Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Steyr Scout


ype General purpose rifle
Place of origin Austria
Production history
Manufacturer Steyr Mannlicher
Specifications
Weight 3.3 kg (7.28 lbs) (unloaded, no scope)
Length 103.9 cm (40.9 in)
Barrel length 50.8 cm (20 in)

Cartridge 5.56 x 45 mm NATO, .243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, 7.62x51mm NATO, .376 Steyr
Feed system 5 / 10 rounds detachable box magazines (4 / 8 rounds for .376 Steyr)




The Steyr Scout (also called the Mannlicher Scout to reflect the company's other name) is a modern scoped bolt-action rifle manufactured by Steyr Mannlicher and chambered primarily for 7.62 mm NATO (.308 Winchester), although other chamberings are offered commercially. It is intended to fill the role of a versatile, lightweight all-around rifle as specified in Jeff Cooper's scout rifle concept. Apart from the barrel and action, it is made primarily of polymers and is designed to be accurate to at least 300 - 400 meters. The Steyr Scout is also available in 5.56 mm NATO, .243 Winchester, .376 Steyr and 7mm-08 Remington.

Features

The Steyr Scout has the following features:

  • Removable box magazines w/ "magazine in reserve" setting for manual loading.
  • Second magazine stores in butt of weapon.
  • Light weight due to aluminum receiver housing, hammer forged fluted barrel, and extensive use of polymers.
  • Top and bottom integral Weaver/Picatinny rails.
  • Roller tang safety with "Locked Safe", "Loading", and "Fire" positions.
  • Bolt handle locks downward against receiver in "Locked Safe" mode.
  • User-adjustable trigger factory set at 3.5 lbs.
  • Reserve flip-up "ghost ring" iron sights.
  • Integral folding bipod.
  • Third attachment point for Ching Sling.

There were early reports of problems with the Steyr Scout rifle relating to breakage of the bipod pivot pin. The affected part was subsequently redesigned to improve its strength. "Aftermarket" pivot pin replacements are also available[1].

Some users find the bolt lift effort to be on the high (but not excessive) side due to steep profile of the cocking cam contained within the bolt. This can be eased somewhat by appropriate lubrication but a revised cam is available.

The other criticism has been of recurring light hits (primer strikes), particularly with early production runs. Factory recommended solutions have typically been adjust the spring to the next higher setting or to install a "high energy" firing pin kit or stiffer spring[2].

The Picatinny rail above the action and barrel allow either for conventional positioning of a scope with normal 1.5 in - 3.5 eye relief or for the forward placement of a "scout scope" with intermediate or long eye relief. The latter is more faithful to Cooper's Scout concept, and the Steyr-Mannlicher rifle can be ordered from the factory with a low-magnification Leupold scope with long eye relief.

Features

The Steyr Scout has the following features:

  • Removable box magazines w/ "magazine in reserve" setting for manual loading.
  • Second magazine stores in butt of weapon.
  • Light weight due to aluminum receiver housing, hammer forged fluted barrel, and extensive use of polymers.
  • Top and bottom integral Weaver/Picatinny rails.
  • Roller tang safety with "Locked Safe", "Loading", and "Fire" positions.
  • Bolt handle locks downward against receiver in "Locked Safe" mode.
  • User-adjustable trigger factory set at 3.5 lbs.
  • Reserve flip-up "ghost ring" iron sights.
  • Integral folding bipod.
  • Third attachment point for Ching Sling.

There were early reports of problems with the Steyr Scout rifle relating to breakage of the bipod pivot pin. The affected part was subsequently redesigned to improve its strength. "Aftermarket" pivot pin replacements are also available[1].

Some users find the bolt lift effort to be on the high (but not excessive) side due to steep profile of the cocking cam contained within the bolt. This can be eased somewhat by appropriate lubrication but a revised cam is available.

The other criticism has been of recurring light hits (primer strikes), particularly with early production runs. Factory recommended solutions have typically been adjust the spring to the next higher setting or to install a "high energy" firing pin kit or stiffer spring[2].

The Picatinny rail above the action and barrel allow either for conventional positioning of a scope with normal 1.5 in - 3.5 eye relief or for the forward placement of a "scout scope" with intermediate or long eye relief. The latter is more faithful to Cooper's Scout concept, and the Steyr-Mannlicher rifle can be ordered from the factory with a low-magnification Leupold scope with long eye relief.

VSS Vitorez


VSS Vintorez
Type
Sniper rifle
Place of origin
Russia
Service history
Used by
Spetsnaz, OSNAZ
Production history
Designer
Pyotr Serdyukov TsNIITochMash
Manufacturer
Tula Arsenal (TOZ)
Specifications
Weight
2.6 kg (with empty magazine)[1]3.4 kg (with scope)
Length
894 mm [1]
Barrel length
200 mm [2]
Cartridge
9 x 39 mm [1] SP-5, SP-6, PAB-9
Action
Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire
700 rounds per minute [1]
Muzzle velocity
290 m/s
Effective range
>400 m (day)>300 m (night)
Feed system
10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
Sights
Telescopic sight and Iron sight
The VSS (Russian: Винтовка Снайперская Специальная, Vintovka Snayperskaya Spetsialnaya), "Special Sniper Rifle", also named Vintorez (Thread Cutter), is a suppressed sniper rifle in use by various military and otherwise militant organizations, especially those of former Soviet states.
The VSS Vintorez was designed from the start to be a suppressed, flashless, sniper rifle. Taking advantage of the heavy subsonic 9 x 39 mm cartridge in combination with its integral sound suppressor, to be a quiet weapon. The heavy bullet is very effective at penetrating kevlar even with its sub-sonic speed. Its effective range is 400 meters.[1] The VSS is normally used in semi-automatic, but it is capable of automatic fire.
Since the VSS is meant for use in discreet operations, the VSS can be broken down into three parts to be carried in a special 450 x 370 x 140 mm briefcase. The briefcase also has space for a PSO-1 scope, a NSPU-3 night vision device, and two magazines.