splintercell

The VSS is a sniper rifle featured in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist.

History

The VSS is the precision marksman variant of the Russian AS VAL assault rifle. Developed for use by Spetsnaz and other special purpose units, in real life, it uses 9x39mm SP-5, SP-6 and PAB-9 subsonic cartridges. Being subsonic, it lacks long distance and muzzle velocity, but is harder to hear and has nearly no muzzle flash. Further, when used in conjunction with the integral suppressor, the sound becomes inaudible after approximately fifty meters range.

The VSS "Vintorez" was not designed for long-range sniping and its effective range is only up to 400 meters, but it's generally enough in urban warfare. One interesting feature is that the VSS is select fire, allowing it to act as an assault rifle in emergency scenarios, although its 700rpm fire rate can burn 10 or 20 rounds quite rapidly. Within it's effective range, the 9x39mm cartridge is exceedingly potent, and capable of defeating standard issue hard body armor at closer distances.

Overview

Although this weapon falls into the sniper rifle category, the player should not use this as a sniper rifle, as its default optic is the Russian made Kobra sight, a reflex-type optic commonly found on Russian weapons. This sight has no magnification, and an arrow shaped reticle that makes it unsuited to sharpshooting. However, the player can purchase the PSO-1 optic, a 4x scope also used by SVU in game, granting it the ability to actually be used for its stated purpose. This rifle has poor characteristics at long range, and will require headshots unless the player is fine with alerting the target, and has a poor range for marking and executing.

On the other hand, the VSS does a pretty good job as an assault rifle, the Kobra sight giving it excellent clarity up close, and the higher accuracy making medium range pick-offs a piece of cake. Further, being integrally suppressed, it is fairly quiet, and this makes it suitable for close range Ghosts or Panthers. Further more, possibly as a nod to the armour piercing ammunition it can be loaded with, this rifle can deal with armoured targets fairly easily, making quick work of them in sometimes a single shot.

Trivia