventional flash suppressor.  The OTs-48, if anything, is more rare than the OTs-48K below. 

     The OTs-48K differs significantly from the OTs-48 or the original Mosin-Nagant, as it uses a bullpup pattern.  Unusually for a bullpup weapon, the stock is still largely of wood. The bolt is operated while shooting with a secondary cocking handle attached to the bolt by a pair of hinged levers, allowing it to be placed well forward of the receiver in a more manageable position for the sniper.  The stock has a mostly straight-line profile, with a cheekpiece that rises upwards and to the side of the receiver for better scope use.  The buttplate and the rear of the stock is dropped a bit below the rest of the stock, where it fits better on the shoulder.  The OTs-48K is a handy but accurate weapon that is popular with Russian special operations snipers.

     Both of these rifles are very rare, as they are built only to military request to equip a relatively small amount of snipers in the Russian Army.  The OTs-48 and the OTs-48K are believed to have never been sold outside of Russia.

     Twilight 2000 Notes:  Unlike in the Real World, the OTs-48 is about twice as common as the OTs-48K in the Twilight 2000 timeline. The OTs-48K was believed to be merely a rumor until late 1997, when an example was captured in Western Romania after a Spetsnaz sniper team was killed.

TsNIITOCHMASH VSS Vintorez 

     Notes: This rifle was developed in tandem with the AS Silent Assault Rifle, and is essentially the same weapon with a longer and heavier barrel.  While the AS is designed for “general” special operations use by troops needing a silenced weapon, the VSS (more commonly called the Vintorez, meaning “thread cutter”) is meant for use as a sniper’s or assassin’s weapon.  The VSS is also related to the MA Vikhr short assault rifle, though there are many differences between the Vikhr and the VSS and most parts will not interchange. The VSS was first issued for service in 1987, but not generally known about in the West until the mid-1990s.

     Other than the slightly longer barrel, the VSS uses a silencer optimized specifically for the SP-6 AP cartridge.  The stock appears to be derived from that of the SVD, but is more rounded and compact, and has a ventilated recoil pad.  Operation is by gas and with a closed bolt; the VSS is known for an exceptionally-smooth action that is quiet and interferes little with the sniper’s accuracy.  The VSS has two selector switches; one takes the weapon on and off of safe, and the other allows for semiautomatic or automatic fire. The automatic fire capability of the AS has been retained and the VSS can also be employed as an assault rifle; however, prolonged use of automatic fire (according to some sources) may damage the silencer. The barrel is a mere 7.87 inches long, though the silencer appears to make this much longer.  The VSS is normally used with 10-round magazines, but can use any magazine designed for the VSS or AS rifles.

     The VSS is designed to be used with the PSO-1-1 telescopic sight, derived from the PSO-1 of the SVD; at night, this may be switched with the NSPU-3 3.46x image intensifying telescopic sight.  In addition, the PKS-07 telescopic collimator sight and the PKN-03 night vision scope of the AS Val may be used with the VSS.  Backup iron sights are also available.  No other scopes will fit on the VSS’s mounts without a lot of modification or a special adapter. 

     The case for the VSS is 450mm wide and 140mm thick.  The VSS was designed specifically for the assassination role; included with the cost of the weapon is a case big enough for the broken down rifle, a PSO-1-1 telescopic sight, an NPSU-3 image intensifier, and two 10-round magazines.  (The image intensifier and the magazines are not included in the cost of the weapon below.) 

     Twilight 2000 Notes:  It is not known how long the VSS has been around, but it was not manufactured in large numbers in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: Various concerns around the world have jumped on the VSS bandwagon, and sales have been brisk.

Tula/KPB VSK-94

     Notes: This is similar in appearance and function to the VSS Vintorez (below); however, the VSK-94 is a later development, based on the 9A-91 light assault rifle and meant to be a lower-priced competitor to the VSS.  The VSK-94 also fires SP5 and SP6 ammunition, and has a fixed skeletonized stock similar to that of the VSS.  (The stock can be detached if desired, but is not a folding stock, and the pistol grip is part of the stock.)  It retains the basic operation of the 9A-91 assault rifle, and therefore is capable of automatic fire. The VSK-94 has a longer barrel than the VSS at 9.06 inches, and the entire weapon is also somewhat longer.

     Like most Russian small arms, the scope mount is on the right side of the receiver; this may mount a telescopic sight (normally a 4x scope), but Russian night vision or laser aiming devices may also be used.  The VSK-94 also retains the iron sights of the 9A-91 rifle.  The selector is noted for being almost silent in operation.  The VSK-94 can be carried in a case similar to that of the VSS, though slightly larger.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This rifle is even rarer than the VSS in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: This rifle is more often found in the hands of law enforcement than the military.