Facebook: http://facebook.com/XboxAhoy Twitter: http://twitter.com/xboxahoy This time, we're covering the SVU-AS. A shortened version of the Dragunov - the SVU makes its Call of Duty debut in Black Ops 2, but the longer parent design was first seen in COD4. The Dragunov SVU - or 'Snayperskaya Vintovka Ukorochennaya', translating as 'short sniper rifle' - is a Russian rifle first introduced in 1994. It is a bullpup reconfiguration of the Dragunov SVD, with its magazine behind the trigger, and a recoil-reducing muzzle brake to combat the heavy recoil from the full-power rifle cartridge the SVU fires: the 7.62-by-54 millimetre Rimmed. The -AS suffix refers to a later variant of the SVU rifle design: the A stands for automatic, referring to a select-fire ability: and the S refers to the attached bipod. This specific variant was designed for Special Forces requiring an adaptable weapon, where the select-fire ability transforms a marksman's rifle into a fully-automatic battle rifle when circumstances demand. Of course, in-game the weapon is essentially a semi-automatic weapon only: select fire is not available. And, while the bipod is present on the weapon: it is non-functional. Damage-wise, the SVU has the potential to kill in just one-shot, but as far as the sniper rifles are concerned, it is the lowest damage weapon in its tier. In order to attain a single-shot kill, you will need to strike your opponent directly in the head: in all other cases, you'll need two shots to kill. When equipped with the suppressor, even a headshot will be insufficient - the suppressed SVU is always a two-shot kill. The sniper rifles have no range penalty - no matter your distance from your target, you can expect to deal the same amount of damage. Penetration ability is also high, but unlike the LMGs, the sniper rifle's slower rate of fire and limited magazine capacity mean you generally fare better when you can shoot your target directly. Rate of fire is the highest within the sniper class, although is by no means impressive: your semi-automatic fire is capped to 415 rounds per minute. However, this does mean the SVU can fire the two shots often needed to kill in a fairly rapid succession. Hipfire performance is very poor: not only do the sniper rifles have the highest hip divergence of any weapons, the SVU will also be likely to need two shots to connect. Leave hipfiring to the direst of emergencies, and look to your sidearm instead for reliable close-quarter performance. The SVU's handling traits are generally good, at least for the sniper rifle category. Recoil is the lowest in class, permitting fast follow-up shots out to a middle range: useful, given the low damage of the SVU. At a longer range, this recoil may throw off your aim - but your weapon's sway and a mobile opponent will prove to be more challenging variables than a mild dose of gun kick. Aim time is slow, at 420 milliseconds - this means, like the other sniper rifles, you will not perform well in unexpected close-quarter gunfights. Preparedness is key, then - to ensure advantage you'll want to enter gunfights with your sights already raised, and anticipate the arrival of your enemy. Movement speed with the sniper rifles is the same as the assault rifles - 95% of the fastest base movement speed. Magazine capacity is fair, at 12 rounds: the highest within the sniper rifle category. Of course, the SVU is also the most likely to need these extra shots: you will find the magazine frequently empty. Thankfully, reloads aren't too bad either: at 2.94 seconds for a tactical reload, you'll be able to restock faster than any other sniper rifle. Extended clip will take your capacity to 17 rounds, and expand your starting 4-mag supply by the equivalent scale. So, the SVU is a weapon built for rapid follow-up shots, and as such is probably the best choice in a sniper role for smaller maps with tighter chokepoints. The ability to quickly dispense rounds means accuracy is less important up-close - and the poor one-shot kill potential means the SVU becomes ineffective at longer ranges. It's worth noting that the SVU has a lower-than-average zoom level for the sniper category: its base magnification lies between the sniper default and the ACOG zoom level. The SVU-AS is the lowest damage sniper rifle, but is arguably the most suited to more aggressive play, closer to the enemy. The low recoil means you can send accurate shots down range very quickly - and the reasonable magazine capacity and swift reload means this tactic is quite sustainable. It is the slow handling and lower damage that is the SVU's key downfall - the key advantage of most sniper rifles is their ability to instantly snuff opponents. With a two-shot kill, the SVU is essentially on par with the high damage assault rifles at a middle range - the SMR and FAL deal similar damage, and boast far better handling traits.