DSA FAL vs. Vepr 7.62x54R

[Cadre]

i guess it depends on how fast you want a new toy.

[Discogodfather]

Its not really a fair comparison, the Vepr is a long barrel highly accurate rifle made for sporting / target shooting. To get into a comparable barrel length and config in a FAL you would need to get one of the discontinued FAL sniper rifles they used to build.

FAL is a tilting breech block, which means its robust and reliable and all that but its not the design that facilitates the best accuracy. A rotating bolt, like the Vepr, is considered much more attainable accuracy.

The FAL trigger isn't so bad, I tuned mine with a Falcon spring kit and its light and crisp. It shoots 2.5 inch groups at 100 with a carbine length barrel (stg-58). My PSL, for comparison, shoots 1.5 inch groups.

The Vepr is essentially a very high quality PSL style rifle, but it is technically not a military design, its a sporter.

Does anyone know if the Vepr handles commercial loads well? The PSL does not like heavier bullets, and most of the new high quality commercial stuff is heavy.

[Calplinker]

VEPR's claim to be designed to handle heavy loads well. I'm hoping so as I have a metric ton of 196 grain stuff to run through it when it get's out of jail. Now I'm on the hunt for a replacement stock to get rid of the Warsaw length short one it comes with.

I'd like something that either comes with a cheek riser or one where I can add one easily.

[marksmandowntown]

Vepr 7.62x54r = Solar Tactical = $1,700
(You can do better on Gunbroker if you are patient, but Solar Tactical has them.)

Atlantic says they will be getting more in the future, but we may only have 2 months left if some of the bad laws that have been passed are not vetoed.

[Steve_In_29]

I DROS my VEPR this week.

Do you find any loss of accuracy from the milsurp ammo versus commercial grade ammo?

Thanks!

The milsurp ammo is capable of very good accuracy and is only limited by the rifle. My buddy's Finnish Mosin (milsurp bolt action) shoots MOA with milsurp ammo. His Russian Mosin needs handloads to equal that.

[Steve_In_29]

So, I've kind of been deciding between the two rifles.

I like that 54R ammo is super cheap right now, but I'm wondering if the surplus will run out at some point. And if so, is that soon?

I have two other rifles that shoot .308, so I guess caliber commonality is a plus.

Also considering the price, the Vepr is about $300 cheaper, but it's not currently in stock.

This rifle will have no specific use besides punching holes in paper.

Which would you choose and why? Positives and negatives of both rifles?

Thanks,
Jay

While the Russians and others have moved away from 7.62x39 for their rifles, they are all still using the 54R for their machineguns so I wouldn't expect the supply to dry up any time in the near future.

If you already have several weapons in .308 and want easy resupply of ammo I would say go with the FAL or the more readily available PTR (Turner's has them in stock). You could also go with a VEPR in .308.

If you are looking to expand your collection then find the VEPR in 54R and stock up on the cheap ammo.

Mags are much more expensive for either caliber VEPR as well as the FAL when compared to the PTR. IIRC the VEPR only comes with a 5rd mag with 10rds as an option. Are there even 20rd mags made for them.

[Pocket Rocket]

I posted this same link yesterday about 20in VEPR's in stock calibered for 54r. They're still in stock I beleive, and they'll sell to your local FFL. I beleive they are a husband and wife team who runs the store up in WA, and they are super quick about shipping out the rifle once your FFL faxes his info.

It's Friday! So if you have money burning a hole in your pocket have at it.

Good luck.

http://www.rrcfirearms.com/pd-vepr-7-62x54r-20-inch-barrel.cfm?

As a quick note about this company...
They include two 5 round mags with the order, which is nice considering they're normally $43 each for one 10 round.

[Sicarius]

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you are looking for more precision, Vepr. If you are looking for a workhorse battle rifle with historical significance, FAL. They fill two different rolls.
Kevin

[infringed711]

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you are looking for more precision, Vepr. If you are looking for a workhorse battle rifle with historical significance, FAL. They fill two different rolls.
Kevin

While I'll agree about the historical significance, you can get a 16" vepr with 10 round mags, pretty decent battle rifle

[Anubis Laughed]

FAL, no question.

[Nrai2020]

While I'll agree about the historical significance, you can get a 16" vepr with 10 round mags, pretty decent battle rifle

Also they ve been talking about it for probably a year now but they re plans for some larger double stack mags for the VEPR 54r that are supposed to eventually come out?? Some double stack 20round mags in 7.62x54r would make for a serious battle rifle IMO..

[Steve_In_29]

I posted this same link yesterday about 20in VEPR's in stock calibered for 54r. They're still in stock I beleive, and they'll sell to your local FFL. I beleive they are a husband and wife team who runs the store up in WA, and they are super quick about shipping out the rifle once your FFL faxes his info.

It's Friday! So if you have money burning a hole in your pocket have at it.

Good luck.

http://www.rrcfirearms.com/pd-vepr-7-62x54r-20-inch-barrel.cfm?

As a quick note about this company...
They include two 5 round mags with the order, which is nice considering they're normally $43 each for one 10 round.

$43 for a single mag? That illustrates how the total cost of a weapon needs to be taken into account and that it isn't just in the acquisition but also in the accessories. Depending on the source you can get over 10 PTR mags for what the single VEPR mag costs.

[Nrai2020]

$43 for a single mag? That illustrates how the total cost of a weapon needs to be taken into account and that it isn't just in the acquisition but also in the accessories. Depending on the source you can get over 10 PTR mags for what the single VEPR mag costs.

You could get 10 round mags from atlantic firearms for $75 for 2 mags..

Hopefully soon they ll have double stack mags.. supposedly there are companies out there working on them..