Surplus vz. 58 Para - STV Group

So tomorow im going for Czechoslovak Samopal vz. 58 with folding stock, its supposedly surplus/from suprlus parts from prezidental guard stockpile.
I guess you dont care about some photos and reviews, right?

For those who dont know - vz. 58 is 7,62x39 mm rifle fitting same role as AKM build in Czechoslovakia (Now two coutries - Czech republic, Slovakia Republic). For some reassons Czechoslovak goverment, back then in times of Soviet Union refused to use AKM as rest of Warsaw pact and developed its own rifle. Visually and with calibre its imiliar to AKM, but completly diffrent in everything else except sights

Here we go!

(Grey color is specific for STV Group builds called CZS 5811)

Accesories (probably relevant just for buyers in CZ)
4x mag, leather mag pouch, sling, bayonet, bayonet holster, weird cleaning kit. Except mags everything looks (and smells) like it was stored for decades in some old warehouse. Which it did. Mag pouch is in good state and i guess they were stored separatly with mags, sling have traces of mold, celaning kit bag is like old sack with hay. But it comes like bonus and i will probably sell it to some collector or something

State of the gun
Gun itself is solid CZ factory, army quallity and it comes from "peoples militia" (i guess something like nationa guard form communist era) stockpile. There is minimal wear of inside parts (like "one or twice on range" level), handguard is scratched, but not much and i actually got to chose concrete gun and pick this one (i like that scratchy look + i intend to change it for some polymer anyway). I did check all main springs, trigger group (just surface look, inside of bolt assembly, barrel, sights and all looks very good, very close to new in term of condition. Also i did check the "gremlin" part, dont know exact name in neglish, but its that part what blocks automatic fire.
There was a little bit of rust (look at photos with high contrast), but looks more like result of refactoring proces - its like dirt what was flushed with oil bath and sticked and atracted some moisture. Nothing serious and i believe i was able to scratch it off
Waiting for paperwork, so i cant shoot it yet, but after inspection i was testing function with plastic dummy rounds and all went well, extraction was litterally agressive (still cant find one round), but that dummies are from light plastic and as beginner i will not try it with live round in my flat. All dumb rounds had solid striker print


Now gun itself
No, its not AK,

It looks like one, but that mostly because it was intended for same role and it comes from same "school" as AK, but its short stroke piston, strike fired (well, linear hammer according to Ian) rifle for 7,62x39. It was developed while was Czechoslovakia (now two separete countries - Czech Republic, Slovakia Republic) part of USSR and so some standardization was required.
Barrel is chome lined 15,4 inch long
Sights are same as on AK
Mags are original design, cant use AK mags.It have bolt hold open after last shot
Can use SKS clips
One thing that supprised me - its actually pretty smal gun

(comparsion with my Hammerli Tac R1 .22LR)
Yet its sturdy and solid feel gun, that kind of gun, where you are not affraid to split skull of some enemie, when you run out of bullets.
It also need stonger push/slap with every basic action. Not excessivelym just more than pushing buttons on you remote controller.
Weight is about 2,9 Kg and even with para stock it feells nicely ballanced.
Handling is easy enough and mag changes fells natural after basic intruduction.
Fiels strip is... alien itself. Its not complex or hard to do, its just kinda strange and one thing can test your nerves at first - you accually need to push the trigger while reasembling bolt or striker will stuck on rear position and you will not get spring inside.
But...
That trigger is great.
I didnt test that much guns and its mayabe overall rugged feel and look of gun, what makes trigger such a nice supprise.
Its similiar to my Beretta APX, but much lighter
Small move at first touch (that "hey, you are pressing trigger" indicator), then solid wall, but with much more readable (in comparsion to APX) between fast pull for quick shot or gentle push to precise shot. I would say most of ppl would not need sume trigger upgrade. Its much more lighter, comfortable and still safe, than Scorpion Evo 3 or Hammerli Tac 1



Overall
Nice gun, its obvious its made for conscript army, but designed for specific region, where every fallen soldier matter because there is not much reserves. That means its build for higher standard than AKM (i would say) , because from start was sure, we will dont need milions of tham.

In my opinion its great gun for budget shooter who would like something serisou, durable and with option to upgrade some parts (at least in Czech is after market quite solid) - thats why i got it.
But outside of Czech region its maybe more or collectors gun.
I paid about 645 USD, which is less than for my APX, about same as my Hammrli and much less than basic AR 15 (net mentioning fact ammo is 50% cheaper). Even AK is more expensive

Where to get it outside of Czech republic?
I dont know, but if you really want this pice, you can track company STV Group and Proammo CE. Both should have stockpile of this rifles/parts (more than 50k i heard) and im quite sure they will sell some in US (via some distributor). Also Czech Small Arms manufacturing new vz 58 and even in .223 (according to one post on czech forum it destrys cassing while extracting, so you cant reload tham). I think theirs distributor is Czech Point USA or something like that

Range report sometime next week
Feel free to ask your questions or for more photos
But keep in mind im not an expert and this is my first medium calibre gun

Yeah, my camera have some faulty software and actually dims when there is regular amount or more light

Anyway i planned to get some range report (my paperwork is done) but got second shot of vaccine and it make me sleepy for last two days so i psotpone that range session to end of week
Meantime there my buddy came to check that rifle and he was astonished by that trigger (its really good one). I gave him my Hammerli Tac1 .22Lr to comare and he actually thought for minute he broke my trigger on Hammerli because its so bad vs vz 58 Its actually on same level as Scorpion Evo 3 (little bit harder), but side by side its really that huge diffrence

Mate, im just on my way on shooting range and the thing is - yes, i will probably have fun (if it will not blow into my face) and i will have fun cleaning it after (well...), but after that... i gues my arms would hurt, but thats it. Guns provides few moments of joy on range, but family last longer

So im back and cant say im exactly happy

First of all, technical issues occured - pins holding trigger and safety mechanism (i guess) loose itself after few shots and were causing light primer strike (which felt like noncocked trigger) and safety pin caused dull ...well safety trigger even when it was on fire. In same time, that pin shifted so i wasnt able to push it back while i was also unable to disassemble gun, because trigger was cocked.



I manage to deal with this issues and it should be just matter of somehow locking that pins, but need to push back some pins every 2 or 3 shots really didnt multiply joy of shooting

Second thing are sights together with para stock - its so low it actually make followup shots quite difficult, because you feel recoil more that you should. Some comfy stock or optic is recommended.

And just minor things - front hanguards heats quite a lot and holding that heat for some time, muzzle flash (this version dont have just muzzle thread cover) is quite huge

In its default configuration its really more like gun which will do its job (that pins are probably just issue of this concrete rifle or batch, keep in mind its repased by STV from original army version), but you will want to modernize or replace some parts (stock, sights, muzzle device - grip and trigger are great from start)

Technical issues or not, it still serious rifle, kinda gun lego and it still feels solid. After shooting cleaning didnt show some extensive wear, just piston was really dirty (i was shooting 1974 chines ammo...)

Ignition Override said:

Can you buy an extra set of 10-15 spare Pins, and experiment , to find out which have a tighter, secure fit?

Click to expand...

One costs about 16 USD, so ... yeah, buit dont want to, at least not now

briansmithwins said:

There should be a retaining clip/spring for the pins. Is it missing or damaged?

Click to expand...

I would say its missing, since as far i remeber there is nothing, just pin itself. I will take closer look later today

Ok, so there is nothing holding that pins



And pins looks ok



There is how it should look like (photo from some shop)


And just before i post it, i founded solution...

There is lever which actually prevent pins to go out. For some reasson it was slided and i didn notice it - its new for me and quite stupidly, i was just looking drom one side = didnt see that "mechanism"

Good advice, but i spoke too soon and gun is out for now....


Trigger pins was ok, but safety pin apperently pushed out at once and bolt smashed into safety levers, bend the pin and forced safety lever in that position... looks like hammer time... but im waiting for my dealers response, so for now, is my vz 58 out of order

So today it was fixed (well i hope) by my local dealer with few gentle hits from hammer. Looks like my previous fix wasnt enough - that pin safety is more complicate than i though

Planning to test fire tomorow, if it will be all ok i will order some handguard with rail and begin to test optics at hand

Range day!

25 meters, with chinese junk ammo

Looks like all is fixed and i finally enjoyed shooting this piece

Recoil is sharp, but not that heavy or violent, yet with combination of default sights and paratroopers folding stock, its quite hard to make fast follow-up shots. How could concripts manage to keep aimed automatic fire (they probably didnt) thats mystery.
However thats just basic configuration - additionl optic, some muzzle device and proper stock will push vz 58 to higher level

For potentional buyers i really recommend other than paratroopers stock - it maybe just because my proportions, but its not, in combination with iron sights, very comfortable setup - stock itself is solid, but i miss cheek rest and when shooting, recoil kicks just too close to my nose

Ejection is violently fast in up and forward direction - you dont even notice it, while aiming.

Its capable weapon from start but its missing some tweaks to make shooting really nejoyable. For me its not a problem, since over here is obviously quite a large after market and even with additional costs in accesories, its still cheaper than budget AR - but thats region specific

Its just that sort of gun, which willl serve its purpose and it allows you to build it more

Ordered new handguard with picatiny railwhich should hold zero

Next step will be mounting optic on that - some tips? Currently i have some cheap aliexpress red dot on my .22LR so i will try it on Vz 58 - just to get some idea what would fit, i doubt that this red dot will hold for more than two shots but i certainly hope! Budget is limited and red dots expensive (over here, basic ones are third of price of the rifle itself)

And its home!

Holding like helvetic belief, its solid piece of metal

Just cheap red dot from my 22LR as test bed. I expect that 7,62x39 will shake its controls, making it flicker, but we will see

30 rounds later - rail still holding and so that cheap red dot

That RD is probably to high for longer range, but it will be replaced anyway - i really dont expect it will last for some longer period time, its kinda supprise it went throught that initial test

Anyway, just this change alone turned vz 58 into diffrent animal. With paratropers foldig stock you still miss some cheak rest and little bit rest, but thanks to higher placed optic you perceive recoil much less, since you can get more controlable position. Also you can now utilize "C position" front hold, futher imroving control over gun.

It really increase joy of shooting a lot.

Next stop will be probably "Zendl compensator" combined with minor flash hidder (around 40 USD)

I would say that basic paratroopers stock (aka "sklopka") dont have more than collectors value, in sence of alternatives. Its good enogh if you got it with gun, but there are better options.
But hey, if you want it badly and cant get it in USA (then try Canada) and will wait for me to change stock (i guess in few months) i will have spare one