I just ordered a VEPR.....

[American Patriot 1776]

I just put an order in for a VEPR II with a 20 inch barrel with ImpactGuns.

I am a big guy (6'4", 280 lbs) and have read several times that the VEPR II stock is preferable for tall people.

I have never seen a VEPR in person, but the pictures and comments on this site have convinced me to order it sight unseen. I have heard that the quality and accuracy is superior to all other AK's.

I do like the looks of a VEPRII.

I plan on using the VEPR II mostly with my 7.62x39 drums. I paid $550 on layaway.

Tell me that I will be satisified with it......please!

Recommendations on accessories?

Should I purchase a spare barrel - for just in case down the line? Should I try to purchase any other spare parts?

[Ian]

Welcome to the club! You'll have all kinds of fun with your Vepr. Nothing else is built like it, especially for the money.

One accessory you won't get with your Vepr is spare parts - there aren't any. Someone recently told me that Molot won't export Vepr spare parts because they don't believe it will ever break. Remember, the Vepr is really an RPK light machine gun that will only fire (legally) in semi-auto mode. I haven't heard of one wearing down yet.

I do have a spare parts solution, though... buy a Vepr K 7.62x39! I initially bought a Vepr II .223, then later a Vepr K. 233, mainly as a parts gun should the need ever arise. In the mean time, I get to enjoy both of them.

Enjoy!
Ira

[Mysterious]

Oh, you learn love VEPR berry much, GI!

VEPR love you LONG, LONG TIME! ;)









(You will be AMAZED when you get your hands on it! You'll find out real fast why they are frequently called "The ROLLS-ROYCE of AKs..." CONGRATS!) :D :D

[John Moses Browning]

I am also a large statured person, but I am torn between a SA M-7 and a VEPR. I really, really desire the look of the original AK physique, but it's just too small for me. My original idea was to purchase a SA M-7 and install an IronWood stock on it, they appear to be larger. But the VEPR II, which I also like a lot becuase of it's oversized foregrip and butt stock is also very appealing. However, although I do not, NOT like the aesthetics of it, it is still not exactly what I want in that category. So.. should I go for aesthetic beauty or ergonomic practicality? I have heard shooting a VEPR is more like shooting an HK compared to an AK. What are your thoughts?

[mack8384]

I plan on using the VEPR II mostly with my 7.62x39 drums.

Better start hitting the weight bench then. a Vepr with a loaded 75rnd drum is going to weigh in at around 15 pounds.

Mack M.

[American Patriot 1776]

Not unless I use a bipod:D .

Seriously, I would think that using drums would eventually cause more throat erosion on the muzzle.

That is pretty bad that you cannot get spare parts (I assumed you could). I would hate to think that if VEPR's are banned from importation in the future that I would have problems fixing mine if something should break (It is a machine so it can break) or if the muzzle TE got pretty bad.

[Original-SSR]

John Moses Browning, you wrote the following:

"I am also a large statured person, but I am torn between a SA M-7 and a VEPR. I really, really desire the look of the original AK physique, but it's just too small for me. My original idea was to purchase a SA M-7 and install an IronWood stock on it, they appear to be larger."

I don't know if you are aware that both the standard SA-M7 and SA-M7S have a longer buttstock designed for the American shooter. The only Arsenal Inc SA-M7 with the shorter buttstocks, are the SA-M7 Carbines (which also have no muzzle brake).

I believe the extra length on a SA-M7 buttstock is about 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" inches longer than on a standard AK buttstock:) Not sure if you were aware of this, so just wanted to post this up, just in case:)

[American Patriot 1776]

I just got an email from Robinson Armaments in regards to ordering an extra VEPR II barrel:

"Dear Sir,
Thank you for your interest in our rifles. We currently are not able to obtain the barrels from Russia as spare parts. They for some reason do not really want us to have a supply of their parts. Sorry for any inconveniences. If you already have a Vepr and are experiencing problems please contact our Production/Service Manager, BJ, at
service@robarm.com or call us at 801-355-0401.
Sincerely,
Cherlyn"

What is up with that??????????????????

[Original-SSR]

It's ridicuous for the Molot Arsenal in Russia to have such a policy. Let's face it, anything can fail or get damaged. To not have a parts source for the weapons is not a good thing in the long run. It seems Robinson Armaments is willing to aquire shipments of extra components, but it seems the Russians don't want to supply them. It would be like a new car company coming to the US market and telling customers that no or few parts will be sold to customers because the car manufacturer does not want to sell the car dealers or car parts stores the extra components. Then the dealer goes on to say, "If you want something done or fixed, it will have to be done at our dealer shops". The dealer may fix a problem for you, but he won't (can't) order you an "extra" anything, (because the manufacturer says no). The only hope then will be the after market world, especially if for some reason the guns are stopped from further importation, what then? These guns don't interchange their parts as easily with other more traditional AK's. This situation is not a good one in the long haul. The South Korean Daewoo rifles of years gone by, are decent guns, but many of their owners are afraid to shoot them too much because they are hard guns to find spare parts for.


The Arsenal Inc company not only has the components to repair SA-M7's that may have problems, they also have the KVAR company and other competing firms selling components that will plug right in when and if there is a problem. If the parts you want are just for "just in case something breaks" scenerio, then thats OK also, because the parts are available.

A similar situation is the case with the Arsenal USA products, with Arsenal USA having the components to fix any problem with their guns, and also having their Global Trades division for any other reason you may want spare parts.

Thats okay for most companies, but not for the Molot Russian firm?!

Just like the poster above said..........."What is up with that??????????????????"

[jram67]

Dropping it out the truck window and running over it , not likely, but maybe

Wearing the barrel out by simply shooting it, no freakin way!

[KOBRA22]

Welcome to the club. I'd say for longer ranges the VEPR is my choice and even at 100yds It's very accurate. I stand 5'11" and 205 and it fits perfect in my hands. The iron sights are awesomely accurate. I just put a 3X9 scopew/Illuminated crosshair on it and I'm very very pleased with it and She has become my favorite and most beautiful rifle. It also won't beat the shit out of you like my SAR-1 does as far as recoil goes. My VEPR is smooth and beautiful and she gets molested everyday.:yeah: :ywoot



:sniper:

[redmenace]

Arent most of the components of a VEPR just mil-spec type AK parts? I would think that there are millions of replacement parts for every facet of the rifle with the exception of the barrel and the stocks. And since replacing a barrel on an AK is a major (and likely unnecesary) undertaking i woulndt think it would matter much. Worste case scenario if you end up with a crapped out barrel is you can build a brand new AK clone on what is probably the best receiver you could find.

[Original-SSR]

I don't really care what a person wants the spare parts for. If he has the "CASH" and wants some components, let him get the components. I don't know how many of the Molot Vepr components are universal with other AK based guns, but that is really not the issue. The issue is that people are more than willing to spend their money on Molot's products, but Molot does not want to show some appreciation by changing it's stupid policy of not selling spare components to it's distributor (Robinsons), or end customers (you the AK buyer). Attitudes like that just don't help any. Anyway, why should you settle for anything less than getting the original spares? You want my business?.......you serve me well. You want to be anal.........I won't buy your product! We are talking about a Russian firm, and maybe they need to learn how the American people respond to companies that refuse to give them what they want. Let them learn the American way the hard way. Simple enough:)

Just take a peek at the KVAR website, you will see that the Bulgarians have no problem with selling the Americans their parts. Heck, they even licensed a company here to make and sell Arsenal products (Arsenal Inc of Nevada). Looks to me like they have already learned the American way:) The Russians are still hurting for cash, they better get with the program, or see all their former satelite nations pass them by:)

[BroncoMafia]

Hi SSR.
Not sure if you even own a VEPR, but if you compare it to any other AK barrel, you will soon see that worries about it being a weak link are unfounded.
First of all, it is a bull barrell. Much heavier than the barrell on any other AK I have ever seen.
It is of course, hard chrome lined, and is an RPK barrell, designed for prolonged rapid fire.
Normal AK barrells have a life span of well over 20,000 rounds if properly maintained.
What makes you think this VEPR barrell, arguably the bull elephant of AK barrells, will need replacing in your lifetime?
The other member above had it right:
If you think you will wear one out, buy 2 and stop worrying.

If you have read posts in the other forums on this board about getting goods from russia lately, things are not easy for importers.

You also may or may not know about the current economic climate in Russia. It is difficult.

IF you have the opportunity to buy one of these fine rifles, don't pass it up. It will last you longer than any other AK, period, and is without peer in the market.

I have a pre-ban Norinco, an east german parts gun, and a couple of VEPRs.

There is no comparison.

Bronco

[UGACherokee]

The Vepr rocks, no doubt.

The barrel is what's making the Vepr a heavy girl, but at the same time, it's doing a fair share to control muzzle climb.

[Original-SSR]

Okay.......take a deep breath........and read what I wrote again:

"I don't really care what a person wants the spare parts for. If he has the "CASH" and wants some components, let him get the components."

Does any of that state that the barrel will likely fail?.......no.
Actually, any AK barrel has a slim chance of being shot out,.....but.....could a barrel get damaged somehow?.......yes.
Could there be other reasons someone may want an extra barrel?......yes.
If someone wants to buy an extra barrel for what ever reason, should they be able to get one from Robinson/Molot?.......yes (IMO):)

You wrote: "You also may or may not know about the current economic climate in Russia. It is difficult."

Umm, hello.......would not selling extra barrels make the Molot company more money?.............Umm,...... yeah!:)
If they keep playing their games, and don't learn the way Americans like to do business, it could even get more difficult for them! LOL!!:)

Hey, whatever floats your boat, this is just my way of looking at it:)

[runyon]

Ask www.krebbscustom.com , what if any AK firing pin and extractor will fit a Vepr. The fire controll parts : hammer, trigger and disconnector are standard AK items. The Red Star Arms, adjustable fire controll group drops into a vepr.

Other than that, the barrel is unique to the vepr, and the RPK , Russian model receiver used for the vepr.

Arsenal Inc, www.arenalinc.com , makes a RPK model based on their milled AK receiver, I do not know how exact their US made chrome lined mil spec RPK barrel is to the original. If it is a correct copy, you could buy a RPK barrel from them. Theirs is fully machined for military parts, as the Vepr is not, but it has the same profile as the Russian RPK military barrel.

[BroncoMafia]

Right on Runyon :-)
I think the FCG is actually a gordon Technologies set (although Robarms will not confirm that).
They were the best on the market before the Red Star stuff came out.

With the exception of the trunio, reciever, and Barrell, the majority of AK parts should be sourcable.

I think it is obvious that there are obtsacles to doing business in what SSR describes as "the way americans like to do . . ."

It is such a no brainer that they would have spare parts available, that if it were easy, of course they would do it.

When SSR starts importing foreign military weapons himself and learns all the hassles involved with doing business with former com-bloc weapons manufactures during this era of "homeland security" then I will pay great attention to his opinion.

Until then, his frustration with the limitations of Robarms relationship with Molot is nothing more than a bunch of hypothetical hot air to me.

My VERPs will be going strong with the parts they shipped with long after he (and I) have turned to dust.

Hopefully, my kids will enjoy them as much as I have.

Bronco