King Arms VSS Vintorez Sniper Rifle AEG

If you're a stealthy skirmisher looking for a slice of Cold War cool, the King Arms VSS Vintorez Sniper Rifle AEG is exactly that! A top-quality full metal build with a gorgeous real wood stock, this interesting platform replicates the real steel VSS Vintorez, an integrally suppressed sniper rifle platform designed for special purposes, from hostage rescue scenarios to recon behind enemy lines and even shooting icicles off tall buildings in Moscow!

Known as "Vintóvka Snáyperskaya Spetsiálnaya Vintorez" (Special Sniper Rifle Screwcutter), the VSS takes the sniper rifle rulebook and tosses it into the fire, designed for close-range precision marksmanship using subsonic 9x39mm ammunition and capable of both semi-automatic and fully automatic fire. Role-wise, this puts the VSS somewhere between a suppressed assault rifle and a DMR, directly replacing suppressed AKS-74UB rifles, along with its sister platform, the AS Val. 

Based around a TM-compatible V3 gearbox with a mix of stamped steel, CNC aluminium and cast aluminium alloy externals with that gorgeous real wood stock at the rear, the King Arms VSS Vintorez Sniper Rifle AEG is a real beauty with the performance to back it up. True VSS fans will note that King Arms has gone above and beyond when it comes to the details, getting about as close to the real build as an Airsoft AEG can get!

Starting at the front, we come to the absolutely massive integral suppressor of the VSS Vintorez, dominating the external build, exactly as it should be. The suppressor includes the front and rear iron sights mounted at the top, precise knurling machined around its circumference and recesses surrounding the front aperture, mimicking the details of the real thing perfectly. 

The profile of the suppressor is also dead on, giving the King Arms replica a considerable edge over cheaper VSS replicas, which only look like the real thing after 8 pints. The front and rear sights are similar to AK sights, offering an elevation-adjustable front sight post (adjustment tool required) and a tangent rear sight, which can be adjusted by pressing the drum and sliding it back and forth. Precisely made from CNC aluminium and finished in gloss black, the suppressor kicks off the build with a bang, or in the case of the VSS, a dull, almost inaudible thud! 

The battery compartment is inside the suppressor and is accessible by pressing the button on the bottom, which replicates the real VSS dissassembly/suppressor removal button. Simply hold the button down and slide the suppressor off to reveal the mini-Tamiya battery connector inside. We recommend a 7.4V 1450mAh LiPo battery in Crane/nun-chuck configuration. By default, battery installation can be a bit tricky, but by positioning the included battery cell spacer over the outer barrel, you can use it to help position the battery and avoid needing 3 hands!

Next up, we reach the handguard of the VSS, made from strong fibre-reinforced polymer with a textured finish which perfectly matches the real thing. The handguard is set at a comfortable angle for a variety of shooting stances, but there isn't a lot to grab onto. Thankfully, its textured surface keeps your hand planted, especially in the case of the real thing, where accidentally touching the suppressor would be a spicy experience, to say the least. 

As we arrive at the receiver, we can take note of the authentic contrasting finishes between the receiver top cover and the receiver itself, matching the real steel VSS perfectly. The top cover is made from stamped steel with a gloss black finish applied, and the receiver is made from aluminium alloy with a finish which closely matches that of the real milled steel VSS receiver, complete with its subtle gunmetal grey colouration. 

The mock bolt carrier is located on the right side, similarly placed to the AK platform, to ensure Soviet soldiers needed minimal retraining to master the VSS Vintorez. Pulling the charging handle back will provide access to the Slider adjustable HOP-up unit of the VSS, allowing you to tune the amount of backspin applied to your BBs, looking for the flattest possible trajectory with your chosen BB weight. While the VSS slider unit is a unique design, the inner barrel, HOP-up bucking and HOP-up nub are all standard TM AEG spec, ideal for upgrade fans. 

On the left side of the receiver, we can see a series of protrusions machined in, designed to allow Russian SVD-type optics or 20mm Picatinny rail mounts for SVD side rails to be fitted. This means you can run a PK-A Kobra or PSO-1 for the Cold War/1990s look, or go modern with a rail adapter and a Western optic. The VSS iron sights are actually rather good for Airsoft, providing ample adjustment and an open sight picture which makes tracking moving targets a piece of cake, but we all know this beast looks best with an optic!

The fire controls of the VSS are similarly styled to the AK, with a couple of notable differences. The lever on the right side is the safety lever, offering an AK-like manual of arms with the "safe" position at the top and the "fire" position at the bottom. The fire mode selector is a separate lever, located inside the trigger guard, just behind the trigger itself. The mode selector provides semi-auto when pushed to the right and full auto when pushed to the left. This keeps doctrine consistent with the AK platform while ensuring that when full auto has been selected, it has been done intentionally, for obvious reasons!

The magazine release is a centrally placed paddle-style lever at the rear of the magazine well, just like the AK and the real VSS. Like the AK, the VSS magazine insertion method is "rock and lock", requiring you first index the front hook of the magazine in the front of the magazine well, then rock the rear back to meet the mag release to secure it in place. This also means you can use the "mag flip" emergency reload to get back online in a jiffy, though we don't recommend this unless you're willing to potentially damage your magazines. 

At the rear of the VSS receiver, we can take note of the button on the top of the stock tang. In the real steel VSS, this allows the stock to be quickly removed for storage and transportation, though this is non-functional in the King Arms replica. While we'd love to see a functional VSS quick-release stock, we're not sure it's possible when working with a replica with Airsoft AEG internals. While this is a non-functional part, the button can still be pressed, ensuring VSS fans get the authentic replica we deserve!

Last but not least, we come to one of the highlights of this gorgeous VSS build, its real wood stock/grip assembly. Made using layered plywood just like the real deal, with an authentic stain and satin finish, this is one of the nicest real wood stocks we've seen in Airsoft form, complete with a grippy serrated rubber butt plate for improved wet-weather handling. If you're used to modern rifle designs, you might find the grip rather square in profile, but fear not, the real thing is similarly well-suited to LEGO man hands. Let's face it, you're not looking at a VSS Vintorez for its ergonomics, anyway!

Inside, the King Arms VSS Vintorez replica, we are treated to a version 3 gearbox with TM-compatible internals, ideal for upgrade fiends. The gearset is an 18:1 ratio example made from steel, running on 7mm solid bushings and driven by a short-shaft motor. As mentioned, the HOP-up unit is a unique design specifically for the VSS, but the HOP-up bucking, nub and inner barrel are all TM AEG spec, ready to be upgraded as you see fit. 

If you love an interesting platform with bad guy vibes, superb build quality and an aesthetic unlike anything else, you'll love the King Arms VSS Vintorez Sniper Rifle AEG. Equally well suited to a generic OPFOR loadout, a Cold War Soviet kit, a modern Russian Armed Forces loadout, or simply to hang on the wall, this VSS really looks the business!

Features

• Full metal construction - CNC Aluminium suppressor, real wood stock & steel top cover
• Integral suppressor - Completes the iconic VSS look. quick-release button on the bottom
• Adjustable open iron sights - AK-style tangent sights, elevation adjustable
• Fibre-reinforced polymer handguard - Realistic crackle texture finish
• Russian SVD-style side rail mount - Add SVD-style optics or 20mm Picatinny rail adapter for SVD rail
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Centrally placed, easily accessible for left or right-handed shooters
• 2-Position safety catch - AK style switch on the right with SAFE - FIRE options
• 2-Position fire mode selector - In the trigger guard, SEMI when pushed right, FULL AUTO when pushed left
• Slider adjustable HOP-up unit - Accessible with the charging handle pulled
• Realistic mock stock quick-release button - Can be pressed, but is non-functional due to the gearbox
• Real wood stock/grip assembly - Phenomenal quality, looks authentic & feels great
• Rubber butt plate - Serrated for improved wet-weather traction
• Front wired: Mini-Tamiya connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1450mAh LiPo in Crane config. 
• Version 3 gearbox:
  • Alloy shell 
  • 18:1 Ratio Steel gears
  • 7mm Bushings
  • Short-shaft motor
  • In-line MOSFET
• Compatible with King Arms VSS Vintorez/AS Val AEG magazines:
  • 90rnd Mid-cap Magazine
  • 380rnd High-cap magazine
  • 120rnd Mid-cap Magazine; 5 Pack
• NOT Compatible with CYMA or LCT VSS/AS magazines

Package Includes

• King Arms VSS Vintorez Sniper Rifle AEG
  • 380rnd High capacity magazine
  • Battery cell spacer