The idea of a domestic SVD has been kicked around several times in the past few years, but nothing has ever progressed beyond that idea. I get that it’s a niche market, but so are a lot of other rifles out there currently being produced. How expensive could manufacturing a milled short-stroke gas operated 7.62x54R rifle really be? Substantially more than an M1A? I think not (beyond initial engineering costs). Look at the Marcolmar UK59 as an example; super niche weapon that has been quite well received from what I’ve been able to observe (absolutely love mine, for what it’s worth). Surely an SVD priced reasonably for what it is would have a fighting chance in the gun market. If Century can pump out the all-milled C39V2 for a roughly $700 street price, how much more would an SVD be? I get that the gas system is different, but not different to a terrible extreme extent. More like an SKS is all.
SVDs are a niche market. Those guys are snobs and would mostly poo poo a US Dragunov.
I imagine it ending up like Sigs attempt to Americanize the 551.
Much better DMRs are available than the SVD.
Look at the Yugo 8mm rifles.
The issue is “Americanizing” it. No tactical stuff or “upgrades.” Make it as designed. Those snobs likely won’t be able to pay $15,000-$20,000 for an original, so a true reproduction would probably sell at $1,500-$2,000. The 9mm AKs from Definitive Arms seem to be doing well at their $1,600 price point.
I don’t think they could make money on them at $1,500-2,000. The number of new parts that Definitive Arms had to devise to get the AKX-9 to run is relatively small, most of the components are bog standard AK parts, many of them salvaged from imported parts kits. A US-made SVD would have to have every single part fabricated anew in the US - and the company making them would have to set about devising their own QC/QA, tolerances, everything.
Look at the FG42 and BAR repros: They’re up around $4,000-5,000. I would expect a US-manufactured SVD to run about the same.
But what do you do with a Dragunov? It is not a plinking weapon. The Definitive Arms is something you can have fun with blasting away.
If you are going to take shots at distance, there are better options.
When I say Americanizing, I mean making it in the USA. That is enough for many collectors.
ETA: I agree with the above post on pricing. And that would be a no go.
The gas system from an SVD is actually much more like that of the G36/416. I realize it came first, just pointing out that the SKS a more different short stroke.
SKS in a nutshell: carrier struck by (relatively) very short extension/op-rod, which is struck by a very long piston, which fits in a gas block.
SVD/G36/etc: carrier struck by long op-rod, which fits inside short piston, which fits inside gas block.
SVD is certainly a cool gun, really ahead of its time and still very viable. One of the first (if not first) useable BDC/rapid ranging ret scopes, plus it’s a full power semi auto, light weight and accurate. It is certainly eclipsed by AR pattern guns, but in places where the cost isn’t artificially inflated from scarcity, it really shines in terms of bang for buck. It is probably one of the ultimates in Avg Joe DMR rifles.
Actually, with the price of 7.62x54mmR ammo, I could easily see the SVD as a plinker.
Having said that, if you want an SVD-like rifle for plinking, I believe the MOLOT VEPRs are being imported with SVD-ish furniture in 7.62x54mmR. They should be running a fraction of what a new US-made SVD would - with better magazine availability and being manufactured by the country in which it was designed.
When I think plinking, I think inside of 100yds and that is a lot of gun. But if I lived in Montana that might change my idea of plinking!
I’d be even more interested in a PSL.
I had a PSL for a while several years ago, but stupidly sold it. It was a really fun plinker anywhere from 50-300 yards (never got to try it at any greater distances). The BAR and FG42 references make sense to a point, but what about MSAR? They brought a Steyr AUG clone to the market at about $2,000. How much more would it cost to produce an SVD compared to an AUG?
I think the greatest single expense would be stamping the receiver. It might even be less expensive to mill it rather than stamp it, considering the likely (low) volume of production.
The SVD has a forged and machined receiver, not stamped.
I know several people who have dipped their toes in the U.S. made drag and found out that to do it and make any money is just about impossible.
The receiver on the bottom is US made, and it’s supposed to end up around the $2,500 price range for a complete rifle. Will be 1MOA according to Military Arms Channel.
When did SVDs start going for 20,000??? Yikes!
I wish I had bought every one I saw when I had the chance. One of the last gun shows I went to a guy had a Russian SVD for two thousand something…
There are about 100 true Russian SVDs in the US, and the cheapest I’ve seen one priced for was $14,000 and some change. $2,000 sounds more like the price for an NDM-86 or Tigr (Basically SVDs while not being “true” SVDs)
All I know is it was from Russia, so I’m sure you’re right. And it’s good to know that I didn’t miss out on an easy 18,000 bucks, lol.
I always wanted one, but when all is said and done you would have to be shooting a lot to make up the price of a good ar 10 and the ammo cost difference.
I always thought Dragunovs looked evil and exotic but that’s a,lot of money for an obsolete rifle.
A faithful clone at the 2500 mark I would save pennies for
I’m at a loss to understand why a clone would have to cost more than 1,000, especially when a sub MOA 7.62 AR can be made for under a grand.