Chinese NDM-86 Availability

Status
Not open for further replies.

buck00

Member
Joined
May 10, 2005
Messages
1,078
How available are the Chinese NDM-86 "Dragunov" rifles currently? Has anyone here seen them at gun shops or gun shows recently, or are they too rare at this point? Obviously I've seen them once in a blue moon on gunsamerica or gunbroker, but I'm more curious if anyone here has seen them out at physical locations.



Note- I am really not trying to spark the typical "is the Dragunov a true sniper rifle?" or "Romak 3 vs Dragunov" debate. That argument is pretty old. :rolleyes:
 
OK, I won't go there.
However, If you can find one of the Century imported, Russian made 'Tiger' Dragunovs you will find it to be a much better rifle than the NMD-86.
If you find a Russian made, genuine Mil-Spec Dragunov for less than $5000, don't quibble and buy it.
A Yugoslavian M-76 in 8mm Mauser is even better if priced less than $3500 complete.
In the last ten years I have seen four Tigers and two Chinese 7.62X54s offered for sale. All were priced less than $2000
In that time I have only seen one each of the Mil-Spec Russians and a Yugo 76 offered.
They were both complete and expensive.
There are some .308 Chinese Dragunov copies out there, avoid them at all costs.
The Chinese didn't do them right, they are inaccurate, unreliable, and CDNN says they may be dangerous.
 
The Chinese didn't do them right, they are inaccurate, unreliable, and CDNN says they may be dangerous.


Actually that isn't true.


I own an NDM-86 in .308 and it is the most accurate SVD availible, mostly because there is a plethera of match grade 308 ammo availible. A member of Gunsnet.com named Tomac has pics of 0.4" 5 shot groupings. The rifle will shoot sub-moa groupings right out of the box with good ammo, and thats why there is a problem with the free floating firing pin.

The ammo that the rifle was made for has hard military style primers so when the bolt slams home on these hard primers there isn't a problem. The problems happen when you shoot ammo like Federal match ammo with soft primers. The bolt goes forward and so does the firing pin hitting the soft primer causing the round to go off without the bolt fully seated causeing possible KABOOMS. CDNN realised this and will "fix" these rifles by retro fitting the firing pin with a spring, but they didn't do a good job with some of them. My CDNN fixed pin works flawlesly; 500rds and counting using match ammo. A few years ago Russian spring loaded firing pins were availible and this fixed the CDNN problems, but those Russian pins have dried up. There is a guy on Gunboards.com that is machining his own SLFP that is just like the Russian version. Go here half way down there are some pics of the pin http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=176368&whichpage=2

The only thing that isn't up to par with the chinese rifles is the finish isn't as good as the Russian rifles, but other than that they are the same. In fact the 54R version of the NDM-86 is closer to an SVD than a Tiger ever will be. The tiger barrel is chopped down and the receiver dosen't have the lighting cuts down the sides. Also, most tigers don't have the cool bayonet atachment. And bisides no 54R SVD can never match the accuracy of a NDM in 308.


Here in the USA, you can expect values to be broken down like this:

Russian SVD: $3500 - $6000 depending on condition and accessories.
Russian Tiger carbine: $1300 - $1800 also depending on condition and accessories (add $1000 to price if California Armory version).
Chinese NDM-86: $2200 - $3200 if in 7.62x54 and $1800 - $2400 if 7.62x51. Add a premium if in deluxe velvet case.


There are no shops that huge inventories of NDM's. The last store to carry NDM's was CDNN and they are sold out. The only way you'll find one now is online acution sits or forums and occasionaly used at a local shop. Only 1000 NDM-86 in .308 were ever made so it might be somewhat difficult to find one at a decent price. I bought mine a few years ago new from CDNN for $1699, and I am glad I did while they were availible. If money were no option (and I didn't have to worry about the legalities) the only SVD I would take over my Ndm-86 in 308 is a military bringback SVD.




For accurate info on SVD's and occasional for sale listings go to http://www.dragunov.net/




Attached is my baby
 

Attachments

  • SVD_Good_web.jpg
    SVD_Good_web.jpg
    101 KB · Views: 251
Gonefission, that is a nice looking rifle. I like the bayonet on it.

Thank you, I appreciate the advice. I'll just have to call around and keep my eyes open. I think everyone has a firearm "holy grail" out there they are dreaming of- this is mine. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top