Dragunov sniper rifle facts for kids

The Dragunov sniper rifle is a special type of rifle designed for very accurate shooting from far away. It was first made in the Soviet Union, which is now mostly Russia. Many countries around the world, about twenty-six of them, still use this powerful rifle today.

The Dragunov uses a specific type of bullet called the 7.62x54mmR cartridge. When a bullet leaves the rifle, it travels incredibly fast. This speed is called its muzzle velocity. For the Dragunov, the bullet flies out at more than 830 meters (about 2,700 feet) every second!

This rifle can hit targets that are very far away. Its effective range means how far it can shoot accurately. With a special aiming device called a scope, the Dragunov can hit targets up to 1,300 meters (about 0.8 miles) away. Even without the scope, using its built-in iron sights, it can still hit targets up to 1,200 meters (about 0.75 miles) away. This makes it a very effective tool for soldiers who need to be precise from a distance.

Images for kids

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  A United States Marine receives instruction on the SVD.

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  Gold plated Al Kadesiah rifle found in one of Saddam Hussein's palaces, on display at the Parachute Regiment exhibition of the Imperial War Museum in Duxford. Gold-plated Al Kadesiah were a common gift for VIPs of the Ba'athist-era Iraqi regime.