Stock Options for your Dragunov and PSL
Izhmash catalog showing optional stocks for Tigr rifles.
The Dragunov stock was designed to be both lightweight and rigid while also being comfortable. The butt stock is a "thumbhole" style which allows a pistol-type grip while aiming which mimics the position of the Kalashnikov grip but adds strength to the buttstock/receiver mating surface. For best accuracy, the butt stock must be firmly attached to the receiver with no wobble.
Because the hand guards are not free floating, some shooters believe pressure on them will influence the harmonics of the barrel and interfere with accuracy. To avoid this problem the rifle is supported using the non-dominant hand holding the magazine.
The lever (between the barrel and the wood) releases the retaining plate that holds the handguards in place. If the handguards are loose on the rifle it may cause accuracy to suffer.
The handguards are a very complex design made with carefully shaped laminated wood. This would be an expensive part to manufacture in small quantities.
The handguards have two vent holes on the bottom as well as six on each side. Early versions of these have three vent holes per side.
The cheek pad is wrapped in soft leather and is detachable. It must be removed for shooting with the iron sights. Newer Russian versions have a plastic base instead of the laminated wood.
Bakelite cap on grip. Remove it to get access to the bolt that holds the buttstock to the receiver. Pictured is a Chinese cap. The Russian version is darker, almost purple.
Standard US imported Tiger with commercial thumbhole butt stock and rubber recoil pad.
Hand guards are plastic and non-vented on the Tiger.
After years of producing SVDs with laminated wood stocks that would degrade from exposure to wet environments, Izhmash modernized the SVD with a few changes that included a new stock design. This stock is made from thermoplastic elastomers that resist cracking under extreme heat and cold.
The benefits of fitting your Dragunov with the modern polymer stocks are very clear. Ergonomics are improved, with the pistol grip having a right-handed cant for greater gripping comfort.
The handguards are also improved with a ribbed surface giving more positive grip when wet and when wearing gloves. These ribs are needed when seated in a transport vehicle (helicopter or land vehicle) so the user can rest the SVD on its buttplate and hold the rifle upright by the handguard.
A very nice feature is the non-removable cheek pad that is able to rotate out of the way for running a cleaning rod down the barrel or for using the iron sights.
Cheek pad rotated down. The buttplate is both larger in surface area and sits higher to absorb recoil more effectively. A drawback to the raised butt plate is the inability to bore sight the rifle. There is no way to see down the bore from the chamber with this buttstock.
The polymer stock will fit any Dragunov design with no modifications needed. These run about $110 in Russia for the set. Many Tiger owners have found installation will restore a more agressive military look to what is essentially a hunting rifle.
Aftermarket stocks
Fixed butt stock with adjustable butt plate. This feature gives greater comfort when shooting prone.
Aftermarket fully adjustable butt stock.
Custom wood butt stock and hand guards on a Tigr built in 2005.
This version has an adjustable butt plate and grip cap.
This custom decorated butt stock is on a Izhmash Tigr-9 in 9.3x64mm.
Standard Monte Carlo style butt stock measures 37mm in length, 29.5mm from grip to butt, 13mm in height.
Tiger with adapter allowing AR stock parts.
SVDS folding stock kit with bipod and short flash hider.
Aftermarket options available in Russia for SVD and Tiger rifle.
This Tigr in Russia has a folding butt stock that also has an adjustable butt plate. Rare laminated wood pistol grip is also installed.
Russian laminated pistol grip for the Tigr with folding stock.
Straight pull Tigr SVDS with laminated pistol grip and folding butt stock. This rifle is owned in the UK by Richard E.
