Reprinted with permission from:

Vladimir Susloparov - designer of SV-99.

This new rifle in caliber .22 LR has a compact envelope: exactly 1,000 mm long. The weapon has been designed and made by the IZHMASH Joint Stock Company to the technical requirements of SPETSNAZ - Russia's special force.

From the point of view of its construction, SV-99 has a few interesting and unique features.

First of all, the caliber. There is a joke among Russian arms designers: those who are used to developing "serious" assault or large-caliber sniper rifles, they mockingly call the .22LR weapons nothing but "fly killers", which means, this caliber is treated like something unacceptable for a combat weapon. Of course, this is only a joke.

In fact, my recent research on sniper rifles developed by various companies around the globe reveals that the "sharps" industry has a strong tendency towards larger calibers: .338 Lapua Magnum, 12.7 mm and even 20 mm. SV-99 is probably the only true sniper rifle with the bore's diameter of 5.6 mm only. I would mislead readers if I'd say that sniper rifles in .22LR has never been in practice. I was told by Vietnam veterans that Viet Cong fighters used old TOZ 5.6 mm plinkers as weapons of close combat and sniper rifles successfully deployed in towns. Similar reports I had from the snipers who took part in the actions in Chechnya: Standard hunting .22LR "Sobol" rifles were used in the "snipers' war" in Grozniy. Smart guys, they used plastic bottles with tiny holes in the bottom and attached to rifle's muzzle as silencers! They said, such rifles were compact, accurate at close ranges. Fired from internal premises (a room, a hideout, etc.) small-caliber rifles produced very low sound blast that could hardly be heard at a distance of over 100 meters. Their "quietness" and accuracy was the important factor that made "fly killers" so effective as an anti-personnel weapon. I remember, one sniper was saying: - If a target is closer than 100 meters, You don't have to defeat a ballistic jacket. An exposed neck, face or head is just enough! And the gun is so "quiet"...

So, I was not entirely surprised when I heard a word from one of my friends in the R&D center that IZHMASH was working on a new small-caliber sniper rifle.

Fire tests of SV-99.

A few days ago I was able to thoroughly examine the SV-99 rifle.

Locking of the straight-pull bolt of the crank-shaft type is achieved by a lever arrangement that retains the bolt in locking position by the dead point of the traction link of the cocking lever. Once the bolt is in battery, it cannot be unlocked without applying a side shoulder of the cocking lever. This mechanism is derived from the construction of the winter Biathlon rifle, also devised by the IZHMASH Joint Stock company. SV-99 has a detachable buttstock which, if required by a tactical situation, can be replaced by a pistol grip. Stock is made from laminated plywood. A knob located on the rear left side of the barrel and receiver assembly serves to release the stock and attach the grip. This shorter envelope is handy in a combat at close ranges.

The safety lever is located at the front part of the trigger guard. Once the safety is in its rearmost position, the rifle is deactivated by blocking both action and trigger. To bring the rifle into firing order, push safety forward.

The rifle is magazine fed. The plastic detachable box-type magazine accommodates 5 rounds. The rifle's magazine port can accept 8-round and 10-round magazines. There are two 5-round extra magazines inside a special niche located inside the lower portion of the buttstock. The niche has a plastic hinged cover which prevents magazines from unwanted dust and debris. The buttstock has a fully adjustable cheek and buttplate to ensure operator' s comfort at firing. A telescopic bipod attaches to a rail located inside the lower surface of the handguard.

SV-99 semi-knocked down.

The threaded muzzle end of the barrel can be equipped with a compact silencer.

Ontop the receiver there is a dove-tail rail to accommodate practically any type of a telescope. SV-99 has no iron sights.

The rifle can be knocked down in a few moments, thus making it very handy for transportation in a medium-sized bag or case. Its longest assembly - a barrel and receiver with handguard - is only 520 mm long.

SV-99 comes complete with the following accessories:
 - 2 extra magazines;
 - telescopic bipod;
 - pistol grip;
 - silencer;
 - carrying sling;
 - cleaning kit including cleaning rod.