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8mm Dragunov

tallcharlietallcharlie Member Posts: 673 ✭✭✭✭
edited February 2009 in Ask the Experts
I just got two Dragunov rifles: a 7.62x54R Century Arms and a 7.92mm also from Century labelled M76.

The 7.62 I know. It's pretty common. The 7.92mm (8mm?) is new to me.

Both have the Russian scope with the tritium retical. Both take a 10-Rd mag, but the mags are not interchangable. The mags for the 7.62 are slightly curved to accomodate the rimmed cartridges; the mags for the 7.92 are straight. The magazine well cutouts are different, too.

Does anyone know anything about this 8mm model? It does take the 8mm Mauser cartridge, doesn't it? I hope so, cause I've got a couple of thousand rounds.

Reckon the old corrosive German ammo would be that bad on the chrome lined Dragunov?

Has anyone got one of these things? How accurate are they?

I'd appreciate any information.
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Comments

  • tsavo303tsavo303 Member Posts: 8,913 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have just seen them listed, but please give us a range report. Just too poor to buy one to play with
    great find!
    Corrosive ammo should be no prob, just clean
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  • Wehrmacht_45Wehrmacht_45 Member Posts: 3,377
    edited November -1
    Neither of your guns are real "Dragunovs", or more appropriately, an SVD.

    Your first one is a Romanian PSL in 7.62x54r, and your other is a Yugoslavian M76 sniper Rifle. While they share some aesthetics with a dragunov, they are basically overgrown Kalashnikov that run on the AK type long stroke gas system instead of the short stroke SVD system.

    The Yugo gun uses 8mm because the Yugo army in the Cold War had a bizarre mixture of Russian and ww2 German influence on the arms it issued. While Yugo arsenals had SKS and AK guns in them, they also have M42 type machine guns, and their take on the German MP40, but chambered in 7.62 Tokarev.

    Here is some info on your M76

    http://world.guns.ru/sniper/sn65-e.htm
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  • magicmanml2magicmanml2 Member Posts: 213 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    how much did you pay for the 8mm M76
    Centerfiresystems has them listed for about $2400
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  • tallcharlietallcharlie Member Posts: 673 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by magicmanml2
    how much did you pay for the 8mm M76
    Centerfiresystems has them listed for about $2400
    I am an FFL in Tennessee. I've got this tiny little shop and I saw these guns on my wholesaler's web site and ordered them without really knowing what I was getting. I figured that if they were especially interesting, I could keep one or both for a while and have some fun.

    I set the price of the M76 at less than 1900, and the 7.62 at less than 900.

    I'll list one or the other on gunbroker (got to give them their pound of flesh) if you're interested. Let me know.

    And thanks for the information. I will definitely take one of these guns to the range first chance.
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yea, hit the money there. The Yugo M76 is basically a big AK, and is standard in 8mm mauser, but exported in anything from .308win, 7.62x54r, 7mm Mauser, 8mm Mauser, and if you order enough anything else you want... They are kinda rare to run across here in the US, so probably demand a premium. The Romanians are just overpriced long action AK's though. Everyone remembers when they started importing them and you could get them for cheap outta shotgun news. Now that no one has really imported a bunch and the surplus is drying up they are going up in price. Fun toys, but IMHO unless your just a collector or nostalgic, your way better off investing in an M1A... ;)

    quote:Originally posted by Wehrmacht_45
    Neither of your guns are real "Dragunovs", or more appropriately, an SVD.

    Your first one is a Romanian PSL in 7.62x54r, and your other is a Yugoslavian M76 sniper Rifle. While they share some aesthetics with a dragunov, they are basically overgrown Kalashnikov that run on the AK type long stroke gas system instead of the short stroke SVD system.

    The Yugo gun uses 8mm because the Yugo army in the Cold War had a bizarre mixture of Russian and ww2 German influence on the arms it issued. While Yugo arsenals had SKS and AK guns in them, they also have M42 type machine guns, and their take on the German MP40, but chambered in 7.62 Tokarev.

    Here is some info on your M76

    http://world.guns.ru/sniper/sn65-e.htm
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  • Wehrmacht_45Wehrmacht_45 Member Posts: 3,377
    edited November -1
    The Romanian PSL is not "surplus", it is a new gun, although Romanian fit and finish make them look rough. However, Russian/Warsaw Pact nations had a very different idea of what is a "sniper", and just how accurate a snipe rifle could be. Americans expect more accuracy than the Russians do, as their snipers, and their allies snipers were more like designated marksmen than what we think of. Most M14 standards guns are almost as accurate as a stock SVD.
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  • MIKE WISKEYMIKE WISKEY Member Posts: 10,047 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I got to 'play' with a Romanian one and while not the best looking if functioned ok and I was able to get 2.5" groups at 100 yrds with surplus 'light ball'. do not shoot 'heavey ball' in it as the gas system isn't set up for it (bent the firing pin twice).
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