SVT-40 to SVD Dragunov Build
- Thread starter incorrigible
- Start date
Just beautiful.
Maybe you could start making more and selling them.
I would buy one, garunteed, no matter what the price is!!!!!!!!
Agreed. Don't let the negative comments get you down. Let the haters hate. There are a million surplus SVT-40's around. 'Improving' one isn't hurting anything. I'd 'SVD-ize' mine if I had the talent, ambition and patience you have.
Good work!
Ditto... I would also like to know the answers to these questions. Looks great so far! Uhmm, every time I try to check your earlier photos, I get a page not found error, can you double check those links? And say someone else wanted to follow suit and make their own SVD clone, do you plan on putting out a step by step guide/parts list for the average DIYer? Because I for one see this as a worthy project.
Daehanminkuk
Regular
- Location
- Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, ROK
nice project. I am eager for a range report! Agree with some previous posts. The stock on the gun is amazing.
incorrigible
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- stubble jumper
Nope... modified SVD Dragunov mags (but you're right, I could use a few more of those
) But I did pick up a couple cases of the 7N1... спасибо
And I apologize to all for the late reply (momma wanted to go to the mountains for a week). I'll see if I can't put some thought into a more detailed 'how' I ended up here and fix some of the picture links.
incorrigible
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- stubble jumper
Now you gave me some ideas
One good turn deserves another, glad to be of recipocal service
I'd never even heard of the Vitronez until I'd seen the one you did. A little reading and I was hooked. This one is based on a CZ 858... but it's still in the planning and test fitting stage. They'll be a few things to figure out first but it should be a much less complicated endevour than the SVT to SVD. I need to find someone who can do some knurling on the barrel shroud for me first but after that it should come together nicely. I might also end up fabbing up a box mag from scratch if I can't source a good option and the modified SKS Tapco mag doesn't end up bugging me to much.
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firstly I am excited to see your latest build. there might be some bad news about the knurling you want. I have never knurled thin walled stuff but knurling is done with pressure, lots of pressure. it might be hard to do without crushing the tube. a knurling tool doesnt cut the metal as much as it crushes it into a different shape. so much so that when you knurl a piece it gets fatter. possibly many light passes might work though.
One good turn deserves another, glad to be of recipocal service
After seeing what you did to SVT, i am sure this is going to be another awesome project. Cant wait to see the results.
Fantastic job on the SVD project! I always loved the look and history of the originals and pretty choked that we aren't allowed to have them. You pulled off a project I never even thought was possible which is to have an SVD type rifle and being able to take it out of the house!
incorrigible
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- stubble jumper
So I've spent some time trying to figure out some of the nagging issues that were bothering me. Cosmetically I was having issues with the colour match on the rear stock. The colour I tried first (actually about fourth, but where I'd ended up) was a Spar varnish mixed heavily with Iodine. See pic
Never could get the colour right. Other attempts were Miniwax, Wine coloured liquid Rit dye, stain... none gave me the colour I wanted. I believe I found a keeper in Red Garnet Shellac. A bit interesting to learn how to mix and use but the sheen and colour is damn near flawless. The colour looks a bit spotty on this one as I'd stripped and sanded the old finish off and probably didn't get it all. My intention is to do a new rear stock anyway once I can source some unbleached Russian birch laminate. Hopefully RR will be able to help me out again. The next rear stock will be a better version in my opinion... you always learn a few tricks when you try something new for the first time that you wished you knew before you started. Lessons learned I guess...
I was able to fashion a sling out of one off of my CZ 858's a bit modified to serve amore SVD function...
A front sling attachment point was welded on to the Sight/Gas Piston mount... clearly still in need of some finishing and attention
Mechanically I had to change the angle of the magazine follower to allow it to feed higher to match the original SVT-40... a true PITA to figure that little tidbit out.
Still trying to figure out a rear sight mount that won't fk with the gas rod assembly. Still scratching my head on that one.
I'm in the process of making a base plate for the rear stock pistol grip out of one of the bakelite handguard panels from a T-33 I switched out (my apologies to the T-33 lovers out there... I know they are precious and rare as hens teeth). I'm trying to keep the CCCP insignia if I can just for giggles.
It's always too slow but things are progressing When she gets wrapped up sufficiently ít'll be off to Murdoc for some Armacoat finish on the exposed metal and maybe even that finish they've been applying to the CZ858 barrels to the barrel/piston assembly so I won't feel too guilty using corrosive ammo. Oddly enough, when you put alot of time and effort into something, you end up wanting to see it last a while
Never could get the colour right. Other attempts were Miniwax, Wine coloured liquid Rit dye, stain... none gave me the colour I wanted. I believe I found a keeper in Red Garnet Shellac. A bit interesting to learn how to mix and use but the sheen and colour is damn near flawless. The colour looks a bit spotty on this one as I'd stripped and sanded the old finish off and probably didn't get it all. My intention is to do a new rear stock anyway once I can source some unbleached Russian birch laminate. Hopefully RR will be able to help me out again. The next rear stock will be a better version in my opinion... you always learn a few tricks when you try something new for the first time that you wished you knew before you started. Lessons learned I guess...
I was able to fashion a sling out of one off of my CZ 858's a bit modified to serve amore SVD function...
A front sling attachment point was welded on to the Sight/Gas Piston mount... clearly still in need of some finishing and attention
Mechanically I had to change the angle of the magazine follower to allow it to feed higher to match the original SVT-40... a true PITA to figure that little tidbit out.
Still trying to figure out a rear sight mount that won't fk with the gas rod assembly
. Still scratching my head on that one. I'm in the process of making a base plate for the rear stock pistol grip out of one of the bakelite handguard panels from a T-33 I switched out (my apologies to the T-33 lovers out there... I know they are precious and rare as hens teeth). I'm trying to keep the CCCP insignia if I can just for giggles.
It's always too slow but things are progressing
When she gets wrapped up sufficiently ít'll be off to Murdoc for some Armacoat finish on the exposed metal and maybe even that finish they've been applying to the CZ858 barrels to the barrel/piston assembly so I won't feel too guilty using corrosive ammo. Oddly enough, when you put alot of time and effort into something, you end up wanting to see it last a while
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