Got VZ58 ?

[campperrykid]

Got VZ58 ? Just curious.
VZ58's have been available in Canada for a while. OOW built a US legal model for years , but they seem to have been a little too pricey to break into the market , compete with the upscale milled AK's , and become really popular.
The D-Technik's from the Czech Republic and the ORF builds were more affordable. They seem to be catching on in some circles.

[jmoore]

Super rifles. Lighter and more accurate than most AK's. Safety is probably better for most RH users.Mags are tons lighter than AK mags and have a bolt hold open feature.

Downsides:
Scope mounting is a bit of a bother (if you're so inclined, at least in the US) and the buttplate is "squirmy" on the fixed stock model. Safety isn't LH user friendly (which is completely opposite the AK situation). Mags aren't AK!

[sandstorm]

AK are prohib in canada so VZ58 is the next closes thing .

it sells for $700 with 4 mags .

heres mine with FAB furniture and aimpoint T-1 micro.

http://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2009/10/fab31024x576-1.jpg

[jmoore]

All the "tacticool" accessories that are available don't seem to get US exposure. Oh, well.

What kind of groups can you get w/ the Aimpoint?

[campperrykid]

I had completely given up hope of ever owning a VZ58 until theakforum.net had a group buy for the D-Technik model. The D-Tech's come in as single stackers from the Czech Republic and are 922r'ed in the US.

The D-Tech safety sweeps forward to fire . The Ohio Rapid Fire safety sweeps to the rear and feels very clumsy to me.
Theakforum.net followed up with a group buy of the ORF VZ58's. I prefer the D-Tech , but my ORF is an interesting gun as well. The ORF needed a little tweaking and is a little picky about magazines. It runs OK with FMJ in selected Mag's.
The D-Tech runs 100% ( so far ) with every brand ( Wolf , Barnaul , S&B , Gold Tiger etc ) and bullet type ( FMJ , HP , SP) in all of over 20 mag's that I have tested.
Ohio Ord Works recently lowered their VZ58 prices by several hundred.

[cosmo]

I have had mine for a three years and it has been completely reliable. I have not had the opportunity to compare it with an AK, but it is more accurate than an SKS.

[Stevo]

IMO the VZ58 is superior to the AK. Lighter, more accurate, more ergonomic and less recoil.

I own two of the Canadian market 18.5 inch barrel CZ 858 Tactical 2 versions (a mouthful of a name, to be sure) and they have proven reliable and accurate. I've run them in classes were I've put 3k of Czech ball down range over a 4 day period with nary a hiccup. I did have one malfunction which cause a failure to feed, due to having the top round cocked up in the mag after re-using one picked up from the ground. Of the 15k fired through the 5 different VZ's in the class, there were three (3) malfunctions. One stuck case and one other feeding issue just like mine. That's a considerably lower number than those experienced by the AR shooters in the class.

http://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2009/10/IMG_0677Medium-1.jpg

[campperrykid]

Nice rifles.
Is the lower rail with the Aimpoint one of the new Canadian NEA rails?
Looks really promising . Based onpictures , the NEA's seem to be the lowest VZ58 rails that I have seen yet. They're not available in the US , AFAIK , at least not yet.

[Stevo]

Yes, the lower rifle's rail is the NEA. There's an newer version of it coming out very soon. It's got a nicer finish and some changes that should make up for variations in fit due to individual rifle dimensional differences. It's definitely the lowest rail on the market.

In the new version the push pin is slightly larger diameter, and there are set screws at the front and rear to ensure less vertical movement. The old version was good and the new one will be better.

Czech-Point will be carrying them in the US but I don't know when.

[campperrykid]

Great news.
Czechpoint USA has earned a super reputation in the US.

[Stevo]

My two rifles as of yesterday. Someday I'm sure I'll hit on a "final" configuration.

http://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2009/12/IMG_0911Medium-1.jpg

[jmoore]

I'm lusting for some of that "tacticool" stuff, and you went and made it worse!

[Stevo]

LOL, glad I could help. Honestly, I don't consider any of my changes to fit in the "tacticool" category. To me that has always meant change for change's sake, or to get matching colour accesories, or to hang cheap airsoft junk on your gun for posing in the mirror. Function has always been more important than form to me.

I've run both those rifles in classes shooting 700+ rounds a day and they've never let me down. Having tons of Czech surplus ammo at $0.18 a round makes them the cheap to shoot, too. I'd probably still be shooting my AR if .223 ammo hadn't gone to $500/1000 in the last couple years.

[dastier]

I have a set of NEA upper and lower hand guards on order plus I changed my pistol grip to a FAB one but I don't consider any of those upgrades tacticool. (heck I wasn't even familiar with that term until my shooting buddy with his short barreled AR explained it too me).

About the only tacticool change I made was adding a Krink style flash hider. I'm trying to put together a easy to handle rifle for carbine competitions. Right now I'm gathering info on sling and stock upgrades.

I'm might also consider adding a forward pistol grip but I don't have any experience using a rifle configured that way - any opinions?

[jmoore]

The term we coined back in the '80's was "Kudzu Commando". It applied to either the owner or his "bling". I like trying new stuff (most of which eventually gets removed!) more than a lot of people, so I'm at least a transitory member of either club! The good stuff might stay, but most things end up pretty bare, if for no other reason than weight control. That's one upside to "stalking" or still hunting: you carry the weapon more or less at the ready up to 10 hours a day. It quickly lets you know what works and what doesn't without have to worry too much about return fire...

[dastier]

...That's one upside to "stalking" or still hunting: you carry the weapon more or less at the ready up to 10 hours a day. It quickly lets you know what works and what doesn't without have to worry too much about return fire...

I agree. I still hunt and went from carrying a .270 WSM Tikka T3 with a 3x-10x scope to a .243 Savage 99F with a 1.5x-6X.

Mostly it was because the Tikka was too much gun with too much scope for where I now hunt but I also wanted something quick to aim and quick for follow up shots.

The added bonus was lighter weight. :D Sorry if this is a bit off topic.

[jmoore]

Not too much, its a "danger" that doesn't show itself so much at the range. These nice light rifles become clunky heavyweights if you get carried away. Automobiles seem to often suffer the same malady from the factory w/ each new model year- more weight!

[campperrykid]

What I want on a VZ58 is a way to co-witness an Aimpoint Micro and maybe experiment with a mounted light. The PRI is low enough for a 2 1/2 power scope. A pad would help with cheek weld.

[Stevo]

What I want on a VZ58 is a way to co-witness an Aimpoint Micro and maybe experiment with a mounted light. The PRI is low enough for a 2 1/2 power scope. A pad would help with cheek weld.

A Micro will co-witness on the NEA rail. Screw a piece of Picatinny to the side of the handguard and use a 1 inch light/ring combo.

[campperrykid]

Great idea.
A Vltor offset light mount is another possibilty: They work well on an Ultimak and are thin enough to use on the same rail with an Aimpoint Micro.
I don't know if they are available in Canada.

[Stevo]

Great idea.
A Vltor offset light mount is another possibilty: They work well on an Ultimak and are thin enough to use on the same rail with an Aimpoint Micro.
I don't know if they are available in Canada.

I've not seen the Vltor mount in person but it would need to be pretty thin to work without blocking some of the view. In the first pic I posted in this thread you can see the Fenix light I have mounted to the handguard. I had a piece of YHM FF fore-end rail that I attached to the wood with machine screws. When I get an offset light mount I'll add it to the side rail so it sits higher where it will be easier to activate with my thumb.

[campperrykid]

I was surprised when I first saw pic's of the Micro & Vltor on the same Ultimak rail.
We have two offset Vltors in the house . They really are thin enough to work with a Micro on an Ultimak and are quite popular in the US for that application. ( ETA: It's possible that the Vltor intrudes a little into the bottom of the Aimpoint FOV , but I would need to mount & dismount one (Again) to confirm or deny . )
Ours usually live on AR middie Carbines mounted on the side of DD Omega rails. Seem to work well with a VFG in that location as well.