Dragunov SVD
Name	Dragunov SVD
Origin	Soviet Union
Weapon type	Sniper rifle
Designer	Evgeny Dragunov
Manufacturer	Izhmash, Norinco
Weight	4.30 kg (9.48 lb) (with scope and unloaded magazine) 4.68 kg (10.3 lb)
Length	1,225 mm (48.2 in)
Barrel length	620 mm (24.4 in)
Cartridge	7.62x54mmR
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Muzzle velocity	830 m/s (2,723 ft/s)
Max range	1,300 m with scope 1,200 m with iron sights
Feed system	10-round detachable box magazine

The Dragunov Sniper Rifle (Russian: Снайперская винтовка Драгунова, Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova) or SVD is a semi-automatic sniper rifle, chambered for the 7.62 x 54mmR cartridge. It was used widely in the Soviet Army since its adoption in 1963, and still finds use in the present-day Russian Federation where it serves as a standard-issue sniper rifle.

Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Operation Snake Eater 1.2 San Hieronymo Takeover 1.3 Peace Walker Incident 1.4 Post-Peace Walker 1.5 Liquid Ocelot's Insurrection 2 Behind the scenes 2.1 Descriptions 3 Gallery 4 Appearances

Overview Edit

While the SVD loosely resembles the Kalashnikov series of weapons, the internal mechanism is actually quite different. The SVD is chambered for a more powerful cartridge and was designed with accuracy in mind rather than automatic firepower. The SVD comes equipped with a standard-issue PSO-1 scope. The rifle also has backup iron sights. The weapon is very accurate and powerful; a soldier can easily be dispatched by a single headshot from hundreds of yards away (or being hit in any other major part of the body, for that matter).

The 7.62x54R cartridge is the same round fired by the old Mosin-Nagant rifle and the PKM light machine gun. SVDs, however, are usually issued with match-grade ammunition for maximum precision.

Operation Snake EaterEdit

See Virtuous Mission and Operation Snake Eater

Both GRU and KGB soldiers use SVD rifles.

During the Virtuous Mission, an SVD was placed at the northern portion of Dremuchij. During Operation Snake Eater, an SVD was stored in a minor storage warehouse on the western end of Ponizovje. Another SVD was also placed in an armory in the southern portion of Sokrovenno. EVA also procured a SVD for Snake in case he needed it, during the motorcycle chase from Groznyj Grad. Snake later had to use the SVD as a means to detonate the C3 on a rail bridge upon luring the Shagohod tank onto it.

San Hieronymo TakeoverEdit

Main Article

An SVD was located in the Western Wilderness behind a wall in the prison cell that ex-GRU major Ivan Raidenovitch Raikov was placed in, which Snake's resistance later learned via a Spy Report received shortly after recruiting Raikov. Several FOX soldiers also utilized SVDs during alert mode.

Peace Walker IncidentEdit

Main Article

The Militaires Sans Frontières procured design specs for this weapon during a mission at Bosque del Alba, Costa Rica. The MSF later were able to upgrade the SVD to have an increased magazine capacity. It can eventually be upgraded to include Nightvision after gaining design specs for that particular design from one of their missions outside Costa Rica.

Post-Peace WalkerEdit

Eventually, a newer model of the SVD, referred to as the SVDS (Snaypersakya Ventovka Dragunova Skladnaya, literally "Dragunove Sniper Rifle with folding stock"), was developed in Russia. It was identifiable via its shortened barrel and a folding buttstock, the latter being added in to improve ergonomics with their airborne infantry equipment. In addition, it utilized synthetic furniture in place of wood, a heavier barrel profile, and possessed a ported, conical flash hider.

Liquid Ocelot's InsurrectionEdit

See Liquid Sun, Solid Sun, Third Sun, Twin Suns, Old Sun, and Naked Sin/Naked Son

The SVDS model was sold via the gun launderer Drebin 893. One of the Rebel Guerrilla Soldiers also utilized this weapon during the battle for the power station. An SVDS was also located in an armory of the snowfield of the (then-abandoned) Shadow Moses Island nuclear disposal facility during this time.

Behind the scenesEdit

The SVD first appeared in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The use of the SVD is probably intended to be an analogue to the use of the very rare PSG-1 in the original Metal Gear Solid; in 1964, the setting of the game, the SVD had only just begun serial production and was a rare and exotic weapon, even though today it is one of the most common marksman rifles in the world. The player has multiple options of how to procure it, including from a warehouse in Ponizovje West or in an armory at Sokrovenno South. If the player chose the former option, they also gain the opportunity to kill The End early. The SVD is also a recommended weapon for beating The End for players not seeking a no-kill run, although the player needs to avoid letting the sun's rays glint on the scope and thus give away their position. In real life, the SVD has a fixed magnification of 4x, unlike the 3-10x zoom represented in-game.

In Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, this lethal weapon is very useful and versatile desite making the user immobile while equipping it. Although this weapon is unsuppressed, the range in which this weapon is to be used prevents alert mode from triggering then compromising the attacker's position. Its semi-automatic rate of fire allows the attacker to quickly take out multiple enemies much quicker than the bolt-action Mosin Nagant with astoundingly low recoil and idle sway. Although the SVD's PSO-1 scope isn't generally hard to aim with, the thinner outlines in the rangefinder makes it less effective than the Mosin Nagant when hunting in the dark. This weapon is more difficult to acquire than other weapons as only attack teams carry this weapon for long distance attacks against the player.

A SVD model (called in-game 'SVD') is available to purchase via Drebin's shop and is also used by one of the rebel guerrilla soldiers in the power station battle. It can also be found in the shack to the left of the cliff that leads to the Crying Wolf boss fight. This weapon is actually the SVDS (Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova Skladnaya, "Dragunov Sniper Rifle with folding stock"); a newer designed SVD model, a sniper rifle with a shortened barrel, and folding buttstock designed around a need for better ergonomics in airborne infantry equipment. It uses synthetic furniture in place of wood, has a ported, conical flash hider, and a heavier barrel profile.

In Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, the SVD is ideal for long range engagements and unlike its appearance in Portable Ops, it does not render the user immobile. However, unlike the previous versions of the Metal Gear Solid games, it features 2 fixed magnification settings and a much more realistic idle sway and recoil. However, it can be slightly reduced by crouching. The centre chevron is marked in red color for ease of aiming and otherwise retains the original features of a PSO-1 scope with darker outlines. This weapon has the advantage of taking down enemies instantly with a well placed shot to the head regardless if they wear a helmet or not. This weapon is included in Demo Ops, although it is only available with the Jungle Fatigues uniform.

DescriptionsEdit

"The SVD. A Soviet-made automatic sniper rifle known for its high precision. Uses 7.62mm x 54 rimmed cartridges. Magazine size is 10 rounds. Weight: 4.6kg"

— SVD description in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

"Adopted as the official sniper rifle of the Red Army in 1963, the SVD differs from the Mosin Nagant in that it uses a gas-operated mechanism for automatic fire. Its 10-round ammo capacity is twice that of the Mosin Nagant, and its accuracy surpasses that of the NATO standard. This, coupled with its repeat-fire capability provides sustained suppressing power against the enemy. It resembles the AK-47 in appearance, but with its unique design is not a derivation. Uses 7.62mmx54R ammo."

— Official description of the SVD from Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

"Adopted as the official sniper rifle of the Red Army in 1963, the SVD differs from the Mosin Nagant in that it uses a gas-operated mechanism for automatic fire. Its ammo capacity is twice that of the 10-round Mosin Nagant, and its accuracy surpasses that of the NATO standard. This, coupled with its repeat-fire capability, provides sustained suppressing power against the enemy.
Uses 7.62mmx54R ammo."

— In-game weapons description from Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

"The primary sniper rifle of the modern-day Soviet military. Since it was originally developed for the purpose of infantry squad support at medium range, its accuracy is nothing special compared to other sniper rifles. That said, its light weight and ease of use, three-level zoom scope, armor-piercing ammunition, and repeat fire capability make the SVD a force to be reckoned with in battle.
(SVD (High Capacity)) Modified to accomodate a new, larger capacity magazine. This results in fewer reloads and allows for more efficient use in combat.
(SVD (Night Vision)) The addition of night vision capacity to the scope ensures this model is almost as deadly in the dark as it is in the light."

— SVD descriptions from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

GalleryEdit

AppearancesEdit

• Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
• Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
• Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

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