SV-99 Sniper Rifle.
This new rifle in caliber .22 LR has a compact envelope: exactly 1,000 mm long. The weapon has been designed and made by the IZHMASH Joint Stock Company to the technical requirements of SPETSNAZ - Russia's special force.
From the point of view of its construction, SV-99 has a few interesting and unique features.
First of all, the caliber. There is a joke among Russian arms designers: those who are used to developing "serious" assault or large-caliber sniper rifles, they mockingly call the .22LR weapons nothing but "fly killers", which means, this caliber is treated like something unacceptable for a combat weapon. Of course, this is only a joke.
In fact, my recent research on sniper rifles developed by various companies around the globe reveals that the "sharps" industry has a strong tendency towards larger calibers: .338 Lapua Magnum, 12.7 mm and even 20 mm. SV-99 is probably the only true sniper rifle with the bore's diameter of 5.6 mm only. I would mislead readers if I'd say that sniper rifles in .22LR has never been in practice. I was told by Vietnam veterans that Viet Cong fighters used old TOZ 5.6 mm plinkers as weapons of close combat and sniper rifles successfully deployed in towns. Similar reports I had from the snipers who took part in the actions in Chechnya: Standard hunting .22LR "Sobol" rifles were used in the "snipers' war" in Grozniy. Smart guys, they used plastic bottles with tiny holes in the bottom and attached to rifle's muzzle as silencers! They said, such rifles were compact, accurate at close ranges. Fired from internal premises (a room, a hideout, etc.) small-caliber rifles produced very low sound blast that could hardly be heard at a distance of over 100 meters. Their "quietness" and accuracy was the important factor that made "fly killers" so effective as an anti-personnel weapon. I remember, one sniper was saying: - If a target is closer than 100 meters, You don't have to defeat a ballistic jacket. An exposed neck, face or head is just enough! And the gun is so "quiet"...
So, I was not entirely surprised when I heard a word from one of my friends in the R&D center that IZHMASH was working on a new small-caliber sniper rifle.
A few days ago I was able to thoroughly examine the SV-99 rifle.
Locking of the straight-pull bolt of the crank-shaft type is achieved by a lever arrangement that retains the bolt in locking position by the dead point of the traction link of the cocking lever. Once the bolt is in battery, it cannot be unlocked without applying a side shoulder of the cocking lever. This mechanism is derived from the construction of the winter Biathlon rifle, also devised by the IZHMASH Joint Stock company. SV-99 has a detachable buttstock which, if required by a tactical situation, can be replaced by a pistol grip. Stock is made from laminated plywood. A knob located on the rear left side of the barrel and receiver assembly serves to release the stock and attach the grip. This shorter envelope is handy in a combat at close ranges.
The safety lever is located at the front part of the trigger guard. Once the safety is in its rearmost position, the rifle is deactivated by blocking both action and trigger. To bring the rifle into firing order, push safety forward.
The rifle is magazine fed. The plastic detachable box-type magazine accommodates 5 rounds. The rifle's magazine port can accept 8-round and 10-round magazines. There are two 5-round extra magazines inside a special niche located inside the lower portion of the buttstock. The niche has a plastic hinged cover which prevents magazines from unwanted dust and debris. The buttstock has a fully adjustable cheek and buttplate to ensure operator' s comfort at firing. A telescopic bipod attaches to a rail located inside the lower surface of the handguard.
The threaded muzzle end of the barrel can be equipped with a compact silencer.
Ontop the receiver there is a dove-tail rail to accommodate practically any type of a telescope. SV-99 has no iron sights.
The rifle can be knocked down in a few moments, thus making it very handy for transportation in a medium-sized bag or case. Its longest assembly - a barrel and receiver with handguard - is only 520 mm long.
SV-99 comes complete with the following accessories:
- 2 extra magazines;
- telescopic bipod;
- pistol grip;
- silencer;
- carrying sling;
- cleaning kit including cleaning rod.
http://club.guns.ru/eng/sv99.html
Ruger 10/22 Suppressed Sniper Rifle
The Ruger 10/22 is a fully suppressed 0.22 caliber semi auto sniper rifle with a 10 rounds rotary magazine.
In 1987, the Intifada - the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli regime in the Occupied Territories - broke out, and involved mass violent clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians protestors. As a result, the Israeli security forces needed a weapon with a more potent firepower then the standard riot control metal covered rubber round, but at the same time less lethal then the standard issue 5.56 mm round of the M16/Galil assault rifles. So the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) searched for a 0.22 caliber accurate rifle that will be used to take out the key protest leaders by shooting them in the legs.
The Ruger 10/22, fitted with a X4 day optic, a full length suppressor and a Harris bipod was selected for this role and was due to be issued to all infantry oriented units, including both special and conventional forces. However, as often happens in the shoestring budget IDF, financial problems prevented the weapon's mass distribution, and it was mainly issued to Special Forces (SF) units. Moreover, instead of using the rifle as a riot control weapon, as originally intended, the Israeli SF deployed the Ruger 10/22 more as a "Hush Puppy" weapon used to silently and effectively eliminate disturbing dogs prior to operations.
In the recent Israeli-Palestinian clashes began in 2000, the Ruger resumes it's original role as a less lethal riot control weapon. However, it's usage in this role was rather controversial this time. After several incidents involving the death of Palestinians by the Ruger fire, the IDF conducted a field experiment in the Ruger at the IDF Sniper School in Mitkan Adam under the supervision of the IDF Judge Advocate General (JAG). The test showed that the Ruger was more lethal then thought especially in upper body injuries. Also, since it's suppressed and was considered less lethal by the troops, the soldiers were much more likely to use the Ruger loosely then intended.
As a result of this test, the JAG reclassified the Ruger as a lethal weapon. As a lethal weapon, the usage of the Ruger in riot control is much more limited today. In the IDF Center Command it was completely prohibited to use and the IDF South Command it's deployment was cut down dramatically.
http://www.ruger1022.com/docs/israeli_sniper.htm
This new rifle in caliber .22 LR has a compact envelope: exactly 1,000 mm long. The weapon has been designed and made by the IZHMASH Joint Stock Company to the technical requirements of SPETSNAZ - Russia's special force.
From the point of view of its construction, SV-99 has a few interesting and unique features.
First of all, the caliber. There is a joke among Russian arms designers: those who are used to developing "serious" assault or large-caliber sniper rifles, they mockingly call the .22LR weapons nothing but "fly killers", which means, this caliber is treated like something unacceptable for a combat weapon. Of course, this is only a joke.
In fact, my recent research on sniper rifles developed by various companies around the globe reveals that the "sharps" industry has a strong tendency towards larger calibers: .338 Lapua Magnum, 12.7 mm and even 20 mm. SV-99 is probably the only true sniper rifle with the bore's diameter of 5.6 mm only. I would mislead readers if I'd say that sniper rifles in .22LR has never been in practice. I was told by Vietnam veterans that Viet Cong fighters used old TOZ 5.6 mm plinkers as weapons of close combat and sniper rifles successfully deployed in towns. Similar reports I had from the snipers who took part in the actions in Chechnya: Standard hunting .22LR "Sobol" rifles were used in the "snipers' war" in Grozniy. Smart guys, they used plastic bottles with tiny holes in the bottom and attached to rifle's muzzle as silencers! They said, such rifles were compact, accurate at close ranges. Fired from internal premises (a room, a hideout, etc.) small-caliber rifles produced very low sound blast that could hardly be heard at a distance of over 100 meters. Their "quietness" and accuracy was the important factor that made "fly killers" so effective as an anti-personnel weapon. I remember, one sniper was saying: - If a target is closer than 100 meters, You don't have to defeat a ballistic jacket. An exposed neck, face or head is just enough! And the gun is so "quiet"...
So, I was not entirely surprised when I heard a word from one of my friends in the R&D center that IZHMASH was working on a new small-caliber sniper rifle.
A few days ago I was able to thoroughly examine the SV-99 rifle.
Locking of the straight-pull bolt of the crank-shaft type is achieved by a lever arrangement that retains the bolt in locking position by the dead point of the traction link of the cocking lever. Once the bolt is in battery, it cannot be unlocked without applying a side shoulder of the cocking lever. This mechanism is derived from the construction of the winter Biathlon rifle, also devised by the IZHMASH Joint Stock company. SV-99 has a detachable buttstock which, if required by a tactical situation, can be replaced by a pistol grip. Stock is made from laminated plywood. A knob located on the rear left side of the barrel and receiver assembly serves to release the stock and attach the grip. This shorter envelope is handy in a combat at close ranges.
The safety lever is located at the front part of the trigger guard. Once the safety is in its rearmost position, the rifle is deactivated by blocking both action and trigger. To bring the rifle into firing order, push safety forward.
The rifle is magazine fed. The plastic detachable box-type magazine accommodates 5 rounds. The rifle's magazine port can accept 8-round and 10-round magazines. There are two 5-round extra magazines inside a special niche located inside the lower portion of the buttstock. The niche has a plastic hinged cover which prevents magazines from unwanted dust and debris. The buttstock has a fully adjustable cheek and buttplate to ensure operator' s comfort at firing. A telescopic bipod attaches to a rail located inside the lower surface of the handguard.
The threaded muzzle end of the barrel can be equipped with a compact silencer.
Ontop the receiver there is a dove-tail rail to accommodate practically any type of a telescope. SV-99 has no iron sights.
The rifle can be knocked down in a few moments, thus making it very handy for transportation in a medium-sized bag or case. Its longest assembly - a barrel and receiver with handguard - is only 520 mm long.
SV-99 comes complete with the following accessories:
- 2 extra magazines;
- telescopic bipod;
- pistol grip;
- silencer;
- carrying sling;
- cleaning kit including cleaning rod.
http://club.guns.ru/eng/sv99.html
Ruger 10/22 Suppressed Sniper Rifle
The Ruger 10/22 is a fully suppressed 0.22 caliber semi auto sniper rifle with a 10 rounds rotary magazine.
In 1987, the Intifada - the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli regime in the Occupied Territories - broke out, and involved mass violent clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians protestors. As a result, the Israeli security forces needed a weapon with a more potent firepower then the standard riot control metal covered rubber round, but at the same time less lethal then the standard issue 5.56 mm round of the M16/Galil assault rifles. So the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) searched for a 0.22 caliber accurate rifle that will be used to take out the key protest leaders by shooting them in the legs.
The Ruger 10/22, fitted with a X4 day optic, a full length suppressor and a Harris bipod was selected for this role and was due to be issued to all infantry oriented units, including both special and conventional forces. However, as often happens in the shoestring budget IDF, financial problems prevented the weapon's mass distribution, and it was mainly issued to Special Forces (SF) units. Moreover, instead of using the rifle as a riot control weapon, as originally intended, the Israeli SF deployed the Ruger 10/22 more as a "Hush Puppy" weapon used to silently and effectively eliminate disturbing dogs prior to operations.
In the recent Israeli-Palestinian clashes began in 2000, the Ruger resumes it's original role as a less lethal riot control weapon. However, it's usage in this role was rather controversial this time. After several incidents involving the death of Palestinians by the Ruger fire, the IDF conducted a field experiment in the Ruger at the IDF Sniper School in Mitkan Adam under the supervision of the IDF Judge Advocate General (JAG). The test showed that the Ruger was more lethal then thought especially in upper body injuries. Also, since it's suppressed and was considered less lethal by the troops, the soldiers were much more likely to use the Ruger loosely then intended.
As a result of this test, the JAG reclassified the Ruger as a lethal weapon. As a lethal weapon, the usage of the Ruger in riot control is much more limited today. In the IDF Center Command it was completely prohibited to use and the IDF South Command it's deployment was cut down dramatically.
http://www.ruger1022.com/docs/israeli_sniper.htm
