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It seems that FEG HD-18 Dragunov clones are actually becoming available

AbitNutz

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 19, 2021
376
448
SW Ohio
It seems hell has frozen over and Draganovs can be bought (For just an arm. They leave you the leg.). Admittedly, they're clones, being the FEG HD-18 but from what I've read they're pretty good clones. This has always been one of my bucket list guns. I was hoping to see them drop to around 6K (god help me) but the lowest I've seen them is $8,000 plus, etc.
I fully expect that the moment I commit and buy one, FEG will saturate the market with them and you'll see them for sale at Walmart. Not that I'll throw 8 grand at one or $8,600 with tax...

Are there any Dragunov owners here? I'm sure someone will pop up they bought theirs when they were the same price as a decent Colt Python used to sell for.
 
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The latest B&T importer marked HD-18s were the third batch to arrive. The first 200+ were marked with Trident's info.

There are some small variations from batch to batch, but they're all "really good" clones. Read into that what you will.
 
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Well, considering what a Russian "real"m SVD Dragunov is going for I can live with "really good". To those of you that had the foresight, luck, or means to own the genuine article...I salute you!
 
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Perhaps irrelevant but...

I was watching a TFB video on the new CZ DMR rifle at IWA. It's a replacement for the current issued Dragunovs, so maybe those are going to be available once they transition.
 
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I have a friend who has a brother who is a distributor for that factory. What price do you think these would reasonably sell for in the states? I can ask what the min quantity is and then talk to an importer friend of mine.
 
I have a friend who has a brother who is a distributor for that factory. What price do you think these would reasonably sell for in the states? I can ask what the min quantity is and then talk to an importer friend of mine.
Which factory does this friend's brother work as a distributor for?

As has been noted in detail over on the AKFiles, I doubt we'll see more HD-18s as the "actual" manufacturer has domestic orders to fill due to...how do you say...a conflict of interest.
 
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Yes. Hungarian. Definitely not made in a sanctioned country then scrubbed and imported.

If you're on the Files, you know.
I do not believe we'll ever see these again.
They weren't scrubbed, per say. They just appear to have some extra electro penciling and proof marks that add some lines and dots to other proof marks. Odd how that works :)
 
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I appreciate all of the other accurate rifles out there but the SVD is iconic. I have more than a few other rifles that will easily outshoot the Dragunov. I don't want one because of its DMR qualities. I want one because it's a Dragunov.
See. that whole "muh DMR" thing, is basically "fudd lore". Soviet sniping was about 20 years ahead of the west during the cold war. Problem is strawman arguments, retards shooting machinegun ammo through precision rifles, and an absolute ignorance of Soviet sniper doctrine. But well, someday we will get there.

But if you disagree with me and my admittedly inflammatory post, explain to me how a nation, that fielded 10's of thousands of snipers during ww2, that ze germanz shit their pants over. And more or less learned "all the lessons" and paid in blood for them. Went from the kings of the killing field in WW2 to "aww aight gomer" hand that re-tarded kid over yonder this here SVD rafl, and put 'im that 'thar BTR in 1963-1989.

I'll wait.
 
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I have a friend who has a brother who is a distributor for that factory. What price do you think these would reasonably sell for in the states? I can ask what the min quantity is and then talk to an importer friend of mine.

Honestly, I've probably forgotten more about these sorts of rifles than most people actually know, or think they know. In no world are they worth 8k+. A fucking SCAR20 is like 3.5-4k? And a vastly better semi-auto sniper system. Given that PSL's and M76's and M91's are like in 3k range (which is high IMO) then an actual well made SVD (which the FEG's are), should cost maybe like 4k and even then its probably dubiously worth it.
 
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Honestly, I've probably forgotten more about these sorts of rifles than most people actually know, or think they know. In no world are they worth 8k+. A fucking SCAR20 is like 3.5-4k? And a vastly better semi-auto sniper system. Given that PSL's and M76's and M91's are like in 3k range (which is high IMO) then an actual well made SVD (which the FEG's are), should cost maybe like 4k and even then its probably dubiously worth it.
There’s an old idiom: “the market is rational but people are not.”

Are SVDs overrated in performance compared with modern semi-auto platforms? Yes. Will that stop people from going bananas over them? No.

I’ll just have to consider my trigger time behind the SVDs to be a blessing enough, as most will probably never even get that. But damn if I didn’t have an extra $8k 🤣
 
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For me, it’s the SVD stock that is so cool. Wood and cold weather mmmmmmm…

I wonder if I could shoehorn a Scar 20s NRCH into a custom SVD stock lol
Easily tbh. Even easier if you're swapping the lower for the Lingle industries one to use the LR/SR mags and get more cartridge length room in the magazines.

Much easier than having to work around a buffer tube like some of the 'faux-SVD' stocks made for ARs
 
Easily tbh. Even easier if you're swapping the lower for the Lingle industries one to use the LR/SR mags and get more cartridge length room in the magazines.

Much easier than having to work around a buffer tube like some of the 'faux-SVD' stocks made for ARs
Dude. I thought we were friends.

Why did you go and say that?

Hurts, bro.

You see I assumed I was suggesting something hard-to-do lol.

Must you prod me into the abyss? 🍃🕳️
 
Dude. I thought we were friends.

Why did you go and say that?

Hurts, bro.

You see I assumed I was suggesting something hard-to-do lol.

Must you prod me into the abyss? 🍃🕳️
I'm a filthy enabler, what can I say.

and the Lingle lower is 100% worth the cost, hunting buddy of mine has one on his, and being able to use the longer cartridge length on the scar and some of the really good AR triggers makes it feel so much nicer.



to make it worse, get some of the nice wooden rail cover panels for the scar side rails: https://blackwoodtrading.co/shop/ols/products/wood-picattiny-rail-cover-the-classic
 
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I'm a filthy enabler, what can I say.

and the Lingle lower is 100% worth the cost, hunting buddy of mine has one on his, and being able to use the longer cartridge length on the scar and some of the really good AR triggers makes it feel so much nicer.



to make it worse, get some of the nice wooden rail cover panels for the scar side rails: https://blackwoodtrading.co/shop/ols/products/wood-picattiny-rail-cover-the-classic
You just stick the knife in deeper and twist.

Next you’ll link to a SCAR drop-in full-on SVD clone stock for $10k. Aiiieeee!

Why do I wander into the semi-auto forum lol?
 
You just stick the knife in deeper and twist.

Next you’ll link to a SCAR drop-in full-on SVD clone stock for $10k. Aiiieeee!

Why do I wander into the semi-auto forum lol?
sadly no, but I'd imagine it wouldn't be too difficult a job as long as you get your hardware figured out ahead of time.

could make a project of it for yourself!
 
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There’s an old idiom: “the market is rational but people are not.”

Are SVDs overrated in performance compared with modern semi-auto platforms? Yes. Will that stop people from going bananas over them? No.

I’ll just have to consider my trigger time behind the SVDs to be a blessing enough, as most will probably never even get that. But damn if I didn’t have an extra $8k 🤣

Well. I'm embarrassed now. But my collection of semi auto combloc snipers is complete. And no it's still not worth 8k.
 
You won’t feel too bad in a few years when they double in price again. 🤣
I mean I paid 500 for my PSL, which I felt like it was worth it. I forget what the m76 was but not the near 3k they are bringing now and i felt that was too much. I recently got an m91 and i balked at the price but it's actually a solid shooter. I feel like as long the FEGs keep coming in the prices will stabilize some which is a good thing.