3 types of Russian rifles to take down targets hiding behind solid walls

A Russian ShAK-12. Photo: RBTH.

Enemies hiding behind brick walls are always a challenge for infantrymen of any army when operating in urban areas. Russian special forces are now equipped with many powerful rifles to deal with such targets.

ShAK-12 rifle

The ShAK-12 is a large-caliber assault rifle chambered for 12.7 x 55mm ammunition, developed specifically for Spetsnaz special forces units of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in 2017.

This rifle is designed for close-quarters combat in urban environments and can penetrate heavy armor and even brick walls. The ShAK-12's bullets are said to be the most lethal of all Russian rifles at close range.

According to experts, the ShAK-12's standard ammunition has an effective range of about 100 meters. The gun can also fire armor-piercing bullets that can destroy targets from a distance of 300 meters. The bullpup design (the magazine is located behind the trigger) allows the gun to operate more effectively in the tight spaces of urban combat.

The ShAK-12's magazine can hold 10 or 20 rounds. To reduce recoil, the ShAK-12 is equipped with a two-chamber muzzle brake and a rubber shoulder pad. The gun can also be equipped with a silencer, grenade launcher and optical sight thanks to Picatinny rails on the top and bottom.

DXL-3 sniper rifle

The DXL-3 was developed by the private company Lobaev since 2010 and is currently in service with the Federal Guard, responsible for protecting the President and senior leaders.

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

The DXL-3 was designed to overcome the limitations caused by the excessive recoil of the .338 Lapua Magnum bullet, such as shoulder bruising, shoulder pain, and retinal damage. The gun is most effective in urban combat environments and uneven terrain conditions.

AN-94 Rifle

The AN-94 appeared in the mid-1990s as one of the first rifles developed to replace the AK-74. It used 5.45 x 39 mm ammunition and was said to overcome the AK-74's accuracy shortcomings.

Experts say the AN-94 designer has succeeded in creating a mass-produced weapon that operates on the principle of compressed air reloading, barrel recoil combined with gas extraction to reduce recoil.

Thanks to this mechanism, the shooter only feels the recoil of the gun after the first two shots, meaning that the barrel only rises after two bullets have left the barrel and the third bullet has entered the chamber. The AN-94's two-shot mode was developed based on this feature and is very popular with Russian special forces.

However, through practical testing, the AN-94 is not suitable for forces that are not highly trained or have limited skills, so the Russian Ministry of Defense only purchases a limited number to equip special forces.

Nguyen Hoang