Any Freepers own a Dragunov SVD or actual AK-47(Shooter Alert)

Vanity | January 03, 2012 | Trueblackman

[mylife]

I can tell you this, I love my PSL.
I love to shoot that thing.

[Taylor42]

I have a couple of AK-47's sitting in my gun safe. I enjoy shooting them very much. One is by Arsenal, sa m-7s. It's a milled receiver and a well built weapon. The other is a folding stock weapon.

One thing to be wary of; the length of the stock is short. Such that when you fire the weapon your right hand is up close to your face. This causes a "cramped" feeling. You can fix this with an adjustable stock. The different receivers (milled and stamped) require different adjustable stocks.

One other thought: don't go for the cheap weapon, spend the extra money. It's worth it.

[bicyclerepair]

Back before bubba was getting the assualt weapon ban ready, a friend of mine bought a Norinco AK-47 (he’s no longer with us). It was $200/new at the gun show in the early 90s. I shot it and thought it was a great gun. I thought it was pretty accurate, expeically for a $200 gun. Ammo was reasonable too.

Regrettably, I think his wife sold it after his death.

[IncPen]

pang

[tumblindice]

The malfunction was reported in `Concealed Carry Handguns’ 2012, Harris Outdoor Group #103, `Ruger LC9 9mm’, pp. 51-53, Dennis Adler.

I ran a couple mags of Hornady Critical Defense 115 FTX through mine with no problems. I may try some S&B next time.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Seems the ignorant still think they are fine guns...

I guess that depends upon what your definition of 'fine' is, doesn't it?

[Taylor42]

Seems the ignorant still think they are fine guns.

You are welcome to your opinion, however don't be surprised if I think of you as a nimrod of sorts.

The ak-47 has stood the test of time. If I had to pick one weapon to keep me alive in bad times, the ak is my choice.

[Altariel]

Let me guess, you were *sure* that despite ALL the warnings, you could safely take all your firearms out in your (or a friend’s) boat without suffering a horrendous, unforeseen boating accident.

[mylife]

I think I have a few boxes of S&B lying around.
I will have to give it a test.

[tumblindice]

Nice little gun for a 9 mm, isn’t it? I carry mine in a High Noon pocket holster, sometimes in my jacket pocket like my Beretta Tomcat.

[Trod Upon]

The PSL is not a "true" Dragunov because it is not a Dragunov. Neither is the Chinese NDM-86, which is almost identical to it, or the Iraqi Al-Kadesh, or the Yugoslavian M76. Dragunov is just the designer's name, like Kalashnikov or Simonov. All of the rifles above, including the Dragunov, are really just semiautomatic designated marksman rifles in 7.62x54r (except the Yugo which is 8mm Mauser). I have also seen .308 NDM-86s but have heard anecdotal reports of them having "issues" of structural integrity.

The Dragunov and NDM-86 command the prices they do because of the Russian and Chinese arms ban. They, like most Russian and Chinese weapons, are common out in the wild, but you can't bring any more into the US so the prices are inflated. There is nothing spectacular about them, despite a theoretical inherent accuracy advantage of having multipart gas rods and thus less moving mass. They all have pretty thin barrels that will string when hot enough. The big advantage the others have over the PSL is an adjustable gas block. The PSL was designed later than the Dragunov and intended for light ball only (150 grain or less) rather than the heavy, so the design was simplified to omit an adjustable gas block. Still, a Romanian PSL, not US kit built, is capable of similar accuracy in the hand of a competent marksman. They also cost a LOT less, being freely importable. Think of it as a semiautomatic AK on steroids.

BUT you have to be careful because Cugir manufactured some specially for US import (no "evil" third axis pin) and they are pretty good. Some built on US receivers and parts kits can be pretty bad. You want a kick ass sniper rifle? Get a good bolt gun in 338 Lapua Magnum. A good PSL is a good time though. Cheap and cheerful.

[donozark]

Winchester made very fine guns. Until they went under...Model 70 one of the best.

[2banana]

The Dragunov SVD is NOT a sniper rifle.

It was designed for squads to have an organic crew served suppression weapon (think shooting/suppressing the B240 machine gunner).

It looks cool but is not that accurate compared to modern sniper rifles.

[mylife]

Santa just brought me one.
I shot it with PMC and liked it.
Its loaded with Black Talon now

[mylife]

Wrong!

The RPK was designed for squads to have an organic crew served suppression weapon (think shooting/suppressing the B240 machine gunner).

The SVD is a sniper rifle.

[mylife]

A good write up.

I also like the VEPR .308

[2banana]

No. It is a terrible sniper rifle. Any hunting rifle will beat it. Think about it. A semi auto sniper rifle? Why?

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragunov_sniper_rifle

The Dragunov sniper rifle (formally Russian: Снайперская винтовка Драгунова, Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova (SVD), literally "Dragunov's sniper rifle") is a semi-automatic sniper rifle/designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62x54mmR and developed in the Soviet Union. The Dragunov was designed as a squad support weapon, since according to Soviet and Soviet-derived military doctrines the long-range engagement ability was lost to ordinary troops when submachine guns and assault rifles (which are optimized for close-range and medium-range, rapid-fire combat) were adopted.

From: http://world.guns.ru/sniper/sniper-rifles/rus/dragunov-svd-e.html

Dragunov SVD wasdesigned not as a "standard" sniper rifle in its Western meaning of theterm. In fact, main role of the SVD in Soviet / Russian Army is to extend effective range of fireof 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.

[sinanju]

Me confused.

I hear it was given to the Soviets to come up with the concept of the squad/marksman rifleman.

[2banana]

Me confused.

I hear it was given to the Soviets to come up with the concept of the squad/marksman rifleman.

The Soviets have sniper rifles. The SVD is a squad suppression weapon. It is NOT a sniper rifle.

[sinanju]

It was the late Chuck Taylor (writing in SOF in the eighties) who discussed his own experiences as a lieutenant in ‘Nam equipping one of the men in his unit with an accurized, scoped, M14.

He said his sharpshooters bagged ninety percent of the unit kills.

A rather powerful argument for the squad/marksmen concept.

He tried to shoot the idea upstairs, but, as he himself put it, who listeness to a lieutenant?