KSVK 12.7 mm (Russia)

Caliber(s): 12.7x108 mm (.50 Russian)
Operation: manually operated, bolt action rifle
Barrel: 1000 mm
Weight: 12 kg w/o scope
Length: 1400 mm
Feed Mechanism: 5 rounds detachable box mag.

the KSVK anti-materiel (or large caliber sniper) rifle was developed in the late 1990s by ZID pland, based in Kovrov, Russia. It is based on the SVN-98 12.7mm experimental rifle. Initially known as ASVK, KSVK is currently used in small numbers by varius Russian Special Operation units in Checnya as a counter-sniper rifle, capable of penetrating a brick or a thick wooden walls and disabling terrorists hiding behind it.

KSVK is a bullpup configured, bolt operated, magazine fed rifle. It is equipped with massive muzzle device which acts as an effective muzzle brake and a sound damper. KSVK is equipped with standard Russian side-mounted scope rail, and can be fitted with variety of day and night scopes. Open iron sights are installed for backup or emergency purposes.

The key problem with KSVK, and with any other 12.7mm rifles in Russia is a general unavailability of the "sniper-grade" 12.7 mm ammunition. With general issue, machine gun grade 12.7 mm ammo KSVK groups are averaged at 16 cm at 300 meters, and if a sniper quality 12.7mm ammo will become available, accuracy will increase significantly.

Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle (Russia)

Caliber: 5.45x39, 5.56x45, 7,62x39; 7,62x51 NATO

Action: Gas operated, rotary bolt

Length, mm: 945 / 725

Barrel length, mm: 415

Weight, kg: 3.3 (less magazine)

Rate of fire, rounds/minute: 600/1000

Magazine capacity, rounds: 30 or 60

Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle is a newest creation of the IZMASH factory. It is intended to replace in production older Kalashnikov AK-74M and AK-100-series rifles for domestic use (by Russian army and LE), as well as for export. It was first displayed to press in January, 2012, and is believed to be still in development. AK-12 apparently stands for “Avtomat Kalashnikova, 2012”.  Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle is planned to be available in two versions – “light” and “heavy”, with former adapted for cartridges like 5.45x39, 5.56x45, 6.5 Grendel  and 7,62x39, and the latter for more powerful cartridges like 7,62x51 NATO. The main goal in development of the Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle appears to be to improve ergonomics and tactical flexibility of the weapon, while maintaining traditional high reliability and simplicity of the parent weapon. It is yet to be seen if Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle will live up to these expectations.

Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle is gas operated, selective fire weapon using traditional “Kalashnikov type” action with long stroke gas piston and rotary bolt locking. Barrel has improved rifling for better accuracy, and a revised muzzle brake with NATO-standard external diameter of 22mm, allowing launching of rifle grenades of foreign manufacture. The receiver is redesigned, key modification being new top cover of more rigid design. It is hinged at the front and opens up and forward for disassembly and maintenance. Top cover latch release lever is located at the rear of receiver, right side, behind the safety. 

Safety / fire selector unit is also revised, to provide more ergonomic ambidextrous switch with 4 positions (Safe, Semi-auto, 3-rd bursts, Automatic). Safety / selector levers are located above the pistol grip, at both sides of the gun. Charging handle is moved forward to be removably  attached to the gas piston, and can be installed on either side of the gun.  New side-folding, telescoping adjustable stock is provided for AK-12. Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle features integral Picatinny rail at the top cover, and additional accessory rails at the top and both sides of the forend. Bottom section of the forend is available in two versions – with rail (to accept various ‘tactical’ accessories like lights and foregrips) or plain one (to accept standard 40mm grenade launchers like GP-25 or GP-30). In “light” version Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle will accept all ‘legacy’ magazines in its respective caliber, such as 30-round AKM or AK-74 and 40-round RPK / 45-round RPK-74 magazines. Additionally, new, 4-stack, 60-round box magazine is planned to be issued for AK-12.

ASh-12.7 assault rifle (Russia)

Caliber: 12.7х55

Action: No data

Length, mm: No data

Barrel length, mm: No data

Weight, kg: No data

Rate of fire, rounds/minute: No data

Magazine capacity, rounds: No data

ASh-12.7 (АШ-12.7, which stands for “Автомат штурмовой 12.7мм” or “Automatic assault rifle, 12,7mm”) assault rifle is a dedicated CQB / Urban operations weapon, developed by famous Russian KBP design bureau on request from Russian FSB (Federal Security service). This weapon is intended for special units of FSB which operate in urban environment against heavily armed and organized gangsters and terrorists. According to the Russian press, first batch of ASh-12.7 assault rifles was delivered to FSB late in 2011.

It must be noted that information below is mostly based on available photos, published patents and author's own observations and knowledge. This article will be updated as soon as more reliable and detailed information will be available.

As said above, ASh-12.7 is a dedicated “Close / Urban combat” weapon for high-risk law enforcement operations, which must combine high stopping power with limited penetration and short 'dangerous range', to avoid collateral damage to innocent bystanders or hostages. To achieve these goals, designers of ASh-12.7 assault rifle developed special large-caliber ammunition, loaded with variety of bullets. Ammunition for ASh-12.7 is based on the 12,7x55 straight-walled, rimless brass case, originally developed by same organization for silenced VKS sniper rifle. Standard loading for ASh-12.7 is a lightweight, supersonic bullet with aluminum core, exposed at the front and hollowed at the rear. It is partially enclosed into bi-metal jacket. Bullet weight is assumed to be about 7 gram / 108 grains, muzzle velocity is unknown. There also several other loadings, with heavy bullet (most possibly subsonic), AP with hardened steel core, and duplex load with two light bullets.

This new Russian “.50-caliber” cartridge bears certain conceptual similarity to a family of big-bore cartridges, developed in USA for AR-15 platform, such as .499 LWR or .50 Beowulf, although Russian cartridge uses longer case. It also can use very light (for its caliber) bullets as well as heavy ones, while its American counterparts usually are loaded with heavy bullets weighting 19 gram / 300 grs and up.

The ASh-12.7 assault rifle itself is of bullpup layout, with stamped steel receiver and polymer housing / stock. It is believed to have gas operated, rotary bolt action. Firing controls include two separate levers – fire mode selector (Semi / Auto) at the rear and ambidextrous safety (Safe / Fire) above the pistol grip. There are several configurations of the basic rifle. First one features integral carrying handle with built-in rear diopter sight and folding front sigh. 

A length of the Picatinny rail is installed on the carrying handle to accept various optical sights. Another version that was observed on some photos features “flat top” configuration with Picatinny rail running atop of the receiver, and rear and front sights installed on folding bases. Other variations include either a Picatinny rail below the forend or an 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher. Muzzle devices include massive muzzle brake or quick-detachable sound moderator (silencer)