Dragunov SVD
The Dragunov sniper rifle (formally Russian: Снайперская винтовка Драгунова, Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova (SVD), literally "Dragunov's sniper rifle") is a semi-automatic sniper rifle chambered in 7.62x54mmR and developed in the Soviet Union.
It was selected as the winner of a contest that included three competing designs: the first was a rifle designed by Sergei Simonov (known as the SSV-58), the second design, a prototype designated 2B-W10 by Alexander Konstantinov, and the third rifle, the SVD-137, a design submitted by Yevgeny Dragunov. Extensive field testing of the rifles conducted in a wide range of environmental conditions resulted in Dragunov’s proposal being accepted into service in 1963. An initial pre-production batch consisting of 200 rifles was assembled for evaluation purposes, and from 1964 serial production was carried out by Izhevsk Mechanical Works.
Since then, the Dragunov has become the standard squad support weapon of several countries, including those of the former Warsaw Pact. Licensed production of the rifle was established in China (Type 79 and Type 85) and Iran (as a direct copy of the Chinese Type 79).
Operating Mechanism
The Dragunov is a semi-automatic gas-operated rifle with a short-stroke gas-piston system. The barrel breech is locked through a rotating bolt (left rotation) and uses three locking lugs to engage corresponding locking recesses in the barrel extension. The rifle has a manual, two-position gas regulator.
After discharging the last cartridge from the magazine, the bolt carrier and bolt are held back on a bolt catch that is released by pulling the cocking handle to the rear. The rifle has a hammer-type striking mechanism and a manual lever safety selector. The rifle's receiver is machined to provide additional accuracy and torsional strength. The Dragunov's receiver bears a number of similarities to the AK action, such as the large dust cover, iron sights and lever safety selector, but these similarities are primarily cosmetic in nature.
Features
The weapon is fed from a curved box magazine with a 10-round capacity and the cartridges are double-stacked in a checker pattern.
The Dragunov's barrel is ended with a slotted flash suppressor. The barrel’s bore is chrome-lined[3] for increased corrosion resistance, and has 4 right-hand grooves with a 320 mm (1:12.6 in) twist rate. The rifled part of the barrel is 547 mm (21.5 in). Later the twist rate was tightened to 240 mm (1:9.4 in) which slightly reduces the accuracy of fire with sniper cartridges and reduces the muzzle velocity to 810 m/s (2,657.5 ft/s). This was done in order to facilitate the use of tracer and armor-piercing incendiary ammunition. These special bullet types required a shorter twist rate for adequate stabilization.[4]
For precision shooting, specifically designed sniper cartridges are used, developed by V. M. Sabelnikov, P. P. Sazonov and V. M. Dvorianinov. The proprietary 7N1 load has a steel jacketed projectile with an air pocket, a steel core and a lead knocker in the base for maximum terminal effect. The 7N1 was replaced in 1999 by the 7N14 round. The 7N14 is a new load developed for the SVD. It consists of a 151 grain projectile which travels at the same 830 m/s, but it has a sharp hardened steel core projectile. The rifle can also fire standard 7.62x54mmR ammunition with either conventional, tracer or armor piercing incendiary rounds.
The Russian military has established accuracy standards the SVD and its corresponding sniper grade ammunition have to meet. Manufacturers must perform firing tests to check if the rifles and sniper grade ammunition fulfill these standards. To comply to the standards the SVD rifle with 7N1 sniper cartridges may not produce more than 1.24 MOA extreme vertical spread with 240 mm twist rate barrels and no more than 1.04 MOA extreme vertical spread with 320 mm twist rate barrels. When using standard grade 57-N-323S cartridges the accuracy of the SVD is reduced to 2.21 MOA extreme vertical spread. The extreme vertical spreads for the SVD are established by shooting 5-shot groups at 300 m range. The accuracy of the SVD with sniper grade ammunition corresponds to the American M24 Sniper Weapon System with M118SB cartridges (1.18 MOA extreme vertical spread) and the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System with M118LR ammunition (1.27 MOA extreme vertical spread).[5]
The Dragunov has a vented, two-piece wooden handguard/gas tube cover and a skeletonized wooden thumbhole stock equipped with a detachable cheek rest; the latter is removed when using iron sights. Newer production models feature synthetic furniture made of a black polymer - the handguard and gas tube cover are more or less identical in appearance, while the thumbhole stock is of a different shape.
Dragunov SVD
| Type | Sniper rifle |
|---|---|
| Place of origin |  Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1963–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Vietnam War, Soviet war in Afghanistan, Iraq War, Yugoslav Wars, First and Second Chechen Wars, 2008 South Ossetia War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Yevgeny Dragunov |
| Designed | 1958–1963 |
| Manufacturer | Izhmash, Norinco |
| Produced | 1963–present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.30 kg (9.48 lb) (with scope and unloaded magazine) 4.68 kg (10.3 lb) (SVDS) 4.40 kg (9.7 lb) (SVU) 5.02 kg (11.1 lb) (SWD-M) |
| Length | 1,225 mm (48.2 in) (SVD) 1,135 mm (44.7 in) stock extended / 815 mm (32.1 in) stock folded (SVDS) 900 mm (35.4 in) (SVU) 1,125 mm (44.3 in) (SWD-M) |
| Barrel length | 610 mm (24.0 in) (SVD, SWD-M) 565 mm (22.2 in) (SVDS) 600 mm (23.6 in) (SVU) |
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|
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| Cartridge | 7.62x54mmR |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Muzzle velocity | 830 m/s (2,723 ft/s) (SVD, SVDS, SWD-M) 800 m/s (2,624.7 ft/s) (SVU) |
| Effective range | 800 m |
| Maximum range | 1,300 m with scope 1,200 m with iron sights |
| Feed system | 10-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | PSO-1 telescopic sight and iron sights with an adjustable rear notch sight |
Users:
Afghanistan
Albania
Belarus
Bulgaria
China: Norinco-made copy of the SVD, known as the Type 79. Equipped with a 4x magnification optical sight which is a copy of the
PSO-1. The rifle has a slightly shorter butt. Also produced a modified
Type 85 and several other commercial copies of the SVD.
Czech Republic
Finland: Known as the 7.62 TKIV Dragunov, which stands for tarkkuuskivääri henkilömaaleja vastaan (precision rifle, anti-personnel purpose).
Georgia
Hungary
India: Used by "Designated Marksmen" in the Indian Army, built in India under license.
Iran: Locally produced variant called the Nakhjir Sniper Rifle.
Iraq: Al Kadesiah, made based on SVD and PSL.Official Iraqi designation is either Al-Qadissiya or Al-Gadissiya.
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Nicaragua
North Korea
Poland
Romania: Built under license.
Russian Federation
Slovakia- Soviet Union: Entered service with the Soviet Army in 1967.
Tajikistan
Turkey: Used by Gendarmerie units of the Turkish Army.
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Venezuela: Currently being bought for the Army of Venezuela
Vietnam: Having been used since the Vietnam War
The Free Encyclopedia
Iran also produces a copy
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