In this video, I give Larry Vickers a quick rundown of an SVCh DMR in 7.62×54. If you have any problems with the video, here is the direct link: https://kalashnikov.media/en/media/videolibrary/4522395

At the moment, SVCh is still a prototype and undergoing testing at both the factory and selected military units. There is a long way ahead before this rifle will be in production, and today I wanted to talk about its history, which confused a lot of people over the years.

SVCh is loosely based on the scaled-up MA Dragunov design. You can read about Dragunov MA and its legacy in one of my previous posts. At the moment, there are three nearly identical versions of SVCh, chambered for 308 Win, 7.62x54R and 338 Lapua Magnum.

Picture provided by Kalashnikov media: https://kalashnikov.media/en/

From 1963, Dragunov SVD was the only DMR available for Russian forces and with the introduction of SCAR-H, HK 417, SR25 and other AR-10 derivatives the need for a new DMR was evident.

A few years ago, two different design engineers stepped up to the task, first being Chukavin, experienced designer from Izhevsk, who in the past worked extensively on various precision weapon projects. Second was Demyan Belyakov, self-taught weapons designer and businessman from Moscow. Over the years he owned several companies in different countries that designed and produced PCP rifles, competition pistols and suppressors.

The first leak regarding Chukavin’s prototype occurred in in late April 2016. Following a visit of a high-profile Defence industry executive, several websites published a picture of a new rifle.

Initially, no information regarding new rifle was available. But next month, the Russian edition of “Popular mechanics” came up with an article “What will replace SVD: semi-automatic carbine SK-16”.

The article featured a prototype of SK-16, new DMR with an unusual gas trap system and other unconventional design features. With the lack of official information, the photo “leak” was associated with SK-16. The first to publish this information was, as usual, The Firearm Blog.

What no one knew was the fact that rifle on the leaked photo and rifle from “Popular mechanics” were two completely different weapons. On the leaked photo, you see an early prototype of SVCh, designed by Chukavin. The carbine featured in the article was designed by Demyan Belyakov, who soon decided to leave the company to pursue other opportunities.

No official information was availible until Army 2016 exhibition, where new SVK DMR was officially presented for the first time. You can read some of the initial press releases here and here.

Author of the article, caught in a moment of an existential crisis with the SVK DMR in his hands at the “Army 2016” expo

In 2016, this weapon was called SVK (Sniper Rifle, Kalashnikov concern). Next year, the weapon was rightfully renamed as SVCh (Sniper Rifle designed by Chukavin) after the designer.

Typically, in this situation, the biggest danger to any new weapon design is the unnecessary urgency to bring a new product to the market. It takes time to trouble shoot all potential problems and inevitable teething issues typical for any new design.

SVCh in 308 Win. Pictures provided by Alexander Nizovsky: https://www.facebook.com/anizovsky

Failure to do happens more often that we think. Take for example venerable AK47 – after less than 2 years of production, the factory had to completely redesign the receiver, changing from a stamped design (Type 1) to milled (Type 2). The main counterpart of an AK, M16, also had considerable reliability issues early in its career, something that could have been avoided if design engineers had more time to address the issues before full scaled production started.

Will that happen to SVCh? Hopefully not, but I believe we will know the answer in just a couple of years.