VPO-136 - a self-loading carbine, like two peas in a pod similar to the AKM

The VPO-136 rifled carbine was created on the basis of the Kalashnikov light machine gun by employees of the Vyatsko-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant. Serial production of this hunting weapon began in 1995. The decision to develop the Vepr family of carbines was dictated by the need for the military industry to survive in the difficult nineties.

Exterior design

For many people, it is the external resemblance to the Kalashnikov assault rifle that is the main trigger for purchasing the VPO-136, as is the case with the previous version, the VPO-133. This model is even more similar to the famous AKM, because it has:

• a similar receiver;
• identical numbers and marks;
• recognizable coating;
• original butt and fore-end made of wood.

It is very simple to explain the similarities: VPO-136 is produced on the basis of original Kalashnikov assault rifles, produced between 1958 and 1980, withdrawn from service or subject to a recycling program. Of course, the Molot enterprise adheres to all requirements regarding the conversion of army models into civilian rifled weapons.

The VPO-136 carbine is developed on the basis of the AKM.
This carbine eliminates the possibility of automatic firing. To do this, employees of the Molot enterprise performed the following manipulations:

• the auto sear was removed;
• welded the autosear axles;
• cut off the protrusions on the bolt frame and trigger;
• performed local welding of the muzzle device.

Bolt frame VPO-136
However, the VPO-136 carbine is equipped with a gas chamber, which ensures that the cartridge is fed into the chamber after firing, allowing single shooting in the most comfortable conditions.

Good afternoon, dear comrades. This article is intended primarily for those who already have rifled weapons, but I hope it will help those who are planning to purchase them in the future, as well as simply fans of military weapons. The purpose of writing this article, together with you, is to analyze the pros and cons of each presented sample, and try to decide which of these trunks is preferable.

I myself am the owner of one rifled barrel so far, this is the Vepr - 223.REM, with which I have been successfully hunting for the second year, but I have been licking my lips at the OP-SKS for a long time. I’m licking my lips not because this carbine is ideal for hunting or self-defense, the 7.62x39 cartridge is not the most successful, but it is cheap (10-11 rubles) and quite widespread. Many hunters love this carbine for its unpretentiousness and cheapness. I was looking at it more as a weapon “for the soul”, I planned to “dress” it in American plastic and enjoy shooting. But not so long ago, the legendary AK (AKM)-47, converted for civilian use, appeared on sale, and now I began to think what would be better to buy. OP SKS Self-loading hunting and commercial carbine “OP-SKS” is intended for commercial hunting of medium and large animals in various weather and climatic conditions at ambient temperatures from -50° to +50°. The carbine is based on the famous Simonov SKS-45 self-loading carbine and is chambered for 7.62x39 caliber. Automatic reloading of the carbine occurs through the use of the energy of powder gases diverted from the barrel bore into the gas chamber and the energy of the return spring. The barrel bore is locked by skewing the bolt while sliding the bolt frame longitudinally. The hammer-type trigger mechanism ensures the production of single shots and setting the safety. A flag-type fuse is located in the trigger guard of the firing mechanism housing. The carbine is fed from an integral magazine. In the butt on the buttplate side there is a pencil case with accessories for cleaning and disassembling the carbine. The open sights of the carbine consist of a front sight, adjustable in two planes, and an aiming bar with distances of 100-1000 m. On the left side of the carbine receiver there is a base for mounting an optical sight bracket. Targeted shooting from an open sight can be carried out without removing the optical sight. The cost of the carbine in Novosibirsk stores is from 12,000 rubles (without bracket) and up to 15,200 rubles with a bracket for mounting optics.

VEPR-K Depending on the version, the basis for the new product is the well-known AK and AKM assault rifles. Conversion into civilian models became possible thanks to the decision of the Ministry of Defense and the Government of the Russian Federation to allow domestic enterprises to use certain types of military small arms in their activities (primarily those subject to disposal and withdrawn from service). Vepr-K is not very different in appearance from its combat progenitor and represents a certain collection value. Basically, the modification was carried out in order to comply with the legislation: 1. Markings were applied that meet the requirements of regulatory legal acts for this category of products 2. The possibility of automatic firing was removed by removing the autosear, welding the autosear axis, cutting off the corresponding protrusion on the bolt frame and trigger. 3. A trigger mechanism from the VPO-205 carbine is installed in order to prevent the frame from hanging on the trigger when it moves to the forward position. 4. The possibility of using AK/RPK magazines is eliminated by installing a magazine latch of modified geometry and milling part of the receiver liner block. 5. Elements have been made to ensure the formation of marks on spent cartridges and bullets. 6. Local welding of the muzzle device to the front sight block was carried out. 7. Additional tests were carried out to check the strength of the carbine by firing test cartridges, the carbines were brought to normal combat. 8. In variant versions, it is possible, for example, to install a stock like a classic Boar, change the location of marking, use an AK or AKM base, etc. It is clear that the Vepr-K is a highly neutered version of the legendary AK-47, but nevertheless, it is still the same Kalashnikov. The cost in Novosibirsk stores is from 14,000 to 15,000 rubles. Comparison of performance characteristics (taken from the Army Shooting Manual, non-converted samples

SKS/AK-47 Sighting range 1000 m/800 m Direct shot range at a chest target (50 cm high) 365 m/350 m Combat rate of fire (for AK - when firing single shots) 35-40 rpm/ up to 40 rpm/ min Muzzle velocity 735 m/s/715 m/s Weight with empty magazine 3.75 kg/3.8 kg Magazine capacity 10 rounds/10 rounds* Caliber 7.62 mm/7.62 mm Length of carbine/machine gun 1020 mm /870 mm Barrel length 520 mm/415 mm Length of the rifled part of the barrel 474 mm/369 mm Number of rifling 4/4 Rifling stroke length 240 mm/240 mm Front sight thickness 2 mm/2 mm Sighting line length 480 mm/378 mm * in civilian versions From a comparison of performance characteristics, it is clear that these are 2 almost identical barrels, with slightly better characteristics of the SKS (due to the longer barrel length), and the civilian version of the AK-47 is inferior to it, i.e. It had its main advantage precisely because of its ability to fire automatically. Now I want to look at the main options for “upgrades”, or what can be done with this weapon without breaking the law and get a “tactical” option: Upgrade SKS “Tactics” I planned “clothes” from ATI for my future SKS, taken here Price set - 5595 rubles.

What really seems inconvenient to me (perhaps due to lack of practice) is the possibility of reloading the magazine; in the SKS it is not removable, but there have been solutions to this issue for a long time

I really don’t think the price tag is at all humane - 3,300 rubles.

Upgrade Vepr-K "Tactics" From here

Cost - 5340 rubles There are already 10-round magazines on sale (outwardly no different from 30-round ones), but this is completely for everyone - the metal magazine from the AK-47 is very heavy, weighing 330 grams without cartridges.

Having changed any of these barrels into plastic, we get great opportunities for further necessary and unnecessary “improvements” - here is the installation of a collimator sight, and a tactical flashlight, and an additional handle - I will not dwell on this in detail, because “there is no limit to perfection, and there is no limit to human madness,” the main thing is that in the end a normal weapon does not turn out to be a Wunderwaffle

In my opinion, both models are almost identical, both in price and in their characteristics, and are equally suitable for hunting, self-defense, and sport target shooting. I'm waiting for your comments

Scope of use

By all criteria, this civilian weapon, even with a strong desire, cannot be classified as a hunting weapon. The power of the Vepr-KM is more than enough for hunting small and medium-sized animals, but here the following disadvantages of the model come into force:

• Heavy weight. When fully equipped, the weight of a self-loading carbine exceeds 4 kilograms, which will be a real test on long journeys.
• Uncomfortable, outdated pistol grip. Modern models with anatomical notches, made of military plastic, are much more practical, simpler and more convenient to use. Compared to them, the classic wooden handle is ineffective.
• Rough butt. The situation is saved by the presence of a rubber pad that absorbs the energy of the shot, but still this is not enough.

Shooting from the Vepr-KM carbine
Despite these disadvantages, the VPO-136 is excellent for recreational and training shooting at the range. It is quite suitable for women and teenagers who are just getting acquainted with rifled firearms.

Vepr-KM is often purchased by experienced shooters, but at the same time they invest additional funds in its improvement. Complete disassembly and tuning help make the VPO-136 more flexible and pleasant to use.

Advantages and disadvantages

Since VPO 136 owners leave reviews quite often, you can easily analyze the positive and negative qualities of the carbine. As a result, it becomes possible to evaluate all the capabilities of this weapon. Among the advantages of the model are:

• Core punching made inside the barrel allows it to maintain strength and shape. It should be noted that after 200 shots fired, the trace from the core disappears.
• The shape of the gun is ergonomic enough to make the weapon comfortable to use not only for men, but also for women.
• There is no inconvenience when transporting weapons due to the relatively light weight of the model.

In addition, the carbine has an attractive price and even with a limited budget, it can be purchased. Among the shortcomings of the model, one can note only a welded screw, due to which the user cannot independently replace the stock with a more modern one.

Specifications

The VPO-136 self-loading carbine is designed to fire 7.62x39 mm cartridges. This aspect will be discussed in more detail later, but for now let’s focus on the key technical parameters of Vepr-KM:

• total length - 883 mm;
• width - 72 mm;
• height - 195 mm;
• barrel length - 415 mm;
• weight without cartridges and additional attachments - 3.8 kg.

Notable is the sighting range, which reaches 300 meters. This is where the high initial speed of the bullet comes into play. This indicator is reflected in good accuracy of fire: the dispersion radius does not exceed 75 mm.

The effective firing range of the VPO-136 is 300 meters

Now about the magazine capacity. According to current Russian legislation, civilian weapons should not be equipped with magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds. Following this rule, the Molot enterprise adapted VPO-136 to the permissible limit.

The Russian Vepr carbine has been modernized in the USA

The love of some Americans for Kalashnikov assault rifles and other small arms developed on its basis is, in principle, known. There are a sufficient number of fans of this brand in the USA, which is confirmed by the growing sales of Saiga carbines produced at Izhmash, which has now become part of the new Kalashnikov concern. American love for Russian small arms is not limited to their purchase. There are a sufficient number of craftsmen in the states who are ready to modernize Russian models. One of the options for modernizing the Vepr self-loading carbine, created on the basis of the Kalashnikov light machine gun, was presented by the Snake Hound Machine (SHM) company. The Vepr self-loading carbine is the brainchild of the conversion of the Russian military industry in the mid-90s of the last century. The carbine was developed on the basis of the Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK) and, thanks to the popularity of this brand, was immediately loved by representatives of security agencies and Russian hunters. The first batches of these carbines very quickly scattered across Russian private security companies and hunting clubs; this speed could be compared with the speed of a frightened saiga.

The carbine retained the design of the Kalashnikov, as well as its type of automation. There is nothing unusual about this. When developing conversion weapons, the main principle is to preserve as many military-style engineering features as possible. In addition, at that time there was already a clear example of the implementation of this scheme - the Izhevsk Saiga carbine. Therefore, in the city of Vyatskie Polyany they did not reinvent the wheel. In the Vepr self-loading carbine, as in the RPK, the principle of removing part of the powder gases through a special side hole in the barrel wall is used for reloading. The main difference between the “Vepr” and its combat ancestor is that the firing mechanism makes it possible to fire only single shots. In addition, Molot engineers had to change the shape of the horn so that under no circumstances could a real combat magazine be inserted into the civilian version of the carbine.

The forend and butt of the "Vepr" were made of wood, while the barrel guard was missing - the forend covers the barrel from above. The designers from Vyatskie Polyany decided not to give up such a feature of the Kalashnikov machine gun as a pistol grip, which is combined with a butt. In other words, a hole was made in the butt for the thumb. This solution allowed weapon designers not to move the trigger, as well as its safety guard, and, therefore, also eliminated the need to perform additional traction in the trigger mechanism.

The Vepr carbine, as a rule, used two main types of magazines: 5 and 10 rounds. The carbine was equipped with a sector sight with a division pitch of up to 1000 meters. On top of the receiver there is a base for installing an optical sight on it. In a number of technical parameters, the Vepr carbine is similar to the Izhevsk Saiga, due to common roots: the trigger mechanism, the base for the optical sight, the magazine capacity. At the same time, the Vepr has a longer barrel and is heavier. This also has its advantages: a long barrel reduces muzzle flash, and heavy weight reduces recoil energy.

Thanks to constant additions and improvements, the Vepr carbine can rightfully be called one of the most successful conversion carbines presented by the Russian industry. In addition, constant competition with the Izhevsk Saiga family forces Molot engineers not to stand in one place, but to continuously work on improving their carbine. Knowing that the AK has been used abroad for quite a long time to develop weapons chambered for powerful rifle cartridges (for example, this was done in Yugoslavia and Israel), designers from Vyatskie Polyany, based on their self-loading carbine "Vepr" chambered for 7.62x39, also created a variant chambered for 7.62 mm .308 Winchester cartridge (hunting version of the NATO 7.62x51 cartridge). The new version of the carbine received the appropriate name “Vepr-308”.

"Vepr-308"

Caliber – 7.62 mm. The cartridge used is .308 WIN (7.62x51). Barrel length is 520/700 mm. Carabiner length – 1165/1275 mm. The height of the carabiner is 200 mm. The width of the carabiner is 75 mm. Target firing range – 300 m. Initial bullet speed – 830 m/s. Accuracy of fire (dispersion radius) – no more than 50 mm. Magazine capacity – 2, 3, 5, 10 rounds. Weight with a 5-round magazine – 4.4 kg.

Based on the Vepr-308 carbine, the American company Snake Hound Machine (SHM) managed to make a rather interesting weapon. The company has set itself the goal of changing the opinion of the progressive shooting community about the AK platform as a whole. To do this, the company’s specialists gathered a group of skilled gunsmiths who were in love with small arms of the AK family, and developed something amazing based on the Vepr carbine.

To develop their weapon masterpiece, SHM designers chose a model chambered for the .308 Winchester cartridge (7.62x51 mm NATO). The choice was due to the fact that the developers wanted to create the most accurate rifle, a weapon with very high accuracy rates. Therefore, you should not think that the Vepr carbine was simply hung with straps and fittings, after which it received the status of a masterpiece. The task set by SHM was precisely to develop a carbine capable of accurately shooting using commercially available standard ammunition.

Here's what one of the developers of the SHM 308 carbine says: “These carbines have been modified from front sight to stock with replacement trunnions, springs and pins, all carefully tuned and hand polished to improve the reliability of the weapon and minimize recoil. As a result, at medium ranges, experienced shooters can place bullets in a circle with 1 MOA accuracy using conventional ammunition.” The modified Vepr carbine is equipped with an Ares Armor Effin-A muzzle compensator, which is considered one of the most effective in its class and a 419 mm long barrel.

The creators of the updated version of the carbine abandoned fairly widespread accessories in favor of a B5 Systems SOPMOD Bravo stock, a forend from SGM Tactical, a Rifle Dynamics AK/AR stock guide and a pistol grip from US Palm. The company made a choice in favor of the best samples. The modernization was not completed at this point. The ejection window for spent cartridges was changed, and the standard safety lever was replaced with a Krebs Enhanced lever, which allows you to hold the bolt of the SHM 308 carbine in the rearmost position. In addition, the bolt group was replaced to install a more convenient charging handle.

The American carbine SHM 308 Vepr is supplied to the consumer in versions with a 5- or 10-round magazine in three standard versions: Standard, TWS&Keymod and California Express. The first option is the cheapest and lightest, it has a light polymer handguard and weighs 3.67 kg; in the TWS&Keymod version it is supplied to the consumer with the Krebs Vepr Keymod guide system, its weight increases to 4.36 kg. Krebs Vepr Keymod is a modular system designed for attaching a variety of accessories to a carbine and created by Vltor; regular Picatinny rails can also be used with the carbine. In the California Express version, the carbine has a magazine lock; this version is intended for the state of California. Depending on the version chosen, the price of the SHM 308 carbine on the American market ranges from $2,200 to $2,600.

Sources of information: -https://www.chaso.ru/magazine/2010-05/karabin_vepr -https://www.guns.yfa1.ru/karabin-vepr-snake-hound-machine-762×51-mm- nato.html -https://basurman.boxmail.biz/cgi-bin/guide.pl?action=article&id_razdel=83794&id_article=112812 -https://molotarms.ru

Design features

The Vepr-KM carbine is highly reliable and has a long service life (with regular cleaning of the receiver, of course). This is affected by the presence of a chrome coating on the chamber and bore. Due to this, corrosion resistance is achieved, which allows the use of VPO-136 in a wide variety of weather conditions.

The special design of the trigger allows you to fire a single shot and at the same time put the carbine on safety. There is no automatic fuse, and this is a minus of this sample. The weapon is ready for use immediately after installing the magazine.

The following are responsible for automatic recharging:

• gas chamber;
• return spring.

Trigger mechanism VPO-136
The bolt is locked when it is rotated around its axis by a longitudinally sliding bolt frame.

Another design feature of the VPO-136 carbine is the presence of a hole that provides individual marking of spent cartridges. This element does not in any way affect the performance of this model of civilian weapon.

Principle of operation

At the moment when the spring moves the bolt carrier forward, a new cartridge is fed into the chamber. When the bolt is turned, the barrel channel is closed, and the trigger engages with the trigger. At the same time, the ejector moves beyond the edge of the cartridge case. When you press the trigger, it disengages from the hammer, and then, thanks to the energy of the mainspring, it hits the firing pin. As a result, a shot is fired.

It is also worth noting the main differences between a hunting rifle and a military weapon:

• In the area of ​​the muzzle, at a depth of no more than 1 cm, there is a core in the rifling. With a careful external inspection of the carbine, sometimes you can see a small mark from the core on the front end of the barrel. This does not affect the operation of the carbine, but leads to damage to the chrome layer. As a result, you need to pay a little more attention to cleaning your weapon.
• A small hole is drilled into the bolt cylinder next to the firing pin. As a result, a small depression remains on the spent cartridge case. However, the integrity of the sleeve itself is not compromised.
• The butt mounting screw is welded. This is done to prevent the carabiner from being shortened. Thus, to replace the stock, you will have to seek help from a specialized workshop.
• Instead of a light machine gun trigger, a specially designed one for carbines of the Vepr family is used. The only thing left from a military weapon in the design of this mechanism is a fuse-translator.
• The boss on the bolt carrier side of the right guide has been removed. On combat weapons, it interacts with the self-timer stylus. Since the cut area is not processed, it is worth tucking it in after purchasing the carbine. Otherwise, traces of metal corrosion may quickly appear in this place.

In all other respects, the hunting rifle corresponds to military weapons.

Equipment

The VPO-136 basic kit will delight buyers with an additional optical sight. If desired, it can be replaced with a more advanced version, including a collimator. This will help improve accuracy when shooting, as well as simplify the aiming process, making it pleasant and easy.

The Vepr-KM kit includes the following additional accessories:

• a clip that holds 10 rounds of 7.62x39 mm caliber;
• pencil case;
• ramrod.

Equipment for the Vepr-KM self-loading carbine

A shoulder strap is not provided in the basic configuration, but it can be purchased at any specialized store, as well as “on hand”. VPO-136 itself is packaged in plastic film and neatly placed in a cardboard box. It comes with a manual that details the operating conditions, disassembly, cleaning, etc. There is also a passport and an official guarantee from the Molot company.

Ammo

The VPO-136 self-loading carbine is designed for firing 7.62x39 mm caliber cartridges, and both foreign and domestic models can be used: this does not affect the quality of shooting in any way. In order to save money, you can safely use Russian-made cartridges, and with regular cleaning, the carbine will delight you with shooting accuracy.

However, there is one nuance that should be emphasized. As the owners of the Vepr-KM carbine themselves note, you cannot use KSPZ cartridges. In this case, a very hard carbon deposit forms on the inside of the gas chamber and barrel, which is difficult to remove. In the worst case scenario, wormholes form on the surface of the gas chamber, requiring complex and expensive repairs.

Popular modifications

The Molot enterprise produces several models of guns of the Vepr family. They differ in their technical characteristics and cost. Today you can purchase the following modifications of the carbine:

• SOK-94 Vepr. This particular gun model was the first in the line, and it went on sale in 1995. The carbine is designed to fire 7.62x39mm ammunition.
• Vepr-308. The next modification of the gun is chambered for 7.62x51 mm cartridges.
• Vepr-Super. Serial production of the gun started in 1998. It should be noted that the manufacturer has launched the production of three modifications of this model. Two of them are designed to use a 7.62x51 mm cartridge, and one is designed for 35 Remington.
• Vepr-Pioneer. Serial production of the model began in 2000.
• Vepr-5.45. An export modification of a hunting rifle, designed to use 5.45x39 mm cartridges.
• Vepr-Hunter. It is presented on the market in two modifications, differing in the ammunition used - 7.62x51 mm and 7.62x63 mm.
• VPO-133 Vepr-K. The model is based on the AK assault rifle, and the main difference is the lack of the ability to fire in automatic mode.
• Vepr-223. The ammunition used is 5.45x45 mm cartridges.
• Vepr-243. Shotgun chambered for 243 Win.
• Vepr-12 Hammer. Smoothbore modification of the carbine for 12 gauge.

Differences between VPO-136 and VPO-133 (Vepr K)

Outwardly they are very similar to each other. The previous version of the self-loading carbine was more blackened: this is reflected both in the barrel and receiver, and in the tone of the forearm and butt.

In technical terms, there are nuances that should be noted. VPO-136 has an intact “cracker” installed in front of the chamber. In addition, it has the original latch. These design elements allow the use of standard military-style 10-round magazines.

The Vepr-KM has an important modification that helped eliminate a serious drawback of the Vepr-K. There is no pin in its barrel, and the barrel itself is not weakened by through drilling. Thanks to this, the bullet is not scratched at the moment of firing, maintaining a high initial flight speed and integrity, ensuring good shooting accuracy.

Carbines VPO-133 and VPO-136

After a shot, the VPO-136 produces a whole, untouched cartridge case, which is different from the VPO-133. The absence of a hole in the chamber and the integrity of the chrome coating are affected.

Other differences include:

• the presence of a light core, which replaced the pin;
• the choke tube and the “plug” of the third axis are not welded.

Disassembly

This procedure is very simple, which saves time when cleaning a self-loading carbine. The entire process is described in detail in the instructions included with the VPO-136.

In general, the action diagram can be depicted as follows:

• separation of the trigger part from the receiver;
• removing the sighting device;
• disassembling the bolt frame.

The design of Vepr-KM does not provide for rigid fixation of structural elements, which makes servicing the carbine easier at home. The barrel is attached to the body with a screw, which can be easily unscrewed when disassembling the VPO-136.

Tuning

A pleasant bonus for owners of a self-loading civilian carbine is great opportunities for modernization. By investing several thousand rubles on the purchase of additional devices, you can radically change the appearance of the Vepr-KM, while maintaining its main shooting performance:

• you can significantly increase the firing range by installing a high-quality optical sight on the receiver cover;
• to improve the design of the weapon, you can install a pseudo-magazine of increased size, which can hold the permissible number of 7.62x39 mm caliber cartridges - 10 pieces;
• It is allowed to install choke tubes, including a flash suppressor (the exception is devices that muffle the sound of a shot - they are prohibited by law).

Muzzle attachment UTES-U (DTK) for VPO-136
There are additional options for tuning the Vepr-KM carbine. You can install:

• stock with recoil absorber;
• more modern handguard;
• additional shock absorber;
• return buffer;
• muzzle braking compensator.

It is possible to attach an auxiliary handle to the fore-end, which improves the ergonomics of the Vepr-KM self-loading carbine.

It is noteworthy that the installation of these devices is simple and quick. If desired, you can remove the tuned parts, replacing them with original ones from the factory, thereby returning the VPO-136 to the appearance of a classic AKM.

Tuned carbine Vepr-136

Advantages and disadvantages

This model of civilian weapon has both advantages and disadvantages. Both factors should be covered to help form an unbiased impression of the rifle.

You need to start with the disadvantages, there are few of them, but it is better to know about the disadvantages first:

• standard cleaning devices are quite inconvenient to use, and the original ones intended for AKM are not suitable in design, so owners need to get used to cleaning;
• outdated ergonomics - despite the aggressive and traditional appearance of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, as well as 100% similarity with the original, the use of the carbine is very difficult, therefore, in the form in which it is supplied from the factory, the VPO-136 is suitable for the most part only as a souvenir, and For practical shooting, tuning is highly recommended.

VPO-136 has significantly more advantages than disadvantages, which is good news. Thanks to the non-welded choke, you can install almost any flame arresters and compensators permitted by law. If desired, you can install a decorative muffler that does not perform a practical function.

A plus is the presence of a bayonet-knife mount. The law does not prohibit its installation, so it is quite possible to equip a carbine with such a stylish device as a souvenir.

Vepr-KM with bayonet-knife

The remaining advantages have already been mentioned in passing earlier. This:

• fairly large target firing range - up to 300 meters;
• optimal accuracy;
• reliability;
• reliability;
• long service life.

Vepr-22. Small-caliber Kalashnikov - a “remake” or a deep modernization?

At the beginning of autumn 2015, our store received the Vepr-22 (VPO-131) carbine of .22LR caliber. As the name suggests, the weapon was produced at OJSC VPMZ "MOLOT" (Vyatskiye Polyany). The carbine is made from the Modernized Kalashnikov Automatic (AKM), which arrived at the plant under the program for recycling surplus small arms of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Externally (except for “civilian” markings), the carbine differs from the machine gun only in the diameter of the bore at the muzzle: instead of 7.62 mm, only 5.6 mm. We were unable to find any other differences in the appearance of the weapon from the “donor” AKM. Due to the reduction in caliber, the standard cleaning rod began to serve a fake function; the pencil case with the accessory for 7.62x39 is missing in the butt.

The magazine is standard steel ribbed. The magazine jaws are cut off and a plastic magazine for small-caliber .22LR cartridges is installed inside. Magazine capacity is 10 rounds.

We try to pull back the bolt frame of the carbine and are surprised to find that the force required for this is somewhat higher than, for example, with the VPO-136 or cooled AKM.

Removing the receiver cover also required more effort to recess the latch.

However, what we saw under the cover was pleasantly surprising: the design of the machine gun, converted to a small-caliber cartridge, turned out to be very original. The automatic shutter has been completely removed. The lower part of the bolt frame (in the place where there used to be a hole for a rotating automatic bolt) is milled. Inside, in the resulting niche, there are guides for a flat bolt for .22LR. The steel shutter is completely new.

When fired, under the influence of powder gases at the bottom of the cartridge case, the bolt rolls back along new guides inside the bolt frame, removing the cartridge case from the barrel chamber. At the same time, the massive bolt frame of the former machine gun remains motionless and pressed against the front liner of the receiver by a return spring.

Since the bolt carrier is stationary and blocks the receiver cover window for ejecting the spent cartridge case, the .22LR cartridge case is reflected downward into the magazine body.

The “new” bolt has its own return spring, which rests with its shank against the latch of the receiver cover from the inside. It was due to the presence of the return spring of the new bolt that more force had to be applied to the bolt carrier cocking handle.

The trigger (except for the trigger) is standard for Molot products. This is a “newly made” trigger with a low hook, a tubular axis, an automatic sear with a sawn-off shank and a traditional trigger travel limiter in the form of a squiggle. To this day, we do not understand the meaning of manufacturing this part, when in the same warehouses of the Russian Ministry of Defense there are probably thousands of limiters from the AKS-74U. Or, with a graceful movement of the grinder, one could cut off the top of the trigger retarder from the spare parts for the AK-74. The trigger is sawed off on one side to accommodate the protrusion on the bolt. There is no self-timer, the front (third) axle is installed and welded.

Incomplete disassembly of the VPO-131 resembles that of the AK. After checking the weapon for the absence of a cartridge in the chamber, the receiver cover is removed. Then the automatic return mechanism is removed. When dismantling it, the return spring rod of the small-caliber bolt is also released. It is quite long and it is better to hold it with your hand.

Next, you should pull the .22LR bolt out of the bolt carrier towards the butt. Only then is the bolt carrier removed and further disassembly (with the exception of separating the “newly made” reflector) is carried out similarly to the AKM.

The .22LR caliber barrel is also “newly made” and is installed instead of the standard machine gun. Naturally, there is no hole in the barrel wall in the area of ​​the gas chamber, since the carbine bolt is not engaged.

If we ignore the military-patriotic component, then as a self-loading small-caliber carbine the VPO-131 is practically eternal. The large area of ​​the working surfaces of the “newly made” bolt guides and the technological play of the bolt frame in the receiver are unlikely to ever expose this unit to wear. The metal consumption of the carbine is such that, with timely maintenance, it will most likely last forever. The same cannot be said about foreign AK clones (for example GSG), which use an alloy bolt inside a silumin body.

The carbine inherited from the machine gun a vertically and horizontally adjustable front sight (when zeroing) and a height-adjustable rear sight. The mechanical sights of the machine gun are very good and reliable, so the weapon can be easily brought into normal combat.

As a summary, we note once again that the Vepr-22 is the most authentic small-caliber carbine with the appearance of an AKM, since it was converted from a real machine gun. The high strength of the donor components and the “newly made” shutter indicates the high operational strength of the product and, as a result, durability.

The “donor” for the VPO-131 was the Tula AKM manufactured in 1965 with milled barrel reinforcement. The last 3 digits of the serial number of the machine gun (also the serial number of the carbine) are marked on the bolt.

The disadvantages of the carbine include the presence of only one magazine in the package.

The retail price of VPO-131 in our store is 29,390 rubles (as of October 15, 2015), which is lower than any foreign small-caliber semi-automatic device. And taking into account the strength, durability and lack of savings on steel, the price of the new product is very attractive.

Product prices

This indicator is very broad. In narrow circles of owners you can find advertisements in which a used VPO-136 costs only about 15,000 rubles. When purchasing such a carbine, it is necessary to carefully examine the fore-end and butt, since the degree of wear on them can be used to judge how long the weapon has been in use.

The price of a new Vepr-KM with the above factory configuration is approximately 30,000 rubles. Here it is worth taking into account the fact that the reserves of this weapon will soon run out, so when purchasing a carbine, you should also take care of purchasing basic spare parts, which will ensure reliable service for the next 5-10 years.

The price for a tuned VPO-136 carbine complete with cartridges is 40 thousand rubles

Owner reviews

In general, the owners of the VPO-136 carbine are very satisfied with the weapon manufactured at the Molot enterprise. It is noted that of all the existing samples produced from the Kalashnikov combat assault rifle, it is the Vepr-KM that is considered the least modified. It has retained its external identity, which, together with the pseudo-military stores, is a huge plus for AKM connoisseurs.

The metal elements of the structure do not cause any complaints. They are high quality, reliable, durable. If you need a good weapon for training or recreational shooting, then the wooden fore-end, like the butt, is recommended to be replaced immediately after purchase.

Terms of use

First of all, the VPO 136 06 carbine is intended for hunting. With the help of this weapon you can hit small and medium-sized animals from a distance of 200 m. The carbine can also be used for competitions in accuracy. However, it is extremely important to remember safety precautions and follow a few basic rules:

• before loading the weapon again, you need to check the barrel channel and chamber for the presence of foreign objects;
• You cannot point even an unloaded gun at people or domestic animals;
• if there is a misfire during the shot, then you should pause for 5 seconds and only then open the shutter;
• to avoid an accidental shot, the weapon must be put on safety;
• Ammunition and carbine must be stored out of the reach of children.

In order for a weapon to last for many years, it must be cleaned after each use. If you do not plan to use the carabiner for a long time, it needs to be lubricated.

Analogs

There are many carbines that have similar technical and shooting characteristics, and we are talking not only about Russian, but also about foreign models. This:

• Tikka T3 Sporter .223;
• Vepr Pioneer;
• Sako 85 Bavarian .300WSM;
• VPO-139;
• SOK-95.

Carbine Vepr 308 (SOK-95)
If you have long been dreaming of an analogue of the army AKM, which would be available to the civilian population and have 100% similarity with the analogue, then the VPO-136 is an ideal option. However, professional (or even novice) hunters should refrain from purchasing it, preferring other carbines that are more suitable for crossing rough terrain. It could even be everyone's favorite Saiga.