SVD (rifle): characteristics. Sighting range

Sniper rifle SVD caliber 7,62 was developed in 1958-1963 by Soviet designers under the leadership of Dragunov EF. It is a self-loading weapon, its automation is based on the use of the energy of powder gases diverted to the gas piston from the barrel bore.

Excerpts from the Soviet Military Encyclopedia

Snipers are specially trained hands that perfectly master the art of camouflage, surveillance and shooting marks; They know how to hit targets from the first shot. Officially, the first snipers appeared in the British army during the First World War. The main task of such fighters is to destroy important moving, open, disguised and emerging single targets. These can be enemy snipers, observers, officers, liaison officers, etc. The shooter is armed with a rifle equipped with a special sight. For shooting, he chooses and equips a hidden position. During the Second World War, all participants in the armed conflict widely deployed the training of snipers, for this purpose special schools were created, fees and courses were held. In the USSR, the mass mastery of this art was called the sniping movement. In addition, this concept became a household word, as a result they began to be called marksmen of airmen, artillery and tank troops.

Sniper rifles are equipped with optical sights, which improve the accuracy of aiming and provide good surveillance in any conditions. To fire at night, the guns are equipped with night vision sights or include optical grid lighting. Up to the beginning of the 1960s, there were no specialized sniper rifles in the arsenal of the Soviet Army, and Mosin carbines of the 1891/30 model were used. However, the methods of warfare were changing, and the experience of past local conflicts put a number of requirements for the sniping case. So, a new stage in the development of this type of weapons has come. Now all the elements, from the cartridge and the optical sight to the rifle, were designed and manufactured for special orders.

The history of the creation of the first Soviet sniper rifle

In 1958, the USSR Ministry of Defense issued a tactical and technical assignment for developing a 7.62 self-loading sniper weapon. The main competitors in this competition were the Izhevsk designer Dragunov EF and the Kovrov constructor Konstantinov AS, in addition, Simonov SG and the design team of Kalashnikov MT presented their models. Draganov's version of the experimental rifle CERV-58 was able The first "meet" the tough demands made by the military, after which a revised model of the CER-61 appeared. After conducting comparative tests of prototypes, Konstantinov and Dragunov made a decision to adopt the Dragunov project. Thus, SVD, a rifle, whose characteristics met all the requirements, was received by the troops already in 1963, under the index 6В1.

With the world on the thread ...

The development of the ammunition for the new rifle was carried out by the employees of the scientific research institute No. 61 Sabelnikov VM, Sazonov PF and Dvoryaninov VN This cartridge with a bullet having a steel core was adopted for service four years after the rifle itself In 1967) and received the index of 7N1. Soviet engineers Ovchinnikov AI and Glyzov LA responded to the development of the optical sight of PSO-1. Samoilov IA developed the technology for producing a high-precision barrel for this rifle. Evidently evil languages mention the similarity of the SVD and AK systems, they note that They are almost identical to the automatic with the removal of powder gases from the barrel through the side opening, locking the channel by turning the shutter and double-acting non-automatic flasher safety. In addition, the hammer impact mechanism has a similar shape of the combat spring. No doubt, some elements were borrowed from the AK, but the SVD rifle is not a copy of the machine, it's an independent system, and the features of this weapon, which we give below, serve as evidence of this.

Interesting differences of Dragunov's rifle, connected with "sniper" tasks

Let's see what differences make this weapon an independent system. The SVD rifle has a shutter frame not combined with a gas piston, which (like a pushrod) is made as a separate part with its own return spring. They occupy the starting position after the frame is thrown back. The movement of automation is decomposed into successive movements of individual parts. Accordingly, this leads to an increase in the response time of the mechanism and a reduction in the total mass of the co-moving parts. This principle increases the smoothness of the automatic operation and smoothes the impulse load. In addition, the gas outlet has a gas regulator necessary to adapt the self-loading mechanism to operate under difficult operating conditions.

Shutter mechanism

The SVD rifle is equipped with a shutter device, which has three symmetrical warheads. This makes the locking process more reliable, and also reduces the angle of rotation of the mechanism. The recharging handle is located on the right side and is made as one with the bolt frame. The combination of this massive construction with an easy shutter is able to provide very reliable performance.

Shock-trigger mechanism

The USM of this sniper rifle is assembled in a separate case, it is able to provide only a single fire. The original feature of the mechanism under consideration is the use of the trigger (besides its main function) in the role of a razobschitela sear and trigger pull. The non-automatic flasher fuse in the switched-on state locks the pull rod and trigger, and also cuts the notch in the receiver.

Lodges and stock of SVD

The SVD rifle has a characteristic cutout in the butt which, with its front edge, forms a pistol grip. The frame allows you to hold the weapon with your left hand, carrying out the shooting from the stop. You can attach an uncontrollable removable "cheek" and a backplate to the butt. The forehead is formed by two symmetrical barrel overlays that have slots for better cooling of the rifle. The pads are equipped with a spring-loaded fastener, so that the support point of the box is located on the axis of the trunk. As a result, the effort created by the rifle-supporting hand does not affect the results of the shooting. In addition, with the elongation of the trunk caused by its heating during the shot, the forearm shifts slightly forward; Since the linking conditions do not change, there is no displacement of the so-called midpoint of the hit. Since the beginning of its existence, SVD (photos in this article show the weapons we are considering) underwent several stages of modernization. As a result, the wooden butt and fore-end were replaced with glued plywood slab, and the modern modification is produced with a plastic butt and glass-filled black polyamide lining. Due to these changes, the weight of the SVD has decreased.

Ammunition

As mentioned before, the caliber of the SVD is 7.62x53. The rifle is powered from a two-row metal box-type detachable sector-shaped cage, the capacity of which is ten cartridges. Designers provided for the location of the store so that the center of gravity of the weapon was located above it. As a result, the consumption of cartridges has practically no effect on the balance of the rifle, and hence on the displacement of the midpoint of hits. For shooting from Dragunov sniper, besides the special cartridge 7Н1, also the rifle cartridge 57-Н-223 with light bullet, 7Т2 with tracer bullet, and also 7Б3 with armor-piercing incendiary charge, etc.,

Optical devices

The optical sight SVD PSO-1 has a fourfold increase in the field of view of 6%. It is equipped with a retractable protective hood and a rubber eyecup. The aiming grid has a basic square, designed for firing at a range of up to one kilometer, as well as additional ones for 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 km, and a scale for lateral corrections. In addition, PSO-1 provides a range-finding scale, whereby the aiming range of the SVD provides a target height of 1.7 m (full-length human figure) to an accuracy of up to 50 m. The aiming grid illumination device is powered by one battery inserted into a special compartment in Housing. In the field of view of optics, a luminescent plate is introduced, which makes it possible to detect sources of infrared radiation. As an auxiliary, a mechanical device is used - a sector sight, designed for a range of up to 1.2 km, and an adjustable fly. Optics PSO-1 served as the basis for the creation of a whole family of sights, including PSO-1 M2. The sighting range of the SVD with this model is in the range from 0.1 to 1.3 km. In 1989, new instruments appeared. This SVD optics has a variable magnification from 3 to 9, its field of view is 6 ° 11 '- 2 ° 23', respectively. In addition, the device allows you to use the illumination of the aiming grid with the ability to adjust the brightness.

SVD-rifle: characteristics of the weapon

The total length of the weapon without a bayonet is 1225 mm, and the length of the trunk is 620 mm. Weight with a loaded magazine and an optical sight is 4.52 kg. The cartridge is 7.62x53. The initial speed of the bullet is 830 m / s. The combat rate of fire is 30 rounds per minute (a pretty good result, considering only a single mode of fire at the SVD rifle). The firing range with an optical sight is 1300 meters, and with a mechanical device - 1200 meters. The magazine capacity is 10 cartridges.

Principle of operation

Automation of the weapon operates according to the principle of using a flue gas discharge through a special hole in the barrel channel. Locking is performed by turning the gate mechanism counter-clockwise. The main difference from the Kalashnikov scheme is that the cartridge dispenser is also used as an additional fighting stop (the third one under the account). This allowed, without changing the transverse dimensions of the shutter and the angle of rotation, about a half times increase the area of combat stops. As a result, three control points provide a very stable position of the mechanism, which could not but affect the increase in accuracy of fire. When firing, a part of the powder gases that follow the bullet through the gas outlet channel in the barrel wall rushes into the gas chamber and presses against the front wall of the piston. As a result, the piston, together with the pusher and the bolt frame, are thrown back.

At this moment, the barrel bore is opened, the bolt takes the sleeve out of the chamber and throws it out of the receiver. After that, the shutter frame compresses the return spring and cock the trigger, that is, puts a platoon of automatic descent. Further under the action of the return mechanism, all structural elements return to their original forward position. At the same time, the bolt sends the next cartridge from the cage to the chamber and locks the trunk channel, the shutter frame removes the whisper of the self-timer from the platoon cocking platoon and puts it on the combat platoon. Locking the bore of the barrel by the shutter is made by turning it to the left and setting the combat projections into the cutouts of the receiver.

In order to make another shot, you should release and again press the trigger. After its release, the traction advances to the front position and jumps over its searing hook. When you click on the hook, the hook turns the sear, thus disconnecting it and the cocking platoon. The latter, under the action of the fighting spring, rotates in its axis and hits the drummer, which moves to the front position and pierces the capsule. The powder mixture of the cartridge is ignited, and a shot is fired. When the last shot is carried out, the bolt moves back, and the clip feeder lifts the shutter stop up. It rests, and the frame stops in the rear position. This serves as a signal to the shooter that you should recharge the weapon.

Concept of use

For hand-to-hand combat, a standard bayonet knife (6X4) can be attached to the SVD. Although this attribute on the sniper rifle is very rare and hardly necessary. And nevertheless, we should not forget that this weapon was created as equipment for small subversive units, and this obliged to provide for its use even in close combat.

In general, the design of SVD, the characteristics of which turned out to be quite impressive, was a very successful compromise between the general combat and sniper requirements. In addition, it should be noted that this rifle was the first army weapon, in the design of which the features of sports equipment were clearly manifested. For the 60-70s of the last century, the SVD had a very high degree of accuracy. Experience suggested that with the help of this sniper rifle you can hit slab targets at a distance of up to 800 meters. The SVD range for the purpose of the "chest figure" type (50x50 cm) reaches 600 meters, and the "head figure" (25x30 cm) - 300 meters.

Battle Glory

Quite a high popularity this sniper rifle acquired during the military conflicts in Afghanistan and Chechnya. This is due to the high power of the SVD, the characteristics of which allowed to conduct accurate fire in mountainous conditions. It can be noted that no type of combat can not do without the active participation of snipers, so this type of weapon was and always will be in demand.

To date, various modifications of SVD are in the arsenal of the armies of more than a dozen countries. Various variants were issued in the PRC, Iraq, Romania. In addition, the fate of the model we are considering manifested the mutual influence of sniper, hunting and sporting weapons. After all, the SVD rifle constructed with the use of sports shooting experience had a serious influence and served as the basis for creating a series of hunting carbines such as "Bear", "Tiger" and OC-18.

Sniper rifle SVD: the price

Novice hunters are often interested in whether they can acquire combat weapons, in particular the SVD rifle, as a hunting weapon . However, the law of the Russian Federation prohibits the sale of VDS to private property. Nevertheless, there is a way out: the Izhevsk plant is developing the original combat copies of the Dragunov rifle, which were removed from conservation. As a result, anyone can buy this copy, produced in accordance with the requirements of criminologists of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for restrictions on the turnover of official and civilian weapons. However, at once we will calm the reader - these changes in no way affect the operation and technical characteristics of this rifle. To its name is added prefix KO, which means "hunting carbine". Cost of SVD is 62 thousand rubles. If the hunter does not scare away the high price, he will receive a reliable, powerful, time-tested excellent weapon that will serve him faithfully for a year.

Finally

The Dragunov Sniper Rifle has proven itself as a powerful and reliable weapon, for many years remaining the best combined-arms model. However, changing, complicating and expanding military tasks, solved by the sniper in modern conflicts, required the development of new shooting systems with much better accuracy of shooting, as well as a sight with greater shortness of the increase. In fact, SVD was not a sniper rifle in the modern sense of the term, its main task was to increase the range of effective fire of fighters of motorized rifle divisions (up to 600 meters altogether). And it was also called upon to provide the necessary fire support (to suppress firing points). In connection with this, the SVD does not have to possess the range and accuracy of modern sniper weapons. Therefore, in spite of taking on the arsenal of new infantry systems of greater power, the military is not in a hurry to refuse from the classics tested in battles. Thus, special forces receive sniper rifles under the cartridge of 8.61 mm, while motorized rifle units continue to use SVD.