SVD

We have here a “civilian” version of this most famous of all sniper rifles – the Dragunov. With very little modification - (the removal the flash eliminator and a 5 shot magazine instead of a 10 shot magazine), and we have a sniper rifle which anyone with a standard Category A Firearms Licence (New Zealand) can own.

This famous rifle comes as the TIGR (not Tiger –as some will pronounce it), тигр as it is in Cyrillic, is pronounced Teh, i, but stretch your lips – more like the “ee” in see, g as in God and r, as in rub – but with a rolled “r”. The English equivalent is Tiger.

In order to preserve as closely as possible the Dragunov SVD features, we have specified it complete with iron sights, Sniper PO 6x36 telescopic sights, gas regulator, chrome lined 620mm barrels and it is chambered for the famous 7.62 x 54R cartridge, all as the original Dragunov SVD’s.

The rifle is available in two models, one as a skeletonized thumb-hole timber stock and the other as a skeletonized thumb-hole polymer stock with adjustable check-piece.

The specification of the rifle is as following:

Dragunov SVD (USSR/Russia)

Original SVD with wooden stock.

Variant of SVD, with polymer stock and hand-guards.

SVD – (what the Tigr variant is based on).
Calibre: 7.62x54mm Rimmed
Operation: gas operated, short stroke, rotating bolt; semi-automatic
Capacity: 5 round detachable box magazine
Weight: 4.31 kg empty with telescope
Length: 1225 mm
Barrel Length: 620 mm
Max Rate of Fire: 30 RPM
Aimed Rate of Fire: 3-5 RPM
Scope Type: PO-6 x 36 with illuminated reticule
Accuracy: less than 2 MOA at 600m (anecdotal evidence suggests that accuracy can vary between 0.75 and 1.75 minutes of an angle – it depends on how the rifle has been put together and where it came off the assembly line).

SVD was designed not as a standard sniper rifle. In fact, main role of the SVD in Soviet / Russian Army is to extend effective range of fire of every infantry squad up to 600 meters and to provide special fire support. SVD is a lightweight and accurate (for it's class) rifle, capable of semi-auto fire. First request for a new sniper rifle to replace the Mosin Nagant M91 was made in 1958. In 1963 the SVD (Snaiperskaya Vintovka Dragunova, or Dragunov Sniper Rifle) was accepted by Soviet Military. It was reportedly tested in Vietnam by the Soviet Special Forces – SPETSNAZ who returned to say that it worked very well. SVD can use any kind of standard 7.62x54R ammo, but a 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 is extremely reliable in all conditions, operating in plus 50 or minus 50 degrees Centigrade and designed for heavy battles. It has backup adjustable iron sights as a standard option. The barrel lining and chamber are chromed for incredible longevity, wear and unbelievable abuse. Latest modernisation incorporates a rugged polymer stock. All modifications of SVD passed many real battle tests during Afghan war as well as many other local conflicts, including latest Chechen wars. SVD was widely used and copied across the former Warsaw pact countries and still in service with Russian Army and many Russian Law Enforcement agencies (as well in other CIS countries).

For more information see our SVD Test fire