Vepr-12 began to be developed at the VPMZ Molot plant after the launch of Saiga shotguns with a smooth barrel, which were in great demand. Initially, many people bought the Saiga, but after a couple of years, negative reviews began to appear about it - the weapon produced many misfires.
started creating his own smoothbore model. The design did not take much time; the basic design solutions of the Kalashnikov assault rifle were taken as a basis.
Design and operating principle of Vepr-12 “Hammer”
The internal structure and operating principle are similar to IZHMASH products - Saiga-12S and Saiga-12K carbines.
The sighting mechanism is classic (front and rear sight). The mount is located at the end of the gas outlet tube. The rear sight is adjustable. Vepr 12 Molot 205 has a short sighting line. The best results are achieved when using bullets; buckshot hits less closely and it is better to use an aiming bar for it.
The skeleton type stock can be folded. Its metal frame has increased strength, the coating consists of plastic and a rubber butt pad. The developers have provided for changing the height of the butt for comfortable shooting with different types of sights.
The Vepr-12 carbine is equipped with a magazine receiver that protects the magazine and the window in the receiver from damage. The design of the handle, forend and gas outlet lining are copied from the Kalashnikov light machine gun. The surface is finished with black polymer.
The shutter lag allows shooters to save several seconds on reloading. The bolt delay signals the end of the ammunition, after which you can quickly reload and continue shooting.
All versions of the weapon are equipped with multiple Picatinny rails. They are located on the receiver cover, on the lower edge of the forend and on the barrel. Each bar has its own practical application. An optical or other additional sighting mechanisms are mounted on the receiver. An additional handle can be installed on the forend. A laser sight or flashlight can be placed on the barrel.
The Vepr 12 Molot 205 is fed with 12 gauge ammunition and has a chamber length of 76 millimeters.
About the external design
SOK "Vepr-308 Super" (photo of the hunting carbine is presented in the article) has much in common with the legendary Kalashnikov assault rifle. According to experts, both shooting models have similar gas exhaust systems.
In all other respects, the engineers used their best practices. The butt of the carbine is made of wood. There is a special recess in the butt of the SOK for the thumb. The rear part became a place to place a rubber shock absorber.
The Vepr is equipped with a pistol grip. The end of the barrel is equipped with a flash suppressor and a muzzle brake-compensator. In an effort to increase service life, chambers and rifled barrels in carbines are subjected to a chrome plating procedure. Wood is used to make the stock.
Maintenance Vepr-12 “Hammer”
The bore is chrome plated. This allows you to extend the working life of the weapon. To remove carbon deposits, cleaning should be done after each shooting. In this case, it is enough to use a brush and a soft cloth. Abrasive materials cannot be used as they will damage the chrome layer. Without it, the barrel will quickly deteriorate due to corrosion. Also, we must not forget about the piston and cylinder of the gas chamber. It is also recommended to wash the weapon after each use, especially if the shooting was intense.
Carbine maintenance ensures its stable operation. When using lead ammunition, you may encounter the problem of “lead plating.” Particles of material are deposited on the walls of the canal. In the future, this may affect the passage of a cartridge whose diameter is similar to the bore.
In addition to cleaning the barrel, we must not forget that periodically it is necessary to disassemble the gun and check the serviceability of all parts; they must be cleaned and lubricated. This type of care will ensure long service life for any weapon.
About finishing
According to the owners, despite the high quality of workmanship, the carbine can be made almost perfect with a little intervention. In hunting weapons, there may be defects at the junction of the receivers and butts. Judging by the reviews, the screw in the shank may slightly reduce accuracy.
To fix this problem, the owner needs to drill a hole in the stock. It is important that it turns out to be end-to-end. Then you need to insert a screw into it and, using a cone washer, install the butt. There are often cases when parts in the trigger mechanism are not processed well enough, which negatively affects shooting accuracy.
This defect can be corrected using sandpaper. Owners of carabiners need to carefully clean the places where the hooks and triggers catch. According to experts, the result will be much better if you work with a diamond needle file. Judging by numerous reviews, replacing stocks, stocks and internal mechanisms is quite common. Owners modify and improve their hunting weapons in a variety of ways: they equip them with devices for silent shooting, optical sights and other accessories. Various weapon elements are available for free sale.
Using additional equipment
If you don't want to use an optical sight, you can use a collimator. With skill, you can hit a target at a distance of 50-70 meters. Optical sights provide much better magnification, but the effectiveness of the gun at such distances is low.
The edge of the gun barrel is equipped with a thread onto which a flash suppressor is attached at the factory. To narrow or expand the spread of shot, you can install special attachments: a choke or a half-shot. At the same time, you need to remember the restrictions on the ammunition used with these attachments. In this matter, it is better to consult with a specialist in a gun store.
Shot accuracy can be improved by installing a compensator on the barrel. Any automatic weapon, due to the force of the powder gases, jumps to the side after firing, causing its aiming line to shift. The compensator directs part of the powder gases in the desired direction, which eliminates the possibility of serious displacement of the aiming line and increases the accuracy of shots.
An extension with internal thread can be installed on the barrel thread of the Vepr 12 Molot 205. In this case, the weapon will be reclassified from smooth-bore to rifled.
general information
The Vepr-308 carbine is in high demand due to its power. Many hunters preferred their old guns to him. The design features of the carbine allow you to hunt large animals - brown bear and elk - in low temperatures.
High strength and heat resistance are achieved due to the fact that the design of the carbine is based on the design of the famous Kalashnikov assault rifle. Thanks to this choice, the carbine has a number of advantages that many rifles of the same class lack.
The developers of the “Vepr” made changes to some technical components so that the new carbine qualified as a hunting carbine. For example, in the firing system, the possibility of firing in bursts was eliminated, the shape of the butt was changed, and the forend was made semi-open.
Solving the overcharging problem
The carbine is reloaded after firing due to powder gases. A short barrel does not always create enough force; as a result, the bolt does not retract completely and the cartridge does not change. The situation is aggravated by a rigid return spring, which requires additional effort to move the bolt.
The first option to solve the problem is to use powerful Magnum cartridges, which provide sufficient pressure of the powder gases. The disadvantage is the strong recoil after the shot, which can knock down an inexperienced shooter. This drawback can be eliminated by installing a spring shock absorber on the butt. In addition, Magnum cartridges are very noisy.
You can increase recoil pressure by using a choke. The disadvantage of this method is that you will have to choose ammunition that is compatible with the choke or choke, and not from your own preferences and goals. If both options do not suit you, wait until the return spring weakens and it becomes more comfortable to work with.
About ammunition
Ammunition is supplied from box magazines. Their capacity can be 3, 5, 7 and 10 rounds. Some owners use artisanal stores. The capacity of such homemade products reaches 20 ammunition.
According to carbine owners, replacing magazines is easy. The weapon is equipped with a special mechanism that is activated when the clips are unlocked. If there is no magazine to load the carbine, the shooter needs to retract the bolt and insert a cartridge there.
Advantages and disadvantages of Vepr-12 “Hammer”
The main advantage of the gun is its impressive firepower, which was achieved thanks to the 12-gauge and high rate of fire. The rate of fire is possible thanks to the spacious magazine and its convenient, quick replacement. According to reviews from shooters around the world, the Vepr-12 is one of the most durable semi-automatic shotguns in the world.
A noticeable drawback during operation is the Picatinny rail on the lower part of the forend. It is inconvenient for holding the carabiner for a long time. Another disadvantage of the model, which not everyone takes into account, is the mass of weapons. In a discharged state without additional equipment, it is 4.3 kilograms. But this also has its positive side - massive guns are more stable when shooting.
Acquaintance
This weapon was developed by weapons designers at the Vyatsko-Polyansky Machine-Building Plant. “Vepr-308 Super” is a self-loading hunting carbine (SOK). The Kalashnikov light machine gun (RPK) became the base, the elements of which were used by the creators of the carbine. Thanks to this, the SOK has high reliability and excellent combat characteristics.
Modifications Vepr-12
Based on the standard model, several versions have been developed:
- Vepr-12-00 is a model with a 430 mm barrel. The butt folds; safety is ensured by a mechanism that prevents shooting with the butt folded. The kit includes a compensator;
- Model 12-01 - barrel length is 53 centimeters. The stock also folds, but there is no trigger locking system when folded. The compensator is rigid and cannot be removed;
- Model 12-02 - 680 mm barrel. The kit does not include a compensator, but there are choke tubes. The thread allows you to install an extension to increase shooting accuracy;
- Vepr-12 VPO-250-03 - has the shortest barrel length (305 millimeters). There is a built-in fire limiter when folded. The kit includes a compensator. The weight of the unloaded weapon is 4,200 grams;
- Model 12-04 - a similar version to the previous one with a barrel length of 483 millimeters;
- Vepr-12 IPSC is a sports modification of the carbine, created taking into account the wishes of professional shooters. Elements have been added to make operation more comfortable: there is a safety button on both sides, the magazine can be removed by pressing a button, the bolt is raised using a lever, and the standard sighting mechanism has been removed;
- Vepr-12 VPO-205S is a special version for law enforcement agencies and security companies.
About design
In the 90s, the number of government orders at weapons factories sharply decreased. Therefore, they were forced to look for new sources of income. As a result, the manufacturer refocused on the needs of the civilian consumer: work began on creating shooting models for Russian hunters. Some weapons were made to order for export to other countries.
One of these. Using a reliable RPK system, the design team (P. Mokrushin, V. Lyamin, A. Kabatchikov) created the Vepr carbine. A 7.62 mm cartridge was provided as ammunition for this model. In the technical documentation, the rifle unit is listed as “Vepr-308” SOK-94. The weapon was created specifically for hunting roe deer, elk and bear. Soon a modification of the carbine chambered for 7.62x51 mm cartridges was released. The modified carbine is known as SOK-95.
About weaknesses
Despite the presence of undeniable advantages, the Vepr-308 Super is not without some disadvantages. The disadvantages of this shooting model include:
- Large mass. In addition, the carbine is quite large.
- Judging by some consumer reviews, Vepr-308 Super has poor balancing.
- The wooden parts are not processed well enough.
- Owners have to spend a lot of time disassembling the gas chambers of carbines and cleaning the pistons.
- If the weapon is dropped on a hard surface, the open sight may break.
How to care for juice
Many owners appreciate the quality of the automation. Carbines have a fairly high service life. According to hunters, after firing 500 shots, the SOC mechanics function properly and do not misfire.
Experts advise thoroughly cleaning the gas piston every time after use. This recommendation is due to the fact that after a while it will be problematic to remove carbon deposits.
The barrel channel is also made of quite high quality. However, according to some hunters, there are cases when after 200-300 shots the protective chrome layer begins to peel off. This can be prevented by cleaning the barrel regularly. According to hunters, using the factory cleaning rod that comes with the carbine is inconvenient. It is best to purchase a cleaning rod separately. It is desirable that it has a rotating head.
It is easy to remove dirt and carbon deposits using white cotton tape, which is used to insulate the windings in electric motors. First, the tape must be cut into several strips. Then they wrap the ramrod. The barrel can be considered clean if the color of the tape remains consistently white.
Experienced hunters do not recommend using too much lubricant. The mechanical components of the carbine are treated with a clean cloth, dampened and thoroughly wrung out. This is especially important in cases where the weapon is planned to be used at sub-zero temperatures. If you have to shoot in the summer, then you can put less lubricant on the rag. It is best to clean the rifle with oil intended for diesel engines.
