The need for reliable and inexpensive hunting weapons, of which the Los-7-1 carbine is today, has always been in our country. At the same time, the determining factors were accessibility and reliability, since in Russia, unlike the west, hunting for animals has a conceptually different essence. For a Russian, the end result is important, not the process itself.
And this is understandable, because it was not for the sake of entertainment, namely hunters that went to the vast depths of the taiga. Dear import guns did not fit the harsh realities of Russia in any way, while the usual military rifle familiar to our compatriots was not quite suitable for solving the problems of hunters.
History of creation
The "Elk" carbine was launched immediately after the war. Then it was called KO-8.2 and was a modernized version of the NK-8.2 weapon. He worked under a cartridge with an initial speed of seven hundred meters per second. But this project turned out to be imperfect. The ancestor of the "Los-7-1" carbine did not meet the requirements of the hunters, since it hit small-scale mining from only one hundred meters. This became the reason that only in 1975, after the development of the new 7.62x51A cartridge, the weapon upgraded for it turned into a full-fledged rifle for hunters. The new "Los-4" had a range of accurate firing from a distance of three hundred meters. It was produced until the ninetieth year, and then its new modification appeared.
Carabiner "Elk-7-1"
Reviews about this rifle are mostly positive. She appeared in 1995. The new modification had a removable magazine, a more reliable fuse than the previous model and a modified front sight. The sight of this rifle has installations for one hundred and three hundred meters, while the mechanical sight is available for use after the installation of "optics". Soon, new Los-7-1 carbines, working under the NATO .308 Win cartridge, appeared, reviews of which indicate that users are satisfied with their weapons.
Modifications
The lineup of this weapon is not very large. In addition to the first and fourth versions, which were produced respectively until 1976 and 1991, today there are six more options for this rifle. This is the seventh model, working under a 7.62 × 51 mm cartridge, as well as the "Los-7-1" carbine, reviews of which speak of its reliability. In addition, at the moment the factory also produces rifles of the execution 8, 9-1, 9-2 and 9-3 for Brenneke bullets. Based on the design of this carbine in the seventies of the last century, the sports BiL-6.5 and training AVL were developed under the cartridge of 7.62 mm. Today, the most common model is the Los-7-1 Premier, which, judging by the reviews, immediately acquired its “fans”.
Description
Hunting "Elk-7-1" is intended for hunting and amateur shooting medium and large wild animals. It fires equally at temperatures of minus fifty degrees, and in heat plus 50 ° C. The cartridges .308Win and 7.62x51 are used under it. The trigger mechanism of this weapon allows you to adjust the descent characteristics, as well as the force and stroke of the hook.
Structurally, the "Los-7-1" carbine, a photo of which can be seen in many specialized magazines, makes it possible to shoot with an open sight, while not removing the optical. The latter is mounted on it with removable brackets.
The mass of weapons without optics is 3.2 kilograms. Its length is 1040 millimeters. The base model store is fixed, with five rounds.
The "Los-7-1" carbine, whose price on the market is slightly higher than the counterparts of other domestic manufacturers, is equipped with a longitudinally-sliding bolt with a turn during locking. In its trunk are four right rifling. The muzzle is chrome plated. The supply of cartridges is made from a removable box magazine, designed for five bullets arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The carabiner stock "Elk-7-1", reviews of which prove the convenience of operation and maintenance of this rifle, is produced from varnished birch. She has a pistol uniform, with a protrusion under her cheek. In addition, a rubber butt pad is mounted on his butt. Incomplete disassembly of the carbine is carried out without the use of a special tool.
Specifications
The design of this carbine is quite technologically advanced. It is simple and has good performance. Possessing the usual rifle layout, the Los-7-1 carbine, the performance prices of which depend on the configuration, is distinguished by original USM and bolt design solutions. Some parts of the striking mechanism and fuse, which are usually located on the receiver, this rifle is on the bolt.
The Elk-7-1, as well as the Bars-4-1 rifles unified with it, is considered a classic hunting rifle. The barrel is rigidly fastened to the barrel box, and locking is done on two combat stops. The liner reflector is mounted in the cup of the shutter, in front of which the extractor is also placed.
Ahead there is a figured groove having a spiral bevel. It is designed for cocking the drummer. The "Elk-7-1" carbine, testimonials to this evidence, at first during operation has a drawback: the bolt handle is cocked tightly. The reason may be a violation of the geometry of this bevel or poor-quality processing. However, this flaw disappears over time. As experienced users say, after five hundred shots, they no longer notice him.
In the tide of the handle on the bolt of the carabiner there is a socket for the latch of the trigger housing with a recess for the fuse. A channel is arranged in the stem, inside of which there is a drummer with a striker and a mainspring.
Automation
The housing of the trigger mechanism of the "Elk-7-1" carbine assembly on the bolt is fixed with a spike. The latter is located in its middle part and is a complex part having milled grooves. They are designed for the trigger lever and the sear.
At the end on the rear thickened part in the housing there is a hole for a spring-loaded inlet - a housing position lock on the shutter. It is possible to adjust the nature of the descent and effort. The hook travel range is from two to four millimeters. The trigger pull is between 0.76 and 1.53 kgf.
Pros and cons of rifled carbine
The advantages of this range of rifled rifles are noted by many users. First of all, this is the excellent appearance of the carbine, as well as ease of transportation. Weapons are disassembled easily and quickly. "Elk-7-1" is ideal for running hunting, in addition, it is quite accurate. But one of its biggest advantages is its affordable price.
Among the shortcomings of this rifle, experts note the following: her store has a not very successful design. Its lower part, if it is made of plastic, “hangs” and even “rattles”, including on “tuned” models. The mechanism of fixing this component is also unreliable: on some factory copies, if the owner does not control the store during the shooting process, it can move a couple of millimeters in the lower direction, which is visually almost impossible to notice, but the weapon will not be reloaded.
But even despite the shortcomings, those hunters who do not like the militarized Tiger, Bear, Boar, or Three-ruler, opt for classic hunting rifles that have a longitudinal-sliding rotary bolt. And among the inexpensive and reliable, accurate and convenient variety of weapons offered, the Elk-7-1 carbine is a justifiable choice.
Prices
The cost of the models sold primarily depends on the configuration. For example, a model “7-1” having a birch box can be purchased starting from twenty seven thousand rubles. At the request of the buyer, the carabiner can be supplemented with an optical sight and brackets for attaching to it.
"Elk-7-1 Premier" without optics, with a chrome barrel and a magazine, elongated, with a walnut-type stock, you can buy for about fifty-one thousand three hundred rubles. It should be remembered that you can only buy if you have the appropriate license. This rule applies to any weapon, including the "Elk-7-1" carbine.
Reviews
The opinions of users on some issues differ. For example, there are many positive reviews regarding accuracy, although some complain that this indicator does not correspond to the value indicated in the technical passport of the weapon. Some samples, according to the testimony of their owners, have a dispersion of bullets of seventeen millimeters per hundred meters, while others are all eighty. Nevertheless, most users dwell on the fact that the average value specified in the passport is better as a starting indicator. Many say that the "Elk" is not a sniper or sports weapon, so it is naive to expect high accuracy from such an inexpensive rifle.
But still, the main characteristic of any carbine, both domestic and foreign, is its reliability, which the owner is entitled to expect from it with proper operation. And "Elk-7-1" fully justifies these expectations. Judging by the reviews, some happy owners of this weapon indicate that they didn’t have a single misfire or skew for several years of use, and there was no unloading of a cartridge.
However, many people try to play it safe and install, for example, good optical sights, which significantly increase the accuracy of shooting. For hunter-fishers, the right shot is very important, since in this case the probability of leaving wounded animals is minimized. Many positive words are said about the appearance of weapons.
Finally
This domestic classic rifle has long won fame, having received the title of folk. The "Elk-7-1" carbine, without demonstrating miracles and without setting records, simply "faithfully" works. Moreover, he is equally good both in the hands of newcomers who first received permission to buy a rifle, and in the hands of a professional tradesman who contains seven with his precise shots. "Elk-7-1," many call the "workhorse", loyal to its owner.