VEPR questions

[Alex45ACP]

A few questions on the VEPR AKs.

1. Which caliber for shooting at the range, and in case of SHTF (alien invasion, zombies, etc ).

2. 16" barrel vs. 20"? I guess this depends on the caliber. I've read that the VEPRs are front-heavy, and I assume a longer barrel only makes this worse.

3. Muzzle brake? Apparently makes the rifle much louder, but that's not really an issue to me (in fact I prefer louder ).

 

[KaceCoyote]

All AKs are alittle front heavy but I cant imagine a VEPR is especially so, considering the receiver is heavier than a normal AK afterall.

 

[cslinger]

Full length is front heavy.

I say 7.62x39 is your best all around caliber. Plenty accurate out of a VEPR out to 100 yards or so and you get the added bonus of super cheap ammo and plentiful and cheap magazines.

I have a full length VEPR II in 7.62x39. It is one of the earliest models before the K model. Were I to do it all over I would go with the K model but I have been very happy with the caliber choice.
Chris

 

[Alex45ACP]

Why would you go with the K model over the II? Does 4 inches make any difference to accuracy with 7.62X39?

 

[cslinger]

I have never shot a K model but it is much handier to me. I have no complaints about my VEPR II just tend to like short rifles.

Chris

 

[Alex45ACP]

Bump... edited original post.

 

[Correia]

Here goes.

1. It depends on what you want to do. 7.62x39 is cheapest, has the loopiest trajectory, but can still hold excellent groups out to 200 yards. 5.45 is rarer, but shoots flat and recoils little. Both of those use standard easy and cheap Warsaw pact mags. .223 is the most common ammo, shoots flat and recoils very little, but requires more expensive magazines. All three will do for zombies.

2. I prefer the K because of the pointability and balance. The difference between the two all comes down to personal preference. But if you are just getting a gun to have fun with and plink then I would go with the 16. There probably isn't any real difference in accuracy between the 2, but the 20 will have greater velocity, especially in .223. For most casual use there probably isn't a lick of difference.

For 3gun I prefer the K length. Transitions are a little faster with the K. Here are the results from a recent carbine match. I do okay with my Vepr. Most of the other shooters use ARs.

http://www.udpl.net/results/2005/Rifle-CarbineResultsByTime5-28-05.pdf

3. Brake reduces recoil and muzzle jump. The noise is not any worse to the person shooting, but is worse for the people around you. The Vepr's recoil is mild to begin with, so once again, it all depends on what you are looking for. It is all personal opinion.

I hope that helps. I'm assuming you've seen the group buy linked in my sig line? (Veprs for cheap)

 

[10shooter]

I have a Vepr K in 7.62mm, its about 2 pound heavier than a regular sheet metal AK. Not front heavy but just heavy the reciever is 1.5mm RPK instead of the standard 1mm thick AK. The barrel is very heavy, over sized trunion, the stock an inch longer and all of it rock solid. This is why I bought mine and perfer it over all other AK's. No malfunctions after over 4,000 rounds of firing and only two cleanings.

 

[KaceCoyote]

Do Ok with the vepr? You got second!

 

[c_yeager]

I would vote for 7.62x39 simply for the sake of the availability of ammunition and magazines. I just plain like that cartridge too. I don't really think that the AK gains anything measurable from the extra 4 inches and the 16 inch gun is QUITE handy. Im indifferent to muzzle brakes, i dont really think the AK needs one, but i dont see any real harm to them either. Some military AKs had brakes, some didnt, i dont think it really made a difference to the person getting shot or the person doing the shooting.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I'd go with a Vepr K in 7.62x39 for the uses stated in the OP.

Ammo and mags are cheaper than 5.45, and more easily available. 7.62 is suitable for medium game, while IMO 5.45 or 5.56 are marginal for this.

The 16" barrel will be handier than the 20", and 7.62x39 doesn't gain much more than a longer sight radius when shot from a 20" tube. There's no real need for a brake on a semiauto 7.62x39, since recoil is already mild. You can get the Veprs with a flash suppressor, though, which is what I'd choose.

I've only handled a Vepr, not shot one. That Said, it impressed me as a solid, well-built, well-finished rifle. Those who own one seem to be universally pleased with them.

 

[rbernie]

WARNING- STOOOPID QUESTION ALERT​

Does the Vepr K in 223 offer a last shot bolt-hold-open feature? The lack of that has always been one of my main gripes with the AK's I've seen....

 

[Correia]

rebernie, afraid not. It is standard AK, no BHO.

Kace, sure did. Now the guy that won is an awesome shooter. In fact the rifle shooters at UDPL just keep getting better and better.

 

[Alex45ACP]

You can get the Veprs with a flash suppressor, though, which is what I'd choose.

What is the purpose of a flash suppressor? Is it so you are not blinded when shooting at night? Does it have any affect on recoil or accuracy?

Thanks for the input everyone, I think I'm going to get the 7.62X39 with 16" barrel

 

[cslinger]

Why a flash suppressor is so nobody can see you shooting the gun at night. It hides you like some form of ninja magic. Are you sensing the sarcasim?

Flash suppressors mask the flash from the shooter so as to retain some assemblance of low light vision. Most do not help with recoil.

Chris

 

[Alex45ACP]

Is it possible to add a flash suppressor to the rifle later? Or do you have to order it with one?

 

[Correia]

If it is a flash hider with threads then you will have to have the muzzle threaded. Or you can have a smith pin one on.

 

[Alex45ACP]

never mind

 

[cosmonick]

Correia,

Congrats on your finish at the 3-gun match. Just out of curiosity, what caliber of VEPR did you use? Also, has anyone devised a decent aftermarket hold-open latch for the AK style rifle?

Mo

 

[Correia]

Thanks. 7.62x39. And it is getting harder. If I shot like I did that day a few years ago in the same club, I would have easily won. The thing is, every year everybody else just keeps getting better. Our shooters are excellent. It used to be that the 200 yard stage (the maximum our range allows) was a challenge, and now our top 20 shooters just breeze through it.

Amazing what practice can do.

There is no automatic BHO. Blackjack has a replacement safety with a notch cut out of it that grabs the charging handle and locks the bolt back manually. And I've seen a few people do that to their personal guns with a dremel.

 

[Steelcore]

Which mag does the VeprK in .223 use?I've got some Weigers,will they work.

 

[Alex45ACP]

Is that a flash suppressor or a muzzle brake?

 

[ny32182]

I went with 7.62x39 for a number of reasons, and I'm happy with my choice.

Sort of OT: Has anyone else with a VEPR K in 7.62x39 seen a slight reduction in accuracy when transitioning from the old lacquer coated hollow point Wolf to the new polymer coated FMJ Wolf?

 

[Correia]

That one in the pic is a flash suppresor. The MB has round holes.

I'm still using the old Wolf. I bought several cases at one time, and am still going through the old stuff.

 

[Alex45ACP]

Thanks Correia, wanted to make sure it wasn't the ones that are cone shaped, hate the way those look