by four eyes » Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:44 pm
As you seem to think hitting something at 600 metres is a doddle i insert a quote from a northern friend.
"By no means I'm certainly not a SVD expert, but I quess I know a little bit of SVD - Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova (Dragunov's Sniper Rifle) or "Dragu" as we have nicknamed it, since I have instructed some military snipers to use it during some years.
First some background; the Russian made SVD with PSO-1 is secondary sniper rifle or sniper weapons system (if you want call rifle, its optics & gear, ammo etc... with more sophisticated term), primary being TRG-42 with Zeiss 3-12x56 SSG-P, with the exception of paratroopers in Finland. Red Berets alias paras use SVD as their primary sniper rifle, not TRG-42s. The reason for this is simple, SVD is much lighter & easier to jump with than TRG. Furthermore, parasnipers are not trained to shoot further than 600 meters, which is the maximum distance to shoot SVD accurately; I know 'cause I have also instructed parasnipers, even though I'm a Black Beret myself.
As somebody propably already mentioned SVD has been designed in 1963 and it is the first purpose built sniper rifle (SWS) and was meant originally for designated marksmen; using US terminology. SVD's character is more like a long range assault rifle than a true sniper rifle and in that particular context it should be judged.
There has been a lot of mystical legend of the accuracy of SVD. Some one quoted Jane's that an SVD has a 90% chance of hitting its target at 300yds, 80% @ 500, 60% @ 700, 50% @ 800, and 20% @ 1,000. Personally, I think that Jane's has made a mistake, since the hitting probabilities they state are crap. I would be more than happy, if Jane's could find me a fellow who could do that - I would provide test SVDs from the Army's stock. The reality is this: SVD roughly shoots 15 cm (5,9") groups at 300 meters, 30 cm (11,8") groups at 600 meters and you can hit a man sized target at 800 meters (if you are lucky and environmental elements are on your side). Dragu has stadia lines up 1000 meters and aiming point up to 1300 meters in PSO-1 reticle (stadia lines are for 1,7 meters tall person), but you really cannot hit anything beyond 800 meters and 600 meters is the longest distance, in which snipers shoot their qualifications. The max. distance I can shoot decent scores with Dragu is 600 meters, but Dragu is fun to shoot e.g. moving target at 150 meters - you can really easily hit a target sized 40 cm (15,7") x 45 cm (17,7") always.
Note: Only sniper in the whole army can shoot under 20 cm (7,8") groups with Dragu (SVD) at 700 meters - some American snipers have met him and they know how good this guy really is. If some one claims to shoot better than that, then welcome to Häyhä Shooout to show it next year.
There are number of rounds for SVD.
Somebody explained about Russian cartridges being only specially made for SVD. Yes, there are some made only for SVD, but impossible to get. The more common Russian cartridge that is used and delivered to troops in all countries that use SVD is 9,6 grams bullet (148 grains) with the muzzle velocity is 830 meters per second. This cartridge is not a match ammo. It is used almost in every Russian rifle caliber weapons and it comes green 440 rds can. The bullets have steel core, either coppered iron shell or steel shell. They are packed for 20 rds paperwrappings and tied. There are 22 of these 20 rds tied paperwrappings in the green 440 rds can. Moreover there are two green 440 rds cans in the wooden transportation box, consisting alltogether 880 rds.
There was also 7N1 9,8 gram (152 grain) rifle match ammo developed in the 1965, which was at least issued to the Soviet sniper troops in some quantities. However, this ammo was dedicated only for SVDs made before 1972. After 1972 the Soviets changed the rifling in SVDs and developed a new ammo 7N14 with armour piercing core for post-1972 SVD rifles. Therefore there exits two different barrel twist for SVD pre-72 and post-72. If you shoot 7N1 ammo with post-72 rifle, you really don't hit anything and vice versa using 7N14 ammo with pre-72. The real problem is that you do not know, which barrel twist you have, unless you check it. Then comes the question of ammo - 7N14 is almost impossible to get, not even Russian sniper troops have it contrary to some media reports and the stocks of 7N1 have been almost used. Hence 9,6 gram (148 grain) ammo is used.
The quality of Russian made Dragus has always been good, whether pre or post 1972 produced rifles. The reason people have brought out quality issue is the simple reason that they haven't known the existance of two different riflings - and the Russian haven't told themselves anybody. Even Finns acidentally noticed and realized it, and then made ammo and rifle tests and measurements.
Russian made Dragus are excellent quality - sometimes worn, but nevertheless out of good quality. The same cannot be said of any other SVD copy.
SVD sws is still good sniper system, when used short distances from 0 meters to 500 meters, with absolute max. target interdiction distance 600 meters. Dragu is not a true sniper rifle, you can easily built a lot of better true sniper rifle out of AR-10 or SR-25, but it is a good designated marksmen and recon sniper rifle, in the way Russians use it.
Izmash Tirg semiauto is a good choice for civilian SVD. shoots well and is accurate, especially in .308 caliber, not 7,62x54R. Romanian variations are not true SVDs, so I don't even bother discuss about them.
The true value of original Russian SVD, with PSO-1 scope, with four mags, bayonet, sling, cleaning kit plus all other tiny accessories is about 2 000 Euros (army stock value), but you cannot get any SVD kits for that price - reason there aren't any for sale, as Russian Federation classifies Dragu as a military weapon, not for sale for private persons, only for armies. But in any case, if you would somehow find an orginal Russian SVD kit for sale, the price would currently be around 4 000 - 5 000 Euros. Maybe Russian army starts to sell their inventories someday or perhaps Finnish army... you just never know for sure.
Shoot well! :smoke:
Cheers,
He shoots a lot better than me,and seems to think 600 is about the max.Ok its possible with a bigger calibre, time,right conditions etc to hit further out but thats not every day shooting. So if im only just able to hit the breast of a man at that distance with a good scope,with the naked eye its going to be hard to determine exactly what your seeing. Im not saying your wrong only that things aint always what they seem.