Tokarev SVT-40

Caliber: 7.62x54 mm R
Overall length: 1226 mm
Barrel length: 625 mm
Weight: 3.85 kg
Feeding: 10 rounds magazine
 
The SVT-40 was an early semi-automatic battle rifle in service with the Red Army. It is features a gas-operated design and has can load either by using the detachable magazine or by using stripper clips through the topside. It was intended to supplant the older Mosin-Nagant, which was bolt-action and contained five rounds. It retained the 7.62x54r cartridge developed for the  Mosin-Nagant. It was designed by Fedor Tokarev, who also designed the Tokarev TT-33.
 
Compared to traditional Soviet designs, which are typically simple designs built for durability, ease of production and simplicity of maintenance, the SVT-40's gas-powered operation was fairly complex and was built with light weight as an ideal. Thus, Red Army troops found it more difficult to keep in good operating condition.  
 
Although not popular in Red Army service, it was seen as quite a prize in the eyes of the Werhmacht, as their standard-issue Kar-98k's were bolt-action rifles. Operation manuals for this rifle were even printed for Axis forces. In fact, the semiautomatic  Gewehr 43 later deployed by Germany had design features that were copied from the SVT-40. As was the case with the Mosin-Nagant, many SVT-40's ended up captured by Finland in the Winter War and Continuation War to be used against their former owners.
  
In Soviet service, the SVT was quickly made obsolete by intermediate-caliber rifles such as the SKS and, later on, the AK-47. 

Interestingly, the cartridge shared by the Mosin-Nagant and the SVT-40, the venerable 7.62x54r, has been in service for over 100 years and is still issued for use in the SVD Dragunov sniper rifle. 
 
In games, the SVT-40 is often included as the Red Army's semiautomatic rifle. Typically, for game balance purposes it is made available to gamers at a higher rate than it would have been for Red Army troops.