Engineering:AS Val

AS Val
with a 20-round magazine
Type	Automatic Rifle
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1987–present
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	TsNIITochMash Pyotr Serdyukov and Vladimir Krasnikov
Designed	1980s
Manufacturer	Tula Arms Plant
Specifications
Mass	2.5 kg (5.51 lb) empty 3.54 kg (7.80 lb) loaded w/ PSO-1 4.95 kg (10.91 lb) loaded w/ 1PN51
Length	875 mm (34.4 in) stock extended / 615 mm (24.2 in) stock folded
Barrel length	200 mm (7.9 in)
Cartridge	9×39mm
Action	Gas-operated, closed rotating bolt
Rate of fire	800–900 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	295 m/s (968 ft/s)
Feed system	Detachable box magazine (shared with the VSS Vintorez and SR-3M)
Sights	Open sights: Rear notch on tangent (graduated from 100 to 400 m) and front post mounted to suppressor housing, "Warsaw Pact Rail" for optics

The AS Val (Russian: АС «Вал»; Автома́т Специа́льный; code name "Shaft" (Вал), GRAU designation 6P30) is a Soviet-designed assault rifle featuring an integrated suppressor. The Val was developed alongside the VSS Vintorez to replace modified general-purpose firearms, such as the AKS-74UB, BS-1, APB, and PB, for clandestine operations. Development of the Val began in 1985 following the VSS Vintorez in 1983 by TsNIITochMash based on the prototype RG-036 completed in 1981. Manufacturing began at the Tula Arms Plant after its adoption by the Soviet Army and KGB in 1987.

Design

Instruction sheet of the AS Val that includes a field strip model of the rifle

The VSS Vintorez with a PSO-1 optic (top) and the AS Val (bottom)

The Val is integrally suppressed and chambered in 9×39mm, a subsonic cartridge, in order to reduce its report and was designed alongside the VSS Vintorez, a similar rifle designed for precision shooting. Four rows of nine holes are drilled in the barrel which follow the rifling and allows gas to escape the barrel behind the projectile into the suppressor. The suppressor effectively reduces muzzle flash and muzzle report of the firearm to 130 dB. There are no design features which reduce the noise of the action.

Manipulation of the Val is similar to many other AK-type rifles: charging handle on the right side, tangent rear sight, magazine release button behind the magazine well, and safety lever above the trigger guard. The fire selector is, however, located behind the trigger within the trigger guard. The rifle also has an "AK-type" Warsaw Pact rail for various optical sights, namely the PSO-1-1, PSO-1M2-1, and 1-PN-51 calibrated for use with the 9×39mm cartridge. The standard open sights are graduated from 100 to 400 m in 25 m increments.

The action is also similar to that of AK-type rifles with a similar long-stroke gas system with the piston located above the barrel. The Val design characteristically uses a rotating bolt with six locking lugs and a milled steel receiver. It accepts the same standard 10 or 20-round double-stack detachable box magazines as the Vintorez, as well as the 30-round magazine of the SR-3M. Many of its components are shared with the Vintorez with the main discrepancy being the tubular metal buttstock which folds to the left. The firearm is functional with the stock folded, although the mounting of an optic will not allow the buttstock to close completely (like many other rifles with similar mounting solutions for optics). The handguard, pistol grip, and magazines are made of a synthetic polymer.

For transportation, the Val can be quickly disassembled to fit into a special case, much like the Vintorez.

Variants and derivatives

ASM Val with a 30-round magazine

ASM Val carried by soldier on the left

ASM Val: A modernisation of the Val (GRAU designation 6P30M). It features a 30-round magazine and a picatinny rail on the dust cover and forward of the handguard. Deliveries began in 2018.

VSS Vintorez: Fitted with a fixed wooden stock and pistol grip to improve marksmanship.

SR-3 Vikhr: Developed in 1996 for greater concealability by replacing the stock and omitting the integral suppressor and charging handle.

SR-3M: A modernisation of the SR-3 that replaces the original SR-3 stock with that of the AS Val and with a 30-round backwards compatible magazine. It allows for the attachment of a suppressor, similar in appearance to that of the AS Val and VSS Vintorez. The handguard was also redesigned to include the rear sight and a folding foregrip.

SR-3MP: A further modernisation of the SR-3M which allows for the folding stock to be mounted at the base of the pistol grip for users wearing helmets with face shields or head-mounted night vision devices. The handguard was also redesigned to include two picatinny rails on the sides.

9A-91: A redesign of the AS-Val concept produced in the 1990s with the accompanying VSK-94 outfitted for a marksman role.

Users

• Georgia - Used by army and police special forces, some configured with Aimpoint and Kobra red dot sights.
• Russia

See also

• AMB-17
• OC-14-4A
• SR-3 Vikhr
• VSK-94
• VSS Vintorez
• List of modern Russian small arms and light weapons
• List of equipment of the Russian Ground Forces

External links

• "Modern Firearms - AS Val". http://world.guns.ru/assault/as10-e.htm. 
• "AS 'Val'". http://www.enemyforces.net/firearms/asval.htm. 
• "TsNIITochMash Val/Vintorez Specifications". http://www.tsniitochmash.ru:80/asvssen.htm.