Dragunov SVD
Kalashnikov Concern · Sniper Rifle · In Production · 1963
Also known as: SVD, Snayperskaya Vintovka sistemy Dragunova, Type 79, SWD, Nakhjir 3
Overview
The Dragunov SVD (Snayperskaya Vintovka sistemy Dragunova, or Dragunov Sniper Rifle) is a Soviet semi-automatic designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62×54mmR. Designed by Yevgeny Dragunov in the late 1950s and adopted by the Soviet military in 1963, the SVD was developed to provide accurate suppressive fire against enemy personnel and soft targets at ranges beyond the effective reach of standard infantry rifles. Unlike Western sniper rifles focused on extreme precision, the SVD was designed as a squad support weapon for designated marksmen, prioritizing reliability, rapid follow-up shots, and adequate accuracy (approximately 2 MOA) rather than sub-MOA precision. The rifle features a gas-operated short-stroke piston system with a rotating bolt, a chrome-lined 620mm barrel with four right-hand grooves, and comes standard with the PSO-1 4x24 telescopic sight calibrated for the 7.62×54mmR cartridge. The SVD has been widely exported and copied, serving with over 40 nations and remaining in production for over six decades.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4310 g (152.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4530 g (159.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1225 mm (48.23") |
| Barrel Length | 620 mm (24.41") |
| Sight Radius | 540 mm (21.26") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 27 N (6.1 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 830 m/s (2723 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3304 J (2437 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1300 m (1422 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 30 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Chrome Lined Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62×54mmR · primary — also known as 7.62x54R, 7.62 Russian, 7.62 Mosin-Nagant
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Lever Safety, Disconnector, Free Floating Firing Pin
- Features: Pso 1 Scope, Adjustable Iron Sights, Chrome Lined Barrel, Flash Hider, Bayonet Lug, Two Position Gas Regulator, Rotating Bolt, Machined Receiver, Bipod Compatible
Variants
- SVDS — Folding Stock
- SVDSN — Night Vision
- SVDM — Modernized
- SVU — Bullpup
- SVU-A — Selective Fire
- SVDK — Large Caliber
- SWD-M — Polish Modernized
- Type 79 — Chinese Production
- Nakhjir — Iranian Copy
Service history
Operators
- Soviet Armed Forces · adopted 1963 · as SVD
- Russian Armed Forces · adopted 1991 · as SVD
- Polish Armed Forces · adopted 1970 · as SWD
- East German National People's Army · adopted 1970 · as SWD
- Finnish Defence Forces · as 7.62 TKIV Dragunov
- People's Liberation Army · as Type 79
- Indian Armed Forces
- Iranian Armed Forces · as Nakhjir 3
- Vietnamese People's Army · adopted 1975
- Serbian Armed Forces · as SVDK
- Hungarian Defence Forces
- Iraqi Armed Forces
- Egyptian Armed Forces
- Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces
- Venezuelan Armed Forces · adopted 2007
- Turkish Gendarmerie
- Afghan National Army
- Algerian People's National Army
- Zimbabwe Defence Forces
- Yemeni Armed Forces
Conflicts
- Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989)
- Chechen Wars (1994-2009)
- Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
- Russo-Ukrainian War (2014-present)
- Syrian Civil War (2011-present)
- Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001)
Production
Production years: 1963-present
Produced in the Soviet Union/Russia, China (Type 79/85), Iran (Nakhjir), and other countries. Total numbers unknown but very widely distributed.
Origin
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: Yevgeny Dragunov
Notes
The SVD is often misclassified as a sniper rifle in Western nomenclature, but it was specifically designed as a designated marksman rifle (DMR) for squad-level support. The PSO-1 scope includes a rangefinder reticle, infrared detector, and ballistic compensator calibrated for the 7N1 sniper cartridge. The barrel's rifling twist rate was changed from 320mm (1:12.6 inches) to 240mm (1:9.5 inches) in 1975 to better stabilize new bullet designs. The SVDM modernized variant introduced in 2018 features a thicker 550mm barrel, Picatinny rail system, and modular accessories. The SVD's accuracy with standard military ammunition (7N1, 7N14) is approximately 1.24 MOA (36mm at 100m), which is adequate for its intended role but modest compared to dedicated precision sniper rifles. The rifle accepts a detachable 6x4 spike bayonet. Chinese Type 79 and Type 85 are domestically produced copies. The Iranian Nakhjir 3 is a locally manufactured variant.
Background
The SVD was not designed as a precision sniper rifle but as a squad-level designated marksman weapon, a doctrinal concept the Soviets pioneered decades before NATO adopted it. Its PSO-1 scope includes a built-in infrared detector that could spot enemy active infrared searchlights during the Cold War.