Russian Sniper Rifles

This is the Shakhin thermal weapon scope, and as you can see it is more angular than the scope shown.

I would need to know more about the source of the image before I comment on its origin... is it in service, or testing.

It appears to have a rounded shape to it, but Russian optics companies are in the process of mastering 2nd and 3rd gen thermal imagers so it could come from any of a number of makers.

Shakhin scope in use...

Can anyone recognize these 3 types of weapons?

SVDS with aftermarket stock

T-5000 from ORSIS

AK-107 with 60 round mag

*Still trying to figure out what model of collimator sight that is

This new photo from the side shows the scope is new, the system is called Ratnik and is about their third iteration of a super soldier system. The first two were called Permyachka I and II.

SVDS with standard black stock, bipod attachment, new design folding stock, and rail mount on the top of the receiver for optics.

for others see Zivos post.

Good catch, thanks.

I just noticed the T-5000 was missing its bolt during that photoshoot.

Zivo wrote:I just noticed the T-5000 was missing its bolt during that photoshoot.

It's because the photos are staged. Maybe he was in the process of cleaning it and a camera crew asked him to get up and pose for a picture, who knows. It's also probably the reason they have their fingers on the trigger when they shouldn't (at least that's what I'm hoping. .)

These sexy new rifles make SV-98 look like peasant crap.

It's like an Atlas compared to a Teodore!
Borderlands anyone ?

At a recent shooting match the T-5000 came first, a Sako TRG came second and an SV-98 came third.

The SV-98 is not a bad rifle and should be rather accurate.



I actually think the older SV-98 looks better than the new model with the folding stock because the latter just looks like all the other new plastic sniper rifles... though I think it would look better in black rather than green, and of course modern resin/thermoplastic rather than wood.

I just noticed the T-5000 was missing its bolt during that photoshoot.

When the mission is to get your photo taken, then the bolt... along with ammo become surplus to requirements.

It's also probably the reason they have their fingers on the trigger when they shouldn't (at least that's what I'm hoping. .)

I rather doubt they would have their best trained special forces acting as clothes horses for the media...

Besides when there is no bolt in the weapon... "trigger discipline" is just anal.

Ah, just what I was hoping for, some footage from TvZvezda.

It's nothing amazing, but I think it's worth posting

http://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201209280954-l5ih.htm

http://nightvision.ru/en/catalog/5/item/158

Could be redesigned Dedal-T thermal imaging scope.

Certainly could be.

It is funny that a few years ago none of the Russian optics companies even mentioned thermal sights, but now most of them have sections on thermal weapons scopes and hand held viewers.

This rifle has a pretty cool calibre  9x64mm but just how useful is it? Can it be fired while standing and is its role an itermediate  type between the 7,62mm sniper rifles and the 50 cal AMRs? Has it entered service yet?

It was initially intended as a calibre to use against enemy troops with vests on out to 600m or so.

In many ways it is a bit like a 7.62 x 54Rmm round but with a much heavier bullet.

It appears as though they have dropped their interest in the round in favour of their own version of the 338LM round which has rather better performance, including accuracy to 1,500m with good effect against vest wearing targets.

The 9.3 x 64mm is a popular hunting calibre in Europe so it might sell as a sporting weapon guess, but for shorter range work to 600m or so they now have the 12.7 x 55mm round which combines bullet weight with subsonic options as well.

I always thought the .338 Lapua was overpowered. Something like a 7mm remington magnum would be more suitable I think.

The key is transonic bullet speed.

When bullets change from supersonic to subsonic speed they can be quite erratic and their accuracy can suffer.

For most modern 308s that speed transition is between 800m and 1,000m or so, though a special long range bullet of optimum shape can improve it.

The problem for most armies however is that their standard 308s are accurate and effective to 800-900m or so, and a decent rifle costs $5-$8 thousands dollars and weighs about 6-7kgs. The other weapons they commonly have are 50 cal weapons that can weigh from 12-15kgs that have effective ranges up to 2km or more but as well as being heavy are very expensive... often $20-$25 thousand dollars.

The 338 LM round in its original form was optimised for the 1,000-1,200m range in a rifle that weighs 8-10kgs and costs $10-$12 thousand dollars.

It basically fills a gap in range performance and also in weight and cost.

If you want to shoot at vehicles or targets wearing body armour at max range then a 50 cal or even 57 cal can do the job, but if you want to just sit out of small arms fire range but not carry a rifle that weighs so much it needs two men to carry it then a 338LM fits that gap.

The new 338LM probably has an effective range of 1.5km so in many cases targets that would otherwise have required a heavy expensive 50 cal can be taken with a lighter cheaper rifle.

GarryB wrote:The key is transonic bullet speed.

When bullets change from supersonic to subsonic speed they can be quite erratic and their accuracy can suffer.

For most modern 308s that speed transition is between 800m and 1,000m or so, though a special long range bullet of optimum shape can improve it.

The problem for most armies however is that their standard 308s are accurate and effective to 800-900m or so, and a decent rifle costs $5-$8 thousands dollars and weighs about 6-7kgs. The other weapons they commonly have are 50 cal weapons that can weigh from 12-15kgs that have effective ranges up to 2km or more but as well as being heavy are very expensive... often $20-$25 thousand dollars.

The 338 LM round in its original form was optimised for the 1,000-1,200m range in a rifle that weighs 8-10kgs and costs $10-$12 thousand dollars.

It basically fills a gap in range performance and also in weight and cost.

If you want to shoot at vehicles or targets wearing body armour at max range then a 50 cal or even 57 cal can do the job, but if you want to just sit out of small arms fire range but not carry a rifle that weighs so much it needs two men to carry it then a 338LM fits that gap.

The new 338LM probably has an effective range of 1.5km so in many cases targets that would otherwise have required a heavy expensive 50 cal can be taken with a lighter cheaper rifle.

I imagine they've already considered improved .308 rounds with a longer distance because they would be cheaper than adopting a new round, but they probably didn't cut it. Snipers in Afghanistan went to .300 winchester magnum. And they seem to be switching to .338 Lapua.

I've toyed with the idea that you could build a .308 bullpup sniper with a 30+ inch barrel to try and squeeze out as much velocity as possible so you wouldn't need a .300 magnum or .338 lapua, but I think there's only so much velocity you can squeeze out depending on the barrel length,powder, and bullet weight.

Yeah, the problem with such a specialist rifle is that a round optimised for that particular setup would work best, but would not be much use for any other rifle in that calibre.

You end up with a specialist rifle and specialist ammo... when you could have gone for a 338 LM rifle and ammo with much better performance.

Upgraded KVSK? I don't think I've ever seen the right side of this gun before.

Other than the black synthetic stock it looks pretty standard.

The bolt to operate the weapon is visible in front of the guys hand on the pistol grip.

This weapon is a bolt action bullpup rifle with a 5 shot mag in 12.7 x 108mm.

A very potent weapon, though not optimised for long ranges.

I really like these photos, especially the first one. Kudos to Raden5 from MP.Net for finding them.

GarryB wrote:Other than the black synthetic stock it looks pretty standard.

The bolt to operate the weapon is visible in front of the guys hand on the pistol grip.

This weapon is a bolt action bullpup rifle with a 5 shot mag in 12.7 x 108mm.

A very potent weapon, though not optimised for long ranges.

I've read that the low performance over long ranges with the KSVK is due to there only being machine gun ammo to fire from it.

Has this problem been fixed? If not, are there any steps being taken to do so?

Really awesome pics. Hope all that equipment actually gets issued.