SVT Op Rod Question

[Ganderite]

I finally got around to testing my rifle. It shot well.

Then I took it apart to clean. It came apart much easier than I thought it would. Easier than a SKS.

But the op rod looks so wimpy. How come the beefier one on a Garand is an issue and the SVT works well with a wimpy one?

 

[Dsiwy]

Same style op rod is used on the SVD and most piston AR15s

 

[desporterizer]

The svt has all its wimpy bits working in a straight line. The garand, not so much.

 

[CanadianAR]

The svt has all its wimpy bits working in a straight line. The garand, not so much.

Agreed! As soon as you apply any sideload to the bolt it will take more force to move and more stress on the rod.
Nice and straight, it acts like a column, very strong.

 

[smellie]

Fo one thing, the Garand op rod is HOLLOW because it also contains the return spring for the action.

The Russians did have issues with the slender op rod of the Tokarev, once the weather got good and cold.

A machinist friend and I once sat down and tore a Tok down to nuts and bolts and he thought that a TUBULAR operating rod for the Tok likely would have been much stronger and weighed little, if any, more.

But for tubing you need a tubing mill, so they used a straight rod and kept the gs takeoff pretty far forward in order to keep takeoff pressures relatively sane. When the Germans stole the Tok gas system for the Kar-43, they also shortened it, which meant that they took their gas off close to the chamber and, therefore, at higher pressure. But by shortening the rod in this way, they were able to escape much of the floppiness in the Russian system..... and produce a more reliable rifle..... and at less cost in materials.

Hope this is some help.
.

 

[Ganderite]

Thanks for the info. It makes sense. I wish I could test the rifle better, but my eyes are NG with open sights.