Dragunov - Black Ops Multiplayer Weapon Guide
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This time we're covering the first of the sniper rifles - The Dragunov.
It's a semi-automatic rifle, and is unlocked as part of one of the default classes at level 2.
The 'Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova', or SVD, originates from the Soviet Union.
The weapon was introduced in 1963, and has since been manufactured by Izh-evsk Mechanical Works, or 'IZHMASH'.
Designed for a designated marksman role, the SVD has seen extensive use by Warsaw Pact nations, normally in a supporting role as part of a squad.
Boasting the reliability and ruggedness of the more familiar AK variants, and the accuracy demanded of a marksman's rifle, the Dragunov remains in production today.
Magazine capacity is a healthy 10 rounds, making it the highest capacity rifle in its class.
The Dragunov fires the venerable Russian service rifle cartridge, as first used in the Mosin Nagant - the 7.62 by 54 millimetre rimmed cartridge.
In-game, the Dragunov is capable of dealing one hit kills to the upper chest, neck and head. When silenced, only the head and neck will yield a one hit kill.
Rate of fire is capped to 235 rounds per minute, despite being a semi automatic weapon - this is fast enough for most circumstances but prevents rapid fire as a close range defence.
Recoil is relatively strong, pulling upward and slightly to the right with a slow recovery.
Aim speed is correspondingly sluggish, taking 400 milliseconds to scope in - and cannot be sped up through the use of Sleight of Hand Pro.
Along with the decent capacity, reload times are reasonably quick - just 3 seconds to complete, which for a sniper rifle is more than manageable.
The Dragunov comes with its very own scope by default - the PSO telescopic sight, or 'Pritsel Snaipersky Optichesky', which has a unique chevron reticle and rangefinder.
As far as optics go, it's not a bad scope for the weapon - the default zoom level is adequate for most situations.
Situational awareness is key to effectively choosing a firing location; some spots are obvious - such as windows and towers, but in practice you can fire effectively from any cover with good sightlines.
In fact, it's the less obvious positions from which you'll be able to deal the most damage - although don't expect to stay in one spot for the entire game.
Aiming ahead of time is great if you can anticipate an offensive push by the enemy, but don't allow yourself to become blinkered as danger can come from all angles - not just from the narrow view of the scope.
The superior capacity of the Dragunov means you can be quite liberal with your use of the trigger, but try not to panic when firing - waiting an additional moment to ensure your aim is good will end the fight quicker than blindly spraying and hoping for the best.
Like all the Sniper Rifles, the Dragunov is deadly if employed correctly - no other weapon class has the ability to kill in one well-placed shot at any range.
By killing in one shot you effectively deny the enemy a chance to fight back, and with good positioning and frequent relocation you won't suffer their revenge either.
This weapon is tough to use - the level of precision required and the slow aim speed is at odds with the hectic pace of most games - and good positions are hard to come by within the smaller maps.
Sniping can be a frustrating affair at times - without the support of a strong team and with inconsistent spawns, performing well is a challenge - but all the more rewarding when it pays off.
If your aim is true and your position good, your enemy won't realise they were in your sights - until it's too late.
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