SVD Dragunov

The SVD (Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova)is the Soviet Sniper Rifle, adopted in 1963. The common name of this rifle is Dragunov, after the designer Evgenie Fedorovich Dragunov.

While outwardly resembling the familiar Kalashnikov rifle, the SVD fires a more powerful cartridge, more accurately, and with less disturbance of aim due to the short stroke gas piston system, rather than the AK series’ long stroke system. Also, while the Kalashnikov series rifles are selective fire, the Dragunov is semiautomatic only.

The Dragunov is chambered for the old Russian Machine-gun cartridge, called 7.62 X 54. This cartridge, still current although dating back to the Czars, is equivalent in power to the US standard 30’06 of two world wars, or the 7.62 NATO cartridge, currently chambered in the US M60 Machine-gun.

The rifle uses detachable box magazines of 10 round and 5 round capacities. The Dragunov will shoot very accurately, but not as accurately as the finest bolt action weapons. This is a quibble from the ultra-accurate school of thought, but the Dragunov clearly is accurate enough to get its assigned job done.

My rifle is the Russian Dragunov Tiger, made by Izhmach and so marked. The Dragunov Tiger by Izhmach is mounted with the Soviet PSO-1 4X ranging telescope with illuminated reticle. Look for the switch on the left side of the scope. There are Russian characters on the rifle and especially on the scope mount.

You use the ranging scope to hit a target at any range up to 1,300 meters. For any distance up to 1,000 meters, once you find the range using the special reticle, point of aim is adjusted by turning a simple dial that allows dead-on sighting. For 11, 12, or 1,300 meters there are separate aiming chevrons. It's the ultimate (coolest) reticle I've seen yet. The scope also has an illuminated reticle, infrared filters, and winter battery container as accessories.

My Dragunov will shoot very accurately and has shot as well as 3/4" 5 shot groups at 100 yd off the bench using Russkie ball ammo. It is built so as to be almost indestructible. The only complaint is the wood is very poorly finished. You will enjoy it if you get one.

After one of the "crime bills" guns imported had to have markings of the importer. Mine is marked B-West. Unfortunately, since the last crime bill, I believe it was ’94, no more have been imported. So we have a guaranteed collector’s item.

To tell you the truth, I would keep my Dragunov if I had to sell either it or my Springfield M1A. Luckily, that is not necessary. It's a helluva swelluva gun! Like I said, it will not compete for wood finish with a commercial gun, but I got an extra stock and added about 2" to the length of pull and sprayed it flat black. It looks like the ultimate "evil gun" assault rifle the libs love to demonize.

I have not tried to reload the ammunition, since both ball and hunting ammo is available for unbelievably low prices. Like $5.00 a box. Also, they are Berdan primed, which can be decapped, but then you need to find the Berdan primers. Good luck! :>

If you want reloadable cases, you can buy Norma factory loads.

I also believe the bullets are .311 in diameter, like the .303 British and the 7.62 X 39.

I have used both yellow tip and silver tip ball, can't remember which was the best. Believe it was the yellow tip, however. It's funny, when you get to a certain age, you can think better, but you CRS!

Happy shooting! :>






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