wjkuleck said:
Please, please don't refer to the Romanian PSL as a "Dragunov." It's not even close; it's an RPK-style receiver, basically an AK lengthened for the 7.62x54R Russian battle rifle cartridge.
The Dragunov is a completely different design.
The scope on the PSL is the Romanian version of the Soviet PSO. A number of different East Bloc and former East Block scopes have been offered for the side mount found on the PSL (and some Romanian AKs, as well).
If you do acquire a PSL, shoot only the 173-ish grain ball in it. The RPK receiver doesn't take well to a steady diet of the 190+ grain "heavy ball." Do a Google search on "PSL" or "FPK" for more info.
Yes, there seems to be a whole lot of confusion in this thread. Once again, I was pretty confident from the get go, that we weren't talking about an SVD. Like I said, and wjkuleck said again, the PSL is
not in any way, shape, or form, a Dragunov. Retailers used it as a marketing gimmick (and oh how it has worked).
The only SVD rifles that came into the US were either Russian or Chinese. There would be no Romanian SVDs available here (IIRC Romania didn't even make an SVD). The Tigr is pretty much just a post ban SVD, with neutered features. The SVD was only imported by KBI, and a very small amount came in. The Tigr is hard to find, but it will never be harder to find than a SVD and will never cost as much. Die hard collectors purchase Tigrs when they can get them, and pay out the nose for SVD parts to convert it back to normal.
The prices listed are way off. $1200 isn't even close to what a SVD goes for. Try $6000. A few grand is not uncommon for SVD
parts only. Again, it's not a super accurate rifle or made out of magic, you can thank the import bans for these prices.
So, again no one is ordering any Dragunovs from anywhere, because they
can't be ordered from anywhere. You will only get one from someone else, because the few that came in are it. No retailer will have "new" Dragunovs for sale.
Back to the PSL, it is Romanian and only Romanian. Only Romanians made the PSL. Over time in our civilian market, they have had many designations such as Romak III, PSL, FPK, and SSG 97. The official military designation is PSL.
In combloc military doctrine, it isn't really a sniper rifle. It's more of a designated marskmen's rifle.
Some are parts guns, and some were built entirely in Romania. These will also have neutered features (just the bayo lug ground off). I suggest getting the one marked PSL, as that is the one that should say "made in Romania". Check it over well first, Romanians aren't known for quality care for any of their rifles.
If this sounds like a rant, sorry. I'm no expert, but I am an avid enthusiast and collector of the AK platform, and of combloc/Cold War weapons. I state these prices from what I personally see and paid for things related to this.
Also Wyldeman, skip on the "Russian" AK for $699. It's not really Russian. There are no Russian AK/AKMs commercially available here. It's just another marketing gimmick. And please, don't come out and tell me about the Saiga...I know it's the next "closest" thing.
