#Vepr

Zentico, based in Moscow, Russia, are about to release the B-13N suitable for Tigr and SVD rifles.

Admitidlty, I am just now returning from a five-year hiatus away from the AK world, but I still think this is awesome news. K-Var is now selling AK-47 patterned rifles built at the Molot factory in Russia. Obviously due to legal issues, these rifles can’t be imported as pictured – they most likely came in as preassembled parts, sporting versions of VEPR rifles or even pistols and then legally reassembled into traditional fighting rifles.

In the category of “if it’s new to me, it must be new to somebody else”, I stumbled across the Pioneer line of “sporterized” VEPR rifles from Molot. I have to be honest, I’ve always liked the look of the VEPR rifles, and even more so now that I have seen the Pioneer models. They have that “AK for a more civilized time” feel. The two current models are chambered in .223 and 7.62×39.

I believe few will contest that the VEPR series of AK’s are excellent rifles. From torture tests to general reputation, VEPR rifles from Molot are solid weapon systems. Using “RPK” thickness receivers, heavier barrels, and stock wooden furniture, they are commonly “battle-ready.”

It seems like WPA and Alexander Arms have been working on a steel case 6.5 Grendel forever. When it was finally released about a year ago, the steel case 6.5 Grendel was hard to find. Alexander Arms told me that when they received a shipment, it usually sold out in 2 days. Recently that all had changed, the WPA steel case 6.5 Grendel is now more common.

Gun blogger superstar Eric of the Iraqveteran8888 YouTube channel is happy to once again get behind a rifle going cyclic until failure. This time, Eric’s victim is a Vepr 7.62×39 AK rifle made by Molot and modified by Copper Custom. Those who watch these videos should know that burnout tests like this are not particularly safe; parts are liable to fail, rounds cooking off are a virtual guarantee, and they are – natrually – a fire hazard, as well. Having said that, Eric will do it so you don’t have to, so enjoy the video below:

The weekend after the Big 3 Media Event at Daytona Beach, FL, I was invited to visit Definitive Arms (DA) in Saint Petersburg, Florida. DA started as a custom builder of doing magazine well conversion for Kalashnikov pattern rifles. Their patented mag-well design allows the use of Magpul PMag and USGI aluminum AR-15 style magazines on their converted 5.56mm caliber AK rifle. Since then, Definitive Arms had expanded to making other custom works and even started production of completed AKs.

Shotguns have long been favored by many gun owners for home defense and are also used by the military and law enforcement for tactical purposes. After all it isn’t just about the shotgun’s ability to punch a massive hole in its target, they’re also handy for breaching walls, blowing the locks off doors, and, with the right load, disabling vehicles. When it comes to compelling force, the shotgun is perhaps the most universally understood firearm. There’s never any doubt just what kind of damage a 12-gauge can inflict.

Molot, which I believe is now part of the new Kalashnikov Group, has just begun selling their new Molot Vepr Carbine chambered in 9mm. I don’t have much information about it, all I know is that it uses regular Glock magazines, weighs 7.5 lbs, has an M4-style stock and a forward picatinny rail for mounting a red dot optic. At todays exchange rate it is selling for just over $1,000 USD.

Molot has made some changes to their Vepr-12 IPSC Special Edition shotgun. The Magpul stock has been replaced with a FAB Defense GLR-16 stock and the oversized muzzle brake has been replaced with a smaller muzzle brake/flash hider.

ATI Gunstocks posted photos of a new rail system for the Molot VEPR rifles on their Facebook page. The aluminium handguard has rails in six positions (top, bottom and at 45, 135, 225 and 315 degree angles). The hanguard has a slim profile with the top rail raised to clear the gas system. It is pictured below on a .308 Win. chambered VEPR.

Molot has a new tacti-cooler version of their VEPR 12 shotgun. The new model features an M4 compatible stock, a fancy muzzle brake and two rail configurations.

The Izhmash subsidiary Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building Plant (aka. MOLOT) have developed two new tactical-style versions of their VEPR rifle, one chambered in .308 Win. and the other in .223 Remington.