How a SVD Dragunov Sniper Rifle Works

Wikipedia: The SVD (Russian: Сна́йперская Винто́вка систе́мы Драгуно́ва образца́ 1963 года, romanized: Snáyperskaya Vintóvka sistém’y Dragunóva obraz’tsá 1963 goda, lit. ’Sniper Rifle, System of Dragunov, Model of the Year 1963’), GRAU index 6V1, is a semi-automatic marksman rifle chambered in ×54mmR, developed in the Soviet Union. The SVD was designed to serve a novel (at the time) squad support role to provide precise long-range engagement capabilities to ordinary troops following the adoption of intermediate cartridges for use in standard infantry rifles. At the time, NATO had not yet adopted an intermediate cartridge of their own, allowing them to outrange their Warsaw Pact counterparts. It was developed through 1958–1963 and selected as the winner of a contest that included three competing groups of designers, led by Sergei Simonov (prototype rejected in April 1960), Aleksandr Konstantinov, and Yevgeny Dragunov. Extensive field testing of the rifles conducted in a wide range of environmental conditions (Konstantinov’s competing 2B-W-10 prototype was simpler and cheaper but tested less accurate, durable and reliable) resulted in Dragunov’s proposal being accepted into service in July 1963.[2] An initial pre-production batch consisting of 200 rifles was assembled for evaluation purposes, and from 1964 serial production was carried out by Izhmash, later called Kalashnikov Concern. Since then, the SVD has become the standard squad support weapon of several countries, including those of the former Warsaw Pact. China produced a copy of the SVD through reverse-engineered samples captured during the Sino-Vietnamese War as the Type 79 and 85.[3] Iran also produced a clone, the Nakhjir 3, which was a direct copy of the Chinese Type 79. Type Marksman rifle Sniper rifle Place of origin Soviet Union Service history In service 1963–present Used by See Users Wars See Conflicts Production history Designer Yevgeny Dragunov Designed 1958-1963 Manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern Norinco Produced 1963–present[1] Variants See Variants Specifications Mass kg ( lb) (with scope and unloaded magazine)[1] kg (10.3 lb) (SVDS) kg (9.7 lb) (SVU) kg (11.7 lb) (SVDM) kg (11.1 lb) (SWD-M) Length 1,225 mm (48.2 in) (SVD)[1] 1,135 mm (44.7 in) stock extended / 875 mm (34.4 in) stock folded (SVDS) 900 mm (35.4 in) (SVU) 1,155 mm (45.5 in) stock extended / 875 mm (34.4 in) stock folded (SVDM) 1,135 mm (44.7 in) (SWD-M) Barrel length 620 mm (24.4 in) (SVD, SWD-M)[1] 565 mm (22.2 in) (SVDS) 600 mm (23.6 in) (SVU) 550 mm (21.7 in) (SVDM) Cartridge ×54mmR[1] Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt Rate of fire Semi-automatic Muzzle velocity 830 m/s (2,723 ft/s) (SVD) 810 m/s (2,657.5 ft/s) (SVDS) 800 m/s (2,624.7 ft/s) (SVU) Effective firing range 800 m (875 yd) Feed system 10-round detachable box magazine 20-round detachable (SVDA) box magazine[1] Sights PSO-1 telescopic sight, 1PN51/1PN58 night vision sights and iron sights with an adjustable rear notch sight