The rifles 'assassins' of Russian soldiers in urban combat

The enemy lurking behind the brick walls has always been a challenge for infantrymen of any army when fighting in urban areas. Russian task force is currently equipped with many powerful rifle models to deal with these types of targets.

ShAK-12 rifle

The ShAK-12 is a large assault rifle model, using 12.7 x 55mm ammunition, developed specifically for Spetsnaz task forces under the Federal Security Force (FSB) in 2017.

A Russian ShAK-12.(Photo: RBTH).

This model is designed for melee environments in urban areas and can penetrate heavy armor, even penetrate brick walls. Shak-12's bullets are said to be the most powerful of all Russian rifles when fired at close range.

According to experts, the standard bullet of ShAK-12 has an effective range of about 100 m. Guns can also fire armor-piercing bullets capable of destroying targets from a distance of 300 m. The bullpup design (relay box located behind the trigger) allows guns to operate more efficiently in the cramped space of urban combat.

The relay box of the Shak-12 can hold 10 or 20 tablets. For shock absorbers, the ShAK-12 is fitted with a two-chamber head recoil and a rubber shoulder pad. Guns can also attach silencers, grenade launchers and optical viewfinders thanks to Picatinny rails above and below.

DXL-3 sniper rifle

Model sniper rifle DXL-3.(Photo: RBTH).

DXL-3 has been developed by private company Lobaev since 2010 and is currently staffed by the Federal Guard, responsible for protecting the President and senior leaders.

DXL-3 is made from high-strength aluminum and can operate in environments with temperatures from -450C to 600C. The gun uses Lapua Magnum bullets .338, allowing the gunner to destroy the target at 1,800 m

DXL-3 was designed to overcome the limitations caused by the large shock of Lapua Magnum .338 bullets caused by gunners such as shoulder bruising, shoulder pain, retinal damage. Guns work best in urban combat environments and uneven terrain conditions.

AN-94 rifle

An AN-94 of the Russian task force.(Photo: RBTH).

The AN-94 appeared in the mid-1990s, one of the first rifle models developed to replace the AK-74. The gun uses 5.45 x 39 mm ammunition and is said to overcome the limitations of AK-74 accuracy.

Experts say that designer AN-94 has succeeded in creating a mass-produced weapon that works on a pneumatic, backward-loaded pneumatic combination to reduce recoil.

Thanks to this mechanism, the gunner only sensed the recoil of the gun after the first two shots, meaning that the gun only lifted after two bullets left the barrel and the third bullet entered the chamber. The AN-94's two-shot mode was developed based on this trait and was very popular with the Russian task force.

However, through actual testing, the AN-94 is not suitable for forces with no intensive training or limited skills, so the Russian Ministry of Defense only buys a limited amount to equip it. task force.