Lobaev SVL

Lobaev SVL single shot long range sniper rifle in .408 Chey-tac.
 Lobaev SVL single shot long range sniper rifle in .408 Chey-tac.
image: Tsar-Cannon Ltd

 

 Lobaev SVL single shot long range sniper rifle in .408 Chey-tac.
 Lobaev SVL single shot long range sniper rifle in .408 Chey-tac.
image: Tsar-Cannon Ltd

 

Lobaev SVL single shot long range sniper rifle in .408 Chey-tac.
 Lobaev SVL single shot long range sniper rifle in .408 Chey-tac.
image: Tsar-Cannon Ltd

 

Lobaev SVL single shot long range sniper rifle in .408 Chey-tac.
 Lobaev SVL single shot long range sniper rifle in .408 Chey-tac.
image: Tsar-Cannon Ltd

 

Caliber(s): .408 Chey-tac most popular; others available on request
Operation: bolt action
Barrel: varies upon customer's specification
Weight: varies upon customer's specification
Length: varies upon customer's specification
Feed Mechanism: single shot or 5 rounds detachable box magazine (optional)

 

The SVL sniper rifle (СВЛ – Снайперская Винтовка Лобаева, Lobaev Sniper Rifle) is one of most unusual weapons that recently emerged in Russia. While most other sniper and match rifles in Russia are built by huge, government-owned factories, this one is a product of a small, private company named "Tsar-Cannon Ltd" (ООО Царь-Пушка). This company is led by Vladislav Lobaev, a well-known benchrest and long-range shooter, who gradually evolved into benchrest rifle gunsmith and then into full-scale manufacturer of custom precision rifles.
The SVL is more of a design rather than a specific rifle, as each and every SVL weapon is custom-built to detailed user specifications. Lobaev offers a wide variety of chamberings (both factory and wildcat), and uses percicion barels of his own manufacture.  The basic bolt action design is also original and completely made in-house, and is based on extremely accurate single shot benchrest design. The stocks, also of proprietary design, are manufactured from Kevlar-Carbon (Tsar-Cannon exclusive) or Carbon-fiber plastics, and provide full range of adjustments for a most demanding shooter. Barrels are manufactured from high quality stainless steel and can be made in a variety of lengths. The SVL has a quick barel change feature, and it takes only about 2 minutes to chamge the barrel in the field. Trigger unit is also fully adjustable to user's preferences. The top of receiver is provided with integral Picatinny rail, which is used to install optical sights depending on user's preferences. No iron sights are provided.
As manufactured, OVL rifles are capable of outstanding accuracy, with 0.3 – 0.2 MOA being norm. In fact, SVL rifles are factory guaranteed to shoot 0.3 MOA with specific ammunition "out of the box". The maximum effective range for such rifles can be up to 2 200 meters when firing properly selected .408 CT ammunition.
More than few sniper competitions were recently won with SVL rifles, and at least few of these rifles are in service with elite Russian law enforcement units, such as FSO (Federal Protection Service that provides security for Russian President and top government executives).