In 1959, a rifle model designed by the legendary Soviet weapons designer M. T. Kalashnikov was proposed as a prototype sniper rifle. In the technical documentation, the product is listed as SVK (Kalashnikov sniper rifle). This rifle unit was developed in two versions. Rifles differed in handles: pistol and semi-pistol types. Information about the history of creation, design and performance characteristics of the SVK rifle is presented in this article.
History of Creation
According to military experts, on the eve of the Great Patriotic War, Soviet gunsmiths made several attempts to replace the magazine-type sniper rifle. In 1942, the self-loading SVT-40 was discontinued. In service, they decided to leave a rifle with magazine ammunition in 1930 of release. It was planned that in the future its place would be taken by a more advanced self-loading rifle, adapted for firing cartridge R7, 62x54 mm. Work in this direction was started only in 1958
The Main Rocket and Artillery Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Defense (GRAU) announced a competition for the design of such a rifle. Several options for sniper rifle units were presented to the commission for consideration. Dragunov E. F., Konstantinov A. S., Simonov S. G. and Kalashnikov M. T. became participants in the competition. At that time, the Kalashnikov assault rifle was already widely used by the Red Army soldiers. In addition, a light machine gun and a modernized machine gun of this designer were tested. When designing a new SVK sniper rifle, the Soviet gunsmith tried to unify it as much as possible for AKM and RPK.
Result
In 1959, two versions of the SVK rifle were presented to the attention of the expert commission. One sample was equipped with a butt having a semi-pistol neck and a special influx on the left side under the cheek of the shooter. This model has a vapor mechanism, completely covered by the handguard.
In an effort to unify the SVK as much as possible under the already used AK, the designer equipped the sniper rifle with a butt similar to the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The second sample has a pistol grip. Designing the receiver, the cover for it, the safety lever and open sights, Kalashnikov also focused on the design of the AK.
About device
According to experts, the SVK rifle and the Dragunov rifle unit with an automatic gas engine and a method of locking the barrel channel were similar to AK. However, there were differences between these weapon units.
In the SVK rifle, Kalashnikov decided not to connect the bolt frame and the stem. The latter has a short stroke and is combined with a gas piston. SVK turned out to be an enlarged version of the AK, modified to use more powerful cartridges R 7, 62x54 mm. The trigger mechanism provides for firing exclusively single shots. The place for the fuse-translator of the fire mode was the right side of the receiver.
Ammunition in the amount of 10 pieces is contained in interchangeable box magazines. Thanks to the presence of special grooves in front of the bolt frame and a short cover on the receiver, it became possible to carry equipment from the clip of the attached magazine. The optical sight is mounted on a bracket, the place for which was taken away on the left side of the receiver. SVK was produced with a split stock, consisting of a wooden butt, forearm and handguard.
About performance characteristics
The indicators are as follows:
- SVK is a type of sniper rifle.
- The first sample with empty ammunition weighed 4, 226 kg, the second - 4 kg.
- Rifle length 115.5 cm (first option) and 110 cm - sample 2.
- In both cases, the barrel length did not exceed 60 cm.
- Shooting is carried out with a cartridge of 7, 62x54 mm R.
- SVK works due to the removal of powder gases at the butterfly valve.
- Shooting from a rifle of the first sample is effective at a distance of up to 700 m, the second - 1 thousand m.
- Ammunitionshop.
- SVK with an open sight. In addition, the design of the rifle provides for the use of an additional optical.
In conclusion
The Kalashnikov SVK sniper rifle was never put into service. Despite the best weight and size indicators, in comparison with the Dragunov rifle, the model of Mikhail Timofeevich had a low accuracy of battle. The main contender for the best sniper rifle was the Izhevsk designer Dragunov E. F.
He competed strongly with the Kovrov gunsmith A. S. Konstantinov. By 1963, the SVD was repeatedly tested with subsequent refinements in the design. As a result, it was decided to adopt this particular model of a rifle sniper unit, and the SVK remained an experimental version.
