The products of Molot Weapon LLC from Vyatskiy Polyany have long gained fame as reliable hunting and sporting models. The optimal price/quality ratio is VPO 212. But this is not why it is famous. This model is the first (appeared only in 2015) that began to be mass produced for the new hunting cartridge .366 TKM (9.5x39). It’s not for nothing that gunsmiths call modern trends the Lancaster Era. Since then, VPO models are almost always either completely “Lancaster”, or this cartridge is one of several possible ones.
VPO-212 - the first weapon chambered for .366TKM
The VPO-212 is not an independent weapon, but only a modification for the already existing SOK-97R carbine (better known as the Vepr-Pioneer), which entered the market in 1999. This model was designed on the basis of the Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK-74), therefore it has a high reliability indicator and good tactical and technical characteristics. For shooting, the Vepr-Pioneer uses .223 Remington cartridges (5.56×45), which are considered the most versatile projectile among hunters and athletes.
Due to the fact that purchasing a rifle requires 5 years of experience as a hunter, not everyone can afford to purchase at least a small-caliber rifle. Of course, such a limitation causes a serious blow to profits for weapons companies, but Vyatsko-Polyansky’s engineers managed to come up with something simple and ingenious. Together with Tekhkrim CJSC they developed the Paradox drill (at first the barrel is smooth, and closer to the muzzle it is rifled), as well as a fundamentally new cartridge 9.5x38 mm (in inch dimensions - .366 TKM).
What is so unique about the projectile and drill? Firstly, the cartridge uses a recompressed cartridge case from the Soviet 7.62x39 mm cartridge. Secondly, the rifled part of the barrel is no more than 140 millimeters, so according to Russian law, weapons with a Paradox drill belong to the smooth-bore category. And thirdly, due to the fact that the bullet still passes through the rifling, it acquires ballistics, which is more characteristic of a rifled barrel than a smooth one.
Review of the VPO-212 carbine
The first carbine using the Paradox drill for shooting was the VPO-212 Vepr-Pioneer .366 TKM. What is the purpose of this weapon? Of course, in the hunt for large animals, the mass of which reaches 200 kilograms. In addition, the rifle will also perform well in competitive and training shooting, since it has impressive combat accuracy (even if the characteristics are not the same as those of rifled weapons, they are close to them).
If we talk about the advantages of VPO-212, it is worth noting that they are inextricably linked with the positive aspects of the .366 TKM cartridge and the Paradox drill. Here are just the qualities that gun owners highlight:
- Excellent striking ability. Due to the fact that the bullet is large and the barrel spins it around its own axis, the ballistic projectile develops sufficient speed and has good penetrating force.
- Excellent combat accuracy (for smooth-bore weapons). Although the Paradox drill is not suitable for sniping, the deflection of the ballistic projectile is imperceptible, unlike smoothbore weapons, which are not suitable for long-range shooting.
- No need to purchase a rifle license. "Vepr-Pioneer" belongs to the category of smooth-bore weapons, since most of the barrel channel does not have rifling. So anyone can purchase the model.
- Reliability. The VPO-212 carbine uses the RPK design, so the model is not particularly demanding to maintain, can be used in conditions of heat and extreme cold, and also has a long warranty period.
- Automatic recharging system. The carbine is equipped with a gas engine, which not only ejects the spent cartridge case, but also feeds a new projectile into the chamber. So the hunter does not have to perform any manipulations related to reloading.
Of course, the Paradox drill is not without its drawbacks, therefore the VPO-212 model also has some negative aspects:
- high cost of weapons - alas, the Paradox technology is innovative, so the manufacturer confidently inflates the price tag for weapons (from 44 thousand rubles and above);
- a sharp decrease in the accuracy of combat at long distances - the carbine shows good accuracy only at a distance of up to 200 m, since it is still not a rifled weapon;
- there is a possibility of the barrel rupturing - the bullet first moves along a smooth channel, after which it “crashes” into the drill bit - such a scenario clearly will not lead to anything good.
The cost of .366 TKM cartridges is quite low.
.366 TKM cartridges are quite cheap (from 25 rubles apiece), so the weapon can be used not only for hunting, but also for training target shooting. A kind of analogue of the .223 Rem, which before the advent of the 9.5×38 caliber was considered the cheapest and was actively used for training beginner hunters.
Tuning
The VPO-208 carbine allows tuning at the request of its owner. Most often, VPO-208 owners improve their carbine with the following tuning elements:
- A mechanical sight is not very suitable for accurate shooting at long distances, so many owners install an optical or collimator sight on the carbine. With this improvement, the firing range and accuracy significantly increases.
- The original SKS carbine has a wooden stock, which does not meet modern requirements for the appearance and practicality of a weapon. The owner of the VPO-208 can install a modern type of stock on his carbine, which can be plastic or wooden, folding, with adjustable length; in addition, it can be equipped with a pistol or tactical grip.
- Owners of the VPO-208 carbine can equip their carbine with various barrel attachments: a muzzle brake-compensator (DTC), a flash suppressor or a muffler. The muzzle brake-compensator (DTC) allows you to reduce recoil and thereby increase the accuracy and accuracy of fire. Silencers allow you to reduce the volume of a shot, reducing it to a minimum. Flash suppressors allow you to reduce the flash of fire from the barrel, thereby hiding the location of the shooter.
- The standard VPO-208 magazine is designed for 10 rounds; some owners want to increase the capacity of the carbine magazine, but you should immediately warn that such an upgrade is prohibited by the weapons law, according to which civilian weapons cannot have a magazine with a capacity of more than 10 rounds.
- In addition to the above-mentioned tuning elements, there are many small accessories that can significantly increase comfort when using the VPO-208 carbine, these include a rubber butt plate for the butt, a magazine release button, a buffer for the return spring, and an improved gas outlet tube.
Design
But why are we all talking about cartridges and drilling? After all, the barrel of a weapon is far from its only part. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the main design features of the VPO-212 carbine, which distinguish it from its competitors:
- The automation and locking unit were borrowed from the prototype, but the engineers made some changes to the bolt design to adapt the frame to the new caliber.
- The push-button safety is located in front of the trigger guard. Most hunters note that such a system is much more convenient than a “flag”.
- Adjustable open sight, consisting of a reversible rear sight (distance 100, 200 and 300 meters), as well as a front sight. There is a possibility for mounting optics.
- On the left side of the receiver there is an additional bracket for a collimator, night vision device (NVD) or thermal imager.
- The solid stock is made of wood (walnut). The buttstock is equipped with a comfortable cheek piece and a rubber butt pad designed to absorb recoil.
The equipment of the Vepr-Pioneer deserves attention. In addition to the operating instructions and a passport with performance characteristics, the box contains a magazine for 5 rounds and a cleaning rod intended for cleaning the barrel bore.
Disassembly
The owner of the VPO-208 carbine periodically needs to disassemble the carbine for cleaning and maintenance.
In order to carry out incomplete disassembly
carbine, follow these steps:
- Remove the case with accessories from the carbine butt
- Separate the receiver cover; to do this, turn the checkbox of the receiver cover up
- Remove the return mechanism from the bolt stem
- Remove the bolt; to do this, move the bolt handle back and remove the bolt stem along with the frame
Complete disassembly of the VPO-208 is carried out for cleaning in case of heavy contamination, after exposure to rain or snow, or after repairs.
To carry out a complete disassembly
carbine, follow these steps:
- Perform partial disassembly of the carbine
- Remove the pusher with the spring
- Separate the firing mechanism
- Separate the store
- Separate the barrel and receiver from the stock
- Disassemble the firing mechanism
- Disassemble the return mechanism
- Separate the firing pin and ejector from the bolt
Assemble the carabiner in the reverse order.
Performance characteristics
A few words about the technical characteristics of the carbine, because nothing characterizes a weapon as well as these indicators. Just look at the table below and see that drilling is not called “Paradox” for nothing:
| Characteristic: | Parameter: |
| Weapon type | Smoothbore semi-automatic |
| Caliber | .366 TKM |
| Chuck used | 9.5×38 mm |
| Barrel length | 520 mm |
| Threaded length | 135 mm |
| total length | 1010 mm |
| Muzzle energy | 2500 J |
| Initial bullet speed | 800 m/s |
| Recharge type | gas engine |
| Sighting range | 300 m |
| Possibility of installing optics | available |
| Dispersion at 100 m | no more than 50 mm |
| Carbine weight | 4300 grams |
Such indicators are much closer to rifled weapons than smooth-bore ones. And although many carbines boast much better ballistics, do not forget that to purchase them you need to have a hunting license with 5 years of experience or more, while even a beginner can purchase the Vepr-Pioneer.
Modifications of VPO-212
Despite the fact that the Vepr-Pioneer carbine appeared on the market relatively recently, it has already received several official modifications, tailored to the specific requirements of potential buyers. The most common of them is VPO-212-04, which differs from the original in the following features:
- increased length of the barrel channel (650 mm) - allows you to use the weapon for shooting at a distance of up to 300 meters without losing accuracy;
- laminated stock, painted gray-orange - gives the weapon a truly unique and unusual appearance;
- increased weight (4900 grams with a loaded magazine) - not every shooter will be able to use the weapon.
Over time, the Vepr-Pioneer will acquire more modifications and various design options - you just need to wait a little. In the meantime, the manufacturer is looking closely at customer reviews and making decisions about what should be changed in existing versions.
Flaws
Vepr carbines have their disadvantages, which in the eyes of most owners are outweighed by their advantages:
- Vepr carbines are quite heavy. The lightest modifications weigh 3.5 kg; the weight of many modifications when charged reaches 5 kg. When using a carbine for hunting purposes, it is better suited for stand hunting than for walking hunting.
- Vepr carbines have a less-than-ideal balance, which makes it especially difficult to shoot accurately at the side. Some hunters correct the balance of the carbine using special weights or suspension elements located in the right places, but all this makes the carbine even heavier.
- Vepr carbines equipped with wooden butts quite often have poor insertion and alignment of the wooden parts with the metal ones. Many also believe that the wooden butts of many modifications of the Vepr carbine have too much wood, which further burdens the already heavy carbine.
- When switching, the fuse makes a too loud sound, which can scare the game if it is at a short distance from the hunter, for example, when hunting from a tower or a blind.
- 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.
Terms of purchase and equipment
So, if you decide to purchase VPO-212, then you should know that for the purchase you will need a hunting license, as well as permission to purchase smooth-bore weapons. In some stores, the seller may ask for a passport, but everyone has this document.
We also hasten to dispel some rumors that weapons with a Paradox drill have become classified as rifled - at the moment (beginning of 2022) this is not the case. And it is unlikely that the State Duma will even dare to put forward a bill that would further restrict hunters from purchasing weapons.
As for the configuration, it may differ depending on the modification and version of the carbine. The following elements are required in the kit:
- a firearm;
- magazine for 5 or 10 rounds;
- passport with technical characteristics;
- Spare parts kit for weapon care or just a cleaning rod;
- user manual;
- warranty card.
Optionally, the kit may contain spare parts and replacement bushings. You can also purchase a carbine with a bipod or optical sight, but the cost of such a set will be much higher.
As for the packaging, there are no complaints here. The weapon is wrapped in a special moisture-resistant and impact-resistant material. All parts are packed in cardboard, which is thick enough to avoid damage during transportation.
The VPO-212 carbine is supplied in a thick cardboard package
The VPO-212 "Vepr-Pioneer" carbine is one of the best weapons chambered for the .366 TKM cartridge. It is thanks to the successful release of this rifle that the Paradox drill is rapidly increasing its popularity. Of course, there is an alternative in the form of the Lancaster, which also has many positive aspects. However, “Paradox” is considered an innovative development that will no doubt be improved over time.
Disassembly
The owner of the VPO-209 carbine periodically needs to disassemble the carbine for cleaning and maintenance.
In order to disassemble VPO-209, perform the following steps:
- Separate the store
- Remove cartridges from the magazine and chamber
- Remove the receiver cover, remove the return spring
- Pull the bolt carrier back and remove it from the receiver.
- Separate the shutter
- Separate the gas tube
VPO-209, like any other firearm, requires compliance with safety measures when handling it
Observe the following precautions when handling it:
- Always treat the rifle as if it were loaded.
- Never point the rifle at people or animals
- Before firing, make sure that the shot is in a safe direction and remember the range of the bullet.
- As soon as you pick up the rifle, make sure there are no cartridges in the magazine or chamber.
- Before loading the rifle, make sure that there are no foreign objects in the chamber and bore.
- If the shot misfires, do not open the shutter for 10-15 seconds, due to the danger of a prolonged shot.
- Always unload your gun when approaching a populated area, when getting into a car or boat, or before overcoming obstacles.
- Store the rifle separately from cartridges, out of the reach of children and strangers.
- Always use only commercially manufactured cartridges that have not expired.
Follow these simple safety rules and the VPO-209 carbine will serve you faithfully for many years.
