AS Val (Avtomat Special'nyj)

History

The AS Val was a Soviet-era dedicated automatic firearm - essentially an assault rifle weapon system fitted with a permanent silencer for covert operations. The weapon was designed by the National Design Bureau TsNITITochMash, while production was entrusted to the famous Tula Arms Factory, which, surprisingly, has existed since 1712.

The AS Val first appeared in Soviet inventories in 1987 and has since been (mainly) issued to special forces (including special forces) and top security organizations, although over time it has also become a staple of the regular Soviet and Russian armies.

At the heart of the AS Val is its "subsonic" ammo, which works really well with the silencer assembly. The weapon holds the 9x39mm SP-6 cartridge, a 7.62x39mm rifle caliber casing with a special "widened" neck designed to accept 9mm bullets - the latter is a semi-automatic pistol and submachine gun A very common cartridge gun in . Since its introduction, this modified Soviet-Russian cartridge has been increasingly used in other specialized weapon families of the Russian military.

Overall, the AS Val is the key to the stealth that certain combat elements demand - in this case, taking out an unsuspecting Sentinel or getting out of trouble without drawing undue attention is a trademark.

The AS's firing behavior can be traced back to the tried and true Kalashnikov pattern, including conventional gas operations using rotating bolts. As with other Kalashnikov rifles, the gas cylinder is located above the barrel. The rate of fire is about 900 rounds per minute, and the muzzle velocity is about 970 feet per second.

Like most "silenced" weapons, the range is limited compared to traditional non-silenced assault rifles - the AS Val has a range of up to 300 yards and a maximum "range" of 400 yards. This is mainly due to the heavier cartridge and silencer system, both of which significantly reduce muzzle velocity.

The extended stock gives the weapon an overall length of 35 inches, while the folding stock creates a more compact 24" form - ideal for close quarters combat. Curb weight is approximately 6 lbs.

To date, AS Val has seen published combat operations in the 1st and 2nd Chechen wars and the brief Georgia conflict in 2008. In the latter operation, both Russian and Georgian special forces used the weapon.

The name "AS" is derived from the Russian term "Avtomat Special'nyj", which means "special automatic rifle". The name "Val", which translates to "stock", unambiguously identifies the long silencer attached to the weapon.

The VSS "Vintorez" silenced sniper rifle is very similar in design to the AS Val silenced assault rifle, but differs in appearance, with its fixed hollow stock and special telescopic sight for remote work.

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