Romanian Dragunov 7.62 X 54????

K

Kobra

New member
I recently saw one in a gun store and picked it up to check it out. I have always thought these guns were pretty mean looking but are they any good - accuracy and hunting uses?? This one had a scope mounted that had an eyecup on it and the scope had a strange reticle with a yellow tint to it.

I have never known anyone with a 7.62 X 54 rifle so what's its ballistics like - 30-.06? How hard are the magazines to acquire and the same question goes for the ammo. Actually anyone reload for this caliber because I see the dies are easily gotten but I see no brass anywhere in my preliminary search - other than shooting up your own and then reloading.

I see the Chinese one is like twice the price - what's the reason?

It was $899.

Any other info would be appreciated.
 
The Romanian rifle isn't a ture Dragunov. They took the light machinegun receiver (RPD/RPK, I can't remember) and built it into a sort of Drugunov clone.

The Chinese gun is a real Dragunov, using an entirely different, dedicated, receiver. The Chinese guns are also often in 7.62 NATO.

7.62x54 is in that same class as 30-06, 7.62 NATO, and 8mm Mauser.
 
The 7.62x54R does kick. A real neat round that has been around for almost 100 years now. It is still being use by the Russian as well as other armies around the world.

Destructo6 is right about the Romak 3 . It is not a true Dragunov but it is still fun to shoot and they are very heavy too.
 
Any disavantages to it not being a "real Dragunov"?

It does appear to be a fun weapon just from looking at it.
 
Not an expert, so correct me if I am wrong

Not a real Dragunov means, AFAIK, a rotary AKM/RPK style bolt and a full-length gas piston. The original SVD uses FAL/SVT style bolt lockup and a two piece inpingement gas piston (a la SKS).

Personally, I prefer the Romak from the standpoint of design. Accuracy should really depend on the barrel quality. Romak bolt locks into barrel extension as do AK/AR while SVD locks into the receiver (FAL/BAR style).

I'd go with whichever handles better for you and whchever has better magazine availability.
 
I've got a Romak in 7.62 Russian.

Ammo is readily available, sometimes cheaper than 7.62x39mm. The nice part is that what's available is usually reloadable, in 440rd sardine cans.

Mags have become scarce in the past year or so, but aren't impossible to find. They usually for about $75 now, for whatever you may find (5 or 10rd).
With it being a scoped sniper rifle, you'll find that it isn't inconvenient to only have 2-3 mags. Mine is outfitted with the 8x42 PSO scope, and it almost gets boring blowing the "x" out at 150yds. It's not really meant as a rapid-fire weapon, especially in 7.62 Russian. Normally, a follow-up shot is all that may be necessary.

I love the AK action. I am relieved that the majority of the parts can be readily interchanged with most AK actions.

My complaints about the Romak? Stock is too high to use open sight (although that is a moot point since this rifle is meant to fired with scope), stock is a little short for my liking, and the finish is a little rough. SVD-spec stocks are available to replace the high short one, and a trip to a smith takes care of the finish. So really, there are no legitimate bitches I have about the gun.

Don't get me wrong - I'd love to get my hands on a true Russian or Chinese SVD in 7.62 Russian, but my Romak keeps me happy enough to keep myself from buying one.

For $899, get it. That's about the going rate, and it's worth every penny.

Oh - here's an informative link on the SVD, Romak, and the PSO scopes: http://www.dragunov.net/
 
Thanks yankytrash. If she is still there and there isn't all the other things in there like there was last week, I will probably buy it. Ooh yeah, if my dealer has some ammo too....can't stay to buy a gun and not shoot it within a real short time of purchase.
 
Make sure you buy some good 7.62x54 ammo or you'll be disappointed with the accuracy. There is a heavy, sniper specific, ball that was designed for the Dragunov. A high quality loading would probably do it justice. In other words, don't shoot Wolf or surplus and expect great groups.
 
I forget which it is, but I believe the Russian's 7N1 cartridge Destructo is talking about is a 180gr bullet. I've tried to mimic the cartridge to no avail.
Although, I sometimes wonder if the Russian sniper ammo being better in the SVD applies to the Romak, as I get good results with any ammo I've purchased yet (but I've never tried the cheaper Wolf or Barnual stuff). Unfortunately, I've never made a shot farther than 200-250yds with it either.


Oh - a heads up on 10-rd Romak mags at K-Var for $35 a piece. I'm happy with my two, but you might to pick some up if you buy the Romak. Another heads-up: SVD mags do not work in a Romak.
 
Are you sure about reloadable Yanky?

My understanding of the surplus 7.62x54mm ammo is that is berdan primed and not very reloadable and that is why it is so cheap. I have heard it is possible to reload berdan primed ammo, but it is by no means worth the cost or effort. Can anyone else comfirm this for me? I bought 880 rounds of the tinned stuff from Dan's Sporting Goods out of Shotgun News a year or so ago for $100 shipped to Zone 8! Great deal.
 
I have a tool I use that pries the primer from the pocket by peircing it and flipping it out. Once you get rolling, it ain't too bad. I can de-prime a hundred or more while watching Seinfeld.

Sometimes I'm pleasantly suprised to find some box-type primer holes, but it's not worth the risk of loading them in the press and breaking a de-capping pin on the chance of a berdan-primed casing getting mixed in there.

Not as quick as pressing out box-primed casings, but it passes the time between shooting sessions.

If you're reloading for savings in money and/or time, you know as well as I do that you aren't saving a nickel.;)
 
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