Izhmash Dragunov Tigr twist rate?

[30cal_Fun]

I don't know if this belongs here or in the Vintage sniper rifle section, but since the rifle is new production and intended for civil use I thought it would best fit here.

In about 8 weeks I will be the proud owner of an Izhmash Dragunov Tigr. It is the type 05 with the 620mm barrel and wooden stock and handguards. It was manufactured in 2008.
Does anyone know what the twist rate of this rifle is?
I've heard that they changed it at some point from 320mm to 240mm or is that only on the SVD? I send an email to Izhmash a couple weeks ago but haven't had a reply.
I will start load development as soon as I get it and I will try to get an estimate of the twist rate with a rod, piece of tape and tight fitting patch, but it would help to know an exact number.

 

[BCP]

I wish we could still get these in the USA. The twist rate should be 1:12". So fine with up to 180 grain bullets.

 

[30cal_Fun]

Thanks BCP.

There are a lot of downsides to the insane gun legislation here in The Netherlands / Europe, but one of the upsides is that a lot of Com block firearms are readily available. A brand new Tigr (without accessories like the scope) with one magazine starts at about 2000 Euro or 2700 Dollars. In this configuration, with the 620mm barrel and wooden stock set it goes for about 2500 Euro or 3400 Dollars.
I'm buying this from someone who doesn't get a lot of opportunity to shoot it, he only shot a couple of boxes of Wolf trough it. I was able to inspect it thoroughly and both internally and externally this rifle looks almost brand new.

 

[EasyGravy]

I had a tiger (import#743). I was told by Izhmash to only shoot 148grain light ball outa the svd.

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[EasyGravy]

To my knowlege only 759 of the 1000 drags made it into the country. I found mine in an old machine shop sitting in the corner in a dragsock. Tiger 743 with scope and whole works. Guy sold it to me for $1200. He didnt even know what it was. Double check but I never shot anythimg but 148 light ball and it shot well. What a loud fucking gun

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[30cal_Fun]

The only suitable bullets I have at this moment are 123 gr .310 Hornady FMJ's and 174 gr .311 Privi FMJBT's.
I'm also getting a couple of boxes of Wolf that the owner has left, they are either 148 gr or 154 gr from what I know.
I'll try out some of the Wolf and 123 gr / 174 gr handloads and see what they do.

Izhmash states on their website that bullets up to 13.5 grams or 204 grains can be used: Îôèöèàëüíûé ñàéò ãðóïïû ïðåäïðèÿòèé "ÈÆÌÀØ"
And from what I have read/seen there are Tigr owners who shoot 203 gr SP Barnaul (Silver/Brown Bear) with good accuracy.

 

[BCP]

I don't know what your availability is over there for ammunition and components but I do know that sierra makes a .311 174 grain match bullet for 54R loadings. Lapua makes a .311 200gr FMJ match bullet as well.

The russians used to make a 200gr 7.62x54R match load as well. 7.62x54R ball ammo (the surplus FMJ stuff) is almost always 148 grains.

When I had my romanian PSL in 54R I used some 308 match bullets and it shot fine but I don't know if that is just a coincidence or dumb luck as it supposedly has a .309 bore.

 

[cal50]

Get a cleaning rod with a tight fitting patch , run it down the barrel and on the return stroke put a piece of tape on the cleaning rod shaft.
Pull it out and when it makes one complete turn measure the distance from the tape to the barrel.

1:9.5 ~ 1:12.6 range

 

[30cal_Fun]

Thanks for the tip BCP, the only Sierra .311 bullets I have been able to find so far are 125 gr and 150 gr. softpoints. Those and the Privi 174 gr FMJBT are the only .311 points I have been able to find.
The 150 Sierra would probably shoot well though.

cal50: that's indeed what I am planning on doing.

 

[leadbullet]

do not shoot any bullet over 150 gr through your dragunov, it will self destruck rapidly.
cheers.

 

[MitchInOR]

Graf & Sons - PRVI PARTIZAN BULLET 303cal (.311) 150gr FMJBT 100/BAG

 

[BCP]

He's in Europe the shipping would kill him.

Can you guys purchase surplus ammunition over there? Here in the US surplus 7.62x54R ammunition. It is not super accurate, non-reloadable and is corrosive but it gets you on the range for cheap.

do not shoot any bullet over 150 gr through your dragunov, it will self destruck rapidly.
cheers.

No it won't.

Plenty of people run 180-200gr ammunition through their dragunovs. It is not the same as a romy PSL which WILL beat itself up with heavy ball ammo.

 

[30cal_Fun]

We get plenty of surplus here, all of it corrosive berdan primed, steel cased, lacquered or copper washed, steel core / silver tip. Most of it from the sixties and seventies, but the whole sale importers dictate what the gunstores here get and at what price. So it's often just one type you can buy.
A few years back it was 1967 Czech silvertip, now it's '60 or '70 Tula (copper washed cases).
There is plenty available and at reasonable prices, but we don't get to choose anything.
7.62x54R surplus runs about 20-25 Euro cents ($0.25 - $0.30) a round these days.
Out of my Mosin it doesn't do much better than 3-4 MOA.

Once in a while you luck out though: a couple of months ago I found Chinese 1974 7.62x39 steel core for 9.7 Euro cents a round (crate of 1440 for 140 Euro).