A&K Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle AEG; Real Wood

The Dragunov SVD was the first true DMR rifle issued at the infantry level, conceived for the Soviet armed forces to go toe-to-toe with the mass-issued Western battle rifles that outranged and outgunned the Soviet-issued AK rifles by a considerable margin. The DMR concept was one of the few areas that the Soviet military was ahead of NATO, and a decade or so later, DMRs came about in Western service to supplement rifles firing intermediate cartridges such as the NATO standard cartridge, 5.56x45mm.

The SVD is the grandfather of DMR rifles, being issued to the Soviet Red Army many years before we decadent Westerners decided DMRs were a good idea. This AEG rifle has the iconic and unmistakably Russian SVD silhouette with real wood furniture which perfectly replicates the laminated plywood furniture on the real Dragunov SVD.

Starting at the tip of the outer barrel we can find an authentically designed SVD front sight/flash hider combination. Unfortunately, this flash hider is fixed to the barrel and is therefore not threaded, though the SVD is still plenty long enough without adding a suppressor! The front sight of the SVD is adjustable for elevation using a front sight adjustment tool and is protected inside an alloy ring, preventing an accidental bump or scrape from misaligning the rifle's zero.

The barrel has an authentic looking metal finish applied that simulates the anti-corrosion finish applied to real SVD barrels. The gas block can be found just in front of the barrel's handguard and has all the details SVD fans would expect to see and is also where the handguard disassembly catch is located. The catch is on the right side and allows the handguard to be separated into two parts to access the battery compartment. The front sling point is also located on the left side of the gas block and is ideal for an SVD replica sling or two-point sling when paired with the rear sling bar on the stock.

The handguard itself is constructed from real wood with the perfect colour and grain to imitate the real SVD. It also has a glossy finish, just like the real thing, and feels fantastic to grip thanks to its comfortable shape and wooden texture.

Rotating the handguard disassembly catch by 90 degrees to align with the barrel will allow the handguard cap at the front to be pushed forward, after which the handguard halves can be separated. Inside you will find a Deans battery connector. For the A&K Dragunov, we recommend a 7.4v 1450mAh LiPo Crane Battery.

The rear iron sight is a tangent design, similar to an AK but with a far wider range of adjustment. The sight mounts to the receiver via a steel extension and protrudes at the top of the handguard, providing a nice long sight base which makes these iron sights very effective. To adjust the sight, squeeze both sides of the drum-shaped adjuster and slide it to your position of choice. The tangent is marked for different ranges, from the n symbol for close-quarters and then increasing with 100m increments all the way up to 1200m. You won't be hitting anything at that range with an Airsoft gun, but these markings can still be used as a roundabout way to engage the enemy at longer ranges. The markings perfectly match the real SVD-M and keep this Airsoft replica true to the iconic look.

Next up, we reach the receiver which is constructed from alloy and is similar to the AK layout. The fire selector is on the right side and offers safe semi, and full-auto fire modes, just like the real Dragunov SVD. The selector is also constructed from alloy and has an extended catch which makes it easy to actuate in poor weather, which can also be seen in the standard AK layout. The receiver top cover is constructed from steel and has reinforcing ribs stamped into its upper surface to allow for thinner steel to be used, as is the case with the real thing. The catch at the rear of the right side of the receiver is the top cover disassembly latch and this is fully functional, rotating the catch by 180 degrees will allow the top cover of the A&K Dragunov SVD to be removed.

The substantial mock bolt carrier and charging handle of the SVD are located on the right side, just like the AK (you can really see what this SVD is based on!). The bolt carrier can be pulled back and released and makes a very satisfying metal-on-metal "clank", and when pulled and held back provides access to the A&K Dragunov SVD adjustable HOP-up unit. The HOP-up can be rotated and allows you to tune your A&K Dragunov SVD to get the maximum range and FPS for any BB weight you use. This, combined with the 6.03mm inner barrel allows for a DMR-style platform that can be pinpoint accurate even at long distances.

On the left side of the receiver, the Dragunov is equipped with a Russian SVD style dovetail scope rail which allows you to mount an authentic Russian-style PSO scope, PK-A red dot sight or a 20mm rail adapter if you want to mount a western optical sight. This mount type is different to the AK style dovetail so when you are scope shopping make sure you get the SVD style mount. If you want to know the difference between the two mount types, check out our blog on the subject.

The magazine release is located on the bottom of the receiver and follows an AK-like format, much like the SVD overall. The release is ambidextrous and therefore accessible from either side making it great for left or right-handed shooters, and the magazine indexes through a rock and lock motion just like the AK. If you are already familiar with the AK platform the Dragunov SVD will feel very familiar to you, and it will be easy to transition to this rifle with very little extra practice.

The trigger guard is constructed from steel, it has a slim form but the renowned strength of steel gives peace of mind that this part will never break. The trigger itself is a curved trigger which matches the profile of the real SVD perfectly, and the trigger response is frighteningly fast. Even if you choose to leave this SVD with its preinstalled spring you should still be able to compete well with rapid semi-auto shots, even against modern speed demon AEGs.

The stock is constructed from real wood and stays true to the standard issue SVD thumbhole shape, completing the iconic SVD silhouette. The cheekpiece provides the perfect rest height when using an optic, but it can be removed entirely, giving you the optimum height for a great view down the iron sights. To remove the cheek piece you will need to flip the catch on the underside after which it should come free. The cheekpiece is also a perfect replica of the real item, built on a real wood base with a comfy upper piece.

The butt plate of the SVD is constructed from alloy to effectively protect the real wood stock from being cracked when dropped and is slightly curved to comfortably index with your shoulder. The rear sling point is located at the rear of the stock, taking the form of a steel sling bar which works with both replica SVD slings and standard two-point rifle slings with "hook" style attachment.

This A&K Dragunov SVD has excellent preinstalled internals with a CNC aluminium cylinder, piston head and nozzle, hardened steel 18:1 gears running on 8mm ball-bearing bushings equipped with a ball-bearing quick change spring guide to improve its ability to handle the stress of using stronger springs and allow for easy power tuning, ideal for a DMR. The adjustable HOP-up unit allows you to reach out and engage the enemy at longer ranges, and we are happy to report it is compatible with standard AEG inner barrels and HOP-up rubbers. The standard inner barrel is a 6.03mm tightbore, meaning you probably won't even need to upgrade it!

So, if you have your eye on a DMR-style rifle the Dragonuv SVD cannot have escaped your scrutiny, especially not one with real steel and wood furniture! An authentic Russian DMR rifle which would suit both a Soviet-era Red Army loadout or a more modern kit, the A&K Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle AEG is the one to watch!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Steel top cover and trigger guard
• Based on the iconic Russian marksman rifle
• Reinforced steel gears and adjustable HOP-up unit - Unique design
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - 590mm long, impressive length!
• Tangent open iron sights - Fully adjustable, long sight base, wide field of view
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Accessible for both left and right-handed shooters
• Real wood furniture - Perfectly replicates the original SVD plywood furniture
• Removable comfortable cheek rest - Great for use with a scope, remove to use the irons
• Sling points front and rear - Loop on the gas block, bar on the stock
• SVD Style dovetail side rail for optics and 20mm rail adapters
• AK Style fire selector switch - Safe & Semi-automatic only
• Front Wired: Deans style battery connector - Recommended battery - 7.4v 1450mAh LiPo Crane Battery
• 320 FPS +/- 10%

Package Includes

• A&K Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle AEG; Real Wood
• 180rnd High-capacity magazine