We test out the new VP12, a 12 gauge, AK-style, semi-automatic shotgun from SDS Imports. During our testing we will feed the VP12 a variety of 12 gauge ammunition from lightweight field loads to heavier recoiling 00 buckshot and slugs. We will also use both standard 2 and ¾ as well as 3 inch shells.
The VP12 is fed via 5 round magazines and the controls very closely mimic those of the AKM or Kalashnikov guns. This semi-auto gun has an adjustable gas system and an externally threaded barrel to allow the installation of a muzzle brake, should the shooter desire.
In January, 2020 at the annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV, I walked into the Hi-Point booth. My buddy Dave was excited to show me their new prototype pistol. “It doesn’t even have a name yet,” he explained. The pistol was a departure from the standard Hi-Point C9 in that it was supposed to come with a factory threaded barrel, the option to mount a red dot optic, and a redesigned magazine that would hold more that the standard 8 rounds.
The slide and frame were also redesigned for a more modern look. Anticipated release was late 2020. We all returned home from SHOT having heard the rumors of a new virus coming out of China. However, Hi-Point kept up the PR for the new gun and held an online contest to name the pistol. In a case of “be careful what you wish for”, the public overwhelmingly voted to call it the “Yeet Cannon”.