The history of the MOLOT Joint Stock Company begins in 1940, in fact, one
year before the factory was launched in reality.
On April 26th, 1940 the Soviet Army adopted the PPSh (machine pistol devised
by Georgiy Shpagin, a gun designer) for service. The Government wanted to
have it manufactured in the small town of Zagorsk, located within a few
hours of drive from Moscow.
When the war actions between Germany and Russia began in summer 1941, it was
evident - the Zagorsk was located in the territory that might be ceased by
the advancing enemy’s troops. The Government decided to move the arsenal
farther to the east, into Western Urals, where another large Russian armory
was located: the Izhevsk Arms Plant at Izhevsk. It was considered, that the
Izhevsk gunbuilders might provide assistance in case of necessity.
Vjatskiye Poljany - a town in the Kirov region - hosted a new Russian
arsenal in October 1941. In the early period of the war, Russians troops
experienced a dramatic shortage of automatic small arms in contrast to the
German Wehrmacht. Stalin kept control over the progress in developing and
manufacture of similar weapons by the Soviets. Only a month after the
equipment started to arrive from Zagorsk, the first PPSh submachine guns
were made and delivered to the fighting Soviet troops.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Vjatskiye Poljany were a home
for Georgiy Shpagin, like Tula was Tokarev’s and Simonov’s place, Kovrov was
Degtjarjov’s and Izhevsk is Kalashnikov’s home town.
Shpagin, a versatile arms constructor, developed and successfully
manufactured a family of small arms at Vjatskiye Poljany: OPSh - a light
pistol and a SPSh - a signal handgun.
During the period between October 1941 to May 1945, the plant manufactured
2.5 mln PPSh submachine guns, 350.000 OPSh and SPSh pistols.
In 1953 the arsenal in Vjatskiye Poljany embarked upon another “gun
adventure” - manufacture of the APS pistol created by Igor Stechkin.
MOLOT’s sales department: the “Vepr” brand name has a lot of symbolism.
The factory was showing fair results in production, a steady growth in both
numbers and types of weapons turned out.
In the late 1950s, the Kalashnikov Arms Design Bureau completed development
and tests of the novel RPK light machine gun. The factory in Izhevsk being
in operation under full steam, the then Ministry for Defense Industry
decides to transfer know-how and production of RPK to the neighboring plant
in Vjatskiye Poljany.
Until the end of the Cold War period, the arsenal in Vjatskiye Poljany was
making a wide spectrum of various weapons: anti-aircraft cannon, grenade
launchers for Infantry and Navy and also six modifications of the belt-fed
MGs.
In 1992, the plant was given a new name: the MOLOT (Hammer) Join Stock
Company.
The block where during WW2 legendary PPSh SMGs were made.
By way of diversifying and converting their military program, in 1994 MOLOT
begins manufacture of the first model of the “Vepr” (Wild Boar)
semi-automatic rifle in caliber 7.62x39 mm and later - in .308 Winchester.
In less than five years, MOLOT designed several configurations of the “Vepr”
rifle in various calibers: 7.62x39, .308 WIN., .35 REM., .222 REM. And .223
REM. Along with rifles, the engineers at MOLOT made a series of the “Bekas”
(Snipe) shotguns and a modification of the PMS (Modernized Stechkin Pistol)
in 9x19 Luger.
By hard work and inventiveness of their search, MOLOT became a strong
competitor in both Russian domestic and International markets.
By coincidence, I arrived at Vjatskiye Poljany on April 13, 1999 - on the
150th anniversary of Sergey Ivanovich Mosin - Russian inventor of the famed
M1891 infantry rifle.
However, I found different historical symbols in this town, with the
population of a little over 60,000 people.
The “national” hero of Vjatskiye Poljany, so to speak, is Georgiy
Semjonovich Shpagin (1897 - 1952).
The memorial board reads: “In this building a famed designer Georgiy Semjonovich Shpagin worked - creator of PPSh, Hero of the Socialist Labor, Laureate of the State Prize and a Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR”.
Inside the territory of the MOLOT JSC I was able to make a few rare photos
of the block where legendary PPSh guns were made. On the facade of the
single-storied building I saw a memorial board saying: “In this building a
famed designer Georgiy Semjonovich Shpagin worked - creator of PPSh, Hero of
the Socialist Labor, Laureate of the State Prize and a Deputy of the Supreme
Soviet of the USSR”.
I was shown around the factory and took photos of the various “Vepr” rifles.
Eduard Pshenichnikov - General Director of the plant - cordially received me
as a Member of the International Federation of Journalists and gave
instructions to his colleagues to make all necessary arrangements for test
firings, which I accepted with special enthusiasm and appreciation.
In my tour of the facility I was able to visit MOLOT’s Research and
Development Bureau and talk to Pjotr Mokrushin - Chief Designer of hunting
and sporting weapons. Sergey Plotnikov - deputy Chief of the Department for
Foreign Economic Relations - assisted me in obtaining all the data about
sales activity of the Company.
Auto-loading rifle "Vepr-308".
Auto-loading rifle "Vepr-308-Super".
So, the main point of my professional attention was the “Vepr” series of
rifles.
Two versions of “Vepr’s” muzzles.
Pjotr Mokrushin showed me three configurations made in various calibers:
“Vepr-Standard”, “Vepr-Super” and “Vepr-Pioneer”. The latest MOLOT’s
developments are the “Vepr-Super-Sport” and “Vepr-Pioneer” rifles.
The “Vepr-Standard” rifles are constructionally based on the RPK machine
gun:
stamped and welded receiver is made from the 1.5-mm thick steel
sheet, which provides excellent ruggedness and strength;
the gas engine, the cold-hammered barrel, sights, trigger mechanism,
magazine latch, safety lever, scope mounting system and muzzle devices have
a lot in common with RPK.
The first generation of the “Vepr” guns had a stock that featured two
constituent elements: a foregrip (handguard) and a thumbhole buttstock.
These rifles had 7.62x39 and 7.62x51 (.308 WIN.) chamberings. The bolt of
the 7.62x39 version had two locking lugs, while .308 Winchester featured 3
lugs.
“Vepr - Super”: magazine detached. Note the lever-type of magazine latch.
VEPR (Standard) specifications
Caliber, mm:
7.62
Cartridges:
7.62Č39 mm and 7.62Č51 mm (.308 Win)
Weight, empty, kg:
3.9
Range of sighted fire, m:
300
Magazine type:
steel and plastic, box-type, detachable
Magazine capacity, rds:
3, 5, 7, 10
Overall dimensions, mm:
1200Č200Č75
Barrel:
cold-hammered, with 4 RH riflings, bore and
chamber are crome-plated
Length of barrel, mm:
520 and 590.
Status:
Current production.
Manufacturer:
the “Molot” JSC, 135, Lenin St.
612900 Vjatskiye Poljany, Kirov Region, Russia
tel. (+7-8-3334)-2-64-11
fax (+7-8-3334)-6-21-99 or 6-18-32
The "VEPR-308" can feature barrels 520 and 590 mm long.
“Vepr - Pioneer”: magazine attached. Note the sliding knob-type of magazine latch.
Various types of buttstocks of the “Vepr” family of rifles.
The “Vepr-Super” rifles are a newer variation of the predecessing series,
were designed in the period from 1997 thru 1998, and have the following
constructional peculiarities, leaving the receiver intact:
the most significant difference is the mono-stock that extends from
the gas engine to the buttplate;
the Kalashnikov lever-type fire mode selector is replaced by an
ambidextrous pushbutton located above the trigger;
the magazine latch is ambidextrous, with its twin-leg turned rearward
along trigger guard;
sights are new: the pin-type front sight with protective ears is
located in front of the gas chamber, while the rear sight of the flip-up
type has two settings of 100 and 300 meters;
the heavier barrel has longitudinal external grooves and integrated
barrel compensator, either round drilled holes or canted milled slots;
the scope mounting system now is a US standard detachable Picatinny
Rail that mounts on the rear sight’s block.
The “Vepr-Super” rifles are made in calibers .308 Winchester and .35
Remington. For powerful cartridges, the bolts of each modification is made
with three locking lugs.
As of today, the “Vepr-Super-Sport” rifle is in caliber .308 Winchester.
However, in the nearest future it will be made in .35 Remington too.
This model has a fully adjustable buttstock and a telescopic bipod.
“Vepr - Super”: field-stripped.
VEPR-Super specifications
Caliber, mm:
.308 Winchester and .35 Remington
Weight, empty, kg:
3.9 (.308 Win.) and 4.0 (.35 Rem.)
Range of sighted fire, m:
300
Magazine type:
plastic, box-type, detachable.
Magazine capacity, rds:
3, 5, 10
Overall dimensions, mm:
1040Č200Č75
Barrel:
cold-hammered, with 4 RH riflings (.308 WIN.) and
7 RH riflings (.35 Rem.), bore and chamber are crome-plated.
Length of barrel, mm:
550 and 650
Trigger pull, kgf:
2.5
Finish:
oxidizing or patented lacquer.
Status:
Current production.
Manufacturer:
the “Molot” JSC, 135, Lenin St.
612900 Vjatskiye Poljany, Kirov Region, Russia
tel. (+7-8-3334)-2-64-11
fax (+7-8-3334)-6-21-99 or 6-18-32
Original mounting rail (Picatinny Rail) for optic scopes.
The rear flip-up sight has two settings: 100 and 300 meters.
Cosmetically, the “Vepr-Pioneer” series looks much like the “Vepr-Super”. An attentive and a scrutinizing eye of a professional, however, can see a few important alterations:
Internal view of “Vepr’s” receiver, with trigger mechanism.
location of the gas ports in the barrel, and thus the gas chamber, has been
shifted forward by 50 mm;
magazine latching device is that of the sliding knob, that makes
the operation of attaching and detaching the magazine very easy and
comfortable;
the detachable trigger mechanism has been considerably modified to
make it more compact and comfortable;
the “Pioneer” series is lighter of weight. This is achieved by
reducing the weight of the bolt carrier, the rod that connects bolt carrier
with piston. The “Pioneer” has the receiver, original of the “Vepr-Standard”
rifle - strong, durable and rugged;
the mono-stock of a Montecarlo type has a non-adjustable cheek.
Vepr-Pioneer specifications
Caliber, mm:
7.62x39, 5.56x45 (.223 Rem.) and 5.56x43 (.222 Rem.)
Weight, empty, kg:
3.6
Range of sighted fire, m:
300
Magazine type:
plastic, box-type, detachable.
Magazine capacity, rds:
5 and 10
Overall dimensions, mm:
1055Č190Č70
Barrel:
cold-hammered,bore and chamber are crome-plated,
with 4 RH riflings (7.62x39) and 6 RH riflings (.222/.223 Rem.)
Length of barrel, mm:
550
Trigger pull, kgf:
2.5
Length of barrel, mm:
550
Finish:
oxidizing or patented lacquer.
Status:
Limited edition.
Manufacturer:
the “Molot” JSC, 135, Lenin St.
612900 Vjatskiye Poljany, Kirov Region, Russia
tel. (+7-8-3334)-2-64-11
fax (+7-8-3334)-6-21-99 or 6-18-32
T&E
The bolt for heavy-duty cartridges features three locking lugs.
Results of T&E: generally, all “Vepr” modifications feature a durable and a
strong receiver made of 1.5-mm thick steel sheet. In combination with
well-proven and extensively fielded “Kalashnikov” firing system, this
provides a rifle with excellent stability of functional operations under
various climatic and tactical conditions. I was able to fire various “Vepr”
rifles in a standing (both unsupported and supported), seated (squatted) and
prone positions. The ambient temperature was within + 9 Celsius. Cross wind
of about 15 m/sec.
Standing position (unsupported) at 100 meters:
“Vepr-Super” (. 308 Winchester, open iron sights):
good hold of target,
moderate barrel climb and smooth recoil, good hit probability, acceptable
sound-blast;
I found trigger pull slightly heavy and trigger creep somewhat long.
Weapon qualified: “B”.
“Vepr-Pioneer” (.223 Remington, open iron sights):
excellent target hold,
very well balanced weapon, insignificant barrel climb even if fired in high
tempo; very acceptable hit probability;
acceptable sound blast;
smooth and reasonably short trigger creep.
Weapon qualified: “A”.
Standing position,
Shooting “Vepr - Super - Sport” in a standing position, from the bumper
panel of the ZIL-131 military 6-wheeler.
“Vepr-Pioneer” (.223 Remington, open iron sights, supported by ZIL-131
truck’s front bumper panel): functionabily and operability as above;
hit probability enhanced by about 17 %.
Weapon qualified: “A”.
T&E of the “Vepr - Pioneer” rifle. Squatted position.
“Vepr-Super-Sport”, caliber .308 Winchester.
Prone position on the even,
relatively flat surface (wet wheat field, partly covered with thawing snow),
range 300 meters, optic scope mounted on Picatinny Rail, telescopic bipod
available:
good target hold, relatively low recoil shock, trigger pull
slightly heavy and somewhat long creep.
Weapon qualified: “B”.
Special remarks: The weapon is stylistically impressive and very comfortable
to shoot. To enhance accuracy, a bipod should attach to the handguard. The
barrel should rather be freely floating.
Remarks acknowledged by R&D.
Shooting “Vepr - Super - Sport” in a prone position.
Generally speaking, all “Vepr” weapons revealed exceptional durability and
ruggedness. Considering that all modifications are based on the RPK firing
system - the weapon’s category that cannot boast sniper-like accuracy - the
“Vepr” rifles, however, have enhanced hit probability. Very good performance
and accuracy was shown by the novel “Vepr-Pioneer” series.
In their weapon-type and price category, the “Vepr”-series rifles have a
substantial market potential. My prediction is that “Vepr” is worth the
money the shooter pays.
Pjotr Mokrushin, MOLOT’s Chief Arms Designer, demonstrates “Vepr - Pioneer”.
“Vepr - 308” de-Luxe.
.
.
The "Vepr-308" and "Vepr-308-Super" fires .308 Winchester (7.62x51)
ammunition.
The stamped and welded super-durable receiver of "Vepr-308" has a side
base-plate to accommodate a scope.
