| From: | Marc Renouf renouf@********.com |
|---|---|
| Subject: | OT: Druganovs (was, Re: Gun Disposal) |
| Date: | Thu, 12 Aug 1999 14:15:43 -0400 (EDT) |
> It lost to a folding stock version of the Druganov, but I've seen
> pictures of short barrel/gas tube Druges in Afganistan, along with
> prototypes of the folding stock.
Yeah, Izhmash makes them. They also replace the woodwork with
plastic composite, which makes the rifle a little lighter (because they're
pretty hefty as is).
> (BTW, the only Romanian "sniper" rifles that I know about are an
> indiganous Kalashnikov deritive and a few old Mosin-Negants, unless they've
> started cloning Druganovs in past year and half. AFAIK, only Russia,
> Ukraine, and possibly China and Libya make Druges.)
I don't know when they started producing them, but the Romanian
version is domestically classified as a Romak-3. Mine was manufactured in
1998, and when I got it it was still in the factory grease-packaging.
Also, even the Russian Dragunov is a Kalashnikov derivative. It
uses the same basic mechanism, which was seen as a way to make
training/upkeep easier. At least the Russians got one thing right -
simplification is one of the keys to effective logistics.
> I mean that. In it's role as a platoon support rifle, it might be
> OK, but as a deidacted scout/sniper/FO rifle (I think sniper teams
> should carry FO's radios for stuff that can't stop on thier own, even if
> it means adding a third man.) it leaves somethings to be desired.
Sniper and FO are two different operational doctrines, requiring
different tools and a different mindset. I wouldn't put a third FO man on
a team unless that team was tasked *directly* with FO duties and only
engaged in sniping as a last resort or to take out a specific target of
opportunity. But then their observer mission is compromised, so it limits
their usefulness in that role.
Realistically, the Dragunov is a pretty impressive rifle. It's
easily on par with the sniping capabilities of some of the tricked-out
standard-issue battle rifles the US uses. Sure, it's not a Barret light
.50, but no one said it was. But I'm not that wonderful a shot with a
rifle and even I can get a much higher accuracy with it than I can with a
lot of other "precision" hunting rifles. But I'll reserve final
judgement until after this November. :)
> Thier glass is great, if a little lo-tech.
Indeed. The scope that came with mine is a night-and-day
improvement over my uncle's Leupold spotting scope of the same
magnification. It's crisper and there's not nearly as much image
darkening.
Marc
