Romak 3 vs SVD Dragunov, nonsense!

telewinz · June 15, 2002, 09:22 PM

Just came back from the range where I wittnessed an informal contest between a Romak 3 (4-months old) and my friends Chinese Dragunov(2 years old). The contest wasn't planned, its just my friend Rick and I shoot informally about once a month at our club's 100 meter range I usually shoot an Armscorp M1A and he shoots the Dragunov. I like both rifles very much but as far as accuracy the M1a wins hands down 4 out of 5 times shooting from the bench (5 shot groups and pretty much 1" to 3/4 ") I've tried to trade him for his rifle but no deal, I know they go for 1500 and up but the workmanship/appearance just isn't there. Today when we arrived at the range their was a shooter there with a Romak 3 rifle. I have been playing with the idea of spending 800 to get one from Aim but have hesitated the past year because the appearance/workmanship of the Romak 3(the ones I have seen for sale at gun shows) is no better than than a typical AK and also would it shoot as well as my M1a (no) or Rick's Dragunov (yes). The workmanship of the Dragunov is slightly better than the Romak but neither compares with the M1A. We all shot surplus ammo and mixed the different brands in each rifle.
Both rifles are factory original and we shot at 75 yards because of the somewhat low powered scopes. In brief, the Romak and Draganov pretty much had the same results, the Romak had slightly less felt recoil but both rifles functioned perfectly. The Drag had a longer butt stock and was a little more comfortable to shoot. My conclusions; Neither rifle is magic when it comes to accuracy, I wouldn't want to be hostage and have a sniper use it to try and take out a hostage taker at any range more than 150 yards. Both rifles were designed to suppress a machine gun bunker at 800 meters, not a man (1 shot kill? not hardly, luck should not be a factor). I think the main appear for both guns is there looks not there performance, thats what I like about them and thats why I am driving 8 hrs Thursday and buying the Romak 3 from AIM($775). If you want performance go with a NM M1A from Springfield or Armscorp, they don't have the Drags charisma but looks are not everything. You have until Thursday to change my mind, I would be grateful for any input.

C.R.Sam · June 15, 2002, 11:09 PM

Since you are placing appearance at the top of the list......and that is subjective...
Go with the one that winds your clock.

Sam

dfaugh · June 16, 2002, 06:49 AM

Not gonna try to change your mind...But I wanted one of these, too...Until, like you, I fondled a couple at gun shows...And I simply can't see paying $800 for a (slightly) glorified AK...There's alot of other guns out there, much more accurate...Heck, you could buy TWO SAR-1s and a coupla thousand rounds of ammo for that much money...A true Dragunov is a different story, I'd still like one of those

telewinz · June 16, 2002, 08:39 AM

I agree the main reason I like the dragunov or romak 3 is simply looks. It's pretty much an emotional 'thing'. The way I look at it, down the road I can buy 2 handguns or surplus rifles for 350-400 each or buy a bushmaster .223. Already have a FAL, AR15, Cetme, ect. I won't be happy with 2" groups but it do turn heads at the range! Who knows, maybe in 10 years it will double in value. I just can't see spending 1600 for a used Drag (recall & all). If I want to throw money around I can get a new AUG .223 for $2400. It's been on a pawnbrokers shelf for over 5 years, my conscience just won't let me spend that kind of money unless it's a medical necessity or comes with four wheels on it and an engine.

Ahraxx · November 28, 2004, 03:42 AM

Correct me if I am wrong, but the chinese "Dragunov" you speak of is chaimbered for the 308, that is assuming the Chinese have not started making something new without telling me

A true Drag will have a 7.62x54 (53 if you're sweedish) round. The issue is that in Dragunov owners (I am one) circles the Chinese version of the rifle is considered to be of much poorer quality. Their 308 conversion leaves much to be desired and the bolt design is considered sloppy and has cost a number of nasty accidents which have caused the round to go off outside of the chaimber and in some cases detonate other rounds still in the magazine. If you like your fingers attached to your hand, check the bolt rails often on the chinese SVD.

Bottom line, the Chinese version of the rifle should not be called a Dragunov.

The Romak on the other hand is what many here have said - a glorified AK. The gas piston system is identical to the AK and nothing close to the short-throw system found in the Dragunov. The Romanians took an AK, re-worked it to shoot 7.62x54, made it look mean and are now trying to pull a "quick one" past the American consumer. A true Dragunov has a vast number of features all aimed at accuracy and reliability which make the gun far superior to most any of the imitators.

Unfortunately, hardly any of the true military-spec SVD's were imported into the US. The majoraty of those are bring-backs. A good condition bring-back Drag will run you $8-10k mainly due to collector value.

The closest thing that is available, in low numbers, is the Russian-made "Tiger." It is made by the same Izhmash factory in Russia as the SVD, will run you $2-3k and differs in these points:

1. The barrel on the Tiger is about 4" shorter.
2. All Tigers are missing Bayonet lugs.
3. All but 300 Tigers are missing barrel threads.
4. All Tigers are missing the semi-auto gas shut-off found on the SVD and the Chinese guns.
5. All Tigers came with dark-wood thumbhole stocks that feature a more "sport" design that does not require (or can fit) the cheek plate.
6. About 80% of the Tigers came with solid plastic fore grips instead of the perforated wood.

Bottom line, if you guys are going to compare the accuracy of an SVD, use an SVD - or at least a Tiger. My Uncle spent six months in Afghanistan with an SVD in the early 80's. According to him, while using the rifle in single-shot mode he was able to make the holes of his 3-round daily scope sight-in touch one another at 300 meters on a consecutive basis. That is respectable accuracy for any sniper rifle.

June 15, 2002, 09:22 PM	#1
telewinz Junior member Join Date: April 21, 2002 Location: South East Ohio Posts: 399	Romak 3 vs SVD Dragunov, nonsense! Just came back from the range where I wittnessed an informal contest between a Romak 3 (4-months old) and my friends Chinese Dragunov(2 years old). The contest wasn't planned, its just my friend Rick and I shoot informally about once a month at our club's 100 meter range I usually shoot an Armscorp M1A and he shoots the Dragunov. I like both rifles very much but as far as accuracy the M1a wins hands down 4 out of 5 times shooting from the bench (5 shot groups and pretty much 1" to 3/4 ") I've tried to trade him for his rifle but no deal, I know they go for 1500 and up but the workmanship/appearance just isn't there. Today when we arrived at the range their was a shooter there with a Romak 3 rifle. I have been playing with the idea of spending 800 to get one from Aim but have hesitated the past year because the appearance/workmanship of the Romak 3(the ones I have seen for sale at gun shows) is no better than than a typical AK and also would it shoot as well as my M1a (no) or Rick's Dragunov (yes). The workmanship of the Dragunov is slightly better than the Romak but neither compares with the M1A. We all shot surplus ammo and mixed the different brands in each rifle. Both rifles are factory original and we shot at 75 yards because of the somewhat low powered scopes. In brief, the Romak and Draganov pretty much had the same results, the Romak had slightly less felt recoil but both rifles functioned perfectly. The Drag had a longer butt stock and was a little more comfortable to shoot. My conclusions; Neither rifle is magic when it comes to accuracy, I wouldn't want to be hostage and have a sniper use it to try and take out a hostage taker at any range more than 150 yards. Both rifles were designed to suppress a machine gun bunker at 800 meters, not a man (1 shot kill? not hardly, luck should not be a factor). I think the main appear for both guns is there looks not there performance, thats what I like about them and thats why I am driving 8 hrs Thursday and buying the Romak 3 from AIM($775). If you want performance go with a NM M1A from Springfield or Armscorp, they don't have the Drags charisma but looks are not everything. You have until Thursday to change my mind, I would be grateful for any input.

June 16, 2002, 06:49 AM	#3
dfaugh Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,715	Not gonna try to change your mind...But I wanted one of these, too...Until, like you, I fondled a couple at gun shows...And I simply can't see paying $800 for a (slightly) glorified AK...There's alot of other guns out there, much more accurate...Heck, you could buy TWO SAR-1s and a coupla thousand rounds of ammo for that much money...A true Dragunov is a different story, I'd still like one of those __________________ "If you Listen to Fools, the Mob Rules" "No one has the answer, but one thing is true. You'e got to turn on evil, when its coming after you. You've gotta face it down,and when it tries to hide, you've got to go in after it, and never be denied. Time is running out...Let's roll. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for love. We're going after satan, on the wings of a dove. Let's roll for freedom, let's roll for truth. Let's not let our children grow up fearful in their youth."

June 15, 2002, 11:09 PM	#2
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Since you are placing appearance at the top of the list......and that is subjective... Go with the one that winds your clock. Sam

June 16, 2002, 08:39 AM	#4
telewinz Junior member Join Date: April 21, 2002 Location: South East Ohio Posts: 399	I agree the main reason I like the dragunov or romak 3 is simply looks. It's pretty much an emotional 'thing'. The way I look at it, down the road I can buy 2 handguns or surplus rifles for 350-400 each or buy a bushmaster .223. Already have a FAL, AR15, Cetme, ect. I won't be happy with 2" groups but it do turn heads at the range! Who knows, maybe in 10 years it will double in value. I just can't see spending 1600 for a used Drag (recall & all). If I want to throw money around I can get a new AUG .223 for $2400. It's been on a pawnbrokers shelf for over 5 years, my conscience just won't let me spend that kind of money unless it's a medical necessity or comes with four wheels on it and an engine.

November 28, 2004, 03:42 AM	#5
Ahraxx Junior Member Join Date: November 28, 2004 Posts: 4	Correct me if I am wrong, but the chinese "Dragunov" you speak of is chaimbered for the 308, that is assuming the Chinese have not started making something new without telling me A true Drag will have a 7.62x54 (53 if you're sweedish) round. The issue is that in Dragunov owners (I am one) circles the Chinese version of the rifle is considered to be of much poorer quality. Their 308 conversion leaves much to be desired and the bolt design is considered sloppy and has cost a number of nasty accidents which have caused the round to go off outside of the chaimber and in some cases detonate other rounds still in the magazine. If you like your fingers attached to your hand, check the bolt rails often on the chinese SVD. Bottom line, the Chinese version of the rifle should not be called a Dragunov. The Romak on the other hand is what many here have said - a glorified AK. The gas piston system is identical to the AK and nothing close to the short-throw system found in the Dragunov. The Romanians took an AK, re-worked it to shoot 7.62x54, made it look mean and are now trying to pull a "quick one" past the American consumer. A true Dragunov has a vast number of features all aimed at accuracy and reliability which make the gun far superior to most any of the imitators. Unfortunately, hardly any of the true military-spec SVD's were imported into the US. The majoraty of those are bring-backs. A good condition bring-back Drag will run you $8-10k mainly due to collector value. The closest thing that is available, in low numbers, is the Russian-made "Tiger." It is made by the same Izhmash factory in Russia as the SVD, will run you $2-3k and differs in these points: 1. The barrel on the Tiger is about 4" shorter. 2. All Tigers are missing Bayonet lugs. 3. All but 300 Tigers are missing barrel threads. 4. All Tigers are missing the semi-auto gas shut-off found on the SVD and the Chinese guns. 5. All Tigers came with dark-wood thumbhole stocks that feature a more "sport" design that does not require (or can fit) the cheek plate. 6. About 80% of the Tigers came with solid plastic fore grips instead of the perforated wood. Bottom line, if you guys are going to compare the accuracy of an SVD, use an SVD - or at least a Tiger. My Uncle spent six months in Afghanistan with an SVD in the early 80's. According to him, while using the rifle in single-shot mode he was able to make the holes of his 3-round daily scope sight-in touch one another at 300 meters on a consecutive basis. That is respectable accuracy for any sniper rifle.