TSVL-8 (“Tactical sniper rifle Lobaev”) “Stalingrad” was developed in 2012, but has been constantly upgraded. Declared characteristics of rifle fire: the initial speed of the bullet reaches 900 m / s, the maximum effective firing range is 1600 m.
“Stalingrad” can be equipped with a barrel length of 680 or 740 mm. The TSVL-8 rifle is equipped with a folding stock. The total weight of the weapon is 6.2 kg. Ammunition is supplied from a detachable box magazine for 5 rounds. The rifle uses a reinforced cartridge 338 Lapua Magnum – 8.6 × 70 mm.
Initially, these weapons were adopted by the special forces of the Russian FSO, and since 2018, according to data from open sources, they began to enter army units – primarily in the Special Operations Forces of the RF Armed Forces (SOF).
“The main sniper rifle of the Russian army to this day remains the SVD, created by weapons designer Yevgeny Dragunov, which entered service in 1963, but continues to be produced at Izhmash to this day. But this is a “front line fighter”, which is in the position of every motorized rifle platoon, range of destruction 600-800 meters, caliber 7.62 mm.
Special forces require weapons of a completely different class and other characteristics. We purchased limited numbers of American and European rifles for this purpose in the 1990s, 2000s and early 2010s. For example, the American large-caliber rifle Barrett M82.
Now here, finally, there has been an impromptu substitute, Sergei Belousov, a member of the College of Military Experts, told socialbites.ca.
The expert recalled that after 2014, the issue of supplying Western sniper rifles was closed. “They never needed too much. Theoretically, it may be possible to buy from third countries, but it would be correct to have your own developments. We have all the possibilities for this,” says Belousov.
The supplier of such rifles for the Russian army was the private arms company LOBAEV, created by the designer Mikhail Lobaev.
In the 1990s, Lobaev worked as a designer in the workshops of famous American gunsmiths Thomas “Speedy” Gonzales and Clay Spencer. He returned to Russia in 2003 and founded the company Tsar Cannon, later called LOBAEV. machine) and law enforcement.
Among the rifles of the company – the DVL 10-M URBANA with a range of 1300 meters, the DXL-2 “Scalpel” with a range of 1200 meters and a number of models.
In the mid-2000s, Lobaev went to the UAE, where his company received a contract from the TAWAZUN concern to develop large-caliber sniper rifles and increase the target range.
In 2011, Lobaev and his team returned to Russia and in the city of Tarusa began the production of weapons, which turned out to be in demand in law enforcement agencies – the Ministry of Defense, FSB, FSO and National Guard.
“A sniper rifle of this level is considered an individual weapon of soldiers of special forces,” Reserve Colonel Sergei Ososov told socialbites.ca, the special forces officer of the border troops. – Regarding “Stalingrad”, the following should be noted. First, its weight isn’t that great for a large-caliber system, allowing it to sneak into position. Secondly, a range of one and a half kilometers allows you to beat it both in open spaces and in urban conditions, while remaining unnoticed. So, it’s still comparable to the SVD, but a more accurate and powerful melee weapon.”
Sergei Belousov, in turn, also noted the power and armor-piercing of the “Stalingrad”.
“This rifle pierces the bulletproof vest from a kilometer. Actually, that’s why it first interested the FSO. With the help of such weapons you are guaranteed to protect the city perimeter. During the special operation “Stalingrad” is used mainly only during urban battles. Twice the SVD and with “Stalingrad” three or four snipers can 100% close the enemy’s movement in an area of 2-3 km, limited to urban development. Basically block the enemy,” concluded Belousov.