Magpulized Russian Dragunov (SVD) Rifle

The Magpul phenomenon has reached Russia. Gennady M. Kozhaev, gunsmith and owner of a OOO Skat, has developed a range of modernized SVD rifles. The rifles are build using Izhmash Tigr receivers and Lothar Walther barrels.

The rifle feature an AR-15 A2 pistol grip and a Magpul PRS stock. The redesigned handguard has a full length rail on top. Side rails and an under rail can be attached to the handguard.

The gas block has been redesigned and looks much more substantial than the original SVD design. Judging by the photos, the gas block may have an adjustable gas regulator. The Lothar Walther barrel is threaded with a muzzle brake, instead of the SVD / Tigr flash suppressor. Both front and rear iron sights have been removed.

Mr. Kozhaev has also developed a compact variant which features a shorter barrel, low profile gas block (so that it fits underneath the rail), ergonomic pistol grip and an original SVD side-folding stock.

I expect this rifle system, with its improved parts and better barrel, to be a lot more accurate than the SVD. A commenter below asked why would a country adopt this rifle over the latest AR-10. I would ask why did the US Army upgrade their M24s to .300 Win. Mag XM2010 instead of just buying the top-of-the-line Accuracy International AWM chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum? 


The answer is that it was cheaper (the rifle themselves, cost of training troops and cost of training armorers) and much easier politically to purchase an upgrade than an entirely new weapon system. This SVD upgrade would look appealing to countries currently using the SVD but wanting a more modern DMR without the cost of a top-of-the-line AR-10 or the logistical problems of switching away from 7.62x54R.