Russia Delivers MTs-566 Precision Rifles to Russian Soldiers in Ukraine.

The High-Precision Complexes holding, a subsidiary of the Russian state corporation Rostec, announced that it had delivered a batch of MTs-566 precision rifles to the Russian army earlier than expected on the battlefield in Ukraine. This information was relayed by Rostec on April 26, 2024.
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The MTs-566 is a semi-automatic precision rifle produced by Russia. (Picture source: Rostec)

The MTs-566 rifles, which are self-loading and chambered for the .308 Winchester cartridge, have already received positive reviews from the Russian armed forces. The design of the weapon facilitates an accuracy of 0.5 MOA (minute of arc), positioning it among the most efficient precision firearms globally.

The early delivery of this batch, coinciding with the celebration of "sniper day," highlights Rostec's commitment to supporting Russian military needs on the battlefield. The MTs-566 is praised by Russian forces for its innovative design and its ability to compete with the most advanced Western precision rifles in terms of accuracy and reliability.

The MTs-566 is a notable semi-automatic precision rifle produced by TsKIB SOO, the Central Bureau for Sporting and Hunting Arms in Tula, Russia. First introduced in 2018, this rifle was initially designed to meet the demands of the civilian hunting market, with sales planned to start in 2020. The design of the MTs-566 evolved from the OTs-129 precision rifle developed for a specific requirement of the Russian military.

Originally chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, the rifle uses a short-stroke gas piston system for its operation. In terms of role, it is comparable to series such as the American M110 or the Ukrainian UAR-10. It features a 60 cm barrel, feeds from 7.62 PMags, and has a full-length top rail. Additionally, it is equipped with folding iron sights, a side-folding stock, a quad-rail forend, and a suppressor that partially shrouds the barrel. In the civilian version, this suppressor acts more like an empty expansion chamber without internal baffles, but it is unclear if this configuration is maintained in the military versions.

The MTs-566 is particularly distinguished by its much shallower lower receiver and a pistol grip positioned much higher than on similar models like the AR-10, suggesting a different firing mechanism requiring less space than the AR-10's hammer mechanism. Moreover, the rifle has integral folding sights, designed to be less susceptible to damage, unlike rail-mounted sights. It also has rail space directly attached to the rifle's receiver for mounting accessories.

Used by sniper teams, the rifle has been seen in action in reports, demonstrating its ability to shoot effectively at distances up to 1000 meters. The sniper using the MTs-566 in the report mentioned using a 20x optic and praised the performance of the 7.62x51mm cartridge for its good velocity and shooting comfort. Despite limited information on the number of MTs-566 rifles in service, the report provides a detailed and valuable view of its capabilities and effectiveness in the field.

Rostec's ability to expedite this delivery not only demonstrates the corporation's robust production capabilities but also its alignment with national defense priorities.

Defense News April 2024