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**The Reaper** · 10-03-2008, 09:10

"Dude"

I was involved in a comparative research study of the Dragunov vs. the M-21 in 1983. The AMU assisted me in my research. I shot the Dragunov quite a bit.

The ammo, along with the weapon/optics, and the shooter, are the critical components of accuracy testing. Each one affects the accuracy capability in an aggregate manner, and a sub-MOA shooter, with a sub-MOA load cannot reliably shoot sub-MOA with a 3 MOA weapon.

Our findings were that the Dragunov itself lacks the capability (in both design and manufacture) of being a sub-MOA rifle. It may be possible for a Dragunov specialist to take the rifle, tear it apart, and rebuild it with an aftermarket barrel, tight chamber the rifle for the specific round, reinforce the receiver, hand fit and lap the bolt, tune the trigger, weld on the scope mount, install a better piece of glass, etc., and produce a weapon that MIGHT be capable of a MOA for a brief period, much like an M-21. The weapon, as manufactured, is NOT a tack driver, regardless of the ammo.

FWIW, I have met David Fortier, and have no issues with him. OTOH, his job is to write articles that sell magazines.

BTW, I previously cited the same ammunition numbers that you did earlier in this discussion. Have you read all of the posts on this thread?

TR

10-03-2008, 09:10	#13
The Reaper Quiet Professional Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Free Pineland Posts: 24,804	"Dude" I was involved in a comparative research study of the Dragunov vs. the M-21 in 1983. The AMU assisted me in my research. I shot the Dragunov quite a bit. The ammo, along with the weapon/optics, and the shooter, are the critical components of accuracy testing. Each one affects the accuracy capability in an aggregate manner, and a sub-MOA shooter, with a sub-MOA load cannot reliably shoot sub-MOA with a 3 MOA weapon. Our findings were that the Dragunov itself lacks the capability (in both design and manufacture) of being a sub-MOA rifle. It may be possible for a Dragunov specialist to take the rifle, tear it apart, and rebuild it with an aftermarket barrel, tight chamber the rifle for the specific round, reinforce the receiver, hand fit and lap the bolt, tune the trigger, weld on the scope mount, install a better piece of glass, etc., and produce a weapon that MIGHT be capable of a MOA for a brief period, much like an M-21. The weapon, as manufactured, is NOT a tack driver, regardless of the ammo. FWIW, I have met David Fortier, and have no issues with him. OTOH, his job is to write articles that sell magazines. BTW, I previously cited the same ammunition numbers that you did earlier in this discussion. Have you read all of the posts on this thread? TR __________________ "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910 De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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