the only drawback is the butchered rear of the receiver...which i have no clue as to why it is done other than to get around the american-russian trade agreement against the importation of certain russian military firearms.

i do not care for the furniture. the handguard attachment is weak and somewhat prone to breakage. the polymer compound used does not hold up well to heat, also.

while it is possible to rework the vepr back into a proper military configuration, it is technically and cost prohibitive for most folks. buyers are generally content with the as sold configuration.

other than my dislike of the styling, the rifle, itself is one of the best ak's ever imported. they are ruggedly built and the assembly and finish work is first rate.

if you can live with the furniture, you will be hard pressed to find a better ak variant. the quality from molot is outstanding.