Found a Dragunov at my LGS

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Collector0311

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Thought it may be fun for coyote and other medium game/target shooting in the Cali. high desert. I didn't get the actual make of this rifle, it is a copy. Mounted with that iconic eye cup scope, and has a smooth action and solid feel.
What would a nice Dragunov copy go for? This guy is asking $800. I've never shot one but have heard they are accurate and fun to shoot with. Let me know what you think, thanks
 
It is almost certainly a Romanian PSL. They're not really Dragunovs, but actually scaled-up AKs. $800 is a bit high for them...
 
Telltale giveaway is the exposed gas system.
Dragunov's have a concealed gas system and hides where the gas tube meets the barrel.

PSL's look like giant AK's with an exposed gas system.
 
Price sounds right for a PSL-54. If it were a real Dragunov there would be another zero in that price.
Here's a very good PSL vs Dragunov photo comparison http://www.dragunov.net/psl_tigr.html
Note: What they are showing in the photos is a Dragunov Tiger, there are photos of other models of Dragunovs on the same site.
 
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Good pictures. Good differentiation. I'll go in tomorrow probably and grab all the markings and stamp info as well as the scope manufacturer. Thanks
 
The price is a little high. You can get a brand new PSL without scope for $600; maybe less. Provide the rifle has a scope and 4 mags, that would be just above fair price.

The rifles are fun, the ammo is cheap. But you must keep in mind that you will never achieve anything more than 1.5 MOA, and that is with considerable rifle modification and hand loading. If that is acceptable to you, it is a fun platform.
 
The price range seems to around the $700 range as of late. I don't think you can get new rifles with true Romanian receivers anymore, but that doesn't mean a whole lot since the quality of those were hit or miss; but even those are better than some of the "Sporters" that century made. Some of those don't even have the bolt hold open. Make sure the one your thinking of getting is not one of these 'Sporters'.

AIM surplus has a PSL made by TGI that is built on a Nodak Spud receiver. Even though it doesn't have the cool Drag stock on it, you probably wouldnt like the original stock anyway since its too short for people around 6' tall and puts you uncomfortably close to the scope. This one also comes with the Tapco trigger which is going to be way better than the originals. If I didn't already have a PSL, I would get this one.

PSL's are great guns and I have had a blast with mine. Ammo is a major factor in accuracy and the crappy surplus ammo available doesn't do these rifles justice. But with good ammo, I can pull sub MOA groups with mine. This is not that uncommon with these rifles.

If you reload, the 54r cartridge can be frustrating since brass is expensive and the lack of .311 dia bullets. In its factory form, the PSL shouldn't fire anything over 150gr since the bolt really beats the tar out of the rear trunnion if you do. That limits bullet selection to just a few soft point spitzer's...
 
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There is a similar version in 8mm Mauser, built by the Serbians ("Yugos") and designated the Zastava M-76 (?), based on Wikipedia. I would hate to need to remove the gas tube each time for cleaning, after using affordable corrosive ammo.

One stood about three years in the far left corner, in the rear rifle rack (opposite the counter) in "Guns And Ammo, on Summer Ave in Memphis.

It might still be there, and it looks very wicked :evil:. As for power, a friend easily drilled clean symmetrical holes through both sides of a large, empty steel gas cylinder at 100', with his similar SVD (7.62x54R).
 
Those m-76's are nice and have some good features. I think the scope those come with is better and it has a machined receiver. But in reality, they group about the same as a PSL. They also dont have chrome lined barrels like the PSL does.
 
They also dont have chrome lined barrels like the PSL does
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Some PSL's do and some don't. Many have non-chromed American made barrels as well as American made receivers. Chrome lining effects accuracy, how much depends on how well it was done, many target AR's have non-chromed lined barrels for this very reason, but chrome lining does make cleaning a bit more easy.
 
Yeah, the PSL's that dont have the chrome barrels and American made receivers are the Century Sporters. I would say stay away from those. Get either the Nodak Spud or 100% romanian.

Another note about the M-76 is that the fit and finish of those rifles is much nicer than the PSL's. Especially the furniture and the park job.
 
Yeah, the PSL's that dont have the chrome barrels and American made receivers are the Century Sporters
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Well again, some do and some don't. Century's PSL-54 have American made barrels and Receivers, but the Century PSL-54C (note the C) are all Romanian with Century only putting on an import mark. That is if I recall correctly.
 
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Centerfire Systems is running the 7.62x54 PSL's without a scope for $499 and a scope and mount for $99, and the M-76 8mm for $1250 with a scope and mount. I have thought about selling my CAI CETME and buying a PSL.
 
Yeah the stock is not meant for those my height, I'm 6'3 and could not shoulder that thing right.
 
I have a Romanian PSL-54C, which I bought new from Centerfire Systems. I did a full cleaning, but have yet to shoot it. I'm thinking about selling or trading it in for a more desirable bolt rifle.
 
For the stock length you can get AK "grenadier" butt pads that add 1" or 2" length to the stock, they make all the difference in the world when it comes to comfortably shooting a PSL. They also fit VERY snugly on the steel butt plate, so it actually moves with the spring loaded aperature.

Don't waste your money (like I did) on the scopes that are offered with the PSL from Centerfire. Pay just a little more and get a factory new PSOP scope with illuminated reticle and adjustable focus.

Also, as expected the trigger is awful. I'm installing a RSA adjustable FCG in mine this week and range testing this weekend, combined with the butt pad and decent optics I'm hoping it'll make a fine shooter...
 
This is mine. I have the choate stock which is longer than the factory stock and has a nice cheek rest. Even though the factory stock has a spring loaded steel butt plate, I like the nice rubber one on the choate better. It also doesn't get all scratched up if you rest the rifle on ground, barrel pointing up.
RifleSmall.jpg
 
Looks nice, OC.

Did you put a shorter barrel on it?
Also is that a ajustable gas system on it? If so does it help it with heavier loads?

And if that is a shorter barrel and new gas system on it where did you get them at?
 
The barrel has been shortened and is just over 20" and checked for trueness. I wouldn't go under that with the 54r cartridge since velocity drops very significantly after that. But the big deal with the barrel is that it has a target crown under the break. The crown from the factory was terrible; and if the best you can manage with your PSL is 2" groups with good ammo, take look at the burnishing on the crown. I bet that it will be egg shaped which means that the gases are not escaping evenly around the bullet.

I do have an adjustable gas block from DEZ arms. I have the second version which just looks nicer. Yes, you can turn down the gas system to shoot heavy ammo. I haven't played with it a whole lot, but i did turn the gas system off completely and shot some 182gr yugo surplus. I will be playing with that more when i load up some 174gr SMK's. I also have one of those blackjack type buffers behind bolt, i recommend that for any AK type platform.

I don't know how much of a difference it makes, but I got the barrel shortened to combat against the flex the riles tend to have. I also dont use the tank style brake i have in the picture anymore. I mostly shoot from under a tin roof and the damn thing is just too loud with that brake on it... especially with the short barrel.
 
I personally recommend against them in the S12. They are uneeded and have caused issues for a number of people.

The top S12 authority in the land, Tromix, has the following to say about them

DO NOT INSTALL A RECOIL BUFFER IN YOUR SAIGA-12 SHOTGUN!!!!! With a buffer in place, your bolt will barely get rearward far enough to engage the ejector and the bolt will barely clear the case head of the shell in the magazine before going back forward. This will induce all sorts of problems, both feeding and ejecting.
Click to expand...

http://www.tromix.com/saiga-servicetips.htm

I would trust Mr. Rumore over just about anyone when it comes to making the S12 run right.

I simply wondered if you had S12s in mind when you made that statement or were only thinking of rifles.
 
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