VKS "Exhaust": description, characteristics

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 18:37

It's no secret for a professional military that any weapon has its strengths and weaknesses, so you always have to give up something: mobility and compact size - for the sake of increasing the caliber; lethal power - for the sake of reducing unmasking effects. The characteristics of small arms are often mutually exclusive, so a developer who aims for a certain result sometimes has to find compromises.

But let's take a look at VKS Vykhlop. Its caliber is the same as that of the Utes heavy machine gun (although the ammunition used is different), it has tremendous power. Without knowing about the features of the "Exhaust", one would assume that the rifle is huge, heavy, and the sound of the shot deafens everyone who is close to the shooter. For example, ASVK "Kord", OSV-96 "Cracker", SVLK-14S are characterized by these characteristics. The “exhaust” is compact and convenient, a powerful silencer with a flame suppression function successfully fights unmasking, and the mass of the entire sniper complex is even less than that of a light machine gun.

History of Creation

The first developments to create this weapon have begunback in the late 1990s. But the sample was never presented. Work resumed in 2002.

The chief designer involved in the development of the VKS Vykhlop caliber 12.7 mm is the leading specialist of TsKIB SOO, a design bureau located in the city of Tula. He debuted a sample of a rifle in 2005, but this did not bring him fame. Only in 2012, after the SOFEX-2012 exhibition, did they finally pay attention to the rifle.

Currently VKS "Exhaust" is in service with the Central Security Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, some units of the RF Armed Forces, and is also supplied to the Syrian army.

Features and characteristics of weapons

The Exhaust rifle is designed to destroy unarmored and lightly armored vehicles, manpower, enemy fortifications at a distance of up to 600 m.

The characteristics of the VKS "Exhaust" caliber 12, 7 mm are reflected in the following table:

Weight without magazine, kg	6, 3
Shop	5-round, box-type, bullpup
Muzzle velocity, m/s	295
Length without muffler, cm	640
Assembled length cm	795
Sighting range, m	600
Shutter	Longitudinally sliding, rotary
Sight	Mechanics, optic mounts available

Complete set and possibilities of using additional equipment

This weapon is called not just a rifle, but a sniper complex, because it also includes specially designed ammunition. On the front of the rifle are folding bipods. As unnecessary, they are completely removed in the forearm, and during operation, you can adjust their height.

Description of VKS "Exhaust" caliber 12, 7 should be supplemented with information about design features. Reloading is done manually, the lever required for this is located on the left. The ejection of the cartridge case occurs to the right, as in most types of small arms.

There is a pad on the butt pad that can be placed in any convenient position to protect the cheek from the effects of recoil.

The rifle comes with a diopter sight. Optionally, you can install a night vision scope or a collimator.

Care of the rifle: disassembly and cleaning

The main parts of the weapon are shown in the following photo.

VKS "Exhaust" caliber 12.7 mm needs regular maintenance. In addition to the main parts, for which cleaning with gun oil and subsequent care with a clean rag is recommended, the silencer also needs special attention. It is made of material with anti-corrosioncoating, but after each use it is necessary to revise for accumulation of carbon deposits.

If it is necessary to switch to another brand of gun oil, the weapon must be completely disassembled, thoroughly cleaned, all residues of cleaning agents removed, and only then proceed with lubrication.

Ammunition

The following types of cartridges have been developed for the VKS "Exhaust":

• SC-130 PT sniper with jacketed bullet;
• STs-130 PT2 sniper with solid bronze bullet;
• SC-130 VPS sniper with armor-piercing bullet;
• SC-130 training launcher.

Disadvantages and advantages

Specialists note that Vykhlop has no analogues in the world in terms of a number of characteristics. Its main advantages are the following parameters:

• large caliber;
• great killing power;
• relatively light weight;
• wide range of applicable cartridges;
• compatibility with different types of sights;
• ability to hit targets in cover;
• low sound and flame when firing.

Against the background of these advantages, even the need for manual reloading does not seem to be a disadvantage. But still, there are weaknesses in this weapon. These include high recoil, massive structure, low rate of fire. There is no need to say that the disadvantage is a short range of work, because the rifle was developed specifically for the conditions in which opponentslocated close to each other.

A few words about fellow

Russian gunsmiths have already had to work on the creation of "families", which would include several samples similar to each other, designed for the same tasks and having a similar structure. As an example, we can mention the “Val” family, which, in addition to a full-size assault rifle, includes the VSS “Vintorez” rifle and the small-sized “Vikhr” assault rifle designed for concealed carry. All 3 samples not only work with the same ammunition, but also have up to 70% interchangeable parts.

Vykhlop VKS also has a "relative" - a large-caliber ASh-12 assault rifle. Currently, there is not much information in open sources - most of the data is classified. The machine is in service with some special forces of the Russian Federation, it is not exported abroad, and its main purpose is to solve combat missions at short and ultra-short distances. Like the rifle, the ASh-12 can use various types of specially designed ammunition.