[30cal_Fun]

It is safe to shoot any bullet up to 203 grains through your SVD!

The myth that you can't shoot heavy ball through the Dragunov comes from the Romanian PSL that wasn't designed for heavy ball, and has had cracked rear trunion issues as a result. The Dragunov system is completely different from the (simply enlarged) AK system the PSL uses however and handles the recoil forces in a completely different way. The recoil forces are steered directly into the milled receiver of the Dragunov, so it can handle heavy bullets very well.

It is even stated on the Izhmash website that up to 13.2 gram (203 grain) bullets can be shot through it: http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/tigr.shtml

This post explains it very well: http://nzshooting.blogspot.nl/2013/05/shooting-heavy-bullets-through-dragunov.html

You have a gorgeous rifle Stoner 208! Don't be afraid to shoot heavy bullets and enjoy it.
In a few weeks I'll be the proud owner of a 2008 production Izmash Tigr type 05 (wooden handguards and full-length barrel), so I know how the wait feels

 

[30cal_Fun]

I would not shoot any brass cased 7.64X54R ammunition in your SVD or an NDM. The Russian SVD manual states steel cased ammunition only. I know of 2 SVD's taken apart by brass cased ammunition. The NDM in 308 will handle brass cased ammunition because of the much stronger case head.

I knew of the soft primer issue, but I have never heard of brass cases giving problems.
I am planning on reloading for the my Tigr, I have even made some test loads for load development.

Could you go into a little bit more detail about this problem?
What do you mean with "taken apart"?