Carbine "Vepr 223": model range, description, manufacturer and performance characteristics

general description

Russian Vepr 223 carbines are produced by the Molot plant, whose production facilities are located in the Vyatsko-Polyansky region. The first unit of the weapon in question was released in 1998. Soon, hunting variations took root among domestic consumers, who previously preferred small-caliber rifles. The updated Rem 223 cartridge belongs to other types of ammunition, surpassing standard charges by 2-3 times in accuracy, lethality and destruction range.

Now the Vyatsko-Polyansky plant produces the following modifications of the weapons in question:

• standard model, production of which started in 1998;
• "Pioneer" version, representing a modernized predecessor.
• “Super 223” is equipped with a different stock configuration, an orthopedic butt, and proved to be better than the original in tests;
• “Vepr-1V-223” is a standard variation with minor differences from the original in terms of the organization of the sighting device.

Characteristics of the Vepr-308 Super rifle

In the table below you can see the features of the Vepr-308 Super carbine chambered for 308 Win and 35 Rem cartridges, which is designed for firing rifle cartridges.

Design

The accuracy parameter of the Vepr 223 carbine is stable regardless of the modification of the weapon. The optimal distance at which this parameter is organic is 100 meters. At long distances, you should not expect miracles, since the basis for the carbine in question was the Kalashnikov light machine gun. And this is far from a sniper rifle.

The basic components and mechanisms of the Vepr are almost identical to the RPK. This approach should not be associated with the desire to be original. It’s just that the Molot plant has been producing RPKs for a long time. It is logical that with minimal reorganization of production, the plant reoriented itself to the production of hunting carbines.

Device

The domestic carbine “Vepr 223” was released in 1998, belongs to the “Ram” series, and is practically no different in appearance from the line numbered 308. The model is distinguished by its simplicity of design and ease of maintenance. In addition to the affordable price, the weapon in question has the following advantages:

• wooden, high-quality forend;
• machine gun type sighting device;
• there is the possibility of installing optics;
• The kit includes a belt and a case.

Instead of foreign charges, domestic analogues can be used. A suitable “clip” is selected through experimental shooting of ammunition from different cartridges that are indiscriminate in relation to cartridges. The main thing is to ensure good accuracy and aiming.

The capacity of the clips of the weapon in question can be 5 or 10 charges. It is quite possible to use a more capacious magazine, but Russian law prohibits the use of civilian weapons that can hold more than ten rounds. Some craftsmen remake analogs with the AK-74 or purchase foreign versions.

Purpose

The Vepr carbine of 223 caliber can be used for the following purposes:

• hunting for medium and small animals;
• sports and recreational target shooting;
• training technique taking into account the low recoil of weapons, this is quite justified.

You should not test the gun at long distances, since it is not a “sniper” or even a bolt-action carbine. Recently, there has also been a tendency to use weapons in shooting ranges and training grounds. The main thing is to follow safety precautions when firing.

Advantages and disadvantages

Analysis of the advantages of the carbine allows you to get a detailed picture, taking into account its shortcomings.

Pros of the carbine:

1. High reliability
2. Hunting wooden stock
3. Increased shot accuracy due to the semi-thick barrel contour.
4. Recoil that provides the most even distribution, without an indicator of the power of the shot.
5. Ergonomic shape that allows both men and women to shoot.

According to the majority of owners, no shortcomings have been identified in the carbine, although some consider the design of the weapon in a wooden stock, as well as its heavy weight, to be a disadvantage, which already prevents the use of this weapon for hunting.

Specifications

Below are the main parameters of the Vepr 223 Rem carbine:

• charges used - 223 rem;
• magazine capacity - 5 or 10 rounds;
• effective firing distance - 100-300 meters;
• weapon weight - 4200 g;
• barrel length - from 42 to 590 millimeters, depending on modification.

Due to the dimensional differences on the market, you can choose a version tailored to perform specific tasks. For example, a model with a long barrel is best suited for hunting, and a short-barreled version is best for home security.

Characteristics of the Vepr rifle

In the table you can see the features of the Vepr carbine chambered for a hunting cartridge.

Carbine "Vepr 223 Pioneer"

This modification has been produced since 1999 and is a modernized and more expensive version of the standard version. The product is lighter (3600 grams), which makes it possible for women and teenagers to use it.

Other differences:

• the stock is made of selected walnut wood;
• the stock is made according to a Monte Carlo configuration;
• lightweight receiver;
• the trigger part is placed on a separate base.

The modification in question is of high build quality and is recommended for firing at short distances. "Pioneer" is successfully sold not only in the domestic market, but also abroad, including in the USA.

New in blogs

The appearance of the Vepr-Pioneer self-loading carbine in the model range of the Vyatsko-Polyansky machine-building machine was a landmark event. Until now, when creating domestic hunting carbines based on the Kalashnikov system, designers constrained themselves within the framework of technologies and layouts that had been tested for decades on military weapons... “Vepr-Pioneer” appeared on “Molot” after the “Vepr” and “Vepr-308” carbines " and "Vepr-308 Super" and, unlike these samples, designed for 7.62x39 or 7.62x51 cartridges, it was created for the 5.56x45 cartridge (aka .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO). At the same time, work was carried out on the “Pioneer” caliber 7.62x39 mm, but the most interesting due to its novelty is still the 5.56 mm carbine.

More recently, a hunting cartridge of 5.56x45 caliber was not manufactured in Russia, but now its production has been mastered by the Barnaul Machine Tool Plant (the main manufacturer) and the Tula Cartridge Plant. Production is being prepared at the Ulyanovsk Machine-Building Plant. In the programs of factories, the 5.56x45 appeared, first of all, as an export position, but the interests of Russian arms and ammunition manufacturers in this direction completely coincide, and the marketing specialists and Molot designers were the first here, offering a self-loading hunting weapon to the foreign and domestic markets carbine "Pioneer".

We will dwell on the features of the cartridge a little later, but now we will try to figure out how the carbine itself turned out.

At the very beginning, I will not be afraid to call the “Pioneer” a beautiful hunting rifle. As they say, “there is no friend according to taste,” but not in the case of “Pioneer.” The carbine is not only beautiful, but also comfortable, flexible, and well balanced. The courage of the designers who put metal in a full walnut stock with a pistol neck was fully justified - the “Pioneer” differs from the “Vepr” and “Saiga” carbines in its truly hunting aesthetics.

The internal structure and layout of the carbine were largely determined by the cartridge. In addition to the geometry of the barrel and chamber, changes affected the dimensions of the bolt and the shape of the bolt frame, and the length of the receiver decreased. As a result, the external shape of the Pioneer, compared to the Vepr and Vepr-Super carbines, has changed very significantly, making the carbine easily recognizable.

The Pioneer trigger mechanism is mounted on a separate base and is easily separated from the receiver for cleaning and lubrication

The automatic operation of the carbine works by removing powder gases from the barrel; locking is carried out by a rotating bolt. The bolt frame is connected by a rod to the gas piston. The gas outlet tube does not separate when disassembled incompletely. The cartridges are fed from a detachable five- or ten-round box magazine. The trigger mechanism, assembled on a separate base, is separated from the receiver for ease of inspection and cleaning. The magazine latch is mounted in the front part of the trigger base.

The front sight, adjustable in two planes, is mounted in the front part of the gas outlet tube. The rear sight is located on a block, which also serves as a mate for installing an optical sight bracket. In my opinion, both the mechanical sight and the optical mount have every right to change in the future. On the one hand, the low-pulse 5.56x45 cartridge does not impose very stringent requirements on the strength of the mount, but on the other hand, the Molotovites already have successful experience in reinforcing the bracket on the Vepr-Super Sport carbine. Nothing prevents us from applying a similar approach in Pioneer. The mechanical sight has a relatively short sighting line compared to the Vepr. The rear sight is reversible, two-position. However, given the flat flight path of a cartridge bullet, two rear sight positions are quite sufficient for a hunting model. This is the first time in Russia that a hunting mechanical sight, rather than a standard sector one, which has a lot of adherents, is installed on a weapon with a rifled barrel, created on the basis of the Kalashnikov system. The sector sight is especially useful not for hunting, but for practical target shooting.

In some foreign countries, the use of flame arresters is prohibited and manufacturers solve this problem in different ways. Since the Pioneer was also created for export, the designers of the Hammer also had their say. In the muzzle of the Pioneer barrel, the internal diameter of the barrel bore was slightly increased to a depth of approximately 50 mm and oblique slots were made on this section, acting as a compensator. Thus, the carbine was equipped with a flame arrester-compensator.

Returning to the topic of ammunition, we have to once again regret the difficult fate of the 7.62x39 cartridge in our country. In this case, what is important is not even the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of this cartridge in various hunts, but the problem of using carbines for this caliber, which are already in the hands of hunters. Considering the restrictions on calibers allowed for hunting in some regions of Russia, the “Pioneer” caliber 7.62x39 will clearly lag behind its namesake chambered for 5.56x45 in sales volumes. Especially given the current state of affairs with the domestic 5.6x39 cartridge and weapons for it - very few carbines are produced, and the cartridge is simply not available in most stores in the country. If we compare the last two cartridges, then the “foreigner” bullet, with a comparable initial velocity mass, has a flatter trajectory and better retains energy in flight. Thus, the 5.56 mm cartridge may well replace the 5.6x39 caliber and even surpass it in popularity. It is also important that the sales system of the Barnaul Machine Tool Plant allows you to find cartridges from this enterprise in any corner of the country and the price of a domestic cartridge will be the same as Russian, that is, inexpensive. And cost is far from the last factor determining the popularity of weapons and ammunition. In this regard, both the Pioneer and the Barnaul cartridges will not disappoint Russian hunters.

Today, many people associate the word “pioneer” only with a car radio, and together with the “Vepr-Pioneer” hunting carbine the true meaning of this word returns to us – “FIRST”.

Mikhail Degtyarev Kalashnikov 4-2000

Carbine "Vepr 223 Super"

A hunting rifle of this model went on sale in 2000. The version was developed taking into account user feedback and is devoid of most of the shortcomings of its predecessor. However, all problems could not be avoided.

This modification is equipped with a one-piece stock and an orthopedic butt. The carbine is better suited for hunting than its predecessor. The main advantage of the weapon is the ability to fire quickly and accurately. The technical and tactical parameters of the weapon are identical to the Pioneer, but with better build quality.

Peculiarities

In the series under consideration there is an original representative of 1-B Rem. This hunting weapon is an almost complete interpretation of the Kalashnikov light machine gun. Design details include:

• folding stock;
• the presence of a working bipod for firing;
• rear sight according to the RPK configuration;
• slot type flame arrester.

This model is one of the heaviest samples (weight - 5200 grams). This type of weapon does not have the ability to fire in bursts; the gun is not intended for long-term hunting. Since there are not many special shooting ranges in the country, the model in question is not widely used. The carbine is aimed at foreign users who value it for its unique exterior and combat characteristics.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any mechanism, including combat and hunting weapons, the carbine in question has its advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages:

• reliability and endurance of a design similar to the RPK system;
• the ability to use various ammunition without special reconfiguration of the gun;
• almost identical resemblance to its military counterpart, which is appreciated by many firearms enthusiasts.

The disadvantages include the following:

• pressing and distortion of the front sight on the barrel, this problem does not always become clear due to the reason for sealing the existing samples.
• The sight rail is subject to displacement;
• the forend is often asymmetrical on both sides;
• poor butt fixation, which negatively affects accuracy and accuracy when firing live ammunition.

The main problem is that the light machine gun version is very difficult to make into a good carbine. This is especially true for aiming and accuracy. Appearance is not the problem. Users have noted that the weapon in question often jams when the trigger is pulled, making it impossible to reset the safety.

Modification of "Boar"

Soon, they decided to modify the Vepr civilian weapon, resulting in a smoothbore carbine that can fire a reinforced 410-caliber cartridge.

Knowing that the Kalashnikov assault rifle is quite popular abroad, and that various carbines for rifle cartridges are made on its basis, the designers decided to create another modification of the “Vepr” for the hunting cartridge 7.62 x 39 mm and .308 Win. The latter is a civilian modification of the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO combat cartridge. The new modification was called “Vepr-308” (the second name is SOK-95).

Problem nodes

If you come across a sample with a not very neat assembly, you can fix the problem using a simple set of tools (a set of files and sandpaper with different grits). An unstable and wobbly stock is secured by replacing the screws or tightening existing screws under the washer. The second option is to attach the element with epoxy resin. Adjusting lateral adjustments often becomes a problem when hunting in dense thickets; the bar tends to get caught on bushes and branches. As a result, you have to re-shoot the carbine. One of the solutions, judging by user responses, is gluing the screw part of the flywheel to the sighting bar.

In reviews of the Vepr 223 carbine, consumers often point to the unusual shape of the butt and the problematic layer of varnish applied to the fore-end and butt. A gun in this design slips in the hands, which requires removal of the primary coating and subsequent impregnation of it with special compounds. Some owners recommend applying notches to the fore-end and butt in advance. This approach allows you to increase reliability when holding and using a weapon, as well as securely fix it, regardless of weather conditions and other nuances. Problems with the operation of the trigger mechanism are solved by disassembling and subsequent grinding of individual parts and assemblies that come into contact with each other.

What are users saying?

Many experienced hunters are wary of 223 caliber ammunition. This is not surprising, given the fact that over the years they have become accustomed to the 5.6 millimeter size. But it’s worth comparing the obvious pros and cons of cartridges and the guns in which they are used. It is unlikely that anyone will argue that one barrel suitable for different charges is bad. Another thing is that accuracy and aiming suffer. Nevertheless, these parameters are not critical at a distance to the target within 100-150 meters.

What conclusion can you come to?

Several modifications included in the Kaban complex allow every gun lover to choose exactly what will satisfy all his needs. Before buying, you need to think about everything thoroughly: for what purposes and to solve what problems this carbine will be useful for you.

The introduction of 223 cartridges allows firing at the highest cartridge flight speed and with a flat trajectory. If you want to use it to hunt wild boar, bear or elk, then it is better to consider a weapon with other, stronger ammunition.

The highest reliability and durability of this weapon allow it to be used for training in shooting from full-fledged rifles. For this purpose, Vepr-223 REM is an ideal option. But, again, there are problems with equipped shooting ranges, so shooters have to create something of their own for full-fledged training.

Bottom line

The design of the Vepr carbines of all modifications is based on time-tested and action-tested manual analogues of the Kalashnikov machine gun. At the same time, the weapon in question cannot be called something new or unique in its characteristics. The main advantage of the Vepr is its maximum similarity with the RPK and the corresponding parameters in simplicity of design and unpretentiousness. This feature is largely due to the fact that for a long period it was engaged in the production of combat units. This determined the commonality of many elements in the hunting version (removable magazine, bolt rotation mechanism, rear sight placement, etc.).