Back in 2017 I picked up a 54r Vepr and put it in a great looking Ironwood Designs skeleton stock. Over time I added a Tabuk flash-hider, RSRegulate mount + Trjicon AccuPoint and picked up several of the Csspecs singe stack magazines. All pretty high-end stuff.
It's been a horrible shooter no matter the ammo. 4-6" groups. Peculiar discoveries and issues initially reviewed here:
https://www.akfiles.com/forums/threads/my-54r-vepr-woes.442967/
https://www.theakforum.net/threads/my-54r-vepr-woes.321598/#post-3034088
Trijicon replaced the AccuPoint during the middle of Covid, I had a gunsmith repair and reseat the only two mounting points of the buttstock (inside of the rear of the receiver and just behind it via rear tang). Unfortunately, the IWD stock does not provide for a pistol grip screw into the bottom of the receiver the way the original, sissy, Montecarlo thumbhole does. I’d all but given up on it relegating it to the back of the safe.
Today, I took it out and predictably shot 4-6” groups. Removed the flash-hider, no difference. It’s always bothered me that the front handguard fastened directly into the base of the barrel via screw so I pulled it and shot with the font end naked . . .
and LOW & BEHOLD (wi 180gr S&B) . . . . .
No handguard = 1.25" group (with a flier)
Wi handguard = 4+" group
No other AKM pattern rifle I’ve ever owned, nor to the best of my knowledge, has ever fastened a stock/hand-guard directly to the barrel in this way. Frankly I don't think I have any rifle with this feature. Anyone else feel this is the cause of my ills? What to do? There’s no easy way I can see to alter/modify this means of fastening the handguard. Anyone else discover similar? Is this just wrong? Wondering if I should I put it all back into it’s original thumbhole configuration and try again?