Modern Firearms


 Sniper rifles - Introduction
Large caliber rifles
Austria
 Steyr IWS 2000
 Steyr .50 HS
China
 M99
 M99B / M06
 AMR-2
 JS 05
Croatia
 RT-20
Czech republic
 Falcon
France
 PGM UR Hecate II
Germany
 DSR 50
Great Britain
 AI Arctic Warfare .50
 AI AS50
 RPA Rangemaster .50
Poland
 WKW "Wilk" / "Tor" new
Russia
 SVN-98
 KSVK 12.7
 OSV-96
 VSSK Vychlop
South Africa
 Truvelo .50
 Mechem NTW-20
Switzerland
 OM 50 Nemesis
USA
 M500 M600 M650
 Armalite AR-50
 Barret M82
 Barret M90 & M95
 Barret M99
 Barret XM500
 McMillan TAC-50
Yugoslavia
 Black Arrow M93

Standart caliber rifles
Austria
 Steyr SSG 69
 Steyr SSG 04
 Steyr SSG 08
 Steyr Scout Tactical
 Unique Alpine TPG-1
Belgium
 FN 30-11
 FN Police Rifle
 FN FNAR
Brazil
 IMBEL Fz.308
Canada
 Timberwolf C14
China (People Republic of)
 QBU-88
 JS 7.62
Czech Republic
 CZ 700
Finnland
 Saco TRG
France
 FR F2
 PGM Ultima Ratio
 PGM Mini-Hecate .338
Germany
 HK PSG-1
 HK MSG-90
 Walther WA2000
 Mauser SP66
 Mauser 86SR
 Mauser SR-93
 Blaser 93 Tactical
 DSR-1
 SSG-82
 Erma SR-100
 GOL-Sniper
Great Britain
 Enfield L42A1 & Enforcer
 Parker-Hale M82
 AI Arctic Warfare / L96
 AI AE
 RPA Rangemaster
Israel
 Galil sniper
 TEI M86-SR
Italy
 Beretta sniper
Poland
 "Alex" / "Bor" new
USA
 Barret 98B new
 Armalite AR10(t)
 M21
 Remington 700
 M24
 M40
 SR-25, Mk.11 mod.0, XM110
 Savage 10FP & 110FP
 RAI / RAP model 300
 FN SPR
 CheyTac Intervention
 Kel-tec RFB
 VR1 PSR
 FN FNAR
USSR / Russia
 Dragunov SVD
 SVU and SVU-A
 VSS
 SV-98
 SV-99
 VSK-94
 SVDK
 MTs-116M
Switzerland
 SIG SG550 Sniper
 Sig-Sauer SSG 2000
 Sig-Sauer SSG 3000
 SIG STR/SHR 970
 B+T APR 308
 B+T APR 338
Yugoslavia
 Zastava M76


all texts and some pictures
copyright © 1999-2009
by Max R. Popenker
and can not be used without author permission

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Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle (USSR/Russia)


Original SVD rifle with wooden furniture, right side


Original SVD rifle with wooden furniture, left side


SVD rifle, major parts and assemblies


SVD-S rifle with folding butt and polymer furniture


Russian-made hunting version of the SVD, the 7,62x54R Tigr (Tiger) rifle with new-style plastic SVD furniture. Note that there's no bayonet lug on the barrel


Foreign SVD clones and look-alikes: top to bottom Al Kadesih rifle (Iraq), Type 85 rifle (China) and FPK rifle (Romania). Note that only two former rifles are true clones of SVD; the latter one, FPK in fact is a modified Kalashnikov AK rifle restyled to look like SVD and chambered for 7,62x54R.

Caliber: 7.62x54R
Operation: gas operated, short stroke, rotating bolt; semi-automatic
Weight: 4.31kg empty with telescope
Length: 1225 mm
Barrel Length: 620 mm
Capacity: 10 round detachable box magazine

Dragunov SVD was designed not as a "standard" sniper rifle in its Western meaning of the term. In fact, main role of the SVD in Soviet / Russian Army is to extend effective range of fire of every infantry squad up to about 600 meters and to provide special fire support. SVD is a lightweight and quite accurate (for it's class) rifle, cabable of semi-auto fire. First request for new sniper rifle was issued in 1958. In 1963 SVD (Snaiperskaya Vintovka Dragunova, or Dragunov Sniper Rifle) was accepted by Soviet Military. SVD can use any kind of standard 7.62x54R ammo, but primary round is specially developed for SVD sniper-grade cartridge with steel-core bullet. Every infantry squad in the Russian (Soviet) army had one man with SVD.
SVD rifle is extremely reliable in all conditions, and designed for heavy use. It has backup adjustable iron sights as a standard option, as well as a bayonet mount (standard AK-47 bayonet type).
Latest modernization incorporate rugged polymer stock. Also, for mounted and airborne troops a special variant was developed with folding buttsock and shortened barrel (590 mm). New flash hider/muzzle brake also installed.

It must be noted that several countries produced SVD copies or look-alikes. Of those, the "true" clones (rifles that have similar internal design) are Iraqui Al Kadesih rifle and Chinese Type 85 (in 7,62x54R) and NDM-86 (in 7,62x51 NATO). Others, such as Romanian Romak FPK or Yugoslavian Zastava M76, are only look-alikes as their internal design is different and usually based on Kalsshnikov AK assault rifle. Russia also produces a civilan version of the SVD, known as "Tigr" (Tiger), in 7,62x54R and 7,62x51 (.308 Win). This usually  has shorter barrel, although it is available in several different versions. Older hunting version of the SVD, the "Medved" (Bear) is no longer produced and is quite scarce.

Dragunov SVD is gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle. It uses short-stroke gas piston, and gas chamber has a two-position manual gas regulator. Barrel is locked by rotating bolt with three lugs. Receiver is machined from steel block. The safety is somewhat reminiscent in its appearance to that of Kalashnikov AK assault rifle, although internal design of the trigger unit is different, and there's no provisions for full automatic fire. Trigger unit is assembled on a separate removable base that also incorporates a trigger guard. The second, smaller lever, located on the right side of receiver behind the safety, is a receiver cover catch, and is sued to disassemble the gun. Standard furniture includes a skeletonized wooden butt and a removable wooden handguard. Late production models may feature polymer handguards and, sometimes, polymer skeletonized butt. The short SVD-S rifle is fitted with separate pistol grip, made of plastic, and a side-folding metallic butt. All SVD rifles are fitted with adjustable open sights, as well as proprietary side rail mount, which will accept telescopic or IR sights on quick-detachable mounts. Standard telescope sight is the 4X fixed magnification PSO-1 with range-finding reticle. SVD rifles also are issued with carrying sling, cleaning kit and other accessories. A standard AK-type bayonet can be installed on the barrel.

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