Am I a wuss? AK kicks too hard. (Vepr 7.62x39)

[MachIVshooter]

Wuss? It depends on how you're looking at it. I shoot some pretty heavy recoiling rifles, including a .350 Mag, 8mm Rem Mag, .375 RUM and heavy .45-70-all from rifles weighing under 8 lbs. But I'm not putting magazine after magazine through them, either. I find it easy to tolerate that recoil for a box or less of cartridges during sight in and a round or two fired at a critter. I did have one day where I put nearly 100 rounds of my 405 gr. @ 2,015 FPS handloads down range out of my 1895SS, and I was a hurtin' unit.

In contrast, when the semi-auto toys come out, it's a rare day that I put fewer than 100 rounds out of them. I wouldn't call my .308AR or FAL heavy recoiling, but it starts to wear on me by the 7th or 8th magazine.

So, even if your AK's felt recoil is gentle in comparison to a typical bolt action hunting rifle in .30-06, it can still cross the line into unpleasant/mildly abusive after a couple hundred rounds. I've even shot some 5.56 ARs that were so over-gassed that the recoil became annoying after awhile. The carrier or buffer of a semi-auto slamming into the receiver or receiver extension produces a very different impulse than recoil from a manual action; it doesn't have to produce gobs of KE to feel rather sharp.

Look at the rear of your receiver where the bolt carrier hits home, see if there's any evidence of it battering steel. If there is, you may want to find a fix, be it some way to add weight to the carrier or buy/make an adjustable gas block.

 

[DeepSouth]

I can't imagine anyone thinking an AK is a hard recoiling gun, I've shot several different ones and never thought they were hard hitters. My oldest son was shooting them when he was 8 years old and he never complained, even when he shot 4 or 5 mags at a time. And that stock isn't a bad one for recoil, the wire stocks are the bad ones l, and they're not THAT bad.

At the same time if your saying it kicks harder than a Garand, then something is definitely off. But I can't possibly imagine what, unless it something off in your head.....

If you were one of those guys that only shoots an AR, sure I could see that, as they recoil like an airsoft gun. So I could see someone going from a pansy gun to a real gun (with recoil and everything!!) being surprised by the recoil. But compared to a Garand, it's like half that hard hitting.... Generally

 

[barnbwt]

If child soldiers in the Congo can handle it...

TCB

 

[FIGHT NIGHT]

AK's are made in so many different flavors that consistancy is hard to find even within the same lot and model. My Saiga kicks harder than Wasr's so it's very subjective.

 

[carbine85]

The AK47 doesn't have much kick but it's about the most ergonomically unfriendly gun out there. I can't wear my head phones with them because it pushes the right side off my ear after every shot. I have to use ear plugs. They are harder to bring back on target for a quick accurate follow-up shot.
The AK74 kicks like a pussy cat. It's like shooting a .22 magnum.

 

[jrdolall]

I think the 47 kicks considerably more than an AR-15 or AK74. I use the term "kick" because that is what we grew up using. I have an SKS that was not pleasant with the folding stock but is fine with the wood stock so maybe it IS all about ergodynamicnomicalthingamabobbness.

 

[dancitizen]

"paracord bank"

My new favorite term

 

[wojownik]

1K - its not you, its the stock. My Romy AKM with wood stock has much more agreeable recoil than the one with a folding wire stock. The latter is much less pleasant to shoot. The perceived recoil seems significantly sharper. Frankly, I keep one with a wire stock for the looks - all the others have gone back to wood and polymer full stocks.

The Bonesteel folding stock is pattered after the Galil stock, which was used in conjunction with the 5.56 round. Another similar stock is the Polish Beryl folding stock, also for a 5.56 rifle (and 5.45 in the Beryl M545 version, though the M762 version came in ... well, 7.62).

I also prefer the feel of the wood over the polymer stock, A bit heavier, and seems to dampen the perceived recoil more than polymer.

 

[zoom6zoom]

In addition to the points made above regarding folders, the length of pull on AKs tends to be shorter as well, which can affect felt recoil. Gotta remember the original users of these guns generally wore thick winter coats most of the time. Try a fixed NATO length stock.

I do have a wee bit of experience with this.

 

[mavracer]

I'm not gonna call you a wuss but if you say it I'll just agree with you

 

[Blade First]

If I may say so, there are really inexpensive devices in the proper left-hand thread as that slant-brake that will better help tame recoil and muzzle rise, but those Soviet-bloc folding stocks mfd. for less than a dollar apiece aren't ever going to be comfortable.

Expedient? Yes. Comfortable to shoot? No.

Evidence? Any contemporaneous video clip from any hell-hole in the Middle East stuck in the Middle Ages.

 

[WardenWolf]

Even .223 can be unpleasant with the wrong stock. My Saiga .223 had a bit of sharpness to the recoil until I installed the Saiga skeleton stock (I later converted it). I won't say you're a wuss. I'd simply say you need to get another stock that won't abuse your shoulder. If you want your VEPR to look sharp, I personally recommend Rhineland Arms:

http://troupsystems.com/akparts.htm

 

[DeepSouth]

Have all you guys that are recommending a stock change even watched the video and know what stock he has?

The stock is not the problem!!

I do not belive it.

 

[blarby]

Ok, I have ( or should say, the wife has ) a VEPR in .308. I've been shooting it more and more lately, and its pretty tame. Other than on the brass.... ANyway.

Have you tried shooting it with the stock it came with ?

I notice two things right off that might make your configuration worse for you :

#1 Grip angle. That thing hurts just looking at it, in comparison to the VEPR configuration thumbhole.

#2 Stock length and weight. Not that the VEPR is anything super special and redesigned, but the "stock stock" weighs much more than the one you have now, and has a quite pleasing geometry on the shoulder.

I'm curious who you got the VEPR, only to turn it into something else ? I ask only because the VEPR is much more expensive than any other AK if you were going to modify it ? Was it an availability issue ?

I love that flash hider, BTW, very nice

 

[Jackal]

I had an M+M AK with the Chinese pattern gas block. That bugger had harsher recoil than my Vepr .308 did at the time. I dont know why, but it that x39 would bruise my shoulder. I'm 6', 230lbs.

 

[WardenWolf]

I'm curious why you got the VEPR, only to turn it into something else ? I ask only because the VEPR is much more expensive than any other AK if you were going to modify it ? Was it an availability issue ?

Probably because they're simply the best AKs out there. However, I do think they're best kept in an SVD-style configuration, either with their original stock, the Rhineland Arms one, or the Ironwood Designs version.

 

[chuckles]

The guy with the life jacket on looks like he stores a few extra rounds in his lower jaw pocket. LOL

 

[joneb]

If the stock is to short and not snugged in to your shoulder the butt is getting a running start before it hits your shoulder.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

In addition to the points made above regarding folders, the length of pull on AKs tends to be shorter as well, which can affect felt recoil. Gotta remember the original users of these guns generally wore thick winter coats most of the time. Try a fixed NATO length stock.

I do have a wee bit of experience with this.

Any Russian will tell you that their stocks are 1.25" shorter than NATO due to heavy winter coats. They don't like being asked if their narrow grips are for their heavy winner gloves.

Mike

 

[xxjumbojimboxx]

Aks recoil is light and manageable with a standard stock. Folders Don't make ANY sense for those of use not dropping out of airplanes. Or Clearing buildings I guess (theres far better options for that)

As an aside i just swapped the peice of trash folding stock for a beaver barf set on my vz2008, and its night and day.

 

[WardenWolf]

Dang, Arizona_Mike, you have even more AKs than I do.

The stock is all-important. My Saiga .223 had a bit of a sting with the original straight hunting stock. I replaced it with a Saiga skeleton stock and that solved it. Eventually I converted it, and my Saiga 12 is now wearing the skeleton stock; I can shoot 40 rounds of #00 buck with not the slightest bit of discomfort.

In my experience, you want the stock on an AK to hit your shoulder level with the bottom of the receiver. You want a broad, mostly flat surface, that's perpendicular to the bore, not angled. Your stock seems to be angled upwards a little bit, even though it's overall the right contour. You might want to try getting a VEPR angle adapter and putting a normal AK stock on it.

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

Wuss?
I think you should shoot what is comfortable to you!
If you prefer low recoil, might I suggest .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire.
STW

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Dang, Arizona_Mike, you have even more AKs than I do.

The stock is all-important. My Saiga .223 had a bit of a sting with the original straight hunting stock. I replaced it with a Saiga skeleton stock and that solved it. Eventually I converted it, and my Saiga 12 is now wearing the skeleton stock; I can shoot 40 rounds of #00 buck with not the slightest bit of discomfort.

In my experience, you want the stock on an AK to hit your shoulder level with the bottom of the receiver. You want a broad, mostly flat surface, that's perpendicular to the bore, not angled. Your stock seems to be angled upwards a little bit, even though it's overall the right contour. You might want to try getting a VEPR angle adapter and putting a normal AK stock on it.

I own one AK (a 10.5" SBR) and one VZ.

Mike

 

[dvdcrr]

I had an Ace sidefolder on several Saiga 308 and a Vepr 308. No problems. If I could handle it in 308, you should be OK in 762x39. I would try a stock with a wider buttpad to spread out the impact on your shoulder, and use a buffer. That should do it.

 

[Native shooter]

The only rifle I own is a Mosin Nagant and I got use to that kick. I shot my uncles polish AK and the kick wasn't bad, just like a little nudge to me