Sniper rifles "Val". Assault rifle "Val"

Armory family "Val" includes several types of small arms. Most of them are based on unique developments that are not used anywhere else in the world. Automata and rifles "Val" have a number of features that distinguish them from the environment of the rest of the weapons of war.

History of creation. Echoes of the Cold War

In times of increased confrontation between the USSR and the United States, when the geography of active wars and armed conflicts was already quite extensive, and even could expand at any time, the development of new weapons was more urgent than ever. Everything was significant: from nuclear submarines to small arms for close combat. The rifle "Vintorez" was developed in the 1970s and was adopted in the late 1980s. The first to appreciate its advantages were the KGB officers, reconnaissance units, parts of the Interior Ministry troops. A new weapon was designed to defeat targets in special conditions with sniper fire. The rifle made it possible to fire silently by using the silencer. This weapon was used to defeat the enemy's manpower and damage to unarmored equipment.

New development

Excellent showing himself in battle, "Vintorez" was the basis for the regular development of TsNIITOCHMASH. It was decided to create on its base a fundamentally new weapon, combining the advantages of a sniper rifle and machine gun. The novelty was originally conceived as an assault precision weapon.

So there was "Val" - a special-purpose machine, which could be used with equal success by scouts, attack planes and snipers. The machines and rifles "Val" are almost identical, the differences concern only the shape of the butts and the number of cartridges in the staff store. Over time, the very name "Val" became accustomed to both types of weapons, replacing the familiar name "Vintorez."

Silent shooting

Rifles "Val" can be equipped with silencers. Sound muffling is due to the integrating principle. The bullet passes several holes in the barrel, the powder gases sequentially seep through them into the silencer chamber. The temperature of the gases drops, their volume and pressure on the exhaust are reduced. In addition, a single sound is divided into components. The final sound waves are reflected from the oblique separator partitions, overlapping and mutually absorbing.

Hidden carrying

In addition to quiet shooting, the rifle "Val" can also be carried over covertly. To do this, remove the sight, silencer and butt. The disassembled rifle will fit into a normal suitcase or sports bag, the dimensions of which are not less than 37: 27: 4.5 cm.

Structure

The design is extremely simple. A special feature of the rifle is the shock-trigger mechanism, consisting of a drummer and a pair of searches. One of them is intended for automatic fire, the second for a single fire. The very principle of automation and locking is analogous to the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Sniper rifles "Vintorez" and the machine "Val" consist of a barrel with a receiver, butt, silencer, sighting devices, the gate frame with a piston, the bolt itself, the shock, return and release mechanisms, gas tube, forehead, receiver cover and staffing Store. The operation of the automatic system is based on the principle of the removal of powder gases from the barrel channel into the gas chamber, and this channel is locked by turning the shutter with six projections. A gas piston is rigidly connected to the shutter frame. Inside, it is a hollow, return-fighting spring that enters into it with the front end. The fuse box is located on the right, it closes the groove for the recharge arm, protecting the box from dust and dirt. The mechanism for transferring fire regimes is located in the trigger guard, behind the trigger. If you bring it to the horizontal position, you can lead a single fire, while moving to the left - automatic shooting. The recharge handle is to the right of the receiver. Sights include an open sector sight, mounted on the muffler body, and flies in the namushnik. The plastic box magazine has a capacity of 10 cartridges.

Folding metal hollow butt - a feature of the machine "Val", the sniper rifle also has a wooden butt with a rubber back, similar in shape to the butt SVD. Speaking about the features of the weapons of the family "Val", we can not fail to mention the unique structure of the trunk. Its front part is closed by a silencer, it has 6 rows of through holes. When a shot is fired and the bullet passes through the barrel, gunpowder gases emerge through these openings, then into the silencer cylinder, where they are sequentially dispersed, go into the expansion chambers and separator, breaking into intermittent flows. Their cooling takes place in a grid-radiator. The separator has several partitions located at different angles relative to the axis of the barrel bore. This design, along with the use of the SP-5 cartridge, significantly reduces the level of unmasking sounds and flares.

Cartridges

Assault rifle "Val", unlike most snipers can lead as a single fire, and shooting bursts. The cartridges of SP-5 and SP-6 are suitable for this weapon. Bullet cartridge SP-6 has a powder charge and a steel core, thanks to which is 20% more powerful than SP-5. Such a bullet can penetrate a six-millimeter sheet of steel from a distance of 200 meters. At shooting from a half-kilometer distance such bullet is capable to flash 2-millimetric steel and to battle the live purposes which are behind it. But experts do not recommend using the "six" without necessity, as they wear out their weapons faster. For training firing and defeating unarmored targets, the SP-5 cartridge is used.

Ballistics of these two cartridges is different along the trajectory, therefore the rifle must be shot separately with each of the ammunition.

Features of fire

When testing the rifle it was found that at a distance of up to half a kilometer you can quite successfully shoot it from sight. Of course, in this "Val" is inferior to analogs, specializing exclusively in sniper shooting. For example, the legendary SVD exceeds this figure by half. However, the specific nature of the assault rifle is somewhat different. When conducting fire on the body of the body, you can successfully hit targets from four hundred meters. In order to get into the enemy's head, you need to get close to him for 200 meters.

For easier operation, the arrow of the rifle "Val" can be equipped with an optical sight PSO-1 and night sight NSPU-3. It is possible to install a collimator or other optics.

Application in battle

Each type of weapon is designed to perform its tasks. From the selected species depends and the behavior of the fighter, because in battle, the shooter and his weapons become one. Here you can not fail to mention that neither "Vintorez", nor especially "Val" exclusively sniper weapons are not. They are intended more likely for assault and reconnaissance-sabotage operations. Therefore, the choice in favor of this weapon should be made even during the development of the operation, and not immediately in front of it, much less during it. Any review of the rifle "Val" in detail tells us that this weapon can perfectly show itself where the shooter can not "shine". Possibility of concealed carrying, small dimensions, relatively low weight, advanced muffler, excellent flame-extinguishing system - all these are unconditional advantages that allow the fighter to disguise himself as much as possible. Work from this weapon can be quiet and neat, while not losing mobility and the ability to quietly disappear.

However, these advantages also have a reverse side, which excludes the possibility of frequent and prolonged use. This weapon is unable to withstand a prolonged battle - after the shooting of three complete shops accuracy of aimed shooting is significantly reduced. In addition, the mechanisms begin to work with a delay. Especially it is possible to feel it in wet weather, when the powder deposit starts to "swell". Clean the rifle as often as possible.

In difference from what the "Val" AS can do, the rifle "Vintorez" and the bursts can shoot for a short time. Even if we are not talking about high-precision aiming, problems remain. The reason for this is the small backlash, and the abundance of plastic used to reduce weight. Therefore, where it is necessary to fire the queues, professionals prefer it. It has a big return in comparison with the rifle, but not so significant that it could become a serious problem.

Non-military use

Love for weapons often happens not only among professional advocates of law and order and territorial integrity. It often attracts civilians. And demand, as you know, gives rise to a proposal. Therefore, manufacturers of weapons for airsoft, paintball and laser tag with great interest took up the development of non-combat analogues of "Vintorez" and "Vala". Their appearance is almost identical, only the store is designed for special ammunition. The rifle "Val" airsoft shoots special balls. In appearance, it looks like a fighting one, like a twin sister. For the laser tag, a pneumatic rifle "Val" equipped with a laser device is used.

You can also use those weapons to fight those who do not leave the house. Manufacturers of games-shooters also did not ignore the armory family "Val". For example, in the legendary GTA series there is a choice of both an automaton and a rifle.

Prospects

What is the future of the brainchild of the Tula plant? Will it repeat the fate of the legendary "Kalash", over the years of its existence, who has broken all records on popularity? The issue remains open, even if we consider that the rifle Val, whose price is lower than that of the approximate analogues from the Kalashnikov family, is more affordable (the pneumatics costs from 20,000 rubles). Predict the future is difficult, but we can say with confidence that the start of the project was pretty successful. For the years of its existence, the rifles Val did not acquire any serious competitor in its class. The tasks they perform are excellent. Those who happened to use this weapon in battle say one thing about one thing: using it to defeat the commander and part of the group is possible even before the enemy realizes that something is happening.

Like any other weapon, well-proven, this rifle fell in the field of view of the mafia. The lightweight "Vintorez" and the AS "Val" of the criminal of the criminal world can be stashed in a case or bag, by deceiving the guards who called the order. The ability to silently neutralize a competitor is no less important for him than a compact size.

This rifle was used not only by special forces, but also by front-line soldiers during the conflicts in Chechnya, Yugoslavia and other hot spots. Today, "Vintorez" and "Val" can be found not only in Russia, but also in the countries of the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa, where they have long and successfully exported. Surprisingly, even among the countries wishing to acquire this weapon, there is even the United States. "Silent death" - this is the name of this rifle steep NATO soldiers, often preferring it to the leading development of their militarized homeland.