The SV-98 (''Snaiperskaya Vintovka Model 1998'') is a Russian bolt-action
sniper rifle designed by Vladimir Stronskiy. In 2003 special operations troops were armed with the 7.62 mm 6S11 sniper system comprising the SV-98 sniper rifle (
index 6V10) and
7N14 sniper enhanced penetration round. The rifle has been used in combat during operations in
Chechnya and Ukraine.
Design details
The SV-98 sniper rifle is based on the Record full bore sport shooting rifle series also made by
Izhmash
JSC Kalashnikov Concern (), known until 2013 as the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant (), is a Russian defense manufacturing concern and joint-stock company headquartered in the city of Izhevsk in the Republic of Udmurtia as well as the capital ci ...
.
Izhmash also produces Record target rifles chambered in
.308 Winchester
The .308 Winchester is a smokeless powder rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge widely used for hunting, target shooting, police, military, and personal protection applications globally. It is similar but not identical to the 7.62×51mm NATO ...
, 7.62×54mmR and
.338 Lapua Magnum
The .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70 mm or 8.58×70 mm) is a rimless, bottlenecked, centerfire rifle cartridge. It was developed during the 1980s as a high-powered, long-range cartridge for military snipers. It was used in the War in Afghanistan and ...
which are similar to the SV-98.
According to the manufacturer the SV-98 sniper rifle is designed to engage various targets at a range up to .
The heart of the SV-98 is a cold-hammer forged
receiver and a cold-hammer forged free-floating heavy
barrel which can be chrome lined to order.
The manually operated
bolt action
Bolt-action is a type of manual firearm action that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the bolt via a bolt handle, which is most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the weapon (as most users are right-handed).
Most bolt-actio ...
has a rotating bolt with three symmetrically-spaced frontal lugs. The barrel has 4 grooves right-hand
rifling and a 320 mm (1 in 12.6 in)
twist rate
In firearms, rifling is machining helical grooves into the internal (bore) surface of a gun's barrel for the purpose of exerting torque and thus imparting a spin to a projectile around its longitudinal axis during shooting to stabilize the pr ...
and features a threaded muzzle which can accept the standard provided conical birdcage-pattern muzzle brake or a specially designed 23db (A)
suppressor
A silencer, also known as a sound suppressor, suppressor, or sound moderator, is a muzzle device that reduces the acoustic intensity of the muzzle report (sound of a gunshot) and muzzle rise when a gun (firearm or air gun) is discharged, b ...
that requires the use of subsonic ammunition.
The rifle was developed to fire 7.62×54mmR 7N1 standard sniper, 7N14 enhanced penetration sniper or "Extra" match grade sports cartridges.
The SV-98 is equipped with
iron sights (shrouded front and an up to in increments adjustable tangent-type rear sight) and a Picatinny rail on top of the receiver that can be used to
mount Russian and foreign made
telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope informally, is an optical sighting device based on a refracting telescope. It is equipped with some form of a referencing pattern – known as a '' reticle'' – mounted in a focally appropriate ...
s and other aiming optics with an appropriate
rail interface system. According to several internet sources, a standard telescopic sight used on this rifle is the PKS-07 7× fixed-magnification scope.
The manufacturer however states the Russian made 1P69 3-10×42 variable magnification telescopic sight with a sighting range of up to is used as standard day light optical sight. The 1PN113 3.7× fixed magnification night sight is used as the standard low light optical sight.
The ambidextrous
laminated plywood stock features an adjustable butt plate that can be regulated for
length of pull
Length of pull (sometimes abbreviated as LOP) is the distance from the trigger to the part of a rifle or shotgun which fits against the shoulder of the shooter. Length of pull is an important ergonomic factor for ease of use; and optimum length of ...
, height and pitch and has a height and length adjustable cheek comb. A fiber glass reinforced polymer stock was also offered.
A front attachment point is situated at the foreend for mounting an integral folding
bipod
A bipod is a V-shaped portable attachment that helps support and steady a device, usually a weapon such as a long gun or a mortar. The term comes from the Latin prefix ''bi-'' and Greek root ''pod'', meaning "two" and "foot" respectively.
Bip ...
and the stock is prepared for mounting an integral rear monopod. The length of both bipod legs is independently adjustable and the rear monopod folds into the stock.
A carrying handle can be attached to the stock in order to prevent the operator from grasping the rifle by its aiming optics during quick position changes or on the march.
The
trigger
Trigger may refer to:
Notable animals and people
;Mononym
* Trigger (horse), owned by cowboy star Roy Rogers
;Nickname
* Trigger Alpert (1916–2013), American jazz bassist
* "Trigger Mike" Coppola (1900–1966), American gangster
;Surname
* Bru ...
mechanism displays an adjustable trigger pull of . The
safety
Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk.
Meanings
There are two slightly dif ...
lever is located behind the bolt handle and the safety locks the trigger, immobilizes the sear and prevents the rotary bolt from turning.
The staggered (or double) column detachable
box magazine
A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device for a repeating firearm, either integral within the gun (internal/fixed magazine) or externally attached (detachable magazine). The magazine functions by holding several cartridges with ...
is made out of glass fiber reinforced nylon with metal inserts and holds 10 rounds.
To reduce
recoil
Recoil (often called knockback, kickback or simply kick) is the rearward thrust generated when a gun is being discharged. In technical terms, the recoil is a result of conservation of momentum, as according to Newton's third law the force r ...
, jump, flash and sound signature, the SV-98 can be supplied with a TGP-V tactical suppressor.
An anti-mirage strap can be fixed between the front and rear sights.
Internet sources report differing information regarding the attainable accuracy of fire, though the quality of the ammunition used is often mentioned as a very important factor in obtaining good accuracy.
Variants
SV-98 (7.62 NATO caliber)
The SV-98 is chambered in 7.62 NATO for export orders that need the caliber.
KO-13 "Record"
A civilian version produced in 2010, this does not have provisions to install a suppressor and a carry handle.
SV-98M
![ARMS & Hunting 2013 exhibition (529-13)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/ARMS_%26_Hunting_2013_exhibition_%28529-13%29.jpg)
In 2013 an upgraded SV-98 variant was developed by Izhmash featuring an adjustable aluminum skeleton type stock. Izhmash expects the upgraded variant to be more economical to produce and offer improved maintainability and accuracy of fire. It has been tested by Izhmash since 2013.
The upgraded sniper rifle features an aluminum alloy receiver providing enhanced performance and lower cost of production. The adjustable stock is ambidextrous. The buttstock length is adjustable and the position of the butt plate and comb adjusts by length and height. It also features a bipod in the forearm and a leg in the buttstock; adjustment of each leg is independent. In travel position the bipod is folded into the forearm, and the rear leg – into the buttstock, and, thus, do not enlarge the overall dimensions of the weapon.
The upgraded SV-98 can also be equipped with a tactical suppressor to reduce the sound blast, blowback and flash when it is being fired.
It also features a Picatinny rail on top of the receiver to mount Russian-made and foreign-made optics. It comes with a standard 1P69 optical sight with a 3–10× variable magnification and is equipped with an open sight. The rifle safety catch locks the trigger, inerts the sear and prevents the rotary bolt from turning (unlocking).
In 2017 Kalashnikov Concern took over production of the SV-98. It has a lightweight skeleton stock made of aluminium alloys, a Picatinny rail for optical scopes on the top of its upper receiver, a folding stock, and an integrated bipod. It is chambered for the 7N1 or 7N14 7.62×54mmR sniper cartridges and has a magazine capacity of 10 rounds. The sniper rifle has a combat weight of 7.8 kg, a length of 1,200 mm (including a barrel of 650 mm), and an effective firing range of 1,000 m. It can be equipped with a suppressor instead of the organic muzzle brake to reduce the sound blast, blowback and flash when it is being fired. It is primarily intended for the snipers of the Russian Ground Forces.
According to a source in the local defence industry, the military has ordered a small batch of SV-98 sniper rifles for operational test and evaluation. The Kalashnikov SV-98 was introduced in service in May 2020.
SV-338, SV-338M, SV-338 M1
Based on the Record full bore sport shooting rifle series Izhmash also developed the SV-338, SV-338M, and SV-338 M1 sniper rifles chambered for the
.338 Lapua Magnum
The .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70 mm or 8.58×70 mm) is a rimless, bottlenecked, centerfire rifle cartridge. It was developed during the 1980s as a high-powered, long-range cartridge for military snipers. It was used in the War in Afghanistan and ...
(8.6×70mm or 8.58×70mm) cartridge. These rifles feature scaled-up magnum bolt actions but are similar to the SV-98.
The first prototypes were made in 2000.
Users
*: In 2010, 52 SV-98 units were purchased by Armenia.
*: The SV-98 is used by Russian law enforcement and some counter-terrorist forces (
FSB,
Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation,
Ministry of Internal Affairs
An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs.
Lists of current ministries of internal affairs
Named "ministry"
* Ministry ...
,
FSO) and by sniper units of the
Russian Armed Forces. As of 2015, it is the sniper rifle of the
Russian Airborne Troops
The Russian Airborne Forces (russian: Воздушно-десантные войска России, ВДВ, Vozdushno-desantnye voyska Rossii, VDV) are the airborne forces branch of the Russian Armed Forces. It was formed in 1992 from units ...
. In July 2018 an order was placed for the supply of 26 SV-98M units for the
National Guard of Russia
The National Guard of the Russian Federation (russian: Федеральная служба войск национальной гвардии Российской Федерации , translit = Federal'naya sluzhba voysk natsional'noy gvard ...
.
*: Unknown quantity, seen in use after being captured during the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. ...
.
References
External links
{{Commons category, SV-98
IZHMASH JSC official site: 7.62 mm sniper rifle SV-98A video by Vickers Tactical on the SV-338 sniper rifle
7.62×54mmR rifles
7.62×51mm NATO rifles
Bolt-action rifles of Russia
Sniper rifles of Russia
Izhevsk machine-building plant products
Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1998