The VSS Vintorez

Introduction:

The VSS Vintorez is a integrally suppressed marksman's rifle design by the Soviet Union for use in clandestine operations with Spetsnaz units. The rifle is design to be, above all, extremely quiet, while also packing enough of a punch at range to be effective. The rifles are essentially unobtaninum in the United States, so don't get your hopes up on being able to shoot one, but they are extremely interesting in how they function. Although they are aesthetically similar to an AK-type rifle, like the Dragunov, the Vintorez has an entirely different mode of operation when compared to an AK rifle. 

Details:

Part of what makes the VSS so quiet is the round it fires. The 9x39mm cartridge is a subsonic ~230 grain 9mm round, that leaves the barrel of the VSS at around 950ft/second. This gives similar performance, weight and speed-wise, to .45 ACP. There are a variety of different loadings, but certain ones are purported to have the ability to pierce hard body armor. 

The cartridge is basically a necked-up 7.62x39 case with a large 9mm bullet. Its subsonic speed combined with the integrated suppressor of the VSS makes for a very quiet package. The actual operating parts of the VSS are extremely interesting in and of themselves. It is a long-stroke gas piston system, much like an AK, but it is striker fired and utilized a 6 lug rotating bolt. 

The integrated suppressor makes up much of the overall length of the gun, making up for the short, 8 inch barrel. The barrel actually has a lot in common with the MP5SD in that it actually has ports drilled into it. These holes allow gas to vent out well before the bullet reaches the end of the muzzle. This functions to make the rifle much quieter overall, and will actually bleed off enough gas to reduce supersonic bullets to subsonic speeds. On top of all this, it allows the suppressor to be shorter, leading to a shorter overall length. 

Use:

The VSS has been seen in use by Russian forces and Russian proxies in Ukraine. Russian Spetsnaz units in Crimea have been seen using the rifle during the initial invasion as well as during the subsequent occupation.

Here you can see a Russian-backed seperatist with not one, but TWO VSS rifles. This picture was reportedly taken in the Donbass region of Ukraine, where Russian forces and their proxies have been operating.  The fact that this guy has two of these rifles would suggest that they're in fairly common use. 

Here you can see a masked Russian soldier with his Vintorez watching thsi woman walk by. Although the official Russian position was that these were Ukrainian "self-defense forces", it seems pretty obvious to just about everyone on Earth that there are Russian soldiers operating in Ukraine back in 2014.

Conclusion

The VSS Vintorez is one of those "bad guy" guns that I think is just one of the coolest things. It has a strong mix of sophistication and old-school soviet grit. It was designed for a very particular purpose, and it fulfills that role perfectly. The rifle itself is quiet, effective, and reliable. The cartridge is heavy and hard-hitting. Both of these make for a great special purpose rifle.