The Russian Army will soon have a replacement for the aging Dragunov sniper rifle. Kalashnikov Concern have been developing the Chukavin SVCh-308 Sniper Rifle and it was test fired by Russian President, Vladimir Putin at the Patriot Park, the big military theme park located in the outskirts of Moscow.

According to media reports he was able to hit the target 600 metres away, three times out of five shots.

First announced during the Army-2017 International Military-Technical Forum, the SVCh-308 which uses the 7.62x54 caliber, was developed using suggestions from Russian special forces soldiers. It will be offered to the Russian Defence Ministry as a possible replacement for the Dragunov Sniper Rifle. It can also be chambered with the NATO .308 Win and .338 Lapua Magnum to tap into export markets.

The rifle has an inverted U-shaped receiver and has a top rail for the whole length of the main body of the rifle for mounting optics. For Russian military use, it is able to use the existing Dragunov magazines and is a short stroke piston gas operated action and rotary bolt locking. It is fitted with folding bipod, a manual gas regulator, and ambidextrous firing controls. It can be equipped with a bipod as well as suppressor.

Photo: Chukavin SVCh-308 Sniper Rifle (Sourc: Kalashnikov Concern)

Overall length is 1,140mm and 730mm when folded with the 410mm barrel. Magazine capacity can be 10 to 20 rounds. The barrel can also be replaced with longer barrels either 460mm or 565mm.

Depending on the round used, the SVCh-308 can have a maximum range of 1,500 metres and has an accuracy of no more than 1 MOA at a distance of 100 metres. Nowadays, the Lapua Magnum is the preferred choice of round for sniper rifles and DMRs, with records being set on the farthest shots hitting targets in a combat situation.