We Fired a Soviet-Era SVD Sniper Rifle

From the creator

We explore the fascinating history of the SVD Dragunov and test it's performance at the firing range. Developed in the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the Dragunov was designed to extend the effective reach of infantry units while remaining lighter and more mobile than a traditional sniper rifle. But how did it come to be, and what makes it so distinctive? Luke Tomes and Jonathan Ferguson delve into the rifle’s development, design and battlefield history before taking it to the firing range to put it through its paces against a series of targets. You can now become a History Hit member right here on YouTube! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. Get an exclusive release every week by signing up here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZwU2G-KVl-P-O-B35chZOQ/join History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™ #sniperrifle #dragunov #coldwar 00:00 Introduction 01:33 History of SVD Dragunov 07:24 Design of Weapon 11:57 Firing Range 15:39 Testing Accuracy (Fruit Targets)

Published 2026-10-12 · Watch on YouTube ↗
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