The "Medved" (" ''Медведь''") is a Soviet semi-automatic hunting rifle for

big-game hunting Big-game hunting is the hunting of large game animals for meat, commercially valuable by-products (such as horns/antlers, furs, tusks, bones, body fat/oil, or special organs and contents), trophy/taxidermy, or simply just for recreation ("s ...

."''Необходимо отметить, что в карабинах "Медведь-3" и "Медведь-4" патроны иностранного производства 7,62×51 или Винчестер .308 применять нельзя''"
"Медведь" // журнал "Охота и охотничье хозяйство", № 10, 1987

History

The "Medved" was designed in early 1960s. In 1965, rifle was awarded the golden medal of the

Leipzig Trade Fair The Leipzig Trade Fair (german: Leipziger Messe) is a major trade fair, which traces its roots back for nearly a millennium. After the Second World War, Leipzig fell within the territory of East Germany, whereupon the Leipzig Trade Fair became o ...

and since 1965 began its serial production.Отечественные ружья // «Охота и охотничье хозяйство», № 4, 1965. стр.39 In April 1965, the price of one standard "Medved" rifle was between 130 and 150

roubles The ruble (American English) or rouble (Commonwealth English) (; rus, рубль, p=rublʲ) is the currency unit of Belarus and Russia. Historically, it was the currency of the Russian Empire and of the Soviet Union. , currencies named ''rub ...

. Since 1975 began the production of "Medved-3" variant. Since 1982 began the production of "Medved-4" variant.

Design

All variants of "Medved" rifles have iron sights and they were equipped with scope base for optical sight. * PO-4×34 (ПО-4×34) and TO-6P (ТО-6П) scopes were standard optical sights,М. М. Блюм, И. Б. Шишкин. Твоё ружьё. М., "Физкультура и спорт", 1989. стр.87-88 although custom aftermarket variants are known. * in 1969 one "Medved" rifle was equipped with

night-vision device A night-vision device (NVD), also known as a night optical/observation device (NOD), night-vision goggle (NVG), is an optoelectronic device that allows visualization of images in low levels of light, improving the user's night vision. The devi ...

. All Soviet rifles had a wooden stock and fore-end, although custom aftermarket variants are known. The bolt has three lugs. The

ramrod A ramrod (or scouring stick) is a metal or wooden device used with muzzleloading firearms to push the projectile up against the propellant (mainly blackpowder). The ramrod was used with weapons such as muskets and cannons and was usually held i ...

is fixed under the barrel.

Variants

* "Medved" (''СОК-9 «Медведь»'') - first model,

9×53mmR The 9×53mmR rifle cartridge was designed for hunting in the USSR. It is a 7.62×54mmR necked up to accommodate a larger bullet. History It was offered for export to other countries Since 1971 two bullet types are available: * Type A - SP for ...

, with fixed magazine (3 rounds) The rifle received

State quality mark of the USSR The State quality mark of the USSR (russian: Государственный знак качества СССР, translit. ) was the official Soviet mark for the certification of quality established in 1967. Symbol The sign was a pentagonal s ...

* "Medved-2" (''«Медведь-2»'') - second model,

with detachable box magazine (3 rounds) * "Medved-3" (''СОК-308 «Медведь-3»'') - third model, 7.62×51mm A with detachable single column box magazine (4 rounds) * "Medved-4" (''«Медведь-4»'') - last model, 7.62×51mm A with detachable staggered column box magazine (4 rounds)

Ammunition

Soviet 7.62×51mm A cartridges are not interchangeable with foreign 7.62×51mm NATO military cartridges and

.308 Winchester The .308 Winchester is a smokeless powder rimless bottlenecked rifle cartridge widely used for hunting, target shooting, police, military, and personal protection applications globally. It is similar but not identical to the 7.62×51mm NATO ...

commercial cartridges.

Museum exhibits

* one "Medved-3" rifle is in collection of M. T. Kalashnikov Museum in

Izhevsk Izhevsk (russian: Иже́вск, p=ɪˈʐɛfsk; udm, Ижкар, ''Ižkar'', or , ''Iž'') is the capital city of Udmurtia, Russia. It is situated along the Izh River, west of the Ural Mountains in Eastern Europe. It is the 21st-largest city i ...

"''MK_OF-1540 Карабин охотничий самозарядный "Медведь-3"''"Электронный каталог
/ M. T. Kalashnikov Museum official website

References

{{Reflist

Sources

* Самозарядный охотничий карабин "Медведь" // Спортивно-охотничье оружие и патроны. Бухарест, "Внешторгиздат", 1965. * М. М. Блюм, И. Б. Шишкин. Охотничье ружьё. М., «Лесная промышленность», 1983. стр.95 * М. М. Блюм, И. Б. Шишкин. Твоё ружьё. М., "Физкультура и спорт", 1989. стр.87-88 * Карабин самозарядный "Медведь-4" // Охотничье и спортивное оружие. М., Внешторгиздат. 1989. * Кирилл Тесемников. Охотничий самозарядный карабин «Медведь» // журнал «Мастер-ружьё», № 71, февраль 2003. стр.20-21 Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1965 Semi-automatic rifles of the Soviet Union 9×53mmR firearms 7.62 mm rifles Hunting rifles Izhevsk machine-building plant products