The Vepr-12 “Molot” carbine (VPO-205) is a smooth-bore self-loading carbine that is part of the Vepr carbine family. Like all carbines of the family, Vepr-12 (VPO-205) was developed and produced at the Vyatsko-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant. The design of the carbine is based on the reliable and time-tested design of the Kalashnikov light machine gun. The Vepr-12 carbine (VPO-205) is intended for self-defense, for sports shooting, as a service weapon for security and law enforcement agencies.
Story
The first carbine from the Veprey series was created in 1995 at the Vyatsko-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant. In the nineties of the last century, the Vyatsko-Polyansky plant, like the entire military-industrial industry, was going through difficult times. The plant was actually left without government military orders and, for its own survival, was forced to rebuild its production to produce civilian products. The Vepr carbine was one of the results of this production conversion.
For many years, Vepr carbines were produced in different rifled calibers, in various modifications and designs.
The leadership of Vyatsko-Polyansky, seeing the high popularity of the Saiga carbines produced by the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant (Izhmash), decided to create a smooth-bore version of the Vepr carbines. The carbine was named Vepr-12 Molot (VPO-205).
The Vepr-12 Molot carbine, like the rifled Vepris, was created on the basis of the Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK). The Vyatsko-Polyansky plant “Molot” produced Kalashnikov light machine guns for many years and had proven production technologies. Thanks to the use of parts and components from the Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK), minimal changes in production technologies were required to establish the production of the Vepr-12 (VPO-205) carbine.
The Vepr-12 Molot carbine inherited from its predecessor a high degree of reliability and reliability when operating in the most difficult operating conditions.
From the very beginning of production, the carbine was positioned by the manufacturer not only as a weapon for hunting, but also as a weapon for self-defense, a service weapon for law enforcement agencies, and also as a sports weapon for practical shooting competitions.
The Vepr-12 carbine (VPO-205) is used as a support weapon in law enforcement agencies, as it has the ability to create a high density of fire at a short distance in a short period of time.
In Russia, the Vepr-12 (VPO-205) carbine is certified for both civilian and official use.
The Vepr-12 “Hammer” carbine (VPO-205) is a direct competitor to the very popular Saiga-12 smoothbore carbine.
VPO-209 – modification of the Kalashnikov smoothbore carbine
The VPO-209 smoothbore carbine is made by Molot-Weapon based on the AKM and has identical:
- view;
- mass;
- dimensions.
The VPO-209 is adapted for effective shooting with hunting cartridges of 366 TKM caliber, developed for the VPO-208 carbine, which is based on the Simonov self-loading carbine. The 366 TKM self-loading AKM is purchased under a smoothbore license, so its buyers do not have to wait until the end of the five-year period to obtain the necessary permission to own it.
The 336 TKM cartridge is ideal for effective hunting of animals weighing over 200 kg at a distance of up to 150 meters. Produced by Tekhkrim, Izhevsk (TK) and OJSC Molot, Vyatskie Polyany. The current cartridge is a modification of the 7.62 caliber cartridge produced in 1943. It is produced complete with a “Dary” lead bullet, weighing 13.5 g, with a “Gexa” semi-jacketed bullet, weighing 15.5 g, and in 2016, production and sales of cartridges with a “Konus” semi-jacket bullet, weighing 15 g, resumed. The vpo 209 carbine is easy to use, does not have harsh recoil, and is ideal for use by beginners who want to gain the necessary experience in handling weapons. Caliber 366 tkm - modernized for shooting with smoothbore weapons. The barrel has the appropriate threading.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=NuGmk8q9BSI
Specifications
Carbines Vepr-12 Molot (VPO-205) have the following technical characteristics:
- Type:
self-loading carbine, operating on the principle of using the removal of part of the powder gases from the barrel - Calibers:
12×70, 12×76 - Barrel length:
305, 430, 483, 570, 680 mm - Magazine:
detachable plastic box magazine with single-row cartridge arrangement - Magazine capacity:
4, 8 or 10 rounds - Sighting range:
100 m - Total length:
867-1227 mm - Weight:
3.9-4.55 kg
The overall length, barrel length and weight depend on the caliber of the barrel, modification and design of the carbine.
Technical characteristics of modifications of the Vepr-12 Molot carbine (VPO-205)
| "Vepr-12 Hammer" (VPO-205-00) | "Vepr-12 Hammer" isp. 01 (VPO-205-01) | "Vepr-12 Hammer" isp. 02 (VPO-205-02) | "Vepr-12 Hammer" isp. 03 (VPO-205-03) | "Vepr-12 Hammer" isp. 04 (VPO-205-04) | Vepr-12SP (VPO-205-00-SP) | |
| Caliber | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Cartridge | 12×70, 12×76 | 12×70, 12×76 | 12×70, 12×76 | 12×70, 12×76 | 12×70, 12×76 | 12×70, 12×76 |
| Barrel length, mm | 430 | 570 | 680 | 680 | 483 | 430 |
| Capacity of standard magazine, cartridges | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 10 |
| Sighting range | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Length | 977 | 1117 | 1227 | 1227 | 1070 | 977 |
| Width | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Height | 290 | 290 | 290 | 290 | 290 | 290 |
| Weight without magazine, kg | 3,9 | 4,1 | 4,15 | 4,15 | 3,75 | 4,07 |
| Weight with magazine, kg | 4,2 | 4,4 | 4,45 | 4,45 | 4,05 | 4,37 |
Recommendations
Timely and proper care of the Vepr-12 Molot smoothbore carbine guarantees its stable operation. For example, when using lead charges, many users are faced with the problem of “lead” (microscopic particles of material are deposited on the barrel walls). In the future, this affects the quality of passage of the cartridge, the diameter of which is as close as possible to the size of the barrel bore.
In addition to regular cleaning of the tool, you should not forget about disassembling the product. This procedure is required to check the serviceability and integrity of internal parts and elements. They also need to be cleared of dirt and dust, cleaned and lubricated. Proper maintenance of the rifle ensures its efficiency and long service life.
Design
The Vepr-12 gun is based on the time-tested design of the Kalashnikov RPK light machine gun (also produced at the Molot plant), however, during its creation, the wishes of sports shooters were taken into account, and additional elements were introduced into the design of the gun, making handling more convenient - a double-sided safety, magazine shaft, bolt stop, etc.
Trunk
The Vepr-12 (VPO-205) carbine, depending on the modification, can have a barrel length of 305, 430, 483, 520, 570 and 680 mm. The carbine has a removable flash suppressor on the muzzle of the barrel. The barrel design allows the owner to install external choke constrictions. The bore and chamber of the Vepr-12 carbine are chrome-plated, which increases their corrosion resistance and thereby increases the service life of the carbine.
Gate
The design of the Vepr carbine makes maximum use of parts and components of the Kalashnikov light machine gun. Reloading of the carbine is carried out by using the energy of the powder gases, which are discharged from the barrel bore into the gas chamber at the moment of firing, and the energy of the return spring.
The barrel bore is locked by rotating the bolt around its axis by two lugs while moving the bolt frame longitudinally.
The bolt carrier rod and gas chamber are chrome plated to increase the service life of the carbine. The gas release mechanism of the carbine is self-adjusting, allowing the use of both cartridges with a case length of 70 mm and a length of 76 mm without any additional adjustments on the part of the shooter.
The Vepr 12 (VPO-205) carbine has had its weight and design performance characteristics of the bolt group and receiver changed to accommodate 12-gauge smoothbore cartridges. The carbine has an automatic bolt stop, which, when all the cartridges in the magazine are used up, locks the bolt in the open position to speed up reloading.
USM
The hammer-type trigger mechanism ensures the production of a single shot and the safety of the carbine. The safety of the Vepr 12 carbine is of a double-sided flag type, one lever is located on the left and the other on the right of the receiver. Modifications of the carbine produced for the domestic Russian market have a safety mechanism that blocks the ability to pull the trigger when the stock is folded. The Vepr 12 carbine has had its self-timer removed, allowing it to fire in bursts.
Shop
The Vepr 12 (VPO-205) carbine is equipped with a magazine receiver neck, which makes it easier to attach the magazine to the carbine, and also protects the magazine from mechanical damage when falling from a height.
The carbine is fed with cartridges from detachable plastic box magazines with single-row cartridges. The capacity of a standard magazine is 8 rounds.
Sights
Vepr-12 (VPO-205) carbines are equipped with open sights. which consist of an aiming bar (rear sight) and a front sight. The front sight is mounted in a base at the end of the gas chamber and can be adjusted in two directions. The sighting bar is mounted on the gas chamber and has an adjustment mechanism. The Vepr-12 carbine has a short sighting line, that is, the distance between the rear sight and the front sight is relatively small, which negatively affects shooting accuracy.
The cover of the receiver of the Vepr-12 (VPO-205) carbine does not separate, but folds up and forward, like the AKS-74U assault rifle. The receiver cover has a Picatinny rail that allows you to install an optical or collimator sight.
Butt
The Vepr-12 carbine is equipped with a folding metal skeleton stock. The buttstock is covered with black plastic to increase the comfort of using the carbine in hot or cold weather. The butt folds to the side. The butt has an adjustable cheekpiece, which makes aiming easier. The comfortable pistol grip, fore-end and gas tube cover are made of matte black plastic.
On the bottom of the gas chamber there is a “Weaver” type rail on which you can mount a tactical flashlight, laser designator, bipod or tactical grip.
Design features
The Vepr-12 Molot carbine is equipped with a magazine receiver that protects the clip and the window in the receiver from deformation when dropped. The design of the handle, gas lining, and forend is identical to that of the Kalashnikov light machine gun. The outer part is finished with black polymer material. The handle is made in orthopedic design.
The shutter delay allows the shooter to save a few seconds on reloading. The fact is that when firing in quick bursts, you can get carried away and miss the period when the small magazine is completely empty. The bolt stop notifies that the charges have run out, after which a quick reload is carried out and shooting continues.
The caliber of the Vepr-12 Hammer is 12, the chamber length is 76 millimeters. Standard charges, as well as high-power Magnum-type ammunition, are suitable for use.
All modifications of the weapon in question are equipped with several Picatinny rail attachments. The elements are located on the receiver cover, on the bottom edge of the forend and on the barrel. Each of the strips has its own practical application. On the box they are used for mounting optics or other additional sights. Using the above elements, the forend is equipped with an additional handle, the barrel is equipped with a tactical flashlight or laser guidance.
Modifications
The Vepr-12 carbine (VPO-205) has several modifications that differ in a number of technical characteristics.
- Vepr-12 (VPO-205-00)
is a carbine with a 430 mm long barrel, a removable flash suppressor and a trigger locking mechanism when the butt is folded. - Vepr-12 Hammer used.
01 (VPO-205-01) (L-520) - a carbine with a 520 mm long barrel, a non-removable flash suppressor, capable of firing with a folded butt. - Vepr-12 Hammer used.
01 (VPO-205-01) (L-570) - a carbine with a 520 mm long barrel, a non-removable flash suppressor, capable of firing with a folded butt. - Vepr-12 isp.
02 (VPO-205-02) - a carbine with a barrel length of 680 mm, has the ability to install internal choke tubes in the muzzle of the barrel, unified with guns of the "Bekas" and "Bekas-Auto" series, it is also possible to fire with a folded butt. - Vepr-12 isp.
03 (VPO-205-03) - a carbine with a 305 mm long barrel, a removable flash suppressor and a trigger locking mechanism when the butt is folded. The total length of the Vepr-12 carbine isp. 03 (VPO-205-03) is 601 mm, weight 4.2 kg. - Vepr-12 isp.
04 (VPO-205-04) - a carbine with a barrel length of 483 mm, has a classic wooden hunting stock. - VPO-206
is a carbine with a 430 mm long barrel, a removable flash suppressor and a trigger locking mechanism when the butt is folded, designed for use with the 12/70 cartridge. - “Vepr-12 IPSC”
is a modification of the Vepr-12 carbine made taking into account the requirements of the Practical Shooting Federation and taking into account the wishes of shooting athletes. It has a double-sided push-button safety, a magazine release button, a left-sided bolt cocking lever, and no open sights. - VPO-205-00-SP
is a serial modification of the Vepr-12 carbine, designed for use by competitive shooters, and is available in several versions. - VPO-205S
is a modification of the Vepr-12 carbine intended for official use in private security companies.
Improved aiming
According to reviews, the Vepr-12 Molot can be used with both optical sights and collimators. With proper handling of the second type of device, accuracy of hitting the target is guaranteed from 50-70 meters. Optics are more effective at long distances, however, the stopping power at long distances is low.
Accuracy is also improved by installing a compensator. Automatic weapons, regardless of type, are moved to the side under the influence of exhaust gases, as a result of which the line of sight shifts. The compensator allows you to direct part of the powder exhaust in the required direction, which makes it possible to protect the barrel from significant movement, increasing the accuracy of the shot.
An extension with a thread inside is allowed to be installed on the barrel thread of the carbine. Such a weapon is no longer smooth-bore, but is being re-qualified as a rifled version. Due to the twist, the accuracy of firing at long distances is increased.
Advantages
The Vepr 12 carbine has a number of undoubted advantages for which it is so valued by its owners:
- High firepower, which is provided by the high rate of fire of the carbine and the power of the 12-gauge cartridge, allowing you to create a real lead barrage in a few seconds.
- The Vepr 12 carbine, like all carbines of the Vepr Family, is created on the basis of the Kalashnikov light machine gun, from which it inherited high reliability and trouble-free operation in almost any climatic conditions.
- The heavy weight, self-loading principle of operation and rubber butt pad-shock absorber well dampen the recoil impulse. Thanks to all this, the Vepr carbine has low recoil.
- Vepr carbines have a chrome-plated bore and chamber, as well as good quality metal from which the automatic parts are made, thanks to which the carbine has a fairly high resource of 10 thousand shots.
- Vepr carbines show good accuracy and shooting accuracy for a self-loading weapon. At a shooting distance of 100 meters, the spread of hits does not exceed 10 cm.
- Vepr carbines have a low cost compared to foreign analogues with similar technical characteristics.
About production
The Saiga line of semi-automatic weapons was created on the basis of the AK. The choice of this system was due to the fact that Kalashnikov assault rifles were manufactured at the Izhmashevsk plant, and no problems were observed in the design of rifle analogues intended for civilian consumers. The plant in Vyatskie Polyany began producing Kalashnikov light machine guns. The 74th Kalash model and the RPK differed from each other in structural strength, weight and overall characteristics. According to experts, the machine gun is equipped with a more “survivable” mechanism, which means it has a longer service life. The design of the Vepr-12 smoothbore carbines was carried out taking into account the main options for its purpose. These shooting units were created for self-defense and sport shooting. Models were also developed for police officers and hunters.
Flaws
Vepr carbines have their disadvantages, which in the eyes of most owners are outweighed by their advantages:
- The Vepr-12 Molot / VPO-205 carbine weighs at least about 4 kg. When installing additional body kit elements, the carbine becomes even heavier.
- The Vepr-12 Molot / VPO-205 carbine is very poorly suited for hunting. First of all, the carbine is intended for self-defense, sports shooting and use by law enforcement agencies for storming premises.
- The Vepr-12 Molot / VPO-205 carbine has a less-than-ideal balance, which makes it especially difficult to shoot accurately at the side. Some carbine owners correct its balance using special weights or suspension elements located in the right places, but all this makes the carbine even heavier.
- The Weaver bar, located on the lower part of the forend, makes it inconvenient to hold the carbine with your bare hand, without gloves.
- After each use of the rifle, it is necessary to clean the gas chamber and piston from carbon deposits. The gas chamber of the carbine is difficult to disassemble and requires a tool.
Reload
Reloading of the Vepr-12 Molot 03 carbine occurs after a shot through the use of powder gases. A shortened barrel often does not create the necessary force, which is why the bolt does not move all the way and prevents cartridge changes. An additional obstacle is the rigid return spring, which requires significant costs to jerk the shutter.
One of the options for solving this problem is the use of powerful Magnum ammunition, which provides the proper pressure from the exhaust gases. This also has its drawbacks. Strong recoil can harm the shooter, and even knock an inexperienced user off his feet. The situation is corrected by installing a shock-absorbing spring on the butt. The second disadvantage is excessive noise.
Another option for increasing pressure is muzzle constriction. This will reduce the rate of gas inlet. Among the disadvantages is the choice of cartridge based on the type of choke or choke, and not on personal preferences and tasks. If none of the methods is suitable, you just have to wait until the spring develops and weakens.
Tuning
If desired and has the financial resources, the owner of the Vepr-12 carbine can completely transform the appearance of the carbine by replacing the stock, fore-end, handle, and magazine.
- Many owners install collimator sights on the carbine, which significantly increases the convenience and accuracy of shooting.
- The owner of the carbine can, if desired, replace the wooden fore-end and stock with plastic ones or vice versa. By installing a wooden body kit on the Vepr-12, the owner of the carbine can make it very similar to the AKS-74U assault rifle. Telescopic butts are very convenient to use, allowing you to adjust the length of the butt to suit different shooters or different clothes.
- To improve the ease of holding the carbine, many owners install an ergonomic front handle on it.
- To improve the ballistic performance of the Vepr-12 carbine, owners install on the barrel: muzzle brakes-compensators, muzzle attachments-flame suppressors, various choke constrictions and barrel extensions.
- The carbine can be equipped with a tactical flashlight, a laser target designator, and an infrared illuminator to improve the performance of the night sight.
- To increase the number of shots, removable box magazines of larger capacity are installed on the carbine; it is even possible to install a drum (rotary) magazine on the carbine. When installing increased-capacity magazines on the Vepr-12 carbine, you should remember that Russian legislation prohibits the use of magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds.
- For ease of shooting, you can also install a telescopic folding bipod on the carbine.
