The Tiger carbine is the most popular rifle for hunting

The Tiger carbine is one of the examples of the so-called conversion weapons produced in the early 90s of the last century. The first samples of the "Tiger" were an SVD combat sniper rifle with a shortened barrel and a removed bayonet mount. But during the production process, the Tiger hunting carbine was increasingly “fenced” and as a result acquired modern forms.

In recent periods of production, the carbine was produced in several versions, differing in barrel length, finish, material of the forearm and butts, as well as caliber. One thing has remained unchanged: the high reliability and unpretentiousness of this weapon, inherited from its military ancestor.

Main settings

The purpose of the beginner is hunting (long and medium distances) and training shooting.
The main feature of the model is the Lancaster oval screw drill (lancaster, otherwise it is called multi-radius). This modification allows you to greatly increase the range, accuracy and accuracy of fire, without losing the existing advantages of smooth-bore guns. Depending on the subspecies, there can be from two to eight muzzle rifling. Tactical and technical characteristics of the specimen:

• total length – 122.5 cm;
• barrel length - 62 centimeters;
• weight (including magazine and ammunition) - 3900 grams;
• magazine type – detachable;
• caliber - 9.6 millimeters;
• ammunition – 9.6x53 cartridges;
• magazine capacity – 5 rounds;
• sight - rear sight and front sight, additional installation of optics is possible.

Like a true Kalashnikov, the TG3 has markings similar to those of the combat model. The bore and chamber are made of chrome-plated steel, which ensures the highest reliability. The weapon is also equipped with a slotted flash suppressor. The forend and butt are made of plastic, which can be decorated to resemble wood or metal. Traditionally, like the standard Tiger carbine, the TG3 is manufactured at the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant.

"Tiger-308-02"

Technical characteristics are not much different from the first model:

• caliber - 7.62 millimeters;
• magazine capacity – 5 or 10 rounds;
• total length - 1200 or 1100 millimeters;
• length with folded butt - 1200 or 1100 millimeters;
• barrel length - 620 and 565 millimeters;
• carbine weight without optics – 3.9 kilograms;
• The cartridge used is 308 Win (7.62×51).

The carbine is designed for hunting medium and large animals in any climatic conditions. The structure can be made in wood or plastic. The required kit includes an oil can, accessories in a pencil case and a cleaning rod.

Tiger carbines

Self-loading Izhevsk carbine, a worthy successor to the Dragunov army sniper rifle. The designation of the hunting standard 7.62 * 54R includes the diameter of the bullet, the length of the cartridge case, and the presence of a welt at the base.

The bayonet mount and gas regulator are missing, the barrel has been shortened, the geometry has been changed, and the pitch of the rifling is a distinctive feature of a civilian weapon. Detachable box magazine holds 5 or 10 rounds.

High reliability of use in harsh climatic zones at confident shot ranges of 300–500 m, using cheap optical instruments. The metal outer parts are black, no glare. Internal ones are chrome plated. The shutter locks the channel by turning it. The area of ​​symmetrical stops is a parameter superior to rifles with a manual bolt, allowing you to reliably lock the barrel during a shot. The firing pin is equipped with a spring that prevents accidental puncture of the primer.

The barrel is made from a hardened billet using the electroerosion method. The channel is covered with a layer of chrome. Partial removal of powder gases ensures automatic reloading. The short-stroke, gas reloading engine eliminates jerking of the weapon when firing. Together with a soft, short descent, it creates the opportunity for accurate shooting for an inexperienced hunter. Flag type fuses. The shock absorber softens the impact. The open sight sets the shooting distance to 100 m, 200 m, 300 m.

The receiver production technology is unconventional. It is common practice to process soft metal and subject the resulting part to hardening, which causes deformation. The Tiger box blank is forged, hardened, and milled. The structural elements form a single whole. There are no internal metal stresses. The dimensions are accurate. The accuracy of hits of an individual specimen is determined by the passport. When fulfilling an individual order, the plant completes the product with a flame arrester and a gas regulator that corrects the trajectory of a bullet in winter and summer.

4 models are available, including modified versions.

"Tiger-1" is produced for export. Differences:

• Hunting stock.
• Pistol grip.
• The trigger mechanism is displaced.
• The rifling has been changed.
• Weight 4.1 kg.

"Tiger-1"

"Tiger-2" is a folding version. Peculiarities:

• The stock is metal.
• Cheek pad.
• Stationary slotted flame arrester.
• Impact-resistant polymer on non-metallic components (stock, handle, forend).
• The maximum marking value of the aiming bar is 1.2 km.
• Functionality for installing a variety of sights.

"Tiger-2"

"Tiger-3" is similar to version 1, differs by a short flash suppressor and the absence of slots in the barrel lining.

"Tiger-3"

"Tiger-4" - gas engine is turned off, manual reloading.

"Tiger-5" - installed plywood stock, cut-out linings, gas tube regulator. The firing range according to the plank is 1.2 km.

"Tiger-5"

"Tiger-308". It is on the list of the best semi-automatic carbines. Weight 3.9kg. Buttstocks and linings are available in various designs.

"Tiger-308"

"Tiger 30-06". Features the 30-06 Sprg cartridge. Equipped with hunting, orthopedic, tubular butts.

Tiger 30-06

"Tiger-9". The 9 mm caliber makes it possible to hunt large animals. The modifications are similar to the "Tiger" 30-06.

"Tiger-9"

Versions and modifications of the "Tiger"

The execution of the Tiger carbine within one modification represents the main variants of the weapon. The differences are in the shape of the butt, the material used to make the stock and butt, and the length of the barrel.

But all versions of one modification have the same caliber.

Modifications, unlike versions, differ in caliber and have an internal classification:

• carbine "Tiger-1", caliber 7.62x53R;
• Tiger-30 carbine chambered for .30-06 Sprigfield;
• Tiger-308 carbine, chambered for .308 Winchester;
• carbine "Tiger-9", chambered for 9.3x64 Brenneke.

The type of cartridge .308 and .30-06 is indicated in fractions of an inch, as indicated by the dot before the name of the caliber, translated into the metric system - this is a 7.62 mm cartridge.

They also define “long” with a 620 mm barrel, for example the “Tiger” carbine in Spanish. 05. And the “short” “Tiger” is used. 02, with a folding stock, and a barrel length of 530 mm.

Separately, we need to highlight the export version of the 1994 hunting rifle.

Self-loading rifled carbine "Tiger-California" with a short barrel. It was intended for export to the United States, and these weapons reached the domestic market in relatively small quantities. It was distinguished by a knife-shaped front sight block, without a muzzle ring, smooth barrel linings without ventilation slots, an aiming rib notched at 300 meters and the absence of a gas regulator.

Brief background

The history of the creation of this type of weapon dates back to 1963. However, at that time it was not the Tiger rifled carbine itself that was created, but the Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD), which in the future became the basis for the modification of the Tiger.

At that time, it was very important to replace the outdated three-line sniper rifles with a newer type of weapon. At the same time, a weapons race was launched, the goal of which was to create a fundamentally new type of weapon with difficult-to-combine characteristics

It was a man named Evgeniy Dragunov who succeeded in fulfilling all the requirements of the military and creating a new type of weapon. The result was a sniper rifle that combines such qualities as accuracy, maneuverability, and resistance to adverse weather conditions. The Tiger self-loading hunting carbine is a version of the SVD, adapted for industrial hunting.

The production of this type of weapon was entrusted to the IZHMASH plant. The Tiger self-loading carbine uses the same type of ammunition as its ancestor SVD, but with the difference that the hunting bullets are semi-jacketed.

The Tiger self-loading hunting carbine was also created quite a long time ago, in the 70s. The first prototypes of these weapons were created under the leadership of the same Yevgeny Dragunov. In 1996, a modification of weapons was created, which was called “Tiger-1” and was intended for export to other countries.

Origin story

The Tiger hunting carbine was created in the seventies, and its mass production began in the first half of the nineties. It was developed on the basis of the SVD - the Dragunov sniper rifle, which was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1963 and is used by the military of different countries to this day. The designers were faced with the task of creating a self-loading rifle chambered for a standard three-line cartridge with a magazine designed for 10 charges, which was not inferior in reliability to the AKM.

The SVD is distinguished by high shooting accuracy, maneuverability and resistance to adverse conditions. It is not a sniper rifle in the full sense of the word, but it has a long effective range of fire. The 7.62x54 mm R cartridge, for which the SVD is designed, has been used by the military and hunters for more than 100 years.

Features of operation

One of the weak points of the Tiger is the forend, which consists of polyamide linings, which is included with some modifications. There are two options for its design - smooth and ribbed with six protruding holes. When you wrap your hand around the forend, it makes a squeaking sound, and in the cold it makes your hands cold. Many hunters replace the polyamide pads with the plywood ones that come with the SVD. You can also replace them with a wooden forend made of walnut or other material.

Opinions differ regarding the orthopedic stock that many Tigers are equipped with. Some feel that it is extremely uncomfortable for a hunter, and the high comb makes it difficult to aim the rifle at a target with open sights.

According to others, it does not cause any inconvenience during hunting, and its high comb, which is located parallel to the axis of the barrel, does not interfere with aiming if the elbow of the right hand is located at the desired height. It must be raised noticeably higher than when aiming from a conventional smoothbore gun with a deflection in the stock.

The orthopedic stock causes inconvenience when shooting with an optical sight. After throwing up, the cheek does not fit tightly to its crest, but hangs in the air. An offhand shot is especially inconvenient. The SVD is equipped with a special cheek rest, but the Tiger does not have one.

You also need to keep in mind that the orthopedic butt of this carbine is designed for right-handed people, and it is inconvenient for left-handed people to use the carbine equipped with it. At the same time, you can always find modifications on sale, equipped with standard hunting stocks.

One of the advantages of the carbine is its light and smooth release, which makes accurate shooting as convenient as possible and simplifies this task for novice hunters.

Flaws

But it’s worth dwelling on the disadvantages in more detail, since not all of them are as obvious as the advantages:

1. The PSO-1 military optics, which comes with the carbine, turned out to be rather poorly adapted to shooting conditions in forest areas, as evidenced by the reviews of many professional hunters.
2. Orthopedic stocks are quite inconvenient for shooting from a standing position. However, they can be easily removed if necessary.
3. The absence of a flash suppressor in the very first models quite often leads to the pointer being literally blinded by a flash of light in twilight conditions.
4. The first models also had a plastic fore-end, which significantly lightened the weight of the carbine, but increased the likelihood of getting frostbite on the cheek in severe frost conditions. In addition, over time, the plastic dried out greatly and creaked, which gave away the location of the shooter.

However, most of these shortcomings have been corrected over time. You can only run into them if you buy an old model. Orthopedic stocks can always be removed, and optics can be replaced with better ones.

Advantages and disadvantages of modification

Serial production started at the end of 2022, so this left an imprint on the reliability of the description and the perception of the weapon: reviews are not yet enough to identify long-term shortcomings and features of the mechanism.

The main advantages of such a Tiger include:

1. Constructive perfection of the mechanism and maximum manufacturability of the firing process. Original products of the concern, unlike fakes, have almost no assembly defects.
2. Purchasing a “strong” smooth-bore gun under a license, which is almost equal in strength to more powerful prohibited models that are more difficult to acquire. By the way, the main idea of ​​​​creating TG3 as such is an attempt to impose strict domestic laws on weapons. Officially, the new Tiger can be purchased under a license for smooth-bore guns: formally, the barrel is not considered rifled, although it is made using similar technology.
3. Characterized by an impressive bullet speed (over 700 meters per second) and muzzle energy of about 4 thousand Joules.
4. High accuracy and shooting accuracy at a distance of over 400 meters.
5. Possibility of upgrading by installing a variety of optical sights.

However, even in the first stages of operation, shortcomings were identified.

Main disadvantages of TG3:

1. The cartridge used is characterized by high cost and difficulty of acquisition due to the only manufacturer (Tehkrim).
2. Compared to the classic SVD, the new hunting carbine is less reliable.
3. Not the best flatness of the ammunition flight path.
4. Relatively large mass of the gun.

For now, the main obstacle to purchasing a model is the cost. Such a Tiger smoothbore carbine costs about 90 thousand rubles, and now the price for a domestic development for hunting is objectively “biting”. The cartridge is also expensive, and the capacity of the magazine box leaves much to be desired.

“Vepr”: characteristics and tuning

This gun has many similarities with the Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK). The carbines are self-loading and can be rifled or smooth-bore. Targeted shooting can be carried out from a distance of up to 400 meters, but if you additionally buy an optical sight, this figure increases several times. Popular carbine modifications:

• "Pioneer"
• "Hunter"
• "Super"
• Vepr-308 and others.

“Vepr-308” (the same as, for example, “Saiga-308-1”) are made in the .308Win caliber, which is popular today. Compared to the 7.62x39 caliber, the .308Win cartridge has better stopping and killing power and is suitable for shooting medium and, to some extent, large animals. The caliber has good ballistics and less recoil.

The carbine is also available for cartridges of 7.62×39 mm, 5.56×45 mm NATO (.223 Remington), 7.62×54 mm R, 7.62×63 mm.

If we talk about external characteristics, the Vepr looks more like a military weapon - it has clear, straight lines.

The controls on the Saiga and Vepr are almost identical, and the same sights can be seen on the carbines.

The Vepr is equipped with an orthopedic sight; in some reviews, users believe that it is set too high, which is not very convenient. The chamber and barrel are chrome-plated, and a flash suppressor is installed on the muzzle. The mass of the carbine without cartridges is 4.3 kg.

The Vepr is a reliable, accurate weapon that can be purchased at an affordable price. Among the shortcomings is the stock is too short.

For the carbine, you can choose additional tuning: install a pistol grip and change the stock, buy a DTK, a collimator sight, a gas block.

Design

The Tiger sniper rifle is easy to clean and use. It has a fast rate of fire and excellent automation. The optics for the Tiger carbine are excellent, and what’s even more pleasing is that without removing the optics, you can also fire from an open sight.

Characteristics

Technical characteristics of the Tiger carbine:

• bullet caliber – 7.62mm;
• charge weight is 13 grams;
• projectile flight speed 730 m/sec;
• weapon sighting range 300 m;
• The magazine capacity can be of two types - for 5 or 10 rounds;
• total length of the "Tiger" - 1200 mm;
• rifle weight is 3.9 kg;
• The PSO-1 sniper is used as optics.

Several more features can be identified from the design characteristics of this type of weapon. The Tiger semi-automatic carbine has the advantage of being able to be reloaded automatically. This is facilitated by the concentration of powder exhaust gases after the shot, which enter the gas chamber through the barrel channel. Added to this is the energy that the spring creates when returning.

The presence of a trigger mechanism makes it possible to fire a single fire, as well as the ability to put it on safety. There is a safety catch on the right side of the barrel, and the left side has a unique base designed for attaching almost any type of optics to a weapon.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages include, as mentioned earlier, ease of use, reliability, resistance to adverse weather conditions, automatic recharging and versatility.

During further operation of the Tiger hunting rifle, some shortcomings were discovered:

1. The PSO-1 army optics turned out to be very poorly adapted for hunting.
2. Orthopedic stocks are inconvenient for hunting.
3. The first models of the Tiger carbine had plastic on the fore-end, which lightened the weight of the weapon, but at low temperatures there was a risk of frostbite. In addition, the plastic creaked, revealing the person’s location.
4. The lack of a flash suppressor in the first models led to blinding of a person while aiming in the twilight.

Of course, no one will argue that military-made remakes are completely unsuitable by their very concept as hunting weapons, and it is always better what was created specifically in targeted projects. However, like AKM-oid carbines such as Saiga, Vepr and others, the Tiger is for the most part a tribute to the military conscription past of every Russian hunter, the mentality of the nation, and the current lack of its own sane hunting weapons production in Russia in this class. But it is precisely the simplicity and reliability of our carbines, their ultimate design, that primarily attracts the domestic hunter. The excessive complexity of imported weapons once again brings to mind the axiom of weapons designers - the most difficult thing is to create a simple, and therefore reliable and most technologically advanced system. And since two unique technologies are used in the production of SVDs, this makes itself felt for any purpose of this weapon. The only question is: why do you need it?

The history of the creation of the Tiger hunting rifle

Evgeniy Dragunov's self-loading sniper rifle replaced the outdated three-line sniper rifle back in 1963. The need for such weapons has been recognized for a long time. And in 1958, the GRAU of the General Staff of the SA announced a competition to create a self-loading sniper rifle for the Soviet Army, formulating difficultly compatible requirements in the terms of reference. The military's requirements were strict and were as follows: the rifle must be chambered for a standard three-line cartridge, self-loading, not inferior in reliability to the AKM, have a replaceable box magazine for 10 rounds, and in terms of weight and size parameters correspond to a three-line sniper. It must be taken into account that the SVD is not a sniper rifle in the full sense; its main purpose is to increase the effective fire range of a motorized rifle squad to 600 m and provide the necessary rifle support. The accuracy characteristic of a police or sporting rifle was not initially included in the SVD, and this must be understood when planning to use the Tiger for accurate shooting at maximum distances.

Dragunov was able to successfully combine excellent shooting accuracy, maneuverability and maximum resistance to adverse combat conditions in the new rifle created under his leadership. The production of the rifle was located at IZHMASH. To this day, the SVD remains a tool that allows solving standard sniper tasks in combined arms combat.

The main part of the automatic rifle is the bolt frame, which receives the effects of powder gases through a separate gas piston and pusher. Automation parts have a low mass and low energy in extreme positions, which ensures minimal deflection of the rifle when fired and quick restoration of aiming. The reloading handle is integral with the bolt frame. Rifle return mechanism with two coil springs. The trigger mechanism allows only single fire. Flag fuse, double action. It simultaneously locks the trigger and limits rearward movement of the bolt carrier. The trigger is assembled in a separate removable housing and ensures that a shot is fired only when the bolt is completely locked. It is generally impossible to assemble the SVD incorrectly, which is an important factor. When all the cartridges in the magazine are used up, the shutter is delayed.

The TIGER hunting carbine is a hunting modification of the famous army Dragunov rifle (SVD). The "Tiger" uses the same inexpensive rifle cartridges, only they are equipped with semi-jacketed bullets and are marked "7.62x54 R". "Tiger" and "Tiger-1"

— a self-loading hunting carbine of 7.62 mm caliber chambered for the 7.62x53 (7.62x54R) hunting cartridge with a semi-jacketed bullet weighing 13 g. According to the passport, it is intended for hunting medium and large animals.

The Tiger carbine appeared in the late 70s. Prototypes of the carbine were created under the leadership of E.F. Dragunov in 1969. The basic model was the famous domestic Dragunov rifle - SVD. It is manufactured in two modifications: “Tiger” and “Tiger-1”. In 1996, an export (Americanized) version of the Tiger-1 was created.

Design of the Tiger hunting rifle

The Tiger self-loading carbine is as unpretentious as its parent (SVD), easy to operate and clean. The rate of fire and automation are not satisfactory. I was very pleased with the opportunity to fire from an open sight without removing the optics.

But during actual operation, not everything turned out to be so rosy:

• army sight PSO-1 - turned out to be not suitable for hunting needs;
• orthopedic butt – very inconvenient for a hunter;
• the first version of the “Tiger” was made with plastic linings on the fore-end, this of course makes the design of the carbine easier, but shooting in the cold threatens frostbite on your fingers, and they creak in the cold;
• the absence of a flame arrester as such makes it blind when fired at dusk.

According to the legislation of a number of countries (USA, England, France), the import of weapons that have an external resemblance to combat systems is prohibited. In the USA, for example, imported long-barreled firearms must not have two of the following features of a military weapon: a detachable magazine with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, a bayonet attachment point, ventilation holes in the barrel linings, the front sight must only be open, the digitization of the sighting bar must exceed 5 divisions. Therefore, when in 1996 the question of lifting restrictions (introduced in 1993) on the export of Russian sporting and hunting weapons to the American market was once again raised, a new export version of the Tiger was prepared.

Manufacturers of the carbine took into account the requirements of foreign legislation and numerous complaints from their own consumers, and released another modification of the Tiger, calling it Tiger-1.

The carbine was modified more thoroughly:

• universal side mounts have appeared for most hunting optical sights;
• added a muzzle brake-flash suppressor, which quite significantly reduces recoil and blinding from the flash;
• the butt was changed, a “pistol grip” was added, a comb on top for easier aiming;
• expanded the possibilities of moving the front sight when sighting.

Tiger carbines have modifications for the following cartridges (all modifications can also be produced in a non-self-loading version):

• Tiger Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for 7.62x54R;
• Tiger-308 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for .308Win (7.62x51);
• Tiger-30-06 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for .30-06Sprg (7.62x63)
• Tiger-9 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for 9.3x64 cartridge.

The characteristics of the cartridges used are given in the table. To ensure safety when shooting, only certified cartridges should be used.

Automatic reloading of the carbine occurs due to the energy of the powder gases removed from the barrel bore into the gas chamber, and the energy of the return springs. The bolt is locked onto three lugs by rotating the bolt around its axis while sliding the frame longitudinally. The hammer-type trigger mechanism ensures the production of single shots and setting the safety.

The flag-type fuse is located on the right side of the receiver. The trigger mechanism is made detachable. The bore and chamber are chrome plated. The drummer is spring loaded.

The butt and receiver linings are made of wood (walnut, beech, birch) or impact-resistant plastic. Wooden stock with rubber butt.

The open sight consists of an aiming bar and a front sight that is adjustable in two planes. The aimed shooting range with an open sight is 300m.

On the left side of the carbine receiver there is a unified base for mounting an optical sight. Targeted shooting from an open sight can be carried out without removing the optical sight.

The technology for manufacturing SVD and Tiger barrels is unique and is not used anywhere else. First, the barrel blank undergoes deep drilling under high oil pressure. After which the resulting channel is subjected to double scanning. The resulting smooth channel is further polished using an electric discharge.

After which comes the most interesting stage in the manufacture of a barrel for the Tiger: electrical erosion. The barrel blank is placed in a special solution. A tool with an exact copy of the rifling is inserted into the channel. Under the influence of an electric discharge, the smooth surface of the barrel bore acquires an exact copy of the geometry of the tool. Figuratively speaking, the “extra” metal is “washed out”, forming rifling. Of course, it is difficult to imagine how so much metal can be removed in this way, but this is the uniqueness of the technology.

An almost finished barrel, with rifling already formed, is subjected to turning of the outer surface, where it is given the desired geometry. This is followed by heat treatment of the barrel. Then the barrel bore undergoes an operation unusual for sniper barrels - chrome plating.

Only lazy people haven’t written about the negative role of chrome coating, but for military weapons, a chrome-plated barrel bore greatly makes life easier for a soldier. Moreover, some copies of SVD and Tigers issue “minute” groups without any problems, which is more than enough for weapons of this class. In any case, despite the accuracy standard of 80 mm at 100 m, the average results of the SVD and the Tiger at this distance are 50-60 mm. More than enough for hunting.

The rifle barrel has 4 grooves. The rifling stroke length is 240 or 320 mm. The barrel length of the SVD and the long Tiger is 620 mm. “Short” “Tigers” have a 530 mm barrel. The barrel life is stated to be 6000 shots.

Modifications of the Tiger hunting rifle

Tiger with folding stock, Tiger with hunting stock, Tiger with plastic stock, Tiger-308, Tiger-9

Tiger Self-loading hunting carbine with an orthopedic butt and wooden barrel guards

Tiger in Spanish 01 Carbine with a plastic butt of the “SVD type” with a rotating cheekpiece and plastic pads.

Tiger in Spanish 02 Carbine with a folding metal stock “SVDS type” with a rotating cheekpiece and plastic or wooden linings.

Tiger in Spanish 03 Carbine with a hunting wooden butt and wooden or plastic pads.

Tiger isp.05 The carbine, made in a design as close as possible to the appearance of the SVD rifle, is equipped with a plywood butt with a detachable cheekpiece, plywood barrel linings with ventilation holes, a gas tube with a regulator, a 1200 m sighting bar, and a front sight base with an extended flash suppressor.

Tiger-308 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for the popular .308Win cartridge (7.62x51) with an orthopedic stock and wooden barrel linings.

Tiger-308 isp. 01 Carbine with a stationary hunting stock and wooden overlays.

Tiger-308 isp. 02 Carbine with a buttstock with a rotating cheekpiece of the SVD type and plastic linings.

Tiger-308 isp. 03 Carbine with a control handle, with a folding metal stock of the SVDS type with a rotating cheekpiece and plastic pads.

Tiger-30-06 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for .30-06Sprg (7.62x63) with an orthopedic stock and wooden barrel linings.

Tiger-30-06 isp.01 Carbine with a hunting stock and wooden barrel linings.

Tiger-30-06 isp.02 Carbine with a plastic butt with a rotating cheekpiece like SVD and plastic barrel linings.

Tiger-9 Self-loading hunting carbine chambered for 9.3x64 cartridge with an orthopedic stock and wooden barrel guards.

Tiger-9 isp. 01 Carbine with a hunting wooden stock and wooden or plastic pads.

Tiger-9 isp. 02 Carbine with a stationary butt with a rotating cheekpiece of the SVD type and plastic linings.

Carbines of all modifications have different versions of the main components. Butt design options:

• Orthopedic wooden stock (with thumb cutout);
• Hunting stock. In this case, the trigger is made slightly pulled back;
• Plastic stock of the OVD type. For ease of shooting from an optical sight, there is a rotating cheekpiece;
• Right side folding tubular metal stock and pistol grip. The buttstock is equipped with a rotating cheekpiece for convenience when shooting from an optical sight. The length of the carbine with the stock folded is reduced by 260 mm.

Design options for barrel linings:

• Wooden hunting;
• Plastic;

Design options for the front sight base:

• With long cylindrical flame arrester;
• With short conical flame arrester;
• No flame arrester.

The mandatory delivery set of carabiners includes: a cleaning rod, accessories in the pencil case, and an oiler. By special order, carbines can be equipped with an optical sight with a bracket, as well as a case and a belt.

Technical characteristics of carbines

Note:* By special order, carbines can be supplied with an extended (620 mm) barrel.
Characteristics of cartridges

Reviews of the Tiger hunting rifle

Having communicated with a large number of hunters, we can say that the reviews about the Tiger carbine are positive. Loves a half-wrapped bullet (13.2 -13g). It makes no sense to use heavier bullets, since they have a steeper trajectory, which makes aiming harder, and 13.2 grams perfectly puts an elk at 250 meters. Plugs or misfires practically never happen, thanks to the SVD mechanism. The accuracy of shooting at close and medium hunting distances of the shortened versions of the Tiger is practically no different from the performance of specimens with a standard-length barrel (and sometimes even exceeds it). But maneuverability increases sharply. And the weight is somewhat less.

It is recommended not to buy plastic, as mentioned above, in the cold it is very cold on the hand and can squeak, so it is better to replace it with wood. Although there are also opponents of replacement, who justify this by the fact that the wooden stock can swell from moisture. But even with rare care of the weapon, this should not happen, and wood from the SVD can always be found on forums or from warrant officers in military units.

Very often, cartridges in a magazine can rattle when walking. In the 7.62x54 caliber, everything is decided by selecting a magazine from the SVD - the magazines in these two types of weapons are interchangeable.

When you remove the Tiger carbine from the safety catch, a click is heard, which when hunting from a tower is very audible in the forest, which can frighten the animal. Therefore, a ring of 12-gauge polyethylene cartridges is put on the fuse. Remove the safety by moving the safety lever away from the receiver.

There is also a known drawback when chambering a cartridge from a magazine - the nose of a semi-jacketed bullet can bend.

Typically, Tiger carbines are purchased in 7.62x54 caliber. Since the cartridges are quite cheap and show sufficient accuracy when hunting up to 200 meters. The 7.62x51 cartridge has a flatter trajectory. The carbine is accurate enough for hunting. But due to the large number of parts, cleaning takes longer.

The question of the best cartridge for shooting is often asked. It’s best to first take a pack of semi-jacketed Barnaul and Novosibirsk cartridges and shoot in the field - those with a better heap are worth using. But at the same time, I would like to repeat the information from the carbine’s passport: “ Remember, the flight of a bullet is over 5 kilometers!”

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I would also like to note the smooth and easy descent of the Tiger , which will help smooth out the mistakes of a beginner.

When choosing a carbine for yourself, I would recommend initially deciding on the hunts you will be shooting at. After all, a bolt gun or a combination gun is perfect for an ambush, when one shot decides everything. They are lighter and their price is lower. For driven hunting, a semi-automatic rifle is already desirable (I would like to remind you that shooting is carried out only by numbers and only at the leaving animal. Shooting into the pen and along the numbers is prohibited

). After all, it is often necessary to make two or three quick shots, which is very difficult with bolt guns.

Don't forget that you are buying a weapon for yourself. Therefore, don’t be lazy to go to the store and throw the carabiners to your shoulder. The more different manufacturers you try, the more correct and informed your choice will be. After all, even the Tiger carbine is considered by some hunters to be completely devoid of ergonomics and balance. In addition to the most important element of “tuning” - the selection of optics and brackets, additional standard modifications usually include: replacing the plastic stock and forend with wooden ones from SVD, using a 10-place magazine instead of the “civilian” one with 5 rounds, and installing a bipod. And, of course, it is advisable for the Tiger owner to shoot his carbine with different cartridges from different manufacturers and experimentally determine the optimal ammunition for accuracy.

Tigers chambered for .308 Win and 9x64 cartridges are available for sale. If the use of the “NATO” cartridge is understood by a rather narrow circle of shooters, but, nevertheless, allows solving a wide range of hunting tasks, then the powerful 9-mm “Tiger” is already a highly specialized weapon for large animals.

As a conclusion, I can say about the carbine that it is one of the best Russian semi-automatic hunting carbines. It is omnivorous, quite accurate and unpretentious to use. This is a good carbine. But if you are engaged in road hunting, and an extra kilogram of weight is critical for you, then you should look towards foreign cars.

Previously on this topic:

• To the 40th anniversary of IZH-27: Hunting rifle IZH-27 - MR-27 - The most popular Russian sideflint of Izhevsk gunsmiths
• To the 50th anniversary of the T-34: The TOZ-34 double-barreled over/under is the most popular smooth-bore hunting rifle in Russia from the Tula arms factory
• Hunting carbines VEPR VPO and SOK: Rifled and smooth-bore hunting carbines AKM-oids
• Hunting carbines SAIGA Izhmash: Rifled and smoothbore hunting carbines AKM-oids
• BERETTA shotguns - 3 rings of omnipotence from Gardone Val Trompia
• Buying a gun - checking the combat: Checking and assessing the combat of a smoothbore hunting rifle
• Hunting rifles: MP-153, MC 21-12, which gun is better (VIDEO)
• BERETTA 2011-2012: A400 XPLOR – EXTREM DUCKERS (Photo, VIDEO)
• Our weapon: MP-155 - a continuation of the legendary MP-153 model of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant
• Hunting rifle MP-153: Features of operation of the semi-automatic MP-153
• BERETTA 2012 – New items for the 2012 season

Andrey Shalygin PhD, DBA, Editor-in-Chief of National Explorer

Design and performance characteristics of the Tiger carbine

The Tiger carbine consists of 8 main parts:

• barrel with receiver;
• bolt frame with bolt;
• forend;
• butt;
• trigger mechanism;
• gas engine;
• return mechanism;
• flame arrester.

An open sighting device is located on the flash suppressor. The carbine is also equipped with an optical sight.

The Tiger barrel has 4 grooves. Their stroke length can be 320 or 240 mm. Barrels for SVD and Tiger rifles are manufactured using a unique technology:

• the metal workpiece is drilled under high oil pressure;
• the channel is double scanned and then polished with an electric discharge;
• rifling in the channel is obtained by electroerosion: the workpiece is placed in a special solution, a tool is inserted into it, on which copies of the rifling are located, and under the influence of an electric discharge the barrel acquires the required configuration;
• after this, the barrel blank undergoes turning, as a result, the outer surface receives the desired geometry;
• the barrel undergoes heat treatment;
• then it is plated with chrome.

The declared life of the carbine barrel is 6000 shots.

The barrel bore is locked with three lugs after turning the bolt around its axis. The design is designed in such a way that if it is not fully locked, a shot is impossible. Unlocking the channel begins after the bullet leaves the barrel. This reliable and safe automation system, which works flawlessly, was borrowed from SVD. When the cartridges run out, the bolt carrier and bolt are locked in the rear position, signaling that the magazine needs to be reloaded.

During firing, this rifled carbine is automatically reloaded using the energy of the powder gases, which are diverted from the barrel into the gas chamber, as well as the energy of the return springs. To fire the next shot, you need to release the trigger and press it again.

The Tiger carbine is equipped with a flag-type safety, which has two possible positions - “fire” and “safety”. When it is moved to the second position, the trigger is blocked, and retracting the bolt frame back becomes impossible.

The PSO-1 military sight, which is used by snipers, is not suitable for hunting. It weighs 580 g, has large dimensions and is too complex. The sighting reticle is designed for distances up to 1300 m and is equipped with a scale designed for targets the size of an average human height - 1.7 m high.

But the carbine has a side bracket for attaching hunting scopes with variable magnification. In many cases, when the game has to be shot short and offhand, optics turn out to be superfluous and only hinder the shooter.

The main differences between the Tiger and the SVD:

• shortened barrel - 530 mm versus 620;
• modified shape of the butt, which was also reduced;
• the sighting bar is graduated at 300 m instead of 1200;
• modified form of flame arrester;
• open, non-vertically adjustable front sight;

The design of the "Tiger" has changed over the years, so there are different modifications of the carbine - in some of them the front sight is adjustable in height, in some there is a flash suppressor, the barrel length can be 590 or 620 mm instead of 530 mm. There are carbines on sale with both a standard hunting butt and an orthopedic one, which has a hole for the hand.

The weight of the modification with a barrel length of 530 mm is 3.8 kg without an optical sight, the total length is 1090 mm. The Tiger can be equipped with a magazine for 5 or 10 rounds.

Performance characteristics

The technical parameters of small arms depend on the length of the barrel and the type of cartridge.

The Tiger carbine is produced, depending on the type of cartridge used, with a barrel length of 530 mm (7.62x53R cartridge) and 565 mm (.30-06Sprg, .308Win and 9.3x64 cartridges).

In addition, rifles with a barrel length of 620 mm were produced upon request.

The direction and profile of the rifling in the barrel depends on the type of cartridge used.

The hunting barrel is distinguished by a control groove in the chamber, a flash suppressor-compensator and a front sight block of a different design.

The main parameters (performance characteristics) by caliber are summarized in the table:

It should be noted that the minimum and maximum values ​​for the total length and weight of the weapon are given; depending on the design, type of stock, presence/absence of a flash suppressor, this value may vary.

About sights and shooting distances

The target range of the SVD is 1200 m, despite this, effective shooting from it is carried out at a range of 500-600 m. Hunting cartridges are used at a range of 250-350 meters.

The sight notch on early releases of the Tiger and on modern models imitating SVD (Tiger-1 carbines, version 05) also has a notch up to 1200 meters, but do not forget that shooting at such a distance with an open sight is unproductive.

The rest of the carbine samples have a standard notch at a range of up to 300 meters.

Optical sights. To mount an optical sight, the Tiger is equipped with a dovetail rail, standard for Soviet and Russian weapons. Night sights with this type of mount can also be installed on this rail. But since this limits the possibilities of operation, various types of brackets have been developed with a dovetail mount and a transition to a Weaver or Picatinny rail. This will allow you to universalize the body kit.

When installing such an adapter bracket, you can install almost any scope on a rifle. The standard optical sights for the Tiger carbine are still PSO-1 and PO4x32.

Unfortunately, installing a body kit on the receiver cover is limited by its design; it is removable; in addition, installing a rail on the receiver will cover the open sight.

Additional body kit

In addition to various optical and night sights, the rifle can be equipped with more effective flash suppressors, including those that externally imitate a silencer. But in this case, do not forget that the manufacture and use of a silencer on a Tiger carbine is illegal.

The original receiver linings can be replaced with others equipped with Picatinny rails or a Keymod interface. In this case, it is possible to install additional equipment on the carbine. This could be a flashlight, bipod or laser laser.

Also, the stock is often tuned, since the original one is either not particularly convenient due to the lack of adjustments for the owner’s height, or has some kind of factory defect.

For example, the original rubber pad on the butt plate freezes in the cold and becomes brittle. And using a Tiger-9 hunting carbine without a shock-absorbing insert is not a good idea; in this case, it is worth purchasing a “galosh” pad made of frost-resistant rubber.

Using a sniper rifle, and the “Tiger”, despite the weakened cartridge and shortened barrel, is precisely a weapon with an accurate shot, effective when used for shooting from a rest. Therefore, you need to install a bipod for the Tiger carbine. This body kit for the Tiger carbine is useful both for target shooting and for hunting from an ambush or from ambush.

Weapon tuning

Tuning of the “Tiger” is possible only in three directions – the barrel, the fore-end and the butt. It should be noted that stores now offer a wide selection of body kits for the SVD rifle, which is also suitable for the Tiger. More effective flame arresters are installed on the barrel, but sometimes they go the other way: they install a flame arrester from the SVD or an imitation silencer for the Tiger carbine.

The original handguard covers are replaced with a keymod interface. A bipod is installed on the forend itself. The stock of the Tiger carbine is replaced to simulate the SVD, or a hunting stock is installed.

Operating principle

The carbine operates on the principle of removing part of the powder gases from the barrel:

• Above the barrel there is a gas cylinder, inside of which there is a gas piston.
• Powder gases from the barrel enter the gas cylinder through the hole and push the gas piston, which acts through the rod on the bolt frame.
• The bolt moves back, the bolt cylinder rotates and its stops disengage with the barrel breech. The spent cartridge case is ejected and the firing pin is cocked.
• The bolt, under the action of the return mechanism spring, moves forward, the cartridge is fed into the chamber, the bolt cylinder rotates and locks the bolt.

To charge the rifle, follow these steps:

• Press the magazine release and remove the magazine.
• Place the cartridges in the magazine in two rows, in a checkerboard pattern.
• Insert the magazine into the hopper.
• Remove the safety catch from the rifle, pull the bolt back vigorously and release.
• Put the safety on the carabiner.

Trunk

The manufacturing technology for this component of this weapon is unique and is not used anywhere else in the world. First, the workpiece undergoes deep drilling under high oil pressure. After this, the resulting channel is subjected to double scanning. The resulting smooth barrel is further polished using an electric discharge. Then comes the most interesting stage: the workpiece is placed in a specially prepared solution. The instrument is slowly inserted inside it. It has an exact copy of the rifling. Under the influence of the discharge, the smooth surface of the inner part of the barrel receives an exact copy of the shape of the tool.

Making a barrel

Tiger barrels are made using the same unique technology as SVD barrels.

Internal processing:

1. The metal workpiece is drilled under high pressure oil;
2. The resulting channel is smoothed with a double sweep and then polished with a high-voltage electric discharge;
3. The highlight of the process is electrical erosion. In a special conductive solution, a tool is inserted into the barrel bore, copying the shape of the rifling. An electric discharge - and the excess metal is “washed out”, forming the desired rifling.

External treatment:

1. Turning;
2. Heat treatment;
3. Chrome plating (anti-corrosion).

Modifications

The Tiger SVD has a strong resemblance to military weapons, and therefore, according to the laws of some countries such as the USA or England, they are prohibited from importing from other countries. It is for this reason that, during the last discussion about exporting the Tiger abroad, a modification of this weapon was developed.

The Tiger 01 carbine is a model intended for sale. It has a modified handle, which has become more like a pistol grip. In addition, almost universal mounts for any hunting optics were added, and such a detail as a muzzle flash suppressor-brake was added, which reduces recoil. As a result of all these modifications, it became possible to sell the Tiger-1 abroad.

The Legion campaign is also involved in weapon modification. Tiger "Legion" is an improved version of the SVD, which comes directly from the plant in Izhevsk for modification.

Tuning the Tiger carbine is as follows:

1. Improving the technical parameters of weapons;
2. Improving the appearance of weapons.

The weapon receives an original coloring of all possible areas, which makes it unique. Due to the use of not only carvings, but also various expensive metals, some “Tigers” are not only weapons, but also very expensive souvenirs.

Application

The Tiger is suitable for open areas: fields, meadows, woodlands, mountain hunting, but is inconvenient in the forest. It is used from a tower on ungulates, a male roe deer with an approach, a bear, distances exceeding 100 m. The butt retains sniper traditions, prefers a constant position, careful, leisurely aiming. Short distances and quick shooting are not suitable.

The Tiger's native caliber is 7.62*54R, a powerful one. A license for large animals is a difficult and expensive matter.

The universal caliber “Vepr” 7.62*51 (308win) gives a chance to hunt birds, hares, roe deer, and moose. A bird license guarantees the right to hunt legally.

An important factor when choosing a weapon is the ability to continuously purchase the necessary ammunition. Constantly changing cartridges requires new zeroing.

Applicability plays a decisive role when choosing a weapon. The hunter sees the target, raises the gun to his shoulder, and points it at the aiming point. The shooter and the rifle merge together without additional adjustments - a good choice. The disadvantage of application is the lack of accurate shooting. Military stocks are suitable for shooting with optics. The hunting stock is suitable for open sights. The prospect of installing optics makes one inclined to choose the Tiger.

The hours-long pursuit of an animal on foot, as practiced by true hunters, is a tedious task. The weight of a semi-automatic weapon is 3.8-5 kg, ammunition and equipment bring fatigue. Hunting on foot requires light weapons.

The starting rifled weapon for a novice hunter is Pioneer 223, VPO-148. Gain experience, set your teeth on edge, determine priorities, get prey. Old, seasoned shooters know the rules for choosing weapons according to their own, established opinion. For those who like to challenge the topic of weapons, relax their souls, and shoot at banks, shooting ranges and firing ranges will do.

Both products are of the same class and have advantages and disadvantages. The decision is made independently.

"Tiger-308-03"

The technical specifications are as follows:

• caliber - 7.62 millimeters;
• magazine capacity – 10 rounds;
• total length - 1140 millimeters;
• length with folded butt – 880 millimeters;
• barrel length - 620 and 565 millimeters;
• carbine weight without optics – 3.9 kilograms;
• The cartridge used is 308 Win (7.62×51).

Also a distinctive feature of this carbine, compared to the previous model, is the built-in conical flash suppressor. The buttstock is made in orthopedic wooden style. For ease of shooting using optics, there is a rotating cheekpiece.

Design features

The performance characteristics of the long Tiger carbine allow it to operate uninterruptedly even in the most difficult conditions. The initial speed of a rifle bullet is 830 m/sec, its mass is 4.3 kilograms. The total length of the base model is 122.5 centimeters, and the rate of fire is thirty shots per minute. At the same time, the short Tiger carbine is much smaller: its size is 530 millimeters. The barrel of this rifle has four grooves, the stroke length of which is 240 or 320 millimeters.

Automatic reloading under the influence of the energy of powder gases that pass from the channel into the gas chamber, as well as due to the “work” of the return springs. Firing single shots, as well as putting the safety on, is ensured by a hammer-type firing mechanism. On the right side of the receiver there is a safety catch. A niche for mounting optics is located on the left. "Tiger" is a carbine, the price of which depends on the modification. It has the ability to fire shots from an open sight.

Features of hunting with a "Tiger"

Hunting with the Tiger carbine “forgives” some mistakes in aiming, for example, thanks to a very soft trigger. One of the inconveniences when hunting is that when aiming “offhand” through an optical sight, the hunter’s cheek hangs in the air. However, when aiming openly, this inconvenience disappears, and aiming is very convenient.

The bullets of this carbine have excellent stopping power. Thanks to this, the Tiger carbine is intended specifically for hunting large or medium-sized animals. With a successful hit, even a large animal, such as a moose, will not go far. And animals such as roe deer, with a good shot, will fall immediately on the spot.

Zeroing the Tiger carbine should begin with selecting suitable cartridges. Most often, they differ in their destructive power, and therefore, for maximum effect, it is best to try several types of ammunition to determine which ones are suitable.

After selecting the type of ammunition, a target is installed, which can be presented in the form of a paper square with sides of 75 cm. If zeroing is carried out with an open type of sight, then the diameter of the target on the sheet should be 20 cm. When zeroing an optical sight, the diameter of the target on the sheet is reduced to 10 cm.

Cleaning the carbine is also a fairly important procedure, which can be carried out in the most traditional and simple way, using a cleaning rod. To successfully clean a weapon with a cleaning rod, you must purchase only a solid, plastic-coated, rigid cleaning rod. The use of folding cleaning rods only complicates the cleaning process because the device bends, and the lack of plastic can lead to internal damage to the receiver.