ST19AG_WGreymon
Ultimate Member
Just picked up this rifle from Atlantic Firearms. This thread will be continuously updated as I shoot the hell outta this rifle. I meant to do it the same day but I left work later than expected.
What is it?
It is a clone of the Russian Dragunov (Type 3, most modern version) chambered in 7.62x54R, manufactured by FEG of Hungary. The Dragunov is a more or less designated-marksman's rifle created in the early 1960s and is still in use today by Russia and a number of other countries. Being a combloc enthusiast, when I found out these were dropping, I jumped at the chance.
These were originally (infamously) imported through Trident LLC of Gambrills, MD, and sold by Copper Customs/MAC. The latest batches are imported by B&T of Tampa, Florida, and sold through a number of retailers to include Atlantic Firearms.
OAL: 48"
Barrel length: 24"
Barrel twist: 1:12
Barrel details: Lothar Walther Cold hammer-forged, chrome lined
Trigger pull ~3lbs
What is it not?
A super-accurate precision sniper rifle
A Romanian PSL
A Zastava M91
Not an AK derivative of any sort
Who is it for?
The high price tag ($7.5k MSRP) of these rifles pretty much makes the primary target consumer either a collector with expensive tastes, or a combloc enthusiast.
I sold off all my mil-surp. My collection is going in a different direction and I don't shoot those rifles any more. So that took a chunk of change out of the cost.
Is it worth it?
It depends on who you are. If you're one of the above, yes. If not, it is probably not for you. DMRs have come a long way since the 1950s, there are rifles that are sub-$2k that could probably run circles around this design so to speak.
Russian Dragunovs (Tigers) have been banned from importation since the late 90s. The Russian Tigers did not have the proper barrel length, furniture, and are missing the gas regulator (see later pics), and flash hider. Tigers start at upwards of $8.5k. So for $8.5k you get a neutered Dragunov.
So what do you get?
A nice hard case
The rifle of course:
Manuals printed on high-quality paper. Both manuals have certificates with the serial numbers and other QC info. The rifle manual includes a laminated card with the serial and more QC info.
Accessories:
Cleaning kit in tube with regulator wrench
Batteries for the PSO-1M2 scope
Flash hider
Lens cloth
Oil bottle
7.62x54r snap cap
2x magazines
Cleaning rod
Spare firing pin spring (not pictured)
Scope:
PSO-1M2
Scope cover
The rifle with PSO-1M2 attached
There is a muzzle nut with an aluminum pop rivet installed to keep the thread protector on (this is probably to satisfy import restrictions)
Muzzle pop rivet removed with 5/32 drill bit, revealing really nice 5/28x24 threads. I both love and hate this muzzle setup. It's cool that it's threaded to provide a capability missing from the original SVD FSB, however front sight windage is controlled via two hex-head machine screws which I can already tell will probably loosen from firing. The muzzle device pin is actuated by the grub screw that is now sticking out in this photo, it is not a spring-loaded plunger.
The gas regulator. This is meant to switch between normal and adverse/winter (more gas) settings. This regulator is missing on Tigers and usually costs $500
Left-side receiver
Right-side receiver
Rear leaf sight, graduated to 1200M with a "battle setting"
Handguards pop open to reveal the short-stroke operating system
I installed the flash hider and had the proper Modern polymer Russian SVD furniture ready to go. The Hungarian stock's LOP is too long for me, I am 5'7". For those interested, the LOP with the different stock setups is as follows:
Hungarian OEM: 14-1/8"
Russian polymer: 12-1/2"
Russian polymer with Russian stock pad: 13-7/16"
What's in the future for this rifle?
I plan to do some accuracy tests at 100yds (sorry that's all I have) with standard Wolf steel-cased 148gr, PPU brass-cased 182gr, and 174gr handloads I plan to work up.
A new scope with mounting system. The Russian-designed PSO-1M2 was accurate for the time that the rifle was made. It is hurt by its lack of parallax adjustment, focus adjustment, and off-center mounting (it is offset to the left to be more comfortable with right-handers). I'm looking at a Primary Arms optic, similar to the one I have on my SCAR-17S
Suppression. I have a mount on the way to utilize my Griffin Armament 30SD-K on this rifle.
A comparison, but not really. Once I have a "match" load worked up and a proper scope, I plan to do an accuracy comparison versus my SCAR-17S (175gr SMKs). The SCAR is less than half the cost of the HD-18. This is more to show how far we've come I guess.
First range session
Zeroing irons and PSO-1M2 with Wolf Military Classic 148gr
www.mdshooters.com
Second range session
100yds w/ PPU 182gr brass
I'm going to save you the link jump. It was abysmal. I still have the targets in my trunk. We're talking 3MOA.
Suppressor Mount
Added Griffin Armament Flash Comp. Range session soon.
www.mdshooters.com
What is it?
It is a clone of the Russian Dragunov (Type 3, most modern version) chambered in 7.62x54R, manufactured by FEG of Hungary. The Dragunov is a more or less designated-marksman's rifle created in the early 1960s and is still in use today by Russia and a number of other countries. Being a combloc enthusiast, when I found out these were dropping, I jumped at the chance.
These were originally (infamously) imported through Trident LLC of Gambrills, MD, and sold by Copper Customs/MAC. The latest batches are imported by B&T of Tampa, Florida, and sold through a number of retailers to include Atlantic Firearms.
OAL: 48"
Barrel length: 24"
Barrel twist: 1:12
Barrel details: Lothar Walther Cold hammer-forged, chrome lined
Trigger pull ~3lbs
What is it not?
A super-accurate precision sniper rifle
A Romanian PSL
A Zastava M91
Not an AK derivative of any sort
Who is it for?
The high price tag ($7.5k MSRP) of these rifles pretty much makes the primary target consumer either a collector with expensive tastes, or a combloc enthusiast.
I sold off all my mil-surp. My collection is going in a different direction and I don't shoot those rifles any more. So that took a chunk of change out of the cost.
Is it worth it?
It depends on who you are. If you're one of the above, yes. If not, it is probably not for you. DMRs have come a long way since the 1950s, there are rifles that are sub-$2k that could probably run circles around this design so to speak.
Russian Dragunovs (Tigers) have been banned from importation since the late 90s. The Russian Tigers did not have the proper barrel length, furniture, and are missing the gas regulator (see later pics), and flash hider. Tigers start at upwards of $8.5k. So for $8.5k you get a neutered Dragunov.
So what do you get?
A nice hard case
The rifle of course:
Manuals printed on high-quality paper. Both manuals have certificates with the serial numbers and other QC info. The rifle manual includes a laminated card with the serial and more QC info.
Accessories:
Cleaning kit in tube with regulator wrench
Batteries for the PSO-1M2 scope
Flash hider
Lens cloth
Oil bottle
7.62x54r snap cap
2x magazines
Cleaning rod
Spare firing pin spring (not pictured)
Scope:
PSO-1M2
Scope cover
The rifle with PSO-1M2 attached
There is a muzzle nut with an aluminum pop rivet installed to keep the thread protector on (this is probably to satisfy import restrictions)
Muzzle pop rivet removed with 5/32 drill bit, revealing really nice 5/28x24 threads. I both love and hate this muzzle setup. It's cool that it's threaded to provide a capability missing from the original SVD FSB, however front sight windage is controlled via two hex-head machine screws which I can already tell will probably loosen from firing. The muzzle device pin is actuated by the grub screw that is now sticking out in this photo, it is not a spring-loaded plunger.
The gas regulator. This is meant to switch between normal and adverse/winter (more gas) settings. This regulator is missing on Tigers and usually costs $500
Left-side receiver
Right-side receiver
Rear leaf sight, graduated to 1200M with a "battle setting"
Handguards pop open to reveal the short-stroke operating system
I installed the flash hider and had the proper Modern polymer Russian SVD furniture ready to go. The Hungarian stock's LOP is too long for me, I am 5'7". For those interested, the LOP with the different stock setups is as follows:
Hungarian OEM: 14-1/8"
Russian polymer: 12-1/2"
Russian polymer with Russian stock pad: 13-7/16"
What's in the future for this rifle?
I plan to do some accuracy tests at 100yds (sorry that's all I have) with standard Wolf steel-cased 148gr, PPU brass-cased 182gr, and 174gr handloads I plan to work up.
A new scope with mounting system. The Russian-designed PSO-1M2 was accurate for the time that the rifle was made. It is hurt by its lack of parallax adjustment, focus adjustment, and off-center mounting (it is offset to the left to be more comfortable with right-handers). I'm looking at a Primary Arms optic, similar to the one I have on my SCAR-17S
Suppression. I have a mount on the way to utilize my Griffin Armament 30SD-K on this rifle.
A comparison, but not really. Once I have a "match" load worked up and a proper scope, I plan to do an accuracy comparison versus my SCAR-17S (175gr SMKs). The SCAR is less than half the cost of the HD-18. This is more to show how far we've come I guess.
First range session
Zeroing irons and PSO-1M2 with Wolf Military Classic 148gr
Hungarian HD-18 rifle in 7.62x54R
Just picked up this rifle from Atlantic Firearms. This thread will be continuously updated as I shoot the hell outta this rifle. I meant to do it the same day but I left work later than expected. What is it? It is a clone of the Russian Dragunov (Type 3, most modern version) chambered in...
Second range session
100yds w/ PPU 182gr brass
I'm going to save you the link jump. It was abysmal. I still have the targets in my trunk. We're talking 3MOA.
Suppressor Mount
Added Griffin Armament Flash Comp. Range session soon.
Hungarian HD-18 rifle in 7.62x54R
Found it. Yours if you want it. I'm near Burtonsville. Thank you but I'd have to find a compatible upper with pic rails as well. I am looking. I spent a lot of time finding the FAB defense mount to put a better scope on my PSL. I ended up putting a 1-10x Primary Arms M10 BDC scope to...
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