Why all the recent surge in popularity? And if some are claiming it’s superior than the AK47, why am I just hearing about this now?
*I have a vepr, no experience with the VZ
Maybe 6-7 years ago they were, when they first really hit the US market.
If only it took AK mags.
I blame Strikeback. Saw them all over in that series, or at least the first(Or second) season depending on how you are counting. That said, if you get one from Czechpoint they are nice rifles and I would take one. Over an AK? Depends. But it is lighter and considered to be more accurate than an AK by some. Still want one to go with an AK personally just to have.
I had a couple of VZ’s. They’re decent guns, but I ended up selling all 3 of mine. You can accessorize them, and I have been down that road.
Pros
+They shoot a cheap and effective round.
+They are pretty light (before you start tacticooling the **** out of it, lol)
+Reasonably accurate for what it is
Cons
-Ejects out the top, so pretty much forget about mounting optics. Some workarounds exist, such as mounting red dots to a railed upper handguards. As for railed dust covers, tried that, no bueno. Long story.
-Ejecting out the top has also lead to some very odd "malfunctions, namely spent casing falling back into the action (the entire bolt carrier IS the ejection port). Although this seems like it should be statistically unlikely, I have had it happen probably 1 out of every 100 rounds fired.
-Occasional hang ups of the case mouth of the fresh round on the edge of the chamber (not sure what the technical term for this is) on feeding. This was used cheap-ass Czech surplus 7.62x39, so may be an ammo issue. With that said, I expect a Czech-made surplus gun to work with Czech-made surplus ammo, fer ****'s sake.
I’d take a decent AK over a VZ, in my humble opinion.
I really liked the few I handled. They’re very light, have a great, minimalist folding buttstock, had nice triggers (at least the ones I saw did), and seem to be generally quite reliable and accurate.
Not taking AK mags is an issue, as is the ejection pattern, as mentioned above.
Has anyone SBR’d one? That might be interesting.
Not sure about in the US, but in Canada (whole different set of retarded gun laws), there are available the Czech Small Arms (new manufacture) VZ-58’s.
http://www.csa.co.cz/en/15-produkty/23-sa58.html
They come in .223 (with its own unique ploymer mag - a travesty overall imho) and 7.62x39, in length of 18.5, 15.5", 11.75 and 7.5".
FSN also makes some VZ’s in various lengths, although I don’t know if they are still making them. See this thread for more info:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?93583-My-VZ-58-(FSN01)
Keep in mind that the popularity of the VZ in Canada is primarily due to the AK and anything the powers that be deem a “variant” being prohibited.
The exception here are a few models of Valmet AK’s, which are allowed (even to hunt with) since the government bought some Valmets for indians/natives/first nations/whatever-the-****-they-are-called-this-year. This artificially low supply means that Valmet AK’s cost $4,000+. These can be found in x39, .223 and .308.
So, long story short, if you are in the US and have the AK option available to you (that is, until Hussein and Co. decide otherwise), go for the AK. Ejecting out the side avoids many unnecessary issues.
So many great rifles so little time…the vz58 is just one of them. bought my first 7.62x39 rifle a CZ USA D-Technik vz58 back in 2008 before my first ak 47. Untl this day I never had a single issue with it… Not even the ones posted here about spent casing causing malfunctions falling back into the action…that is the first I ever heard of that. I collect ak47s and just added the csa/czechpoint vz 58 pistol 12" to the collection.
The VZ58 is everything the AK should have been to begin with.
Weight win for VZ58
Controls win for VZ58
Accuracy win for VZ58
Aftermarket win for AK
Magazine Options win for AK
I would not select a VZ58 from any of the suppliers over a properly constructed AK.
I don’t think they’re any more accurate than an AK. The weight difference seems insignificant to me also.
They’re kind of just an oddity- huge proprietary mags w/ excessive BHO track, open top bolt, striker fired…
The Czechs wanted to do everything different from the rest of the East Bloc, and had higher standards for manufacturing. Their designs were inferior.
Is a CZ-52 a better pistol than a TT-33? Nope.
Is a VZ-52 a better rifle than an SKS? Nope.
Is a VZ-58 a better rifle than an AKM? Nope.
That’s cool man it’s not your cup of tea, but the design is NOT inferior it’s pretty solid. There’s nothing wrong with the short gas piston and striker fired design. Closed bolt guns (vz58 & ar15) are generally more accurate because of dwell/lock time. The trigger on a vz58 also feels better but that is relative to the shooter. The controls are also made for a normal person and not your retarded little sister with monkey sized fingers. The magazines don’t bother me, the AK is just more popular and has more options.
The only reason the AK is vastly more popular is because Russia was the top dog country in that region of the world during that time period and it’s cheaper to product than the vz58.
I think it’s the old VHS vs. Betamax thing. Sometimes the best product simply doesn’t win; distribution and marketing do. I own two VZ58’s and more than ten times as many AK’s. As much as I like collecting the different AK variants, I have to say that I like the VZ58 design better overall.
I like Czech weapons in general, and would like to acquire one of these at some point. I sold all my AK’s as they just didn’t do anything especially well. I prefer my Russian SKS’s in that caliber, but was enamored with the 74 for a while, and the 5.45. Now I would like to check the VZ58 out for what many have said above, plus they are just different.
I love my VZ.58. It’s going to be Form 1’d here shortly, unlike then it has a Sig Brace.
I don’t think you know what “closed bolt” means.
The AK is more prevalent because it’s a better rifle made simpler and cheaper.
If the VZ58 were a halfway decent design, it would have spawned a generation of weird little milled receiver, striker fired guns with open top bolts and short stroke pistons.
None of those design elements were incorporated into other platforms, and the VZ58 did not withstand the test of time.
It’s still worth owning as a novelty gun, and I couldn’t resist picking up a CAI at the prices they were selling for a few years back…
It’s a good rifle, but not as good as it’s Russian designed counterpart.
(Just like the other platforms I listed…)
You can get a good copy for under 500 bucks is why theres an interest in these rifles.
The VZ58 did stand the test of time it’s still issued and used in conflicts. Like most weapons it gets replaced and it’s successor is the Bren.
I got both of my “real” ones for $550 each when they first came out.
For me I have to use the folder because the fixed stock gives me cheek slap. It is svelte, light, and fairly accurate. As accurate as the better AKs, but nothing earth shattering. (I have a Checkpoint VZ 58). The recoil is a bit more snappy than an AK, but of course it doesn’t ‘rock’ - it has a short stroke.
My most accurate X39 was a Yugo CAI that could do 10 rounds in 1.5" at 50 yards. My VZ doesn’t do that.
I first saw a VZ58 in Viet Nam in 1968 and thought it was a neat rifle. I’ve owned several AKs and though a truly great rifle I have to admit I prefer the VZ58. I bought an early D-Tecnik version last year and shooting it side by side with my Arsenal I find the VZ to be more accurate. These D-Teknic examples wreak of quality that few AKs can come close to, the Arsenal SAM7SF being an exception. If I had to choose between the two it would be the VZ58. Magazines have been no problem as I’ve found several sources offering brand new ones. Most people that knock these have never owned one.