VZ.58 Club:

[Maverick223]

This is the spot for all types of VZ.58 and all things VZ.58...now lets get this party started!

Here's mine, a D-Technik/CZ-USA rifle from TGI:

 

[armoredman]

OK, I can't pass this one up...





200 yards, shooting as pictured above.




It's no AR, nor AK, it's a vz-58, baby!

 

[Maverick223]

Figured you might be the first to come along...welcome to the club (though I feel like you should be the one welcoming me).

 

[MCMXI]

Here's mine. I recently added a MAGPUL AFG (Angled Fore Grip) but haven't shot it yet in that configuration.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I don't have one, but if you let me hang around I'll sweep up the brass and drool a lot...

 

[Maverick223]

I recently added a MAGPUL AFG (Angled Fore Grip) but haven't shot it yet in that configuration.

Welcome to the club. I am considering swapping out my grip and forearm for the one you have pictured, and possibly adding a AFG as well. Does that forearm handle/deflect the heat any better than the composite one that comes stock? Mine gets pretty toasty after a few magazines (similar to an AK).

I don't have one, but if you let me hang around I'll sweep up the brass and drool a lot...

I think you mean, sweep up steel. Now is a good time to buy, if TGI has any left, they are going for $585.00.

 

[ifit]

nice vz guys, heres mine at the range for the first time, couple years back

 

[jeepguy]

armoredman is that folding stock longer then the factory one? i just bought my vz 58 folder yesterday & i feel the lop is too short. if it is longer where did you buy it?

 

[Maverick223]

jeepguy, while I am sure that is a really nice stock, it is pretty costly. If you like the original folder, you may want to consider a AK style butt-pad instead. I have heard that you can attach them to the VZ stock just as easily. If you don't like the stock, that is another matter.

 

[jeepguy]

thanks maverick i will keep that in mind. i dont mind the stock, except that it feels way to short. this the same with all commblock rifles i have seen. so im just looking for options, and will go with what seems best. i even thought about buying an extra folder & welding part of it to the other to make it longer. i dont know if you can weld this alloy, so i would have to look into that.

 

[Maverick223]

I am pretty sure it is steel, so welding should work fine, and IMO is probably a better solution.

 

[Bohemus]

My FSN 01 by Novohradský gunsmith

Seeing your Vz's I should upgrade my piece s little bit...

 

[Maverick223]

Thanks for stopping by, Bohemus. BTW, I am still jealous of your 20rnd magazines (not pictured).

 

[armoredman]

Bohemus, it's a working mans rifle, no need to change it if you're happy!

jeepguy, that stock was about $150, IIRC, and the factory folder is about half of that from Czechpoint. I felt the factory was a bit shorter, but my vz-58 started off life with the Tactical Sporter stock, which I still have. The Zahal I have on thier now feels perfect to me. Czechpoint is carrying them now, too.

Maverick, in my case, it IS brass - I reload for 7.62x39mm, very little steel cased ammo run in this gun.

 

[Maverick223]

I reload for 7.62x39mm, very little steel cased ammo run in this gun.

I just don't have the brass to reload for the 7.62x39mm.

I am interested to hear about your best groups using handloads; Barnaul does well for me, but I am sure it could do better.

 

[Snowdog]

I've been looking at these VZ-58s that are currently offered by SOG for $439, but don't really know enough about them (such as what they offer over a comparable AK besides uniqueness, do they use AK magazines etc).
I'm leaning towards a Bulgarian Ak-74 (also from SOG for $395) as my next purchase.

I do like the distinctive looks of the VZ-58 though.

 

[nalioth]

(such as what they offer over a comparable AK besides uniqueness, do they use AK magazines etc)

Nothing on the Vz58 will interchange with any Kalashnikov parts.

They are two entirely different weapons, coincidentally using the same cartridge.

There are numerous threads and posts here on the rifle to further enlighten you on it.

To highlight some of it's advantages over the AK:

• Reduced recoil due to the unique design.
• Light weight (the milled Vz58 is about a pound lighter than a stamped receiver AK)
• Ergonomic

 

[Maverick223]

In addition to the above advantages, the rifle also offers a typically better accuracy (I feel this is mostly due to the tighter tolerances in construction and being striker fired), a LRBHO, lighter magazines, and an overall improvement in build quality IMO.

The rifle you linked to is a redesigned version of the VZ.58 marketed by CAI. It is called the VZ-2008 and has some aspects that are worrisome, including but not limited to: poor quality build parts, poor construction by CAI's goons, and a FA trigger group modified for SA fire (often leads to malfunctions, the D.Technik ones were redesigned to fix this issue). This isn't to say that it would perform unreliably, but it could, and due to poor barrel quality the rifle is unlikely to be as accurate as other VZ.58 builds. It is a dice roll...

 

[armoredman]

If the SOG guns have bayonet lugs, they are probably Century builds. Hit or miss type thing, some are great, some are horrible. I'd stick with D-Technik, now known as Czech Small Arms, (gotta love it, CSA), imported through Czechpoint-USA. A new .223 version is here in very small numbers, more coming in soon.
Maverick, I have a few good groups so far, still experimenting, and now loading home cast for this caliber. I haven't tried the cast in the vz-58 yet, a little nervous about leading the gas system, though I hear that my wheelweight air dropped slugs should be hard enough not to lead up.

In this pic, there is one hole in common to the two three shot groups. I doubt I could do that again! And I mis-measured, that's 100 yards, not 120.



When it showed up looking like this,



I tried some Wolf through it at 50 yards rapid fire,



Since that last photographed excercise at 200 yards, I really haven't done much target work, mostly using the CZ 527M...I guess I'd better get her out again before she pouts.

 

[Maverick223]

If the SOG guns have bayonet lugs, they are probably Century builds.

They are, if you look closely, it says "VZ-2008" in the title.

Honestly I have been getting similar groups to yours using Barnaul (Brown Bear), but I was shooting at about 80yds. I need to push it out a bit farther to see what it is really capable of, but so far I am impressed.

 

[Col. Plink]

I can't really join your club, yet; can I just hang out and wish I had one?

 

[Maverick223]

Yeah...I guess, but you still have to pay your dues.

 

[Snowdog]

The rifle you linked to is a redesigned version of the VZ.58 marketed by CAI. It is called the VZ-2008 and has some aspects that are worrisome

they are probably Century builds. Hit or miss type thing, some are great, some are horrible.

This is one of the reasons I really like THR. Though I would have done some research before putting money into a new purchase, this is probably one of the sites I would use for research.
Thanks for that info!

 

[Maverick223]

No problem, snowdog, glad to be of service. I too research the heck out of a firearm that I am unfamiliar with...and you are right this is one of the best places to do it.

 

[nalioth]

This is one of the reasons I really like THR. Though I would have done some research before putting money into a new purchase, this is probably one of the sites I would use for research.

Any firearms forum will tell you to stay away from Century-manufactured products.

They're that good