The competition for the creation of a new self-loading sniper weapon for the army was announced in early 1958. The victory in this competition was won by a group with a leader named Dragunov. Sniper weapons, which was developed by experts, entered service after five years. Specially for the rifle, a unique cartridge with a steel core was developed. But, despite this, the gun can shoot with other cartridges, the nomenclature of which is 7.62x54.
It is also worth noting that the role that Dragunov's SVD plays in the army is different from the usual tasks of a sniper in the understanding of foreign troops. In the Russian armed forces, a rifle serves as both a sniper weapon and a means to increase the firing range, which exceeds the capabilities of standard assault rifles. Such use indicates that the Russian army does not have special weapons of this class. But the situation can radically change the sniper weapon SV-98, using the same caliber.
On the basis of the rifle produced by Dragunov, such modified guns as the SVD-S rifle were produced , the characteristic features of which are a shortened barrel and a folding side butt. Popular modifications include carbines such as the Bear and the Tiger. Copies of the rifle launched into mass production and abroad. Sometimes there are also such guns that accurately imitate the Dragunov sniper rifle.
The sniper weapon of Russia, made under the leadership of Dragunov, has the form of a self-loading gun with a short entrance, not rigidly connected to the bolt frame of the gas piston. This was done in order to reduce the mass of movable automation elements. The rifle has a gas regulator with two positions. The barrel is locked by turning the bolt, which has three combat stops. The barrel milling structure is made of steel. USM, having a separate base, is not regulated. Devices for sight are not removed and are presented in the form of a front sight. The whole, which is located in front of the barrel structure cover, can be adjusted.
The sniper weapon is equipped with a special bracket for an optical device, which is mounted on the short-barreled box on the left. In addition, the main optical sight is equipped with night-time non-illuminated sight. Previously, a sniper rifle had a forend and a frame butt, which was made of wood. On modern rifles, the fore-end is made of plastic. The frame stock in this situation can be both plastic and wooden. The SVD-S folding rifle is equipped with a separate plastic handle and a stock made of metal.
The regular sniper weapons of Dragunov are equipped with a special gun belt, which facilitates the carrying of the rifle. A feature of the SVD is the presence of a special tide on the trunk, on which the bayonet-knife will be installed. Universal weapons are recognized as truly one of the best and most effective sniper rifles not only in Russia but also in the world.