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OTs-03 SVU

1994 MODERN

OTs-03 SVU History

With the increasing worldwide shift to assault weapons in the "bullpup" configuration, the Russian military has adopted the Dragunov OTs-03 SVU ("Short Sniper Rifle") series of sniper rifles since 1994. For decades, the Soviet Army (and its many global customers) relied on the proven Dragunov SVD series for their long-range sniping needs, believing that its semi-automatic action was superior to traditional bolt action types. Introduced in 1963, the weapon is known for its accuracy when firing the tried and true Soviet 7.62x54mmR rifle cartridge from a detachable 10-round magazine (unlike its Western counterparts that use a bolt-action bolt-action mechanism, which Usually has 5 - magazine capacity).

Have). In this way, the Soviet SVD is closer to the modern category of "Designated Marksman Rifles" (DMRs) - although it can still effectively function as a dedicated sniper. A special system at the time, the Russian element inevitably needed modernization as it recovered from the Cold War years.

OTs-03 was put into production by the Central Bureau of Design and Research for Sporting and Hunting Weapons. It has an unladen weight of 3.6 kg (without accessories), an overall length of 34.2 inches, and a barrel assembly of 20.4 inches.

Like the SVD before it, the SVU is loaded with the 7.62x54mmR rifle cartridge, a proven man-plug and fed from a 10- or 20-round detachable magazine. The action is a pneumatic device attached to a three-lug pivot bolt system similar to the SVD. In fact, SVU can be seen as a modernized bulldog form of the famous SVD.

Muzzle velocity is listed as 2,700 feet per second.

The bullpup configuration gets its name from pushing the bolt and magazine behind the trigger assembly. As a result, the weight of the weapon is now concentrated on the shoulder, allowing for a continuous barrel while enabling a more compact overall design.

However, this arrangement generally limits the positioning of the ejection port on the right side of the weapon, favoring right-handed shooters over left-handed shooters. Also, the shorter protrusion of the barrel can cause the assisting hand to inadvertently pass in front of the barrel when firing - although this is more of a fear associated with bullpup/automatic rifles on the battlefield.

Bullpup guns cannot be equipped with a folding stock for increased portability, as their enlarged receiver contains a shoulder rest.

For the careful observer, the SVU retains some of the physical properties of the previous SVD design. The gas cylinder is marked above the barrel, while the pistol grip is at the center of the design behind the ring trigger system. A polymer housing (with horizontal ventilation slots) is mounted on the handle. The receiver/shoulder rest is visible through the usual oversized fire selector switch. A large ejection port is located behind the pistol grip on the right side of the weapon.

There is a shock pad on the shoulder to provide some comfort, and an internal spring in the stock also dampens some recoil effects. A bipod can be attached to the bottom of the weapon for frontal support, freeing up the supporting hand to maneuver the (optional) sight mounted on the polymer shell in front of the receiver.

The barrel is closed by a specially developed muzzle brake, which is said to reduce recoil by up to 40%. This can be replaced with a silencer for a more stealthy operation (though not a completely "silent" weapon in practice).

A folding rear sight (with a rear folding U-notch and a front ring post) is available as a standard mount for the PSO-1 series scopes (with tritium illumination).

The original production form of the SVU, simply called "OTs-13", contained only semi-automatic fire. The OTs-13A SVU-A subsequently adopted fully automatic action, allowing it to function more as a traditional designated marksman rifle/battle rifle if the situation required it. To date, the SVU series has been issued to employees of the Russian Ministry of the Interior and purchased by the Yemeni army.

The Russian Armed Forces tested their newly manufactured SVU system during the First Chechen War (1994-1996).