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.
Characteristics and principle of operation
The tactical and technical characteristics of the Vepr are one of the main features of the model, which attracts potential buyers not only from Russia, but also from all over the world. Given the high power, the weapon is more suitable for a professional hunter than an amateur. Anyone can get acquainted with the performance characteristics of the Vepr by looking at its passport or the following table:
| Characteristic: | Parameter: |
| Barrel type | threaded |
| Chuck used | 7.62×39 mm |
| Barrel length | 625 mm |
| total length | 1000 mm |
| Store capacity | 9 + 1 |
| Weapon width | 57 mm |
| Weapon weight | 4.69 mm |
The model has rather unusual characteristics for a smoothbore hunting weapon. The caliber of ammunition especially stands out against the general background. It is also impossible not to use a bulky weapon with large dimensions. But its operating principle is the most standard:
- We place 10 ammunition in the magazine.
- We send 1 cartridge into the chamber.
- We take aim at the target.
- We remove the weapon from the safety.
- We fire a shot.
After this, the powder gas exhaust system will operate, which will open the bolt frame, release the used cartridge case, and also place new ammunition in the chamber. So the system is fully automatic and requires a minimum number of actions from the hunter. And considering that 10 rounds of ammunition in most cases is more than enough to kill almost any animal, you won’t have to worry about reloading your weapon in the forest.
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)
Import substitution. "Vepr-1V" for sports
During the conversation, the idea was born to assemble a competitive carbine based on some common model. One of the conditions was the use of materials and technologies available to the average user at home. As a result, documents for a license were submitted on the same day, and a couple of weeks later I became the owner of a very ordinary carbine, purchased in one of the stores near Moscow. Which carbine was chosen and what was done with it - I will tell you in this article.
The author of the article with his Vepr-1V carbine
At the moment, the choice of domestic carbines for practical shooting in the open class is reduced to a minimum - these are “saiga” or “boar” of various modifications and calibers. We had to decide on the most important thing - what exactly we take as a basis. The criteria are simple: reliability, maintainability, sufficient accuracy and accuracy, as well as survivability.
Having compared all the known facts, analyzing my own experience and the experience of my friends, it was decided to consider the Vepr-1V VPO-125 carbine. Why exactly him and not “saiga”?
Vepr-1V VPO-125-01 in basic version
Arguments for":
- Durable, thick chrome-plated barrel, made using machine-gun technology, resistant to overheating.
- A more rigid receiver and barrel mounting method, which has a positive effect on accuracy.
- Better workmanship overall.
There were a little more arguments against:
- Cost - Saiga is almost 30% cheaper.
- Weight - The Vepr is noticeably heavier than the Saiga due to the thicker receiver and barrel itself.
- Smaller range of tuning options for the Vepr.
- The high cost of 45-round magazines and the lack of original 30-round magazines.
Despite everything, the three pros outweighed all the cons, since we wanted to shoot - shoot a lot and often.
There was no doubt about the choice of caliber - it was, of course, .223 Rem. (5.56×45). We did not consider the recently appeared “saiga” and “boar” in 5.45×39 caliber for several reasons:
- Unstable quality of domestically produced 5.45 mm cartridges.
- A small range of 5.45 mm cartridges and a small number of manufacturers working on the civilian market.
- Problems when traveling to competitions abroad (it seems very difficult to purchase cartridges in this caliber abroad).
In favor of the .223 Rem caliber. the following facts say:
- A noticeably larger assortment of cartridges in stores, both imported and domestic manufacturers;
- A little more energy, which is important when shooting at long-distance heavy iron targets. At competitions, I have more than once witnessed how “poppers” did not fall when hit by a bullet from the 5.45×39 cartridge, while the owners of carbines in caliber .223 Rem. did not experience such problems.
- Opportunity to purchase cartridges abroad, when traveling to international competitions. Surely everyone who has flown by plane knows about the restriction on the transportation of ammunition of no more than 5 kg. This is only about 400 pieces, which may not be enough for a large match.
Thus, we have finally decided on the base model and caliber - this is the Vepr-1V VPO-125-01, caliber .223 Rem (5.56x45), with a barrel length of 420 mm. All other parts necessary to fine-tune the carbine were purchased in gun stores or made to order, taking into account their availability on the market in the future.
The main problem with the Kalashnikov system is the installation of optics. Neither the standard side rail, nor various imported receiver covers with weaver/picatini rails provide sufficient rigidity and, accordingly, stability of the STP and good accuracy. Yes, the standard characteristics are sufficient for tasks solved in the army and other law enforcement agencies, but for sports I would like a more accurate and stable option.
Rail for installing an optical sight instead of a standard rear sight
Therefore, through trial and error, we settled on the option of mounting the optics on a bar installed instead of the rear sight. Today, this is the most reliable option available to the average gun owner. There are several planks on sale of various lengths, differing in the method of fastening and the material from which they are made - everyone can choose according to their needs. Yes, during installation I had to abandon the standard mechanical sighting devices, but they are not needed in sports.
Let's move on to ergonomics. We change the stock to telescopic. There was already a Magpul CTR in stock, which was installed. The height of the butt cheek is selected individually, depending on the height of the installed sight; fortunately, this model has interchangeable cheeks of different heights.
Telescopic butt on the Vepr-1V carbine
We change the handle to a more grippy one with lower support. I use exactly the same handles on smooth-bore boars, and I am completely satisfied with them (I would like to note that ergonomics is a purely individual thing and there is no one universal solution for everyone). At the same time, you can install a “magazine release” from a smoothbore “boar”. Of course, just like on the AR15, the magazine will not fall out, but still changing the magazine will be easier. The stock and grip can be absolutely anything, even standard ones, as long as they suit the shooter.
Handle with bottom support and quick magazine release device
To make it easier to attach the magazine, you can install a mini-neck guide. It is plastic, weighs only a few grams, but helps you quickly orient the magazine correctly for hooking with the front tooth.
Guide shaft for magazine
The fuse box also needs improvement. To make it more convenient to turn off the fuse, you can install an additional support under your index finger. If necessary, through simple manipulations, you can make a non-automatic shutter delay. To do this, in the previously designated place of the flag, we make a cutout for the cocking handle. The illustration shows how the bolt carrier is placed on an improvised bolt stop.
Safety box and enlarged index finger rest and non-automatic slide stop cutout
The trigger can be replaced with a sports trigger from the smoothbore VPO-205 or the standard one can be brought to the required characteristics. It can be replaced with an imported one, but taking into account the exchange rate and current sanctions, this is quite expensive and problematic.
To reduce the influence of the moving system on the weapon, it is necessary to reduce its mass. We are replacing the standard bolt carrier with a lightweight version with a titanium gas piston. The difference in weight can reach 140–150 g. If it is not possible to install a gas block with a regulator, then during assembly it is necessary to adjust the rod so as to reduce the duration of exposure to powder gases and thereby minimize the contact of the bolt frame with the rear liner of the receiver at the time of recoil. At the same time, do not forget to control the extraction of spent cartridges so that there are no problems with the operation of the automation. It should be remembered that by these actions we are reducing the legendary reliability of the AK system for the sake of comfortable and fast shooting. With the correct settings, in combination with an effective DTK, it becomes possible to almost completely eliminate recoil and bounce.
Lightweight bolt carrier (on scales) for the Vepr-1V carbine
The acquisition of regular stores turned out to be a big problem. But we also solved this issue by adapting Saiga magazines in .223 Rem caliber. Using a flat file, the seats were adjusted to fit the Vepr. The work is simple and takes only 15–20 minutes per store. Thus, in this article we examined one of the options for refining domestic weapons and bringing them to the characteristics required in practical shooting. The carbine itself has gained a little weight - in working condition, taking into account the sighting system, it weighs 3.8 kg, while the original model weighed 3 kg.
The shutter is on an improvised shutter stop
A concept will be just a theory if it is not proven by practice. Our concept sports carbine VPO-125 has already undergone a number of matches and has shown its best. Recoil and barrel bounce are kept to a minimum, allowing you to shoot really quickly and accurately. I would like to note that this project has not yet been fully completed; in the near future it is planned to replace the fore-end with a carbon one (which will make the barrel free-floating and at the same time improve the ergonomics, bringing it closer to optimal) and install an adjustable gas block to simplify setting up the automatics and cleaning the carbine. It seems to me that this has turned out to be a competitive option for practicing practical shooting as a sport, which costs significantly less than carbines developed on the AR15 platform.
Appearance of the modified Vepr-1V carbine
And lastly, there are many important aspects in the weapons component of shooting sports, but the key will always be the shooter and his level of training. We told you about decent sports equipment, then you need to train and win!
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.
Options and modifications
Another positive side of the weapon is that it has a wide range of models. If desired, the buyer can choose exactly the version or modification of the “Vepr” that suits him. Here are just the most common of them.
SOK-94 "Vepr"
The first modification from , sharpened for firing with 7.62x39 mm cartridges. It differs from the original in the quality of finishing of metal and wooden parts and in a simpler design. The carbine is actively used not only by hunters, but also by paramilitary units. For example, it can often be seen in the hands of employees of the Russian Guard. The flight speed of the ballistic projectile is 830 m/s, which makes this model an excellent weapon for snipers . The magazine capacity, by the way, for some reason was reduced from 10 rounds to 7.
SOK-95 "Vepr-308"
A variant of a combat carbine, modified for 308 Win hunting cartridges. The design of the weapon is almost no different from the original version, however, due to the fact that the weapon has changed the caliber, its ballistic characteristics have also increased.
"Vepr-Super"
An even newer version of the Vepr-308 carbine. Its main difference from the previous modification is the presence of a solid stock made of beech or walnut. Because of this, the weapon became more like a hunting weapon than a combat weapon. The ammunition used for shooting is .308 Winchester or .35 Remington caliber cartridges.
SOK-94R "Vepr-Pioneer"
It has two smoothbore modifications:
- VPO-212 chambered for .366 TKM;
- VPO-221 and VPO-222 chambered for 9.6/53 Lancaster.
Both versions have a smooth barrel and are positioned as an alternative to rifled weapons. Designed for hunting and sport shooting. The weapon is assembled on the basis of the SOK-94R carbine, which in turn is created on the basis of the RPK light machine gun, which allows the use of magazines from a Kalashnikov assault rifle and RPK 7.62 caliber. Carbines have a classic form factor in a solid wooden stock.
SOK-94R carbine
"Vepr-12 Hammer"
This weapon fires classic 12 gauge ammunition. The model features a removable flash suppressor, which also allows you to install additional choke constrictions on it. The use of the carbine is not limited to hunting - it is often purchased by athletes for target shooting.
"Vepr 1B"
The first modification with a rifled barrel, produced for a wide variety of cartridges: 223 Rem, 7.62x54R, 308Win and so on. A distinctive feature of the model is a reinforced machine gun box and a longer barrel - up to 590 millimeters, allowing for more accurate shots. The carbine is also easy to upgrade, making it a desirable acquisition for any hunter.
"Vepr-Hunter"
Another version with a solid, but this time wooden stock, which most closely resembles that used in 12-gauge smoothbore shotguns. "Hunter-308" is distinguished by a unique location of the front sight, which can be located at the end of the barrel or in the middle - it increases the distance of aimed fire, but increases cantilevering and radial vibrations. The weapon also boasts a comfortable semi-pistol grip, which will appeal to both hunters and athletes. The weight of the carbine is only 4 kg, which is not much for a rifled hunting weapon. Depending on the model range, the carbine can be “powered” by the following cartridges: 7.62x54R, 308Win and 30-06Spr.
"Vepr-KM"
The modification is a modified Kalashnikov assault rifle converted to a civilian version. Of course, the weapon does not have the ability to fire automatically. Just like the AKM, the Vepr-KM fires 7.62x39 mm bullets. The model is in demand not only among hunters, but also among collectors and ordinary connoisseurs of the legendary Russian machine gun.
SOK-97 "Vepr-223"
A unique carbine that uses 5.56×45 millimeter ammunition (“NATO” cartridges) for firing. The weapon is characterized by a lower mass, as well as the ability to fire accurately even at moving targets. Just like most previous versions, it has the ability to install a body kit, including an under-barrel one. It will especially appeal to those hunters who, for some reason, prefer to use foreign cartridges rather than domestic ones.
SOK-98 "Vepr-5.45"
An imported version of the “Vepr”, chambered for 5.45×39 mm cartridges. It has many similarities with the SOK-94, but almost always comes with an optical sight. Also, the carbine does not have blackening of the metal - instead, the receiver and magazine are coated with nickel, which increases corrosion resistance. In general, the weapon has better build quality and technical characteristics, however, its price tag is in the appropriate range.
SOK-98 - version of the "Vepr" chambered for 5.45 cartridges
SOK-243 "Vepr-243"
A modification that uses .243 Win ammunition (6.2 x 52 mm) for shooting is a popular American sporting and hunting cartridge. The power of the ammunition is suitable for hunting medium-sized ungulates: wild boar, roe deer, deer. Not recommended for hunting animals weighing more than 150-200 kg and at distances greater than 200-250 meters.
VPO-155
A recently released new modification of the Vepr-1V carbine in .223Rem caliber. This is a semi-automatic carbine for target practice and competitions with customization from the factory.
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.
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.
