SV-98
Kalashnikov Concern · Sniper Rifle · In Production · 1998
Also known as: SV-98, SV-98M
Overview
The SV-98 is a Russian bolt-action sniper rifle developed by Vladimir Stronskiy at Izhmash in the late 1990s as a dedicated precision sniper weapon to complement the semi-automatic SVD. Unlike the SVD which serves as a designated marksman rifle, the SV-98 was designed from the ground up for precision shooting, featuring a free-floating barrel, adjustable two-stage trigger, and a machined receiver capable of sub-MOA accuracy. The rifle has been adopted by various Russian military and security forces and has seen combat use in Chechnya, Syria, and Ukraine.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 5800 g (204.6 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 6200 g (218.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1200 mm (47.24") |
| Folded Length | 940 mm (37.01") |
| Barrel Length | 650 mm (25.59") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Two Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 15 N (3.4 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 | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3000 m (3281 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Chrome Lined Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 7.62x54mmR · primary — also known as 7.62x54R, 7.62 Russian, 7.62 Mosin-Nagant
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Bolt Handle Safety
- Features: Free Floating Barrel, Adjustable Cheek Piece, Adjustable Buttpad, Integral Bipod, Suppressor Ready, Picatinny Rail, Adjustable Trigger, Folding Stock
Variants
- SV-98M — Modernized
- SV-98 .308 — Caliber Variant
Service history
Operators
- Russian Armed Forces · adopted 1998
- Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) · adopted 2000
- Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya)
- Belarusian Armed Forces
- Kazakh Armed Forces
Conflicts
- Second Chechen War (1999-2009)
- Russo-Georgian War (2008)
- Syrian Civil War (2015-present)
- Russo-Ukrainian War (2014-present)
Production
Production years: 1998-present
Produced by Izhmash/Kalashnikov Concern. Exact production numbers not publicly disclosed.
Origin
Country of origin: Russia
Designer: Vladimir Stronskiy
Notes
The SV-98 was developed from the Record-1 competition rifle platform. The modernized SV-98M variant introduced in 2019 features an updated polymer stock with adjustable cheek piece and buttpad, Picatinny rail system, and improved suppressor compatibility. The rifle can achieve 1 MOA or better accuracy with match-grade 7N1 or 7N14 sniper ammunition. The original wooden-stocked version has largely been superseded by the polymer-stocked SV-98M in Russian service.
Background
The SV-98 was born from competitive target shooting rather than military design bureaus. Its ancestor, the Record-1 sport rifle, gave it an inherent accuracy advantage over the SVD, making it one of the first Russian rifles purpose-built for precision sniping rather than adapted from a battle rifle platform.