VEPR 12

[IncendiaryGunner]

A few months ago on vepr .org they were discussing the availability of the sgm drums and the verdict was that the drums were never in fact shipped. Have you read somewhere where someone has one in their hands?

The only information I have is each retailer's stock status, and the information provided on the official SGM tactical pages.

The SGM Tactical Facebook page does indicate that they did ship these items:

Vendors we shipped to:
Arms of America, Atlantic Firearms, Carolina Shooters Supply, Centerfire Systems, Classic Firearms, Gun Mag Warehouse and Legion USA.
We did this in order to get a good assortment of buyers from different Cities and States.

I read that for a brief few minutes period CSS had these listed as in stock, but within 8-9 minutes they were no longer listed as in stock.

I found that Classic Firearms had them listed as in stock just a few minutes ago - so I ordered one. This vendor did have a notice that due to recent high demands, order processing has been delayed - this seems to be unrelated to this magazine release, but will likely have an impact.

We shall see how long it takes to get here, at which I will try to get it out to the range.

 

[TheHive]

These always seem to sell out before I find one, so there are some drums for them?

 

[snorko]

Got an email 51 minutes ago that CSS had the Vepr 12 drums back in stock.

By the time I saw the email, they were again out of stock - but this might be an indication that SGM is happy with and shipping the 25 round drums again??

EDIT:
SGM homepage does indicate that they shipped these to a handful of retailers.

Legion has these in stock for $99.97 https://www.legionusa.com/vepr-12-drum-25rd-magazine-sgm.html

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

Received my SGM drum yesterday, and can't wait to get it out. Loading took a little effort, but the shells went smoothly both in and out.

I did notice they had a small cut out on each side of the the tower of the magazine - this I assume was a modification made to make it function with the later imports that are reported to have round rivets (as opposed to the flat rivets).

I have the metal flared magwell, but had not installed it - putting it next to the gun with the drum magazine inserted, I have my doubts that the drum magazine can be inserted with the competition magwell.

I have the bonesteel left side folder with a CTR stock, and while the width of the magazine does not allow the stock to fold flat, it actually still folded until it rested on the magazine, and it folded far enough forward that I believe it could still be fired.

The magazine is very wide, so to purchase securely my left arm "chicken wings" to the side a little - makes the AFG I currently have installed not seem to make as much sense as a vertical grip if I plan to use the drum.

Overall opinion so far is positive, even though the huge size makes me feel the 10 round Molot magazines are more practical - the capacity may lead me to buying a few more if it runs well and they are available again.

Hopefully I can get it out to the range soon, and let you guys know how it ran. My Vepr 12 has ran great with the other SGM and Molot magazines, with a few hundred rounds downrange each range session, so I expect it to be a good function test.

 

[tradertator]

Really excited to hear how these drums work out. I only wish MD Arms made them, because I had such stellar luck with them on my Saiga 12.

 

[Butch627]

I guess I need to get on someones waiting list and get a couple

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

Grabbed a 100 round box of Federal 3 dram field shot and a few dozen slugs/buckshot, and headed to the range.

At 25 rounds per drum dump, they did deplete FAST!

Vepr cycled all 127/127, plus a few rounds nearby patrons threw in to take a go.

While I still hold the opinion that the Molot magazines are likely the most reliable, and more practical due to size, with no fails running the drum, I will be buying a couple more.

 

[Sheepdog Gear]

Anybody know the cheapest place to find Molot 10 round mags? Cheapest place I found was $82.07 shipped. That's nuts! Just got this thing and it needs FOOD! I'm looking for 5 mags.

 

[snorko]

If you can make do with 8 round mags, Legion has a five pack of 8 rnd mags for $298.

https://www.legionusa.com/ak47-ak-s...hotgun/magazines.html?features_hash=2-10_4-23

 

[Sheepdog Gear]

If you can make do with 8 round mags, Legion has a five pack of 8 rnd mags for $298.

https://www.legionusa.com/ak47-ak-s...hotgun/magazines.html?features_hash=2-10_4-23

Thanks, but out of stock.

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

Anybody know the cheapest place to find Molot 10 round mags? Cheapest place I found was $82.07 shipped. That's nuts! Just got this thing and it needs FOOD! I'm looking for 5 mags.

The cheapest I have found them was when they were on sale, in a pack from Legion USA - but they were still nowhere near "cheap".

CSSPECS does make US metal body magazines for the VEPR 12 in 8 & 10 round, and I while I have none myself, people seem to have good things to say.

I also read someone reporting that certain Saiga magazines may work - was it the 030 variant magazines? (not certain if the LRBHO engages)

 

[snorko]

Have you had problems with the SGM mags? Or are you just wanting the coolest mags on the block?

 

[Sheepdog Gear]

Have you had problems with the SGM mags? Or are you just wanting the coolest mags on the block?

More of a "buy once, cry once" kind of guy. I've read not so good things on the SGM's. Not only that, this may eventually make it's way up to being the main home defender.

 

[Clay]

I've not had good luck with the SGM V12 mags.

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

Have you had problems with the SGM mags? Or are you just wanting the coolest mags on the block?

I only have two of the 12 round SGM magazines - one that was included with purchase, and an extra I bought at the time of purchase. I purchased during the first wave of imports, so the magazines I have I would assume are the first run (I believe the SGM stick magazine design changed over time, to function with the different variants imported due to a rivet dimension variance).

The SGM 12 rounders I received have actually been pretty reliable - I have however read reports of people not having as much luck.

I will say that when it comes to how easy it is to insert the magazine, the Molot magazines are smoother - likely because they are a bit thicker at the tower, and have less play.

I feel the SGM magazines are still great to have, and I use them often at the range. If I were using the shotgun for defensive purposes, I would want to run the Molot magazines (the Saiga 030 / CSSPEC I would likely pile in this bunch based on the opinions of others, but have not tried).

 

[snorko]

Gotta agree with the above. The Molot mags just feel better and I do like the exterior texture and design. I lucked into a bunch of the 5 round mags from AIM when they were super cheap and have one 8 round Molot mag. I like the length of the 8 round over the 10 round and when Legion gets the 5 packs back in stock I may have to break down and buy some.

 

[vwoodrum11]

I took the plunge a couple of years ago and bought the 5 pack 8 rounds from Legion and have never had an issue at all. They weren't cheap but in the long run they are worth it IMHO.

 

[tradertator]

VEPR-12 Molot 12GA Shotgun

^ That's a steal for one of these

 

[Sheepdog Gear]

VEPR-12 Molot 12GA Shotgun

^ That's a steal for one of these

Classic has been running them at that price for quite some time too. They just jumped it up $30 though.

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

VEPR-12 Molot 12GA Shotgun

^ That's a steal for one of these

I completely agree!

From what I have read (nothing official) - the specimens have changed somewhat over the waves of importation as the importer has worked with Molot to decrease the cost.

The stock options have obviously changed - from an RPK type fixed Tapco stock with more of a traditional RPK rear receiver/triunion, to the welded open side folder (which can be altered to fold - after complying with 922), to the fixed tubular stock (resembles VEPR 12 sidefolder, but does not have the folding mechanism).

I have read that the rivets used on the magwell were changed from a flat type to a more rounded type, and dimensional changes were made to the LRBHO.

I have heard nothing about the later "variants" being less reliable - the only downfall being certain US magazines had to be changed to function in the later imports. Since Russian magazines still work fine, and the US magazines have already been updated - I do not see any issue with these changes.

I love having a side folding AR style stock, but that likely cost me about $500 over the current fixed tubular stock variant ($300 greater cost for first import wave/RPK type rear, $159+ for bonesteel side folder, +stock).

So IMHO, unless you want the VEPR side folder stock, or an AR tubular style stock, the current price really is a steal. I think at $1,000 the VEPR 12 was a good deal compared to converting a Saiga 12 - but at $699, it really isn't very far from what basic AK's are currently going for.