• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Should I sell my SVD for???

Jcremer24

Private
Minuteman
Feb 22, 2020
21
3
I have an SVD that is sitting at the gunsmith for work… I got one of the Hungarian SVD’s that had Izhmash proof marks on the barrel- so I decided to do a full Russian conversion on it- However, as Ive been sitting here thinking about it- the luster of the SVD has started to wear off- Im a big combloc collector but I am also a shooter. And seeing what else is out there for the darn near $8K price point of the SVD- I am considering selling and picking up say, a Barrett MRAD and a nice optic. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I keep it?

Some important factors for me are:
1. Performance/Quality/Practicality
2. “Cool factor” - Unique
3. Investment potential- least important but its nice when firearms go up in value

The SVD resoundingly checks boxes 2 and 3- which makes it hard to let go…. but definitely not box 1- especially for the price point in the US. Thoughts?
 
I have an SVD that is sitting at the gunsmith for work… I got one of the Hungarian SVD’s that had Izhmash proof marks on the barrel- so I decided to do a full Russian conversion on it- However, as Ive been sitting here thinking about it- the luster of the SVD has started to wear off- Im a big combloc collector but I am also a shooter. And seeing what else is out there for the darn near $8K price point of the SVD- I am considering selling and picking up say, a Barrett MRAD and a nice optic. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I keep it?

Some important factors for me are:
1. Performance/Quality/Practicality
2. “Cool factor” - Unique
3. Investment potential- least important but its nice when firearms go up in value

The SVD resoundingly checks boxes 2 and 3- which makes it hard to let go…. but definitely not box 1- especially for the price point in the US. Thoughts?
Hold on to it. I regret selling my Galils and FALs.

It's only going to continue appreciating.
 
I have an SVD that is sitting at the gunsmith for work… I got one of the Hungarian SVD’s that had Izhmash proof marks on the barrel- so I decided to do a full Russian conversion on it- However, as Ive been sitting here thinking about it- the luster of the SVD has started to wear off- Im a big combloc collector but I am also a shooter. And seeing what else is out there for the darn near $8K price point of the SVD- I am considering selling and picking up say, a Barrett MRAD and a nice optic. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I keep it?

Some important factors for me are:
1. Performance/Quality/Practicality
2. “Cool factor” - Unique
3. Investment potential- least important but its nice when firearms go up in value

The SVD resoundingly checks boxes 2 and 3- which makes it hard to let go…. but definitely not box 1- especially for the price point in the US. Thoughts?

I'd keep it unless you are legit hurting for money.
 
This already has appreciated, and a Russian proof marked "Hungarian" SVD will only further appreciate in value.

I wouldn't sell, personally.

I've wanted an SVD ever since I was a kid looking at the shotgun news magazines with the russian tiger 308 ads for 869 bucks or whatever it was. 1200 for the fancier one? They are 12k dollars now or some other stupid ass number.
 
I've wanted an SVD ever since I was a kid looking at the shotgun news magazines with the russian tiger 308 ads for 869 bucks or whatever it was. 1200 for the fancier one? They are 12k dollars now or some other stupid ass number.
A stupid number indeed. You can find unconverted tigers for around $6.5-$7K… Which is still a stupid number. Then you have to find all the military parts for it- and you still dint have a full length barrel
 
The only rifle I've ever sold was a PSL. Regret has followed me around ever since. If it had been an SVD I'd kick myself in the dick every single day.
I missed a $450 PSL with scope in 2008. It might as well have been $4500, as broke as I was at the time. I still kick myself for not scraping the funds together.
 
The first time I saw an SVD, it was at an Edwards AFB open house in maybe 1984 or 1987, during the Soviet-Afghan War. The SPs had a display of foreign weapons inside one of the giant hangars. The idea that one of those would ever be available to own in the US was just not in the cards in anyone’s imagination but the most hopeful/delusional.

My buddy in Finland bought the Helsinki KGB Station Cheif’s SVD when the USSR ceased to exist, and officers were selling everything they could on their way out. He got it complete with all the Basic Inventory Items, to include the hard case, winterized battery pack for the PSO-1 optic, mags, cleaning kit, bipod, sight adjustment tool, and whatever else they included. Here it is:

iu


Anyway, I would not sell an SVD if I owned one. It would go in a special wall mount display case with some type of Russian camo as the backer, along with its BII, some type of description of the rifle, maybe a photo, history, specs, etc.
 
I missed a $450 PSL with scope in 2008. It might as well have been $4500, as broke as I was at the time. I still kick myself for not scraping the funds together.
I snagged mine in 2012-13 during the scope, sling and 4 mags for $850 period. Sold it to fund my first AR, to be used for competition shooting. Now I have more AR's than I do fingers and no PSL. What a fool I was.
 
I have an SVD that is sitting at the gunsmith for work… I got one of the Hungarian SVD’s that had Izhmash proof marks on the barrel- so I decided to do a full Russian conversion on it- However, as Ive been sitting here thinking about it- the luster of the SVD has started to wear off- Im a big combloc collector but I am also a shooter. And seeing what else is out there for the darn near $8K price point of the SVD- I am considering selling and picking up say, a Barrett MRAD and a nice optic. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I keep it?

Some important factors for me are:
1. Performance/Quality/Practicality
2. “Cool factor” - Unique
3. Investment potential- least important but its nice when firearms go up in value

The SVD resoundingly checks boxes 2 and 3- which makes it hard to let go…. but definitely not box 1- especially for the price point in the US. Thoughts?
Keep it, shoot it, enjoy it.

They can be very accurate with some handloads, lapua brass and some good .312 cal bullets.

Hornady makes (or at least used to) an SST in .311/.312 for 54R/303Brit that shot wonderfully out of the Tigr a friend of mine owns. I'll see if I still have the load data we worked up for his.

Edit: looks like they discontinued the projectile, but they do still make a 150gr interlock soft point that should work, and lapua makes good 54R target projectiles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jcremer24
Keep it. I had the chance to pick up a Tiger a few years ago for a ridiculous price and I passed. Looking at them now, I regret not dropping the coin on it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jcremer24
Echoing what others have said, keep it. Also, handload for it. My HD-18 (the one on the right) was holding ~2MOA groups with the 4x PSO scope and my 174gr SMK handloads last time I had it out.

SVDs.jpeg


If you sell it, you'll regret it....
 
  • Love
Reactions: Jcremer24
Keep it and sell it when you're too old to enjoy the money it brings. ~Signed, Devil's Advocate.

Is its value increasing faster than our inflation rate? ~ Same guy
 
Pick up a Vepr in 54 and have fun shooting it. I have found the 20 inch barrels are the most accurate. You can change the furniture to look like the svd. From my days on AKfiles, the 20 inch vepr in 54 was much better for accuracy compared to svd and psl.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jcremer24
The first time I saw an SVD, it was at an Edwards AFB open house in maybe 1984 or 1987, during the Soviet-Afghan War. The SPs had a display of foreign weapons inside one of the giant hangars. The idea that one of those would ever be available to own in the US was just not in the cards in anyone’s imagination but the most hopeful/delusional.

My buddy in Finland bought the Helsinki KGB Station Cheif’s SVD when the USSR ceased to exist, and officers were selling everything they could on their way out. He got it complete with all the Basic Inventory Items, to include the hard case, winterized battery pack for the PSO-1 optic, mags, cleaning kit, bipod, sight adjustment tool, and whatever else they included. Here it is:

iu


Anyway, I would not sell an SVD if I owned one. It would go in a special wall mount display case with some type of Russian camo as the backer, along with its BII, some type of description of the rifle, maybe a photo, history, specs, etc.
FFS where’s a whistle emoji when you need it? That’s hot 🥵
 
  • Like
Reactions: camocorvette