So, I’ve always wanted a Dragunov/dragunov style rifle. They just keep getting more expensive, and I’m just getting older. Anyone have any first hand experience with these? Suggestions? Accuracy expectations? I would use it for target shooting, and well, I would probably shoot a pig with it. I’ve also noticed 762x54r ammo has gotten obscenely expensive. What kind of prices can I expect it to drop to when everything finally settles down?
Dragunovs are in the same category as M14. Better as a DM than a sniper role. Soviet snipers were more of the DM than the US sniper. x54 ammo isn't ant more expensive than anything else right now - https://www.sgammo.com/catalog/rifle-ammo-sale/762x54r-ammo
Dragunov on the other hand is $$$
Dragunov on the other hand is $$$
I wouldn’t be opposed to a PSL, as getting a hold of an authentic KBI or norinco, but I can’t stomach the price.
I'm kind of in your boat, want one but am unwilling to spend what they are asking for them. My only hope is that PSA makes one someday and no I haven't heard anything.
I always wanted one and screwed up and didn't keep one when they were only $4-500 back in the 80's
Settled for one of these 308 Saiga's in the 90's for $450 and they are like $2500 now good shootin' gun.
Settled for one of these 308 Saiga's in the 90's for $450 and they are like $2500 now good shootin' gun.
I have a PSL i traded for locally afew years back, they are an interesting big AK47. Mine is probably a 2 moa with good ammo. The PSL and the Dragunov are two completely different animals though, other than caliber!
The dragunov and those style are rugged and have a certain appeal. I used to own a PSL-54. While not a true dragunov, it is, shall we say in some opinions, a close relative. Absolutely the PSL and the Dragunov are different but there is a huge price variance there as well. It’s like buying a Rock Island vs Wilson Combat in a 1911. You do have to be careful about what grain weight you run through the PSL, lighter is generally better for the weapon. The scope that came with it wasn’t great, so I upgraded with a 1P21 out of Russia via Belarus.
Accuracy was very meh. On a very good day, about 2.5-3 moa with combloc surplus ammo. Good enough for most Eastern European battle fronts I guess, but I do prefer a bit more accuracy. Not the most comfortable rifle to get behind the stock on and it’s a bit “long”. The biggest deal for me was the hard to get/expense of the 10 round mags. And upgrading parts like the trigger, muzzle break, etc. as there were not as many aftermarket support items then.
The absolute biggest deal for me that helped me move it along was the corrosive ammo. I hate cleaning guns. And to add that wether you shot 1 round or a hundred, it needed cleaning. Deep cleaning. Like a bucket with ammonia or glass cleaner water to scrub it out. Then dry and re-lubricate. I didn’t want to do that in peace time at home, so I sure wasn’t going to do it in a SHTF environment. Yes, you could get brass cased x54r ammo at the time, but it cost as much or more than premium ammo in .243, .308 and others and was less accurate due to the machining of the barrel, bolt and heavy trigger. So, there again, an AR-10, at the same price with less expensive ammo, shooting better groups without the detailed scrubbing made more sense to me.
I think that they are cool, they had their place in history and movies, they are ammo finicky and not a ton of support. Would I pick up one of an engagement that I won after everything goes crazy? Yes. Would I choose one or start with one? No! There are much better choices. But, it’s your money, your decision and your life. Scratch that itch if you must.
Accuracy was very meh. On a very good day, about 2.5-3 moa with combloc surplus ammo. Good enough for most Eastern European battle fronts I guess, but I do prefer a bit more accuracy. Not the most comfortable rifle to get behind the stock on and it’s a bit “long”. The biggest deal for me was the hard to get/expense of the 10 round mags. And upgrading parts like the trigger, muzzle break, etc. as there were not as many aftermarket support items then.
The absolute biggest deal for me that helped me move it along was the corrosive ammo. I hate cleaning guns. And to add that wether you shot 1 round or a hundred, it needed cleaning. Deep cleaning. Like a bucket with ammonia or glass cleaner water to scrub it out. Then dry and re-lubricate. I didn’t want to do that in peace time at home, so I sure wasn’t going to do it in a SHTF environment. Yes, you could get brass cased x54r ammo at the time, but it cost as much or more than premium ammo in .243, .308 and others and was less accurate due to the machining of the barrel, bolt and heavy trigger. So, there again, an AR-10, at the same price with less expensive ammo, shooting better groups without the detailed scrubbing made more sense to me.
I think that they are cool, they had their place in history and movies, they are ammo finicky and not a ton of support. Would I pick up one of an engagement that I won after everything goes crazy? Yes. Would I choose one or start with one? No! There are much better choices. But, it’s your money, your decision and your life. Scratch that itch if you must.
+1
I came to the same conclusion with Mosins. Got paranoid about cleaning after shooting corrosive ammo and it seemed the only sure way to clean it was to literally run hot water through the barrel, which then required generously relubing everything or you'd promote rust.
Some guys claimed corrosive ammo wasn't a problem if you lived in a place with low humidity, or that all you had to do was run a patch with windex through the barrel. Either way there were too many word-of-mouth "farmer solutions" to a problem that was technical in nature so I just went with modern calibers.
With 7.62x39, I just don't buy corrosive ammo. Is it that hard to find non corrosive x54? I don't own anything in that caliber yet, so I haven't looked. Edit: Looks like Prvi Partizan makes new non corrosive. Expensive but not really more than I expected.
Speaking of Mosins, what's a good price for them now days? Always meant to buy one, but never got around to it.
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