building a dragunov... possible?

[Obin Robinson]

ok, i think i know the answer to this already but it never hurts to ask:

being that dragunovs are rarer than hen's teeth, and the import ban isn't making them any more common... what's the possibility of BUILDING a dragunov from parts?

what ticks me off is that there isn't anything about these rifles that made them 'assault rifles' to begin with. they NEVER had "high capacity" magazines, they're too big to conceal, they don't have a high rate of fire (never existed in full-auto), and they're not more accurate than some common american-made rifles. anyways, rant over but i've anways wondered if sooner or later somone would come out with a "parts kit" for dragunovs so that we could assemble them here following 922r rules.

will we ever see a $200 SVD parts kit and a $100 american-receiver?

fat chance?

i wish not, and i'll ladly buy products from those who choose to help collectors out there such as myself fulfill a lifelong dream of owning one of these awesome rifles.

thanks!

obin

[lockwood]

Who could possibly predict that! Anyway I would say to either try and work a deal on one or set your sites on any one of several very nice and also available rifles now in the country. They are sweet though and also don't let the pundits fool you into believeing that the svd's are not as accurate as some American rifles because that is simply not true what so ever, the SVD's are extremely accurate when fed the right ammo!

[Ster]

Greetings,

I am the vice president of engineering for DPMS. I am planning on building a SVD from scratch as a personal project. I would have bought a TIGR to reverse engineer (as a place to start) back in December, but my Cadillac had some problems. I am going to try and get one by March.

I realize that there are some differences between the TIGR and SVD, but many of the pieces (receiver, bolt, hammer, trigger, etc.) are interchangeable. I will have to try and get an adjustable gas system from a real SVD to copy, or make one of my own.

I also designed some new chamber reamers for a different project. The are 6.5x45mm, 6.5x39mm, and 9.3x39mm (9x39 Russian). The 6.5x45mm will use the same case as 5.56mm NATO and the other two cartridges will use the 7.62x39mm case.

If anyone knows where I can get a TIGR for less than $1200, let me know. I am also willing to put my Steyr SBS Tactical HB (new in box) up for trade toward getting a TIGR. My e-mail address is mechanicaltech@earthlink.net.

Ster

[ED4]

Sounds like a cool project. Are you planning on marketing it? If so any cost projections?

Why not get the Chinese NDM-86 in .308 from CDNN? Maybe they'd work a deal for DPMS. Just a thought. But that's a copy of the Russian SVD but in .308. I have two of them now(one NIB and the other getting refinished).

Also I'd be very interested in one if you made them in an available caliber(most calibers people into military weapons would have 5.56X45, .308, 5.45X39.5, 7.62X39, 7.62X54R, 7.92X57(8X57)). As it would be easier/cheaper to use the ammo most of us load than to get into a totally different caliber. Unless brass and dies were offered reasonably.

[Berg]

What a coincidence because dragunovparts.com is doing almost the same thing. They are also planning to attempt to make the adjustable gas tube which would be for Tiger owners. The problem of buying one in .308 is that the gas adjuster doesn't function. You'd need the x54 version to make the copy from especially to get the slot dimentions where you insert the base of the cartridge case (which is obviously wider on the x54 version).
Receivers shouldn't be much more complicated than a milled AK receiver because there's no feed ramp and the rails are machined into the metal. I vote for one in 6.5x55.

[lockwood]

I would definately be interested in buying one which was made in america by a quality company like DPMS, please do before that guy Hesse decides to do it, oh god forbid.

[Ster]

I have been thinking about this project for a while. I talked to Rick at www.dragunovparts.com about a couple of things. Once I get a TIGR, I will work on making a receiver, bolt, and bolt carrier. I will also probably make the barrel because I get some killer discounts due to DPMS quantity buying.

As far as available calibers, my first SVD will be chambered in 6.5x55mm Swedish. I have a M96 Swedish Mauser (Carl Gustavs, 1903) in this caliber and I really like it. Beyond that, I will probably try and make some in the following calibers:

7.62 NATO (.308 Winchester)
7.62x54mm Russian
.30-06 Springfield
9.3x64mm Brenneke (used in one of Russia's sniper rifles)
.338 Lapua magnum

If anyone knows where I can get a TIGR for under $1200, please let me know. It would be really cool if someone would like to loan me their TIGR for me to disassemble and take measurements off of, but I won't hold my breath.

Ster

[ED4]

Originally posted by Ster
I have been thinking about this project for a while. I talked to Rick at www.dragunovparts.com about a couple of things. Once I get a TIGR, I will work on making a receiver, bolt, and bolt carrier. I will also probably make the barrel because I get some killer discounts due to DPMS quantity buying.

As far as available calibers, my first SVD will be chambered in 6.5x55mm Swedish. I have a M96 Swedish Mauser (Carl Gustavs, 1903) in this caliber and I really like it. Beyond that, I will probably try and make some in the following calibers:

7.62 NATO (.308 Winchester)
7.62x54mm Russian
.30-06 Springfield
9.3x64mm Brenneke (used in one of Russia's sniper rifles)
.338 Lapua magnum

If anyone knows where I can get a TIGR for under $1200, please let me know. It would be really cool if someone would like to loan me their TIGR for me to disassemble and take measurements off of, but I won't hold my breath.

Ster

I don't have a Tigr but I have 2 Chinese NDM's in .308. If it would help for measuring and all and you want to contact me maybe we can work out you getting it. It'll have to be after I get the shooter back(sometime next month). As that's the one I'd lend.

Just a thought.

[Obin Robinson]

thanks for the updates guys! for what it's worth i was just about to buy a PSL and then my wife needed $1100 for her retirement account :(. oh well.

i DO have the cash and will gladly support anyone who makes an "american" SVD. as long as it's priced reasonably i'd be willing to go for it. i've wanted one of these since i saw photos of Soviet troops in afghanistan having them back in the mid-1980s.

thanks again!

obin

[Ezra Coli]

Mark me down for one in whatever caliber you do. Personally I'd like one in original 762x54, but any others would be a novel idea too. 6.5 swede is an awesome round.

Yes, you will get my cash if you do this!

[NHGunNut]

I would love one of these in the original 7.62 x 54r or 308 as long as the price was reasonable

[Ster]

ED4,

That would be very cool if I could borrow one of your rifle for measuring purposes. I would certainly be willing to send you some money for your kindness. I'm still trying to find a TIGR of my own, but I would be just as happy to borrow a rifle to measure.

Thanks,

Ster

[bigpond73]

Chalk me up for one also. Still torn on which caliber I would want, but seems to me that the 7.62x54r would be great. Any estimated prices on building one here in the U.S?

Thanks,

Mike

[Ken]

Same as bigpond73 for me.

[smokingman]

Sounds great! American quality drag!
I would love one in .308 . 54r rocks,but most people are already set up for reloading .308 and you can buy it anywhere(even wal-mart) so I think it might sell better in that cal. If my ssg had been available in .308 I would have gotten it ,but I am happy with the .54r.
Sounds like it would really sell in any cal though.
If it were a little cheaper, even a PSL copy would probably be a good seller.

[ED4]

Ster if you want to contact me by e-mail and we'll see what we can set up.

[btcave]

I'd be interested in one in 7.62x54r also, if the price was right. I have several weapons in that calibre already. I would consider .308 too.

[Polish Boy]

I'd definitly buy one too I'd like a 7.62x54R, 7.92x57, or 308 I think id buy either but preferably 7.92

[MessedUpMike]

Ster,
I don't know how much pull you have with DPMS, but I'm sure if you were to put it out there that you were planning on a building an American made Drag and a few deposits for R&D would speed things up you could come up with the cash quick. I'd certainly be willing to throw in for it.
Anyone here know how to start a poll to see how many people would be interested?

Mike

[Cold Warrior]

or would you consider making Tigrs also? I'm in for the SVD in 7.62 x 54R and a Tigr in either that or .308. Just for fun, how about .50 cal ? While your'e at it, how about bipods?

I''m a mechanical engineer and if you need CAD and/or FEM support I'm set up at home with the hardware and software for free help.

Make it happen!

CW :rockin: :rockin: :rockin:

[Obin Robinson]

Originally posted by MessedUpMike

Anyone here know how to start a poll to see how many people would be interested?

Mike

sure! you want to start the poll? or i can if you want me to. i just dont' want to start it without asking and make you think i took your idea ;)

i would be 100% willing to buy a US dragunov kit if it was in 7.62x54R. we have a PSL, but a dragunov would be a nice addition.

obin:)

[Ezra Coli]

Guys is this thread still active? Ster hasn't posted to it since January. Even so, if someone is thinking US made Drag, I'm still in...

[MessedUpMike]

Doh!

[88blkiroc]

how about in 300 Win Mag?? that would be sweet :D

[darrin]

Like to add my vote for this project as well.

Either .308 or 7.62x54 is fine by me.

Looks like CenterFireSystems is now offering a parts kit. Just need a receiver to match to it.

[saleen]

That is a Romak 3, not a dragunov. You really got my heart going for a moment there. I thought my quest for a FH was over.


Saleen

[PeeWee]

I thought you had found a f/h....from diesel???

[saleen]

I haven't heard from him in awhile, but he said it might be late November before he could get to his storage room and get one for me. I am still hopefull, but I haven't purchased the rifle though. Until I have confirmation that he has it in hand, I'm in a holding pattern and the seller isn't in a hurry. Of coarse, without a FH he doesn't exactly have people breaking down his door either.

In the meantime, if I locate another FH for sale, I'll grab it. As scarce as they are it wouldn't be too wise to let one go if the price was reasonable.


Saleen

[darrin]

FWIW, it d oesn't look like DPMS will be making a receiver for the Dragunov.

I E-mailed them and they responded that there were no plans to do so. :(