Sniper Country Duty Roster collective wisdom

Romanian Romak-3 Dragunov:

Alright, I know this is the "enemies weapon", but does anyone know how well a Romanian Romak-3 Dragonov would be as a 'sniper rifle'? I think they use 7.62X54 rounds. Anyone have any experience or knowledge of these? I realize that the Romak-3 isn't a TRUE Dragonov, but I don't have several thousand dollars either! :)

Thanks!
Orion <orion_8472@hotmail.com>
USA - Friday, August 11, 2000 at 18:54:52 (ZULU) (your host address: 198.246.200.2)

Orion,
The 7.62x54R catridge is the old Russian/Soviet cartrige developed for their bolt-action rifle (Mosins, etc.) in the late 19th century, I believe. They used it through WWII as their main cartrige. Soviet sniper doctrine was explained to me as being able to hit man-sized targets, vice the Able sized targets of the US. That said, the Druganov and copies are reliable and weather-proof for automatics, easy to maintain and the Romanians aren't too shabby of a copy. The ammo is cheap and plentiful, but corrosive. I've also heard that the instructions for the illuminated-recticle scope are not in English. I prefer bolt-actions for sniping, but that's just me.

Chuck
Charles Hopkins <IcyDeath@prodigy.net>
Orange Park, Fl, USA - Friday, August 11, 2000 at 19:48:14 (ZULU) (your host address: 38.2.209.21)

Orion,
More on the 7.62x54R Soviet round. 146gr. has a muzzle vel. of 2950 fps -- 2320 fps at 300yds, energy of 2820 ftlbs at muzzle -- 1740 ftlbs at 300yds./// 180gr. muzzle vel. of 2580fps and 2000fps at 300yds---energy of 2650 ftlbs at muzzle and 1590 ftlbs at 300 yds. With a zero at 200yds I'm showing a traj. of -4.4 at 300yds and -17.7 at 400yds using the lighter round and a traj. of -9.8 at 300yds and -28.5 at 400. Hope this helps.

Chuck
Charles Hopkins <IcyDeath@prodigy.net>
Orange Park, Fl, USA - Friday, August 11, 2000 at 20:19:06 (ZULU) (your host address: 38.2.209.21)

Orion and Romak-3 "Dragunov":

First, as you noted the Romanian rifle is not actualy a Dragunov or a derivative thereof. It is more of a direct deveopment of the AK family and uses the Kalashnikov-pattern gas system, one that is not noted for promoting great accuracy. The rifles appear to be every bit as robust and reliable as one might expect and I have heard a few good things said about them being accurate, but the price strikes me as being high for what you are getting: a rifle of indeterminate accuracy coupled with technicaly obsolecent optics and featuring very limited logistical support for parts and that shoots a relativly oddball cartrige to boot. Oh, yeah: the mags are hideously expensive, too. At $450, I'd jump. At $700 I'd buy an StG-based FAL or a 700 PSS.

The 7.62x54R cartrige is of rimmed configuration and still soldiers on in a variety or roles in the former Soviet states and old satelites, includind various sniper rifles and the PK family of GPMGs. Ballisticaly it falls neatly between the 7.62 NATO and .30-06 cartriges and is noted for being capable of very good accuracy. However, most ammunition available is military surplus ball capable of only indifferent accuracy. Real match ammo to fit Dragunovs and the like is very uncommon in the US.

Tom Simpson <bullet@sc.rr.com>
Colatown, SC, USA - Saturday, August 12, 2000 at 00:00:53 (ZULU) (your host address: 129.252.167.152)

You have a point, the strait pulls are nifty-neato. And it shot with my rack grade Garand just fine. So, with a good, new barrel (WAY down the line) and some stock work (bedding and sealing), whadda figure I could get (accuracy wise) out of a 24" Swede Mauser? I love that 6.5X55, and I got some nice micrometer sights that would fit it in trade years ago. Did you say something about a money pit?

Bravo <Bravo762@yahoo.com>
prepping for the Guatamalan invasion of the, USA - Saturday, August 12, 2000 at 04:25:04 (ZULU) (your host address: 209.180.85.156)

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