Dragunov

The Dragunov is a semi-automatic sniper rifle. In the single player campaign, the Dragunov is a common sniper rifle, used by both the Russian Ultranationalists and OpFor in the Middle East. It will frequently kill non-playable characters with one well-aimed shot to the torso.

Singleplayer
In single-player, the Dragunov is used by Ultranationalists, Loyalists, and OpFor. It is the most frequent sniper rifle and is used in most levels. Unlike the multiplayer counterpart, the Dragunov in single player has virtually no recoil at all, but has a fire rate cap whereas the multiplayer variant can be fired as fast as desired.

Multiplayer
In multiplayer, the Dragunov is unlocked at level 22. Like all sniper rifles, the only available attachment is the ACOG Scope. This weapon is capable of killing an enemy in one shot, if the enemy is shot in the chest or above (excluding arms). Because the Dragunov lacks any x1.1 or x1.4 multipliers, Stopping Power has no effect on this weapon unless shooting at targets using Juggernaut or through walls. It is also one of the six weapons that can have a golden color scheme (possibly based on real gold-plated rifles that once belonged to Saddam Hussein). The Dragunov is the best sniper rifle to use without Stopping Power by a considerable margin (in Core gamemodes). It is tied with the Barrett .50 Cal and R700 for damage (all without Stopping Power) and can fire as fast as the M21. This leaves room for another tier 2 perk, such as UAV Jammer or Overkill. The Dragunov is also extremely effective in Hardcore.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Nintendo DS)
The Dragunov appears in the Nintendo DS version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare as one of the two sniper rifles in game, and being the only semi-automatic one. The Dragunov looks very similar to the Dragunov in the console versions, though much brighter in color. The Dragunov is a semi-automatic sniper rifle, but it has a Firecap, like the Dragunov in Call of Duty 4 single player. When fired, the player can hear what seems like a bolt being pulled back. This, combined with a lower rate of fire, make many players consider it as a bolt-action sniper rifle, though it is still superior to the M40A3. Unfortunately, the Dragunov is only available to use once by the player in the level Exodus. In multiplayer, the Dragunov and the M40A3 are the same. This is because all sniper rifles had their magazine capacity reduced to one shot (for an unknown reason), essentially making it a single-shot weapon.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
The Dragunov returns in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, but is only found in single-player and Special Ops. It has the same firing sound and reload animation as it does in Call of Duty 4. It is seen used by the Brazilian Militia, the Russian Army, and occasionally Makarov's Ultranationalists. It can also be found in the stateside Ranger missions from dead Russian soldiers, in The Hornet's Nest, in The Only Easy Day...Was Yesterday (on the scaffolding accessed after planting the C4 on the bodies), in the level Loose Ends near the M240s in the back room on the first floor of the house, and the Special Ops missions Estate Takedown, Wetwork, Hidden, and Armor Piercing. It noticeably has the front lens cap still on it, a change from the Call of Duty 4 version. The Dragunov can also be seen in the Museum Level; it is not on the shelves, but in the hands of a Brazilian Militia soldier and in the hands of a Russian sniper.

Trivia

 * The Dragunov in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare uses a PSO-1 telescopic sight, but it uses an incorrect reticule when zoomed in. The correct reticule is actually in the game's files, but is not used. This is likely because the correct one would be more difficult for most players to use.
 * In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the Dragunov has Arctic Camouflage in The Only Easy Day...Was Yesterday, Cliffhanger and Contingency, but it can be found with Woodland Camouflage in the Veteran mode of the Spec Ops mission, Hidden.
 * The Dragunov, M1911, and W1200 are the only weapons in Modern Warfare 2 that are in singleplayer but not Multiplayer.
 * Some of the ghillie snipers in Loose Ends use Dragunovs, albeit rarely.