They are a simple and reliable hunting weapon. Hunters expect from them, in addition to reliability, first of all, high accuracy of shooting. In addition, repeating rifles are easier to manufacture and, of course, can act as budget weapons. They also allow the use of inexpensive and reliable brackets for mounting optics.
There are magazine hunting rifles with wooden and plastic stocks, as well as with a barrel and receiver made of both oxidized carbon steel and stainless steel. Various coatings such as Cerakote or llatflon increase their corrosion resistance. The accuracy of shooting depends on the quality of the descent; at the same time, safety issues cannot be neglected. Manual cocking of the firing pin or a full-fledged firing pin safety are ideal. We compared the most common models with prices up to 1600 euros.
Compact. Lightweight and easy to carry magazine rifle with a plastic detachable magazine. The cartridges are sent directly, which eliminates their distortion during feeding. The magazine receiver and trigger guard are also made of plastic. The receiver is angular in shape with a wide window for ejecting cartridges, made flat at the bottom, and also shortened in accordance with the caliber. The release stop is pressed against it by the barrel. The chrome-plated bolt is locked with three lugs (the angle of rotation when unlocking is 60°), interlocking with the front part of the receiver. The shutter cup with reflector is recessed into the shutter. There is a powerful ejector located on the side. The gate is closed with a coupling. There is a signal bar for cocking indicator. A convenient two-position safety in the rear part of the receiver pushes the sear and blocks the bolt. It works silently. To disengage the shutter lock, there is a pressure bar at the base of the shutter handle.
The walnut stock with a weather-resistant varnish coating has rubber inserts on the fore-end and a strongly curved pistol neck with an extension. It is completed with a powerful rubber nape. There is a grid on the fore-end and the neck of the stock. Su-khoi, without warning, the trigger was triggered with a force of 1650 g. The receiver was mounted on synthetic resin at the front and rear. The trigger seemed somewhat tight and required adjustment. Its characteristics are quite mediocre.
A very well made practical screw. The best accuracy is 22 mm.
Weapon |
|
Manufacturer |
Browning International SA |
Caliber |
|
Receiver/locking |
Short bolt group, steel receiver, locked with three lugs behind the front of the box, recessed cup |
Descent |
Descent without warning (dry) |
Trigger force |
|
Shop |
Detachable magazine for 4 rounds |
Lodge |
Lacquered walnut, arm grooves, straight comb, pistol neck, rubber butt |
Fuse |
Two-position slider, locks the sear and locks the shutter, separate release of the shutter stopper |
Barrel length |
|
Optics/ bracket |
Minox ZE 5i 2-10x50, EAW swivel bracket |
Weapon length |
|
Weight |
3.1 kg, 3.94 kg with optics |
Accuracy |
|
Advantages |
Excellent accuracy, easy to carry, good stock, synthetic resin fit, low opening angle, excellent workmanship, detachable magazine |
Flaws |
Hard trigger, noisy safety |
The exceptionally compact and easy-to-carry weapon has a closed-top, durable steel receiver of standard length with a narrow window for ejecting spent cartridges. The bolt head is connected to its body with pins. Locking is carried out by six lugs, located in two rows and engaging with the barrel. The shutter cup with reflector is recessed into the shutter. On the side, in one of the lugs, there is an ejector. The movement of the shutter is limited by a stopper that interacts with a milled groove on the shutter. Straight, with a rectangular bend at the end, the handle with a spherical thickening is connected to the bolt with a detachable connection. When the bolt is cocked, a hammer nut protrudes from the clutch that reliably closes the bolt, noticeable to the touch. The side two-position safety interacts with the trigger rod and blocks the bolt. In a weapon with the safety on, you can remove the bolt lock by pressing the plate located in front of the bolt handle. The detachable magazine made of sheet steel holds four rounds. The magazine receiver is made of plastic. On the forged barrel there is an open sighting device for quick aiming with a narrow rear sight slot and a white line in the center, and a fiberglass front sight that is adjustable in height and lateral direction. The developers settled on a combined descent with a sneller. Without a trigger, it had no warning and triggered at a force of 1150. With a trigger, it “rattled” and triggered at 150 g.
The narrow oiled walnut stock with sling swivels is equipped with a teardrop nose, pistol neck, Monte Carlo cheekpiece and a narrow rubber butt. There is a grid on the fore-end and the neck of the stock. In the forend there are two transverse threaded bolts. The stock also has a steel plate with hooks. They engage with a milled cutout in the receiver and serve to absorb recoil. No other special measures were taken to lay the receiver. In general, a good, practical hunting weapon: the trigger characteristics are only satisfactory, with very good quality manufacturing. Best accuracy: 25 mm.
Weapon |
|
Manufacturer |
C.G. Haenel GmbH |
Caliber |
|
Receiver/locking |
Standard bolt group, steel receiver, locked with six lugs behind the barrel, recessed cup |
Descent |
Combined descent with a channel, |
Trigger force |
1150 g without schneller, 150 g with schneller |
Shop |
Detachable magazine for 4 rounds |
Lodge |
Oiled walnut, teardrop nose, straight comb, pistol neck, Monte Carlo cheekpiece, rubber butt, grille on neck and forend |
Fuse |
Two-position lever, blocks the sear and locks the bolt, separate release of the bolt stopper |
Barrel length |
|
Optics/bracket |
AKAN 3-12x56, EAW swivel bracket |
Weapon length |
|
Weight |
3.1 kg, 4.02 kg with optics |
Accuracy |
|
Advantages |
Excellent accuracy, steel receiver, open sight for shooting at a moving target, detachable magazine, combined trigger, small opening angle, excellent workmanship |
Flaws |
“Rattling” trigger, noisy fuse, long gearbox |
The Marlin magazine is equipped with a black and gray polymer stock, which has swivels for a rifle belt, a grille on the pistol neck and a forend. The stock has a pistol neck, a straight comb and a Mont-te-Carlo cheekpiece and ends with a thick rubber butt pad. The short steel receiver has a wide window for ejecting spent cartridges. The bolt head is pinned into the bolt stem, which has grooves. The shutter cup with reflector is recessed into the shutter head. A small ejector is located on the right lug. Locking is carried out by two lugs behind the front part of the receiver. In the disengaged state, the signal bar protrudes outward. The curved bolt handle ends in a flattened “ball” with a grille. The side two-position fuse operates silently and acts on the sear. It does not block the shutter. The rifling in the barrel bore is made by burnishing.
The carbine has an integral box magazine for four rounds, which is discharged by repeated reloading. The trigger is equipped with a locking lever (trigger safety device). Its shutdown stroke is 5 mm (resistance 150 g). Only after this the escapement itself works (resistance 1480 g). The barrel is screwed into the receiver. It is fixed with a nut, which also tightens the recoil stop. The mirror gap is economically adjustable. The receiver is mounted on spacer bushings. Overall a pretty decent weapon, although without a bolt stopper. The workmanship is satisfactory and the trigger is still a bit harsh. Best accuracy: 24 mm.
Weapon |
|
Manufacturer |
Marlin Firearms Co. |
Caliber |
|
Receiver/locking |
Short bolt group, steel receiver, grooved bolt, locked with two lugs behind the front of the box, recessed cup |
Descent |
Descent without warning |
Trigger force |
|
Shop |
Integral 4-round magazine |
Lodge |
Polymer, straight comb, Monte Carlo cheekpiece, pistol neck, rubber butt, grille on neck and forend |
Fuse |
Two-position lever, locks the sear without locking the bolt, safety lever on the trigger |
Barrel length |
|
Optics/bracket |
Leupold VX-6-318x50, Leupold throw-on bracket |
Weapon length |
|
Weight |
2.95 kg, 3.74 kg with optics |
Accuracy |
|
Advantages |
Excellent accuracy, good polymer stock, fit on spacer bushings, short bolt group, steel receiver, comfortable to carry, excellent value prices and quality |
Flaws |
Hard trigger, no bolt lock, mediocre workmanship, large opening angle, magazine cover does not open |
Mauser M12
The weapon is equipped with an elegant oiled walnut stock with graceful transitions in the receiver area and sling swivels. On the tapering forend there are four sections with a grille, which is also applied to the pistol neck with a rosette. The buttstock with a Monte Carlo cheekpiece is finished with a narrow rubber butt pad.
The standard-length steel receiver has a wide window for ejecting cartridges. The movement of the bolt, decorated with “frost” (polishing the surface with the end of a polishing wheel, the Russian term was used in translation, in the original - Sonnenschliff (solar grinding), translator’s note), in the receiver is excellent. Locking is carried out on six lugs located in two rows. The shutter cup with two rod reflectors is recessed. There is a small ejector on one of the stops. The bolt handle is straight and ends with a spherical thickening. The well-closed bolt has a three-position safety with a bolt latch. In the cocked state, the tail of the firing pin becomes visible and is easily identified by touch.
The plastic detachable magazine holds five rounds. On the barrel there is an open mechanical sight for offhand shooting with a roof-shaped rear sight slot and a height-adjustable silver-plated round front sight. The barrel is firmly seated in the receiver. Dismantling the barrel is completely eliminated.
The dry trigger fires without warning at a force of 825 g. The compact, easy-to-carry weapon is made of very high quality. one might say, in the highest class. In the rear part the receiver is seated and rests on a spacer bushing. In front there is a recoil stop, resting on a plastic insert. The recoil stop is connected to the receiver using a threaded connection.
The M12 is a great weapon with a hammer safety and an excellent trigger. Best accuracy: 17 mm.
Weapon |
|
Manufacturer |
Mauser Jaqdwaffen GmbH |
Caliber |
|
Barrel |
Standard bolt |
box |
group, steel |
locking |
receiver, locked with six lugs behind the barrel, recessed cup, two reflectors |
Descent |
Without warning |
Trigger force |
|
Shop |
|
Lodge |
Oiled walnut, straight comb, Monte Carlo cheek, rubber butt, grille |
Fuse |
Horizontal three-position striker safety |
Barrel length |
|
Optics/ |
Zeiss Duralyt 3-12x50; |
bracket |
|
Weapon length |
|
Weight |
3.0 kg; 3.78 kg with optics |
Accuracy |
|
Advantages |
Excellent accuracy, excellent workmanship, three-position safety, excellent trigger, very good stock, good fit of the box in the stock, small opening angle, detachable magazine, steel box |
Flaws |
Long receiver, barrel pressed in |
This model has a thickened, varmint barrel. The polymer stock with a pistol neck has a soft coating that feels like rubber (Softtouch). The wide forend is equipped with corners for better grip. The stock with a Monte Carlo cheekpiece ends with a rubber butt. On the stock there are swivels for a gun sling.
The receiver is of standard length and has a wide window for ejecting cartridges. The bolt is locked with two lugs behind the front part of the receiver. The shutter cup with reflector is recessed. On the side there is an elongated ejector of the Sako type. In the released state, the firing pin sleeve protrudes from the well-closed bolt. The straight bolt handle has a ball-shaped thickening. The side two-position fuse can operate completely silently. It blocks the sear and the bolt. To unload a weapon, it must be removed from the safety lock. The four-round magazine is equipped with a hinged lid. The magazine cover is made of plastic. The release released without warning with an excellent force of 670 g.
Due to its significant weight, the weapon is not as comfortable to carry as other tested samples; rather, it is not a bad model for shooting from ambush. Shooting from it is comfortable and characterized by high accuracy. The descent is magnificent. The downside is the lack of a shutter lock switch. Best accuracy: 19 mm.
Weapon |
|
Manufacturer |
Sabatti S.P.A. Gardone V.T. |
Caliber |
|
Barrel |
Standard bolt |
box |
group, steel |
locking |
|
Descent |
Without warning |
Trigger force |
|
Shop |
|
Lodge |
Glass-filled polymer, softtouch coating, arm grooves, grille, Monte Carlo comb and cheek, pistol neck, rubber butt pad |
Fuse |
Two-position safety locking the sear and bolt |
Barrel length |
|
Optics/ |
Meopta Meostar R1 |
bracket |
4-16x44, folding bracket on crossbar |
Weapon length |
|
Weight |
3.95 kg; 4.85 kg with optics |
Accuracy |
|
Advantages |
Excellent accuracy, excellent trigger, very good polymer stock, thick varmint barrel, steel frame, reasonable price, excellent value for money |
Flaws |
Heavy, long receiver, two-position safety only, high release angle, no bolt lock release |
The compact, easy-to-carry repeating rifle is equipped with a walnut stock, oiled for protection against unfavorable climatic factors. There is a grille on the forend and pistol neck. The stock with a Monte Carlo cheekpiece ends in a black plastic butt. There is a dowel in the back of the stock.
Due to the low-slung optics, the height-adjustable “deer antlers” rear sight must be unscrewed to mount it. The front sight is mounted on a saddle-shaped base. The short steel receiver has a wide window for ejecting spent cartridges. Locking is carried out on two lugs behind the front part of the receiver. The shutter cup with reflector is recessed. On the bolt head, covering the rear of the cartridge, there is an ejector hook made of spring steel. In the cocked state, the firing pin nut is clearly visible on the bolt coupling and can be easily identified by touch. However, it only protrudes outward a little. The inclined bolt handle turns into a flattened “ball” with mesh knurling. A side two-position, silent fuse interacts with the sear. It does not block the shutter. The bottom plate of the stock contains a hinged magazine cover for unloading a four-round magazine. The recoil stop is pressed against the receiver using the barrel. The muzzle has a recess. The dry trigger is triggered without warning at a force of 1110 g. The receiver is attached to the stock with screws, without special installation. At the end of the forend there is a barrel stop.
This excellent shooting rifle is very comfortable to carry. Its disadvantage is the lack of a shutter lock and a tight release. Best accuracy: 17 mm.
Weapon |
|
Manufacturer |
|
Caliber |
|
Barrel |
Short bolt |
box |
group, steel |
locking |
receiver, locked with two lugs behind the front of the receiver, cup recessed |
Descent |
Without warning |
Trigger force |
|
Shop |
Integral 4-round box magazine with flip-up lid |
Lodge |
Varnished walnut, pistol neck, Monte Carlo cheek, plastic nape |
Fuse |
Two-position slide safety, without bolt lock |
Barrel length |
|
Optics/ |
Leupold VX-R 3-9x50, |
bracket |
fixed bracket Leupold-STD |
Weapon length |
|
Weight |
3.0 kg; 3.66 kg with optics |
Accuracy |
|
Advantages |
Excellent accuracy, short box, very comfortable to carry, good stock, steel box |
Flaws |
No shutter lock, large opening angle, hard release |
A lightweight and easy-to-carry rifle with an oiled walnut stock, swivels for a gun belt and a teardrop-shaped forend insert made of noble wood. There is a grille on the forend and pistol neck. The stock with a boar's back ridge and a Bavarian cheekpiece ends with a narrow rubber butt. In the plastic magazine receptacle, a single-row detachable magazine is secured with two latches.
The aluminum receiver, closed at the top, has a wide window for ejecting cartridges. The bolt moves perfectly in the receiver. Locking is carried out by six lugs that engage with the barrel. The shutter cup with reflector is recessed. On one of the combat stops there is a small ejector. The slightly inclined bolt handle is equipped with a spherical thickening. In the cocked state, the hammer nut protrudes from the bolt sleeve, which covers the inside well. A three-position slide safety at the rear of the receiver interacts with the sear, locks the bolt and operates silently. A dry, without warning, trigger has a force of 800 g. The open sight consists of a butterfly rear sight and a rectangular, height-adjustable front sight.
The barrel is fixed in the front part of the receiver and is made replaceable. Therefore, the front part of the receiver is made in the form of a terminal connection with a slot and screws. After assembly and disassembly, slight shifts in the mid-point of impact may occur. The terminal part of the receiver is located in the plastic insert of the stock. At the back there is a receiver on an aluminum liner.
Overall, it’s a pretty good hunting weapon with an excellent trigger and very well made. Best accuracy: 27 mm.
Weapon |
|
Manufacturer |
Roessler Waffen GmbH |
Caliber |
|
Barrel box/ locking |
Standard bolt group, aluminum receiver, locked with six lugs behind the barrel, recessed cup, replaceable barrel |
Descent |
Without warning |
Effort resistance descent |
|
Shop |
Detachable magazine for 3 per ton of rum |
Lodge |
Oiled walnut, fine wood finish, teardrop spout, boar's back comb, Bavarian cheek, pistol neck, rubber butt, grille |
Fuse |
Three-position slide safety with bolt lock acting on the tail of the trigger |
Barrel length |
|
Optics/ bracket |
Kahles Helia 5 2.4-12x56i, EAW swing arm |
Weapon length |
|
Weight |
3.05 kg; 3.85 kg with optics |
Accuracy |
|
Advantages |
Excellent accuracy and workmanship, excellent oiled stock, replaceable barrel, small release angle, detachable magazine |
Flaws |
Long aluminum box, STP displacement after barrel change |
The polymer stock is coated with “soft varnish” (Softtouch). The rubber-like surface has a rough grating on the pistol neck and fore-end. The stock with a pistol neck and a Monte Carlo cheekpiece ends with a rubber butt. The stock has a transverse hook that holds the receiver by a special cutout, thus acting as a recoil stop. Steel short receiver
made by mechanical processing. Locking is carried out by three lugs that engage with the front part of the receiver. The bolt cup is recessed and a powerful ejector hook is located on the side of the bolt head. The slightly inclined, straight bolt handle ends with a rough plastic ball. The detachable three-round magazine is equipped with a safety latch. Only when you press firmly on the magazine can you press the recessed button to remove it. The importer changed the original safety design and installed a manual cocking mechanism on the bolt, operated by a silently swinging lever. If by chance, when the striker is released, the trigger is pressed and the cocking lever moves a little forward, then it will not be possible to cock the striking mechanism by simply turning the lever 180*. The reloading process will have to be repeated completely. The Sako A7 model is a comfortable, reliable weapon with an excellent trigger (trigger force 900 g) and impeccable workmanship. Best accuracy: 18 mm.
Weapon |
|
Manufacturer |
|
Caliber |
|
Barrel box/ locking |
Short bolt group, steel receiver, locked with three lugs behind the front of the box, recessed cup, modified for manual cocking, manual safety removed |
Descent |
Without warning |
Effort resistance descent |
|
Shop |
Detachable magazine for 3 rounds |
Lodge |
Polymer, soft touch, grille, straight comb, Monte Carlo cheek, pistol neck, rubber butt |
Fuse |
Manual cocking (later installed by importer) |
Barrel length |
|
Optics/ bracket |
Steiner Nighthunter Xtreme 2-10x50, Sako fixed mount |
Weapon length |
|
Weight |
2.95 kg; 3.95 kg with optics |
Accuracy |
|
Advantages |
Excellent accuracy, manual cocking, short box, excellent trigger, detachable magazine, small release angle, excellent stock, excellent workmanship, steel box |
Flaws |
Possible incorrect use of manual cocking (see text) |
The easy-to-carry rifle has an oiled walnut stock with sling swivels and a teardrop finish. There is a grille on the pistol neck with a rosette. The butt without a cheek ends with a narrow rubber butt. The Ergo-Max stock is suitable for both left-handed and right-handed shooters. The butt thickens slightly from the base to the back of the head. This promotes optimal head positioning when aiming with optics and is beneficial in terms of recoil perception. A detachable plastic magazine is inserted into the aluminum magazine receiver. Holding five cartridges. A steel receiver of standard length, closed at the top, has a spacious window for ejecting cartridges. The shutter moves perfectly in it. Locking is carried out by six combat stops. located in two rows and interlocking with the trunk. The inclined bolt handle is equipped with a spherical plastic thickening with corrugation in the form of grooves.
In the cocked state, a clearly visible and tactile signal bar protrudes from the bolt clutch. On the back side of the bolt there is a silent two-position slide-type safety with a button for unlocking when the safety is on. The fuse blocks the firing pin. This is a full-fledged striker fuse. It also locks the shutter. The shutter stop can be disabled by pressing the side button. Dry, without warning, the trigger was triggered with a force of 840 g.
The barrel is firmly seated in the front part of the receiver. Its separation is not provided. The receiver is placed into the stock using the Ever-Rest method. The aluminum block, glued to the stock, includes two steel rods located on the sides, secured to the front of the receiver. In the middle there is a screw securing the receiver. Thus, sideways motion is eliminated and ensured correct landing receiver under any weather conditions. The rear receiver screw fits into a special bushing.
An excellent weapon with excellent accuracy, excellent trigger and firing pin safety. The workmanship is excellent. Best accuracy: 18 mm.
Weapon |
|
Manufacturer |
J.P. Sauer & Sohn |
Caliber |
|
Barrel box/ locking |
Standard bolt group, steel receiver, locked with six lugs behind the bolt, recessed cup, two reflectors |
Descent |
Without warning |
Trigger force |
|
Shop |
Detachable magazine for 5 rounds |
Lodge |
Oiled nut, teardrop nose, straight comb, pistol neck, rubber butt, grille |
Fuse |
Two-position firing pin safety, bolt lock, separate bolt lock release |
Barrel length |
|
Optics/ bracket |
Vixen 6-24x58, EAW swing arm |
Weapon length |
|
Weight |
3.03 kg; 4.06 kg with optics |
Accuracy |
|
Advantages |
Excellent accuracy, firing pin safety, excellent fit in the stock, excellent stock, detachable magazine, excellent workmanship, low release angle, bolt stopper, excellent trigger, steel box |
Flaws |
The barrel is pressed in, the box is long |
Compact and easy to carry, the rifle has a polymer stock with swivels for a rifle belt and a grille on the fore-end and pistol neck. The butt ends with a rubber butt. The short steel receiver has a wide window for ejecting cartridges. In a mo-rose polished bolt, the bolt head is secured with pins. Locking is carried out by two lugs that engage with the front part of the receiver. The shutter cup with reflector is recessed. On the right combat rest there is a small ejector hook. Behind the lugs there is a rotating protrusion that serves to seal the space inside the bolt head and, if necessary, significantly prevent the breakthrough of powder gases towards the shooter.
In the cocked state, the rear end of the firing pin is barely visible and can be detected by touch. He does not appear outside. The straight bolt handle is equipped with a spherical thickening with mesh knurling. The bolt has an open cocking cutout from which the cocking button protrudes. The trigger rod lies on the side in the receiver jumper and interacts with the cocking button. A three-position slide safety at the rear of the receiver interacts with the sear and locks the bolt. In the middle position, you can unload a weapon with the safety on. There is a lever on the trigger (travel 7 mm, resistance 200 g), which must be depressed in order to pull the trigger, which does not have a warning. The trigger was triggered with a force of 1360 g. If you press the hook on the side without pressing the lever, the hammer makes a short stroke and the shot becomes impossible until the bolt is unlocked and subsequently locked. There is no such thing in Marlin rifles.
A detachable magazine made of sheet steel, holding four cartridges, is securely fixed in the plastic magazine receiver. The cartridges are sent into the chamber in a straight line. The barrel is made of mandrel and is attached to a thread in the front part of the receiver. It is secured with a nut, which also holds the recoil stop. With the help of a nut, factory adjustment of the mirror gap becomes less expensive.
The open sight consists of a butterfly rear sight and a rectangular, height-adjustable front sight. There are no special measures for placing the receiver in the stock.
The weapon is made somewhat crudely. Its advantages are shooting accuracy and reliable operation. His descent is too tight. Best accuracy: 18 mm.
Weapon |
|
Manufacturer |
|
Caliber |
|
Receiver/locking |
Short bolt group, steel box, locked with two lugs behind the front of the receiver, recessed cup, cocking button on the bolt |
Descent |
Without warning |
Trigger force |
|
Shop |
Detachable 4-round magazine |
Lodge |
Polymer, grille, pistol neck, rubber butt |
Fuse |
Three-position slide safety with bolt lock, sear lock, trigger safety lever |
Barrel length |
|
Optics/ bracket |
Leupold VX 6 2-12x42, Leupold throw-on bracket |
Weapon length |
|
Weight |
2.88 kg; 3.49 kg with optics |
Accuracy |
|
Advantages |
Accurate, comfortable to carry, good polymer stock, detachable magazine, short box, with steel box |
Flaws |
Somewhat rough design, large unlocking angle, hard trigger; if triggered incorrectly, incomplete stroke of the firing pin is possible |
Accuracy of fire of hunting repeating rifles in mm (*5 shots per 100 m)
Weapon |
Vor-TX Barnes 168gr TTSX |
Vor-TX Barnes 150 gr TTSX |
RWS 136 gr EVO green |
Hornady SF 150grGMX |
RWS Cineshot 147 gr HP |
Remington 180 grCore- Lokt SP |
Browning |
||||||
Marlin Mod X7 |
||||||
Mauser M12 |
||||||
Remington |
||||||
Savage Model 11 |
Weapon |
Remington 150grCore- Lokt PSP |
Hornady 165 gr BTSP |
Hornady SF 165 gr Inter- Bond |
Blaser 165gr CDP |
RWS 180 gr H-Mantel |
Hornady SF 150gr SST |
Browning |
||||||
Marlin Mod X7 |
||||||
Mauser M12 |
||||||
Remington |
||||||
Savage Model 11 |
Bottom line
The test shows that there are quite suitable magazine rifles priced at about 1000 euros and below. They are reliable and are not inferior in accuracy to more expensive magazines.
The bolt movement of all the guns that were tested was in order. Strong differences emerged in the safety and trigger mechanisms. For a multi-purpose weapon that must fire accurately and quickly, the trigger pull should be well below 1000 g. From a safety point of view, there is nothing better than a hammer safety or manual cocking mechanism. The Sauer, Mauser and Sako shallows are equipped with them. And one more piece of advice: It’s better to save money on weapons than on optics.
On the firing line
The shooting was carried out in groups of five shots at a fast pace. The weapon was mounted on a benchrest and on pads. Between series, the barrel was given time to cool. In one day, two series were fired from one type of weapon. After 15 shots, the barrel was chemically cleaned. When shooting with lead-free ammunition, dry cleaning was carried out after each series.
For some models, with different loading options, the average point of impact practically did not change. In other cases, the STN shifted by more than 30 cm with different loading options. It was also found that the majority of the barrels did not respond to cleaning in any way. For some guns, the first shot in the group clearly lay away from the other shots, but only moved a few centimeters. The shooting results showed that repeating hunting rifles show a predilection for one or the other type of ammunition. All models of the tested weapons were shot with nine-power optics.
Hunters are a fastidious people. When hunting, some are ready to be content with a single-barreled shotgun, others with a smooth-bore double-barreled shotgun, and for others, give them a more powerful and impressive hunting weapon - a carbine. Especially if the hunter wanted to try his hand at hunting some big game. It is clear that in this case a shotgun is not enough. Here you will need a more impressive weapon. For example, a hunting rifle.
A carbine is the same rifle. Compared to a classic rifle, the carbine's barrel is shortened, and the carbine also differs in some specific design features. The barrel of the carbine is not smooth, but rifled (although in some versions it can be smooth). As for the size of this type of weapon, the length of the carbine is usually less than the length of its “progenitor” - the classic rifle.
Purchasing a carbine is a difficult and troublesome task. Currently, there is an almost endless list of carbines (rifles) of both Russian and foreign production. It is very important to decide which carbine is the best - that is, the most suitable for a particular hunter and for hunting a particular game.
Hunting rifles and their varieties
Usually, inexperienced hunters, when thinking about purchasing a carbine, try to figure out for themselves which carbine is better, and try to immediately acquire a universal carbine - among the many varieties of this weapon, there is such a thing. However, experienced hunters usually opt for some specialized variety of this weapon.
Specialized models are those versions of hunting rifles that are best designed for hunting a particular game or intended for a specific type of hunting. After all, as you know, there are all kinds of hunting: driven, from ambush, from the approach, and so on. So: for almost every type of hunting there is its own version of a rifle hunting weapons, that is, carbines.
In terms of their design, carbines are divided into two types:
- Self-loading carbines. The magazines of such carbines can hold from 5 to 10 rounds, depending on how the rifle is designed. When firing from such a carbine, it reloads automatically. It is clear that the rate of fire in this case is on par;
- Carbines in which the bolt must be reset after each shot. The rate of fire here, of course, is lower, but such carbines are more reliable in operation: unlike self-loading rifles, they are not afraid of contamination.
In addition, you can also find combination carbines. They have two rifled barrels with different calibers and one smooth barrel. On the one hand, such rifles have many advantages, but such carbines shoot no further than 100 meters and are prohibitively expensive.
Hunting rifles and their calibers
All carbines are strictly divided according to their calibers. In this case, the smaller the barrel caliber, the lower the price of the weapon itself. However, the price comes at a price, but when choosing a carbine, you must first of all proceed from the size of game the hunter intends to hunt. So, the calibers:
- Carbine chambered for 5.6x39 caliber. Cartridges of this caliber are usually used to hunt all kinds of small animals. This is what is called a gentle cartridge. With a skillful shot with such a charge, the animal’s skin remains unspoiled;
- Carbine chambered for 7.62x39 caliber. Such charges are fired from the Saiga carbine and similar models. Charges of this caliber are inexpensive, and can be used to shoot medium-sized game (wolf, wild boar, roe deer). However, these cartridges have little stopping power;
- Carbine chambered for 5.6x45 caliber cartridges. This is a relatively small caliber, and with such charges you can catch fur and feathered game;
- Carbine chambered for 7.62x51 caliber cartridges. A very impressive and serious caliber. Such charges can hit large game from long distances;
- Carbine chambered for 30-06-m cartridges. This is the largest caliber. Charges of such calibers are used to hunt the largest game: bears, moose, large wild boars. The weight of a bullet in cartridges of this caliber is about 14 grams. You can find a lot of versions of weapons adapted to fire charges of similar calibers. However, it should be borne in mind that such cartridges are quite expensive.
There are also small-caliber carbines that fire charges smaller than 5.6x39. This is a specific caliber: it is used only in sporting purposes and for commercial hunting.
Sight for carbine
A carbine is a weapon designed for shooting at long distances, and at long distances you can only shoot effectively if you have an optical sight on your weapon.
Buying a scope is not such a simple matter. All scopes include two main characteristics called magnification and viewing angle. Both must be selected according to the values of their parameters. The best sights are those with high parameter values. It is clear that such scopes are somewhat more expensive, but with a good scope, hunting will be much more successful.
Zeroing a rifle for hunting
To get an idea of how a carbine shoots and how to eliminate shortcomings in shooting, you need to shoot the weapon. Shooting can be done in different ways.
The simplest method can be called the “grandfather’s” method. This is exactly how weapons were shot in ancient times. To do this, they pulled out the bolt, looked into the barrel and, what is called “by eye,” aligned the crosshairs with the target. It is clear that it was difficult to determine in this way how accurately the weapon fired.
Most carbine owners have always used the traditional zeroing method. In fact, this method is quite simple. Two targets are taken, which are placed at different distances: at a distance of 50 meters, and at a distance of 100 meters. First, shooting is carried out at the first target - to make sure how well the weapon shoots overall. Then you need to start the main shooting - at a target set at a distance of 100 meters. In general, the point of zeroing is to align the point where the bullet can hit with the crosshair of the sight. When zeroing with an optical sight, adjustments are made using special adjustment devices available on the optical sight.
Currently, it is possible to carry out cold sighting without using cartridges, but with the help of sighting devices. There are two types of cold zeroing - using muzzle attachments and using a laser cartridge. To zero, the muzzle attachment must be placed in the barrel. Attached to the choke tube is a screen with a square drawn on it with a cross in the middle. You must try to align the crosshair of the sight with the cross - and the zeroing can be considered complete.
As for laser sighting, it is even simpler. Here you need to insert a laser cartridge into the chamber of the weapon, after which the laser dot and the center of the target must be aligned. If the combination took place, then the shooting can be considered successful.
Cold zeroing can be considered a more successful way of zeroing a carbine than the traditional one. When shooting cold, cartridges are not wasted. In addition, cold zeroing can be carried out just before the start of the hunt - unlike traditional zeroing. It is silent, and, accordingly, the animal will not be scared.
The most famous examples of Russian and foreign carbines
Nowadays you can find many various types, modifications and versions of carbines of both Russian and foreign production. Most of them have good design and excellent technical characteristics. Let's review the most famous examples of this type of weapon.
Let's start with Russian carbines. Here it should be said that Russian carbines are for the most part not original versions, but domestic ones converted to carbines military weapon. During the alteration, the carbines largely lost the qualities of their combat prototypes, so most of these alterations are suitable for hunting insofar as they are.
- TOZ-78. Small-caliber version of carbines Russian production. This weapon is mostly used by commercial hunters and athletes during competitions. bullet shooting. The weapon has very modest technical characteristics, and therefore the price of this carbine is low;
- Carbine "Sable". Another carbine designed for firing small-caliber charges. However, in terms of its characteristics and qualities, it compares favorably with the previous model, so there is greater demand for it, and the price is correspondingly higher;
- Carbine "Vepr". It is considered perhaps the best carbine made in Russia. This is a smooth-bore semi-automatic weapon that can be used as a service and hunting weapon, as well as for self-defense. The basis for the production of this carbine was the Kalashnikov light machine gun. Currently, there are many versions of this weapon, which can fire charges of different calibers;
- Saiga carbine. This sample is designed on the basis of a Kalashnikov assault rifle, which is clearly visible from its design. However, despite its appearance, this semi-automatic machine has rather dubious characteristics: in particular, it has heavy weight and poor accuracy of fire;
- Carbine "Tiger". The basis for its creation was the Dragunov sniper rifle. The carbine turned out to be too heavy and long, and, moreover, with low accuracy of fire.
However, recently quite successful domestic models of hunting carbines have appeared. In particular, such samples include Lobaev’s hunting rifle (carbine). To fire this semi-automatic, the original charge is used - 408CheyTac. With this charge, the carbine can fire at a distance of more than 2 km. At the same time, the shot accuracy of this carbine is the highest among all domestic analogues.
Let's move on to foreign samples. Here, as they say, there is room to roam. In other words, in terms of quantity and quality, foreign carbines today compare favorably with their Russian counterparts. Accordingly, their price is higher, but this is a separate issue. These are mostly semi-automatic, but occasionally there are also models that need to be reloaded after each shot.
- Carabiner "Tikka Master". A very good and reliable example of a foreign-made hunting weapon. Moreover, it is relatively inexpensive. Some experts argue that this carbine has a poor-quality magazine with a weak supply of cartridges. However, this almost does not prevent the weapon from being popular both abroad and among Russian hunters;
- Carbine "Benelli Argo". A lightweight semi-automatic rifle weighing just over 3 kg with a set of magazines that can hold 2, 4 and 9 charges. Distinctive feature this carbine - the ability to change barrels of one caliber to another;
- Carbine "Browning BAR II". This is a weapon with excellent performance and elegant design. The carbine is perhaps the most popular type of hunting weapon in Russia;
- Carbine "Sako 75". Such carbines have been known since 1946. The weapon has an excellent reputation, and its price is relatively low. There are many models of this weapon with different barrel calibers;
- Carbine "Mauser-98". Hunting weapons of this brand have been known since the pre-war years. The rifle has not lost its popularity to this day, especially since many modifications of this weapon have now been developed;
- Carbine "Blaser R93". One of the most versatile carbine models in the world, which is used for different types hunting. At the same time, cleaning this weapon does not present any difficulties;
- Carbine "Voere-2185". This carbine has a wonderful action and filigree finish. There are many modifications of this brand of carbine for firing cartridges of various calibers. The cost of the weapon is low;
- Carbine "Marlin 336". This carbine is very ancient, dating back to 1889. That is, the first model of the carbine was released that year, but since then, despite the improvements, the rifle has hardly changed. And yet, the carbine is one of the most popular types hunting weapons to this day. American hunters claim that this rifle is the best for deer hunting;
- Carbine "Sauer 303". Who hasn't heard of Sauer weapons? The weapons of this company have been successful for many years. History claims that the best weapons from this company were desired gifts even for kings and presidents. This version a carbine is, so to speak, a weapon for the elite. It has excellent characteristics and a wonderful design. Thanks to these qualities, as well as its name, this carbine is almost the most expensive in the world.
By the way, about the price of carbines. Many years of practice indicate that it is still better to buy not cheap crafts, but expensive hunting rifles that will not let you down in practice.
When choosing a carabiner, you definitely need to know what material it is made of. It is believed that the best carabiners are those made from various types of stainless steel. One of the best such grades is considered to be steel produced by the company "Böller" from Austria, as well as steel produced in the Scandinavian countries.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them
And if later Vasya Pupkin slightly corrected the procedure, then in fact in practice the result did not become different. And it was not possible to push this into the GPV despite Rogozin’s efforts - the generals almost rebelled. And it was not possible to push into the special services - there are decent people there too. All that's left is sports and abroad. Rogozin did not go abroad out of solidarity, because the randomly appointed head of the Kalashnikov concern was not allowed into the Shot Show 2014. The show with Seagal and Rogozin failed again. But even if they were all there, nothing would have happened either. Absolutely. Everything is explained simply.
In fact, today ORSIS is a pipe on legs. Just yesterday and sold quite often today, even poorly painted and without any decent body kit at all. And the fact that some samples can be fired with indicators of less than one minute of arc (MOA) is not surprising at all, because the entire technological line of stainless planed steel was launched precisely under foreign technology, according to which barrels have been produced for decades with sub-MOA performance.
And a couple of dozen guns are sold there to people, not because it is competitive, but because in this niche, imported samples are sold in Russia at THREE prices in relation to their real value, and the buyer still has no choice. Even these 20 barrels per year are a result of hopelessness and monopolism, sometimes out of curiosity, and not from demand based on quality indicators. Who else could qualifiedly evaluate them from the average person.
If today we compare any option over-praised by the owners(using state resources, including from the state budget, only RIA Novosti has put in so much work on this matter, not to mention hundreds of other media) ORSIS ORSIS is the maximum option for ultra-long-range high-precision precision - it is not even suitable for comparison with an old lady M82; average for distances a little more and about 1000 - then it cannot be compared even with Tikka T3, and even, God forgive me, with today's SAKO; and at a little less than 1000, no ORSIS can compete even closely with either the Tikka T3, or the SAKO, or the old Steyr Mannlichers, or even, scary to say, at slightly shorter distances, excuse me, with the serial AR-15. And this is all, sorry, the Old Testament part of the line of shooting models for long and ultra-long distances (except for the latter, of course).
TrackingPoint XS Hunter was presented at two consecutive Exhibitions in Las Vegas, that is, at the Shot Show and atCES exhibition of computer technologies and modern gadgets.
The supernova gun, together with a computer complex, runs the Linux operating system and is not a masterpiece in itself small arms. But being adaptive, the complex itself, together with the trunk, gives results close to 100%. Moreover, the training of the shooter in this case has little effect on the result. With this thing, anyone who simply does not pull the trigger guard and presses it when the computer command lights up becomes a sniper (in combat systems, you can set the automatic opening of fire on a captured target).
The new Precision Guided Firearm computer system is a true high-tech kit for the hunter or military. Skipping all the details, when turned on, the computer system not only allows you to hit the target accurately, but also displays all the data regarding the target, the flight of the bullet and many other parameters associated with the flight of the bullet from point A to point B. All this is recorded on a recording device and allows you to enjoy a high-precision sniper system just like in a computer game.
Hunting at ultra-long distances - shooting from sniper hunting rifles using an intelligent computer aiming system
TrackingPoint 2013 - Extreme Distance Hunting
The company said that they created not just an advanced sight for the gun, but modified a significant part of the gun’s systems, in particular, they created a trigger system that activates the computer when the shooter puts his finger on the trigger of the gun, in addition, the gun has a system for assessing the illumination of the surrounding area and if the gun determines that the shot is fired in the evening or at night, the computer will switch to night mode and switch to the target's night vision system.
Speaking of the computer guidance system, it can also be compared to the target acquisition system of a fighter jet. Thus, the computer is capable of identifying a potential target, marking it with a dot and helping the shooter to aim more accurately. The gun is equipped with a laser target designation system, so the dot from the beam is visible on the computer sight screen and the system understands that the object on which the dot is located is the target of the shot. After the point is captured by the sight, the Linux computer calculates the speed of the target, the speed of the bullet taking into account the wind, and also displays the distance to the target with a compass grid.
Dan Bilzerian swung by and picked up a 338 and a 762 AR at the SHOT Show
The developers of the system say that despite the multifunctionality of the system, using the computer is extremely simple and any shooter who has previously held a gun with optical sight in hands. The system automatically creates a significant part of the information and adapts itself to environmental conditions.
The company says that their development is aimed not only at novice shooters, but also at experienced ones, as it allows them to fire in difficult environmental conditions, adjusting the shooting mode to specific conditions. In the military version, the complex adapts to the situation, having the ability to fire immediately as soon as the target is captured and calculated.
XS3 in hunting version- the smallest and most portable system from the entire line of sniper shooting computers from TruckingPoint (there are better and more accurate ones, but for the military).
Optimized for hunting with 190 gr. LRX, 0.300 Win Mag. The 22-inch barrel is installed in the MacMillan A5 chassis.The hunting version of the XS3 provides an effective Track Xact range of 850 yards.Scope from 6 to 30X.There is a direct connection to the video streaming system in Android and IOS smartphones and tablets.Wind speed is the only data you will manually enter into the system.
For a Russian hunter who wanted to immediately get a sniper rifle that can kill anything that moves at 1000 meters, there are limitations:
In accordance with US law, TrackingPoint will transfer title to the XactSystem™ PGF if available to the ownerdiploma (FFL) federal standard.Clients must be eligible to own firearms in the United States. Well, something like this.
Some previous materials on this topic:
SVD. DRAGUNOV SNIPER RIFLE
The Dragunov SVD sniper rifle (caliber 7.62) has been in service since 1963, and there are no plans to replace it with something else. Despite the fact that the Dragunov sniper rifle is already quite outdated, it copes well with the tasks assigned to it. However, talk that this rifle should be replaced with a new product occurs with certain frequency. The Dragunov sniper rifle, in terms of prevalence in the world, is the second sniper rifle after the clones of the M24 rifles of the American army, M41 of the Marine Corps and Remington 700. The rifle Dragunov is called legendary and for good reason, because it is recognizable “on the spot” - it has a unique profile, a rather characteristic shot sound and excellent technical characteristics. The legends about the penetrating power and accuracy of the rifle are innumerable. This rifle has its own unique and interesting destiny.
HISTORY OF THE CREATION OF SVD
The history of SVD starts in the 1950s. It was then that the massive rearmament of the Soviet army took place. The task of developing a new sniper rifle was entrusted to Fedorovich Evgeniy Dragunov, a famous creator of sporting firearms. When designing a sniper rifle, Dragunov's design team encountered a lot of difficulties, which were mainly related to the gaps between the various parts of the rifle. It was necessary to ensure optimal density so that there was excellent accuracy of fire. But large gaps provide good resistance of the weapon to dirt and other influences. As a result, the designers came to a reasonable compromise. Design of the rifle ended in 1962. There were many successes and failures in the development of the rifle. In addition, Dragunov’s competition was A. Konstantinov, who also developed his own sniper rifle. They started development at the same time and finished it almost at the same time. Both models were subjected to various tests. However, Dragunov’s weapon won, it surpassed Konstantinov’s rifle both in accuracy and shooting accuracy. Already in 1963, as it should have been, the SVD was adopted for service. The tasks assigned to the sniper rifle were quite narrow. This is the destruction of sedentary, moving and stationary targets, which may be in unarmored vehicles or partially hidden behind shelters. The self-loading design significantly increased the combat rate of fire of the weapon.
SHOOTING ACCURACY
The Dragunov sniper rifle has excellent technical characteristics, including very high accuracy for this type of weapon. For precise combat, the optimal rifling pitch is 320 mm. Until the 1970s, the rifle was produced with similar barrels. With the 7N1 sniper cartridge, the accuracy of the battle was 1.04 MOA. This is better than many repeating rifles ( self-loading rifle all other things being equal, it shoots worse than a non-self-loading one). For example, the M24 repeating sniper rifle, adopted by the United States, shows an accuracy of 1.18 MOA when using a sniper cartridge. But with a cutting pitch of 320 mm, it was almost impossible to use with armor-piercing incendiary cartridges - they quickly began to tumble in flight. In the 1970s, the rifle was given greater versatility by making the rifling pitch 240 mm. It was after this that the rifle was able to fire any type of ammunition, but the accuracy characteristics immediately deteriorated. The PSO-1 sight is designed for shooting up to 1200 meters, but at such a range you can only conduct harassing fire, or effectively shoot only at a group target.
SVD DESIGN FEATURES
The SVD is a self-loading rifle (caliber 7.62). Its automation operates on the use of powder gases, they are diverted from the barrel of the weapon, as well as by locking the channel into 3 lugs by turning the bolt. The weapon receives ammunition from a detachable box magazine, which holds 10 rounds of 7.62x54R.
Firing from the SVD can be carried out:
➡ rifle cartridges with ordinary, tracer, and armor-piercing incendiary bullets;
➡ sniper cartridges (7N1, 7N14);
➡ cartridges with expansion bullets of the JSP and JHP brands.
Quite often, the design of the SVD is compared with the design of the Kalashnikov AKM, but, despite the presence of the same main points, this weapon has its own characteristic features.
➡ the gas piston is not rigidly connected to the bolt frame, which reduces the total weight of the moving parts of the rifle when shooting;
➡ the barrel bore is locked on three lugs (one of them is the rammer) while turning the bolt;
➡ trigger-type SVD trigger mechanism, which is assembled in one housing;
➡ The rifle safety is controlled on the right side of the rifle using a fairly large lever. The fuse blocks the trigger in the on position, including limiting the movement of the bolt frame backwards, which provides protection during transportation from external pollution;
➡ The rifle's flash hider also serves as a muzzle brake-recoil compensator. The flame arrester has five slotted slots;
➡ the butt and fore-end of the weapon were made of plastic (previously made of wood);
➡ a non-adjustable rest for the shooter’s cheek is attached to the butt.
SIGHTS
The PSO-1 optical sniper sight was developed specifically for the SVD rifle in 1963. It is the main sight of Soviet as well as Russian sniper weapons. The design feature of the sight is a fairly successful sighting reticle; it allows the sniper to quickly determine the distance, as well as make the necessary horizontal adjustments during shooting without rotating the flywheels. This allows you to demonstrate excellent fast aiming and shooting characteristics. The sight is sealed; it is filled with nitrogen, which prevents fogging of the optics during temperature changes. It comes with a carrying bag, filters, case, power adapter, power supply and spare bulbs. PSO-1 is designed for firing at well-camouflaged and small-sized targets. Installed on a dovetail mount. The available reticle illumination makes it possible to aim at dusk. It is also possible to enter aiming angles based on the distance to the target, including lateral corrections (target movement, into the wind). PSO-1 is designed to fire up to 1300 meters. In addition to the optical sight, night sights can be installed on the rifle. If the optical sight fails, the shooter can perform tasks using standard sighting devices, consisting of an adjustable rear sight, as well as a front sight in the front sight.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SVD
Caliber - 7.62 mm
Weapon length - 1225 mm
Weight with wholesale sight - 4.55 kg
Cartridge - 7.62×54 mm
Barrel length - 620 mm
Sighting range - 1300 m
SIDS
In Izhevsk in 1991, the SVD was modernized, as a result of which a new version of the SVD rifle appeared, but with a folding stock. SVDS, unlike SVD, has:
➡ improved flame arrester and gas outlet unit;
➡ shorter barrel;
➡ modified optical sight PSO-1M2.
Due to its large length, the SVD was not always convenient when landing troops, as well as when transporting directly inside military equipment. As a result, there was a need to create a more compact version of the rifle without losing its basic combat qualities. This task was entrusted to the team under the leadership of A.I. Nesterov. As a result, the SVDS stock began to fold onto the right side of the receiver. At the same time, when folding the stock, there was no need to remove the optical sight. The SVDS rifle is equipped with optical (PSO-1M2) and open sights.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SIDS
Caliber - 7.62 mm
Weapon length - 1135/875 mm
Weight with wholesale sight - 4.7 kg
Cartridge - 7.62×54R mm
Barrel length - 565 mm
Sighting range - 1300 m
SVDK
In 2006, the army adopted a large-caliber sniper rifle, which was created for a 9 mm cartridge on the basis of the SVD. The weapon was created specifically to defeat an enemy who is behind an obstacle, has protective equipment(body armor), including light equipment. The design of the SVDK rifle is a further development of the SVD, however, the main components have been modernized, they are designed to use a more powerful cartridge:
➡ part of the rifle barrel was placed in a special casing;
➡ The folding metal stock and pistol grip were borrowed from the SVDS sniper rifle, but the area of the rubber butt plate was noticeably increased due to stronger recoil during shooting.
The SVDK rifle, unlike the SVD, does not have the ability to attach a bayonet. For better stability when shooting with a powerful 9-mm cartridge, the weapon is equipped with a bipod. SVDK, like the SVD rifle, in addition to the special 1P70 Hyperon optical sight, also has an open sight.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SVDK
Caliber - 9.3 mm
Weapon length - 1250/965 mm
Weight without wholesale sight - 6.5 kg
Cartridge - 9.3×64 mm
Barrel length - 620 mm
Sighting range - 1200 m
SVDM
Of course, no one will argue that remakes of military production are completely unsuitable by their very concept as hunting weapons, and it is always better what was created specifically in targeted projects. However, like AKM-oid carbines such as Saiga, Vepr and others, the Tiger is for the most part a tribute to the military conscription past of every Russian hunter, the mentality of the nation, and the current lack of its own sane hunting weapons production in Russia in this class.
But it is precisely the simplicity and reliability of our carbines, their ultimate design, that primarily attracts the domestic hunter. The excessive complexity of imported weapons once again makes us recall the axiom of weapons designers - the most difficult thing is to create a simple, and therefore reliable and most technologically advanced system. And since two unique technologies are used in the production of SVDs, this makes itself felt for any purpose of this weapon. The only question is why you need it.
The history of the creation of the Tiger hunting rifle
Evgeniy Dragunov's self-loading sniper rifle replaced the outdated three-line sniper rifle back in 1963. The need for such weapons has been recognized for a long time. And in 1958, the GRAU of the General Staff of the SA announced a competition to create a self-loading sniper rifle for Soviet Army, having formulated in the terms of reference difficult-to-combine requirements.
The military's demands were strict and included the following: the rifle must be chambered for a standard three-line cartridge, self-loading, not inferior in reliability to the AKM, have a replaceable box magazine for 10 rounds, and in terms of weight and size parameters correspond to a three-line sniper. It must be taken into account that the SVD is not a sniper rifle in the full sense; its main purpose is to increase the effective fire range of a motorized rifle squad to 600 m and provide the necessary rifle support. The accuracy characteristic of a police or sporting rifle was not initially included in the SVD, and this must be understood when planning to use the Tiger for accurate shooting at maximum distances.
Dragunov was able to successfully combine excellent shooting accuracy, maneuverability and maximum resistance to adverse combat conditions in the new rifle created under his leadership. The production of the rifle was located at IZHMASH. To this day, the SVD remains a tool that allows solving standard sniper tasks in combined arms combat.
The main part of the automatic rifle is the bolt frame, which receives the effects of powder gases through a separate gas piston and pusher. Automatic parts have a small mass and low energy in extreme positions, which ensures minimal deflection of the rifle when firing and fast recovery tips. The reloading handle is integral with the bolt frame. Rifle return mechanism with two coil springs. Trigger allows only single fire. Flag fuse, double action. It simultaneously locks the trigger and limits rearward movement of the bolt carrier. The trigger is assembled in a separate removable housing and ensures that a shot is fired only when the bolt is completely locked. It is generally impossible to assemble the SVD incorrectly, which is an important factor. When all the cartridges in the magazine are used up, the shutter is delayed.
Hunting carbine TIGER- a hunting modification of the famous army Dragunov rifle (SVD). The Tiger uses the same inexpensive rifle cartridges, only equipped with semi-jacketed bullets, and are marked “7.62x54 R”. "Tiger" and "Tiger-1"- a self-loading hunting carbine of 7.62 mm caliber chambered for the 7.62x53 (7.62x54R) hunting cartridge with a semi-jacketed bullet weighing 13 g. According to the passport, it is intended for hunting medium and large animals.
The Tiger carbine appeared in the late 70s. Prototypes of the carbine were created under the leadership of E.F. Dragunov in 1969. The basic model was the famous domestic Dragunov rifle - SVD. It is manufactured in two modifications: “Tiger” and “Tiger-1”. In 1996, an export (Americanized) version of the Tiger-1 was created.
Design of the Tiger hunting rifle
The Tiger self-loading carbine is as unpretentious as its parent (SVD), easy to operate and clean. The rate of fire and automation are not satisfactory. I was very pleased with the opportunity to fire from an open sight without removing the optics.
But during actual operation, not everything turned out to be so rosy:
- army sight PSO-1 - turned out to be not suitable for hunting needs;
- orthopedic butt - very inconvenient for a hunter;
- the first version of the “Tiger” was made with plastic linings on the forend, this of course makes the design of the carbine easier, but shooting in the cold threatens frostbite on your fingers, and they creak in the cold;
- the absence of a flame arrester as such makes it blind when fired at dusk.
According to the legislation of a number of countries (USA, England, France), the import of weapons that have an external resemblance to combat systems is prohibited. In the USA, for example, imported long-barreled firearms must not have two of the following signs of combat: a detachable magazine with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, a bayonet attachment point, ventilation holes in the barrel linings, the front sight must only be open, the digitization of the sighting bar is more than 5 divisions.Therefore, when in 1996 the question of lifting restrictions (introduced in 1993) on the export of Russian sporting and hunting weapons to the American market was once again raised, a new export version of the Tiger was prepared.
Manufacturers of the carbine took into account the requirements of foreign legislation and numerous complaints from their own consumers, and released another modification of the Tiger, calling it "Tiger-1".
The carbine has been modified more thoroughly:
- universal side mounts have appeared for most hunting optical sights;
- added a muzzle brake-flash suppressor, which quite significantly reduces recoil and blinding from the flash;
- the butt was changed, a “pistol grip” was added, a comb on top for easier aiming;
- expanded the possibilities of moving the front sight when sighting.
"Tiger" carbines have modifications for the following cartridges (all modifications can also be produced in a non-self-loading version):
- Tiger Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for 7.62x54R;
- Tiger-308 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for 308Win (7.62x51);
- Tiger-30-06 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for 30-06Sprg (7.62x63)
- Tiger-9 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for 9.3x64 cartridge.
The characteristics of the cartridges used are given in the table. To ensure safety when shooting, only certified cartridges should be used.
Automatic reloading of the carbine occurs due to the energy of the powder gases removed from the barrel bore into the gas chamber, and the energy of the return springs. The bolt is locked onto three lugs by rotating the bolt around its axis while sliding the frame longitudinally. The hammer-type trigger mechanism ensures the production of single shots and setting the safety.
The flag-type fuse is located on the right side of the receiver. The trigger mechanism is made detachable. The bore and chamber are chrome plated. The drummer is spring loaded.
The butt and receiver linings are made of wood (walnut, beech, birch) or impact-resistant plastic. Wooden stock with rubber butt.
The open sight consists of an aiming bar and a front sight that is adjustable in two planes. The aimed shooting range with an open sight is 300m.
On the left side of the carbine receiver there is a unified base for mounting an optical sight. Targeted shooting from an open sight can be carried out without removing the optical sight.
The technology for manufacturing SVD and Tiger barrels is unique and is not used anywhere else. First, the barrel blank undergoes deep drilling under high oil pressure. After which the resulting channel is subjected to double scanning. The resulting smooth channel is further polished using an electric discharge.
After which comes the most interesting stage in the manufacture of a barrel for the Tiger: electrical erosion. The barrel blank is placed in a special solution. A tool with an exact copy of the rifling is inserted into the channel. Under the influence of an electric discharge, the smooth surface of the barrel bore acquires an exact copy of the geometry of the tool. Figuratively speaking, the “extra” metal is “washed out”, forming rifling. Of course, it is difficult to imagine how so much metal can be removed in this way, but this is the uniqueness of the technology.
An almost finished barrel, with rifling already formed, is subjected to turning of the outer surface, where it is given the desired geometry. This is followed by heat treatment of the barrel. Then the barrel bore undergoes an operation unusual for sniper barrels - chrome plating.
Only lazy people haven’t written about the negative role of chrome coating, but for military weapons, a chrome-plated barrel bore greatly makes life easier for a soldier. Moreover, some copies of SVD and Tigers issue “minute” groups without any problems, which is more than enough for weapons of this class. In any case, despite the accuracy standard of 80 mm at 100 m, the average results of the SVD and the Tiger at this distance are 50-60 mm. More than enough for hunting.
The rifle barrel has 4 grooves. The rifling stroke length is 240 or 320 mm. The barrel length of the SVD and the long Tiger is 620 mm. “Short” “Tigers” have a 530 mm barrel. The barrel life is stated to be 6000 shots.
Modifications of the Tiger hunting rifle
Tiger with folding stock, Tiger with hunting stock, Tiger with plastic stock, Tiger-308, Tiger-9
Tiger Self-loading hunting carbine with an orthopedic butt and wooden barrel guards
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
Tiger in Spanish 01 A carbine with a plastic butt of the “SVD type” with a rotating cheekpiece and plastic linings.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
Tiger in Spanish 02 A carbine with a folding metal stock of the “SVDS type” with a rotating cheekpiece and plastic or wooden pads.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Weight, kg |
|
Tiger in Spanish 03 A carbine with a hunting wooden butt and wooden or plastic pads.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
Tiger isp.05 A carbine made in a design as close as possible to appearance SVD rifle, equipped with a plywood butt with a detachable cheekpiece, plywood barrel linings with ventilation holes, a gas tube with a regulator, a 1200 m sighting bar, and a front sight base with an extended flash hider.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
Tiger-308 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for the popular 308Win cartridge (7.62x51) with an orthopedic stock and wooden barrel guards.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
308 Win(7.62x51) |
Tiger-308 isp. 01 Carbine with a stationary hunting butt and wooden overlays.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
308 Win(7.62x51) |
Tiger-308 isp. 02 A carbine with a buttstock with a rotating cheekpiece of the SVD type and plastic linings.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
308 Win(7.62x51) |
Tiger-308 isp. 03 A carbine with a control handle, with a folding metal stock of the SVDS type with a rotating cheekpiece and plastic linings.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Overall length/length with folding stock, mm |
Weight, kg |
308 Win(7.62x51) |
Tiger-30-06 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for 30-06Sprg (7.62x63) with an orthopedic stock and wooden barrel guards.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
Tiger-30-06 isp.01 A carbine with a hunting stock and wooden barrel linings.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
Tiger-30-06 isp.02 A carbine with a plastic butt with a rotating cheekpiece of the SVD type and plastic barrel linings.
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
Tiger-9 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for 9.3x64 cartridge with an orthopedic stock and wooden barrel linings. Magazine capacity
Barrel length, mm
Total length, mm
Weight, kg
565 or 620 Caliber, mm
Cartridge used
Magazine capacity
Barrel length, mm
Total length, mm
Weight, kg
Tiger-9Spanish 02 A carbine with a stationary butt with a rotating cheekpiece of the SVD type and plastic linings.
Barrel length, mm
Total length, mm
Weight, kg
565 or 620 Caliber, mm
Cartridge used
Magazine capacity
Barrel length, mm
Total length, mm
Weight, kg
Caliber, mm |
Cartridge used |
Magazine capacity |
Barrel length, mm |
Total length, mm |
Weight, kg |
Carbines of all modifications have different versions of the main components.
Butt design options:
- Orthopedic wooden butt (with cutout for thumb);
- Hunting stock. In this case, the trigger is made slightly pulled back;
- Plastic stock of the OVD type. For ease of shooting from an optical sight, there is a rotating cheekpiece;
- Folding on right side tubular metal stock and pistol grip. The buttstock is equipped with a rotating cheekpiece for convenience when shooting from an optical sight. The length of the carbine with the stock folded is reduced by 260 mm.
- Wooden hunting;
- Plastic;
- With long cylindrical flame arrester;
- With short conical flame arrester;
- No flame arrester.
The mandatory delivery set for carabiners includes: a cleaning rod, accessories in a pencil case, and an oiler. By special order, carbines can be equipped with an optical sight with a bracket, as well as a case and a belt.
Technical characteristics of carbines
Tiger | Tiger-308 | Tiger-9 | |
Caliber, mm | 7,62 | 7,62 | 9 |
Cartridge used | 7.62x54R | .308 Win(7.62x51) | 9.3x64 |
Barrel length, mm* | 530 | 565 | 565 |
Overall length of the carabiner, mm | 1100...1200 | 1100...1200 | 1100...1200 |
Weight of carbine with empty magazine, kg | 3,9 | 3,95 | 3,95 |
Store capacity, pcs. cartridges | 5 or 10 | 10 | 5 |
Note:* By special order, carbines can be supplied with an extended (620 mm) barrel.
Characteristics of cartridges
Cartridge designation | Bullet weight, g | Initial bullet speed, m/s | Muzzle energy, J |
7.62x54R | 13,2 | 720...780 | ~3600 |
.308Win (7.62x51) | 9,7...11,7 | 870...800 | ~3700 |
9.3x64 | 16...19 | 820...780 | ~5800 |