dragunov rifles

[xx7grant7x]

looking to buy one of the dragunov style rifles out there and was wondering if there were any problems with any of the different varieties (romak-3, ssg-97, PSL, etc) I'd like to get one that comes with a scope and a couple mags and was wondering what the best model/manufacturer was and any problems with these rifles looking for a 7.62x54r if that matters

Thanks!

 

[Ash]

Fundamentally they are all the same. The PSL-54C is the newest incarnation. Have a care that you get a newer one or that you are looking at lacks the "third hole weld" that means it is contraband. Century is supposed to have gotten them all back, but you never know. Any PSL-54C with a 2007 date on it or later is fine. The advantage of these rifles is that the PSL-54C is made up from original military PSL's. Their bayo lug has been neutered, but it is still there. These are neat because they have the IOR-Valdada scopes which were original to these rifles. Their reticules were tritium-based and almost certainly don't glow anymore, but they are the equivalent of a military scope made by Leupold.

Any marked Romak-3 will be good, too, but likely will have Russian optics which have a battery-operated reticule. Some of these will require a pretty obscure battery that is available but by no means at your local Walmart. Any SSG-97 from InterOrdnance will be good, too. This group is largely commercially-made and as such may be in the best condition. The SSG's would need a 1990's date to fit in this slot. Later SSG's may be parts rifles like the PSL-54C's. Most of these will lack the bayo lug.

The third and least desirable group are the FPK's assembled by Tennessee Guns. These are parts-rifles like the 54C's above, but instead of being assembled at the original factory they are assembled in the US. These are generally fine rifles and there are many happy owners of them. However, there have been reports of less-than-good assembly and some owners have not been happy. Chances are pretty good, though, that any FPK marked rifle will still be a fine one and I would personally not have a problem with owning one.

(And before some SVD enthusiasts pipe in, no, they are not REAL Dragunov's, but they are certainly Dragunov-style rifles that accomplish the same thing in the real world.)

Ash

 

[JWarren]

Ash wrote:

but likely will have Russian optics which have a battery-operated reticule. Some of these will require a pretty obscure battery that is available but by no means at your local Walmart.

I've read that some PSOP scopes use the odd batteries. The PSOP that I have operates with two "watch" batteries, however. From what I can see, it was converted using a sleeve that narrows the channel that the batteries go in. I don't see any additional evidence of modification. Maybe adding a sleeve will convert those scopes to US batteries. All in all, it is a matter of getting the proper voltage.


-- John

 

[Ash]

I bought one of the earliest Romak-3's way back when and the battery was a French-made one. I think you are right that they all operate the same way, but some smart guy realized that if you insert that bushing, you can make them work just fine with watch batteries. I hadn't considered that, but it is certainly possible that the older imported scopes could be very easily upgraded cheaply with the right plastic or nylon bushing.

Ash

 

[MilsurpShooter]

One of these days I have to look and find one myself. Love the looks of those rifles but I bet they're not allowed in NY lol

 

[MRIman]

Love the looks of those rifles but I bet they're not allowed in NY lol

You can buy PSL's all day long in NY!!!! Got mine 5 months ago.
My only reget is not getting one years ago!!!!

MRI

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Thank you... I thank you but my credit card doesn't lol

 

[stubbicatt]

I caution folks against these rifles, not because the rifles are bad necessarily, but because the variations in dimension on commonly available ammo may lead to an out of battery discharge. Mine did. It was scarey. Without the safety sear in place, if I had one of these, I would be certain that each round chambers easily in a disassembled rifle before I put it in a magazine. Else if someone made a chamber gage, I'd do that before attempting to shoot one again.

Hope this doesn't happen to you.

 

[Ash]

Of course, all AK-based rifles fire the exact same way and this is not a problem reported across the spectrum. I suspect rather than being a design issue, as the sheer numbers of AK's, and the smaller but still significant number of PSL's that have been in the country for a decade now, the rifle in question was defective in some way. Otherwise, this would be a problem reported with some regularity. As it is, this is a single reported incidence with PSL type rifles. If it really was a design fault with the rifle lacking the safety sear, all AK's would be branded with this problem and with rapid fire there would kabooms occurring with regularity. I've been shooting PSL's for literally 10 years and have not had any problems nor have problems been raised in the many boards I have read (The High Road, The Firing Line, Gunboards, Gun and Game, AK-47.net, and the Dragunov board).

In any case, much of the ammo available today is machinegun ammo and it may be made in a more indifferent way than one might expect.

Ash

 

[PercyShelley]

Good info Ash. Isn't there some company manufacturing new PSL-style receivers in .308?

Also, where should we turn if it's one of those 8mm Yugoslavian sniper rifles that flips our switch? Is it possible to append a dragunov-style thumbhole stock to one of those?

 

[Ash]

As far as I know, you cannot get a dragunov stock for the Yugo M 76's. But as it is also a modified AK, you can probably modify a stock to fit. You can get them from Ohio Ordinance but they are pricey, as in three times the cost of a PSL.

InterOrdinance does sell a 308/7.62NATO version. It uses a proprietary magazine that is a semi-clear plastic if I recall. Operates the same as the PSL and is virtually the same save for chambering and bolt head.

Ash

 

[Vaarok]

PSLs are plenty legal in NY.

The only downside to the PSL is that they should not be fired using ammo heavier than 147gr. They've got a simple gas system designed for light ball and only light ball, and if you use heavy ball you can break things pretty phenomenally.

 

[slzy]

the good folks at battery plus figured out what battery a first gen. soviet nvd took,they could probably help with any battery problem.