The Vepr-308 carbine (SOK-95) is a rifled self-loading carbine chambered for the 7.62×51 (.308 Winchester) cartridge. The Vepr-308 carbine (SOK-95), as well as its improved modification Vepr-308 Super (SOK-95M), are one of the most popular models among the rifled carbines of the Vepr family. Like all carbines of the family, Vepr-308 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. Vepr-308 carbines are designed for amateur and commercial hunting of medium and large animals.
History of the Vepr-308 carbine
The first carbine from the Vepr carbine family, the Vepr SOK-94 was created in 1995 at the Vyatsko-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant. It was a hunting carbine chambered for 7.62x39 mm.
In the nineties, the Vyatsko-Polyansky plant was actually left without state military orders and, for its own survival, was forced to rebuild its production to produce civilian products. As a result, the Vepr carbine appeared.
The Vepr carbine was created on the basis of the Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK), which was also produced at the Vyatsko-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant. The design of the carbine makes maximum use of parts and components of the Kalashnikov light machine gun. From its predecessor, the Vepr carbine inherited a high degree of reliability and reliability when operating in the most difficult operating conditions.
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 carbine.
The second model of the Vepr carbine produced by the plant was the Vepr-308 (SOK-95) carbine chambered for 7.62×51 mm (.308 Winchester). In 1998, the plant launched the production of two improved modifications of the Vepr-308 carbine, they became the Vepr-308-Super carbine (SOK-95M) and the Vepr-308-Super-Sport carbine (SOK-95MS). The Vepr-308-Super-Sport carbine is currently out of production, the Vepr-308 Super carbine is still produced to this day.
Thanks to the ballistic characteristics of the 7.62x51 mm cartridge (.308 Winchester), Vepr-308 carbines have become one of the most popular among hunters in the Vepr line of rifled carbines.
Technical characteristics of Vepr-308
Vepr-308 carbines 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 - Caliber:
7.62×51 (.308 Winchester) - Barrel length:
420, 520, 590, 700 mm - Magazine:
detachable plastic box magazine with single-row cartridge arrangement - Magazine capacity:
2, 3, 5 or 10 rounds - Sighting range:
300 m - Total length:
1215 mm (Vepr-308) 1040 mm (Vepr-308-Super) - Overall width:
75 mm - Overall height:
200 mm - Weight without magazine:
4.33 kg (Vepr-308) 3.9 kg (Vepr-308-Super) - Weight with magazine:
4.44 kg (Vepr-308) 4.3 kg (Vepr-308-Super)
Characteristics and principle of operation
Based on the technical capabilities, the carbine of this model is ideal for both professional and amateur hunting, and is also used in shooting sports. According to reviews from professionals, all Veprey models are successful.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Russia, Vyatskie Polyany, Molot plant.
- Purpose: hunting.
- Ammo capacity - 9.
- Total length - 1 meter.
- Height - 20.2 cm.
- Width - 5.7 cm.
- Barrel length - 62.5 cm.
- Weight - 4.69 kg.
The balanced design allows you to experience no difficulties during operation and makes it possible to obtain accurate shots and maximum shooting accuracy.
Additional devices (a rubber butt pad on the butt with a high degree of shock absorption and two stops for completely locking the barrel) facilitate use.
The barrel is made of high-quality steel by cold forging, as a result of which it has a high power rating. The optical sight can be used either from the one offered in the basic configuration or from other manufacturers.
The operating principle is quite simple:
- The magazine holds 10 rounds
- Place 1 cartridge into the barrel
- Using the front sight, a target is selected.
- Press the shutter
- A shot is fired
- All remaining 9 rounds will be sent into the barrel by means of a gas mechanism with each subsequent press of the trigger.
Vepr - 308 (base for creating Vepr-Super)
Design of Vepr carbines
Trunk
The Vepr-308 (SOK-95) carbine can have a barrel length of 420, 520, 590 or 700 mm. The Vepr-308 Super carbine (SOK-95M) is equipped with a barrel length of 550 or 650 mm. The Vepr-308 (SOK-95) and Vepr-308 Super (SOK-95M) carbines are designed for the 7.62×51 rifled cartridge (.308 Winchester). To increase service life, the barrel bore and chamber of the carbine are chrome-plated. The barrel of the Vepr-308 (SOK-95) carbine is threaded for muzzle devices. The barrel of the Vepr-308 Super (SOK-95M) carbine has a slot-type muzzle brake.
Shutter and automation
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 three lugs while moving the bolt frame longitudinally.
Trigger mechanism
The hammer-type trigger mechanism ensures the production of a single shot and the safety of the carbine. Unlike the Kalashnikov light machine gun, the Vepr carbines have a self-timer removed from the trigger mechanism, which allows firing in bursts. The Vepr-308 (SOK-95) carbine has a flag-type safety, while the Vepr-308 Super (SOK-95M) carbine has a push-button type safety.
Shop
Vepr-308 carbines are fed with cartridges from detachable box magazines with single-row cartridges. The carbine can be equipped with a magazine for 2, 3, 5, 8 or 10 rounds.
Sights
The Vepr-308 (SOK-95) and Vepr-308 Super (SOK-95M) carbines are equipped with open sights, consisting of an aiming bar (rear sight) and a front sight.
For the Vepr-308 (SOK-95) carbine, the front sight is located on the muzzle end of the barrel; for the Vepr-308 Super (SOK-95M) carbine, the front sight is located on the gas chamber block.
The open sight of the Vepr-308 carbines allows shooting at a distance of up to 300 meters. Most owners of Vepr-308 carbines equip their weapons with optical or night sights. The receiver has a base for attaching the sight bracket.
Butt
The Vepr-308 (SOK-95) carbine has a fore-end and an orthopedic-type wooden butt made of walnut. The buttstock has a rubber butt pad-shock absorber to reduce the feeling of recoil. The Vepr-308 Super carbine (SOK-95M) has a single orthopedic buttstock made of walnut wood. A rubber butt pad-shock absorber is also installed on the butt.
Advantages of the Vepr-308 carbine
The Vepr-308 carbine has a number of significant advantages for which it is valued by its owners:
- High reliability and trouble-free operation in a wide variety of climatic conditions, including subzero temperatures.
- High versatility of the .308 Win (7.62x51) cartridge. With the right choice of cartridge, it allows you to hunt a wide variety of game: from black grouse and wood grouse to elk and bear.
- Little return
- The installed optical sight does not interfere with shooting from an open sight.
- The chrome-plated bore and chamber provide the carbine with a long service life and long service life.
- Good accuracy and high accuracy of fire.
- A good price-quality ratio of the carbine compared to both domestic and, especially, foreign analogues with comparable technical characteristics.
Advantages and disadvantages of the model
Of course, every type of weapon, even the most successful, has certain pros and cons
And before purchasing it, it will be useful to find out about the advantages and, especially important, the disadvantages, in order to be able to make a thoughtful, correct choice that you will not regret later
Advantages and disadvantages
High reliability ensured by maximum simplicity of design. A powerful cartridge that provides lethality and an excellent (for a rifled weapon) stopping effect even at a considerable distance. Good ergonomics - the weapon was developed on the basis of the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle, the handling of which was brought to the level of a reflex for every serving man. High accuracy, ensured by successful gas removal and a high-quality muzzle brake-compensator. Versatility - suitable for hunting hare or wood grouse, as well as wild boar or deer.
Quite heterogeneous cartridges - not all domestic manufacturers supply high-quality ammunition to the market, and imported ones are very expensive. Not very high accuracy at distances over 200 meters. Like most AK family assault rifles, there is no slide stop - after the last shot, the bolt returns to its original position and a cartridge has to be loaded manually from a new magazine.
So, the weapon does have disadvantages. But it also has serious advantages that make it a good purchase for many hunters, fans of bullet shooting and simply connoisseurs of reliable, high-quality and convenient weapons.
Disadvantages of the Vepr-308 carbine
For all its advantages, the carbine also has a number of disadvantages:
- Quite heavy weight.
- Balance is far from ideal.
- Many carabiners have poor insertion and alignment of the wooden parts of the carabiner with the metal ones.
- An open sight may become confused due to mechanical contact with tree branches and other obstacles.
- The loud sound of the safety flag when switching can scare away the game if it is at a short distance from the hunter.
- Difficult disassembly of the gas chamber and piston, which must be cleaned of carbon deposits after each use of the rifle.
Advantages and disadvantages
Despite the fact that the description of the weapon sounds as if the Vepr has no flaws, it is important to note that the weapon has plenty of negative aspects. Here are just those that the vast majority of owners complain about:
- Heavy weight of the weapon. It will be quite problematic to move through the forest with a model that weighs 5 kg or more when charged and with the body kit attached. Only hunters of large build will be able to aim accurately from such a carbine. So it’s best to take a “Vepr” with you for ambush shooting.
- Weak weapon balance. In addition to the heavy weight, a hunter may also have trouble aiming because the weapon's center of gravity is not where it should be. The problem is solved by installing additional weights or a body kit in the right places, but this increases the weight even more.
- Poor processing of wooden parts of weapons. Despite the fact that the quality of the wood is at the highest level, the execution of the butt and stock could be better. Especially often you come across an uneven connection of metal elements with the butt and stock - in these places there is a large gap.
- The sound is too loud when switching the fuse to combat mode. This will scare away game from the hunter if he is at a sufficiently close distance to it. It is quite difficult to somehow modify the system, since the fuse is practically impossible to modernize.
- Low quality open sight. The rear sight and front sight get knocked down every now and then if the weapon falls to the ground or gets caught on branches. Because of this, almost every hunter has to equip his “Vepr” with optics or a collimator - and this is a very expensive pleasure even for a professional.
- Complex gas chamber system. It works properly, but a hunter who decides to completely disassemble the “Vepr” will have to face a number of difficulties. And the gas chamber needs cleaning and lubrication in the same way as the barrel channel - after each use of the carbine.
- Difficulty cleaning the piston. Even if you manage to disassemble the gas chamber, you will only be able to get to the piston if you have a spare parts kit for delicate work. Otherwise, part of the carbon will remain on the moving element.
Optical sight on the Vepr-308 carbine And these are just the most well-known shortcomings that almost every Vepr owner complains about. But the weapon has no less positive aspects. So let's take a quick look at each of them:
- large caliber - allows you to hunt animals of almost any size;
- low recoil is the absolute merit of a high-quality shock-absorbing stock;
- high sighting range - especially if you install optics on the weapon;
- excellent accuracy of combat - at a distance of 100 meters the spread is no more than 10 cm;
- the ability to fire for a long time - no effort is required to reload;
- large length of the aiming line - simplifies the aiming process;
- wide opportunity for modernization - the presence of an aiming bar is especially pleasing;
- unpretentiousness to weather conditions - the carbine can be used even in severe frost;
- high quality metal parts - the warranty period is 10 thousand shots;
- the best price among models with similar parameters.
Do the positives outweigh the negatives? Perhaps each person should answer this question for himself. Don't forget about just one thing: the Vepr - this is a rather unusual weapon that is most suitable for professionals. An amateur is unlikely to be able to get much benefit from it.
Review from a real user about the Vepr-308 carbine
I chose this semi-automatic carbine after weighing all its advantages in quality and price. The 590 mm barrel caught my eye because I practice hunting from a storage shed, sometimes in a room. I didn’t shoot the carbine at a target, so I can’t say in numbers how accurate it is. But there has not yet been a single animal that I have missed.
I tried different optics, but practice shows that the maximum firing range in Russian forests is no more than 200 meters. Due to the fact that after transportation it needs to be adjusted again, I decided to temporarily abandon optics. In order to hunt bears and wild boars from the towers, I purchased an additional night light. This element clearly has weak fastenings, so I strengthened them myself.
During all its use, the carbine failed only once - then the edge of the brass sleeve became jammed, which led to the cartridge jamming. The cartridge was made by the Novosibirsk plant. I don’t buy them anymore (I prefer Barnaul ones with steel sleeves), so there are no failures.
Another drawback is that a crack formed on the base of the stock during use. But these are all little things and flaws in the assembly. Overall, the weapon is excellent and completely satisfactory. I don't regret purchasing it at all.
