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Posted: 6/7/2010 8:44:59 PM EDT
I've owned my CZ VZ58 for the better part of a year, but have had little time to ring it out at the range. Between work and too many projects in the fire I've just had it out a half dozen times or so. Yesterday I decided to get off my lazy tail and run some rounds down the pipe. I put the Stag Arms Mod 8 and the VZ58 in my trunk and headed off to the gun range. To make a long story longer when I got to the range the good old boys were used to seeing my Stag, but didn't recognize the VZ58. Since purchasing the rifle I have added ZAHAL furnishings to it including their collapsable stock with a built in recoil absorber. The only stock furniture left is the top of the forearm since I intend to leave the iron sights in place. Setting up on the 100 yard range with both my rifles and a gun bag full of ammo I had placed some 6" shoot 'n' sees downrange and thrown as many pieces of damaged target frames on the berm as I could find. Plinking the wood chips at 100 yards is a challenge and fun to boot. Especially without a scope. That's where the surprise of the day came in. My Stag piston gun with a mid range scope is dead on at 100-200 yards. It's reliable and accurate which makes for a great coyote gun. It was the iron sighted VZ58 that shocked me. When asked if I thought I could hit anything with the iron sight and my eyes at 100 yards I couldn't leave well enough alone. I loaded up some Golden Tiger Russian fodder (FMJBT) and crossed my fingers. Hoping at least to make an attempt at looking competent. The VZ58 turned out to be one heck of a plinker. My eyes not being what they used to be needless to say popped out of their sockets momentarily. After regaining my composure I then proceeded to look as though I had planned the whole thing. The VZ was tagging most anything it was pointed at. If not on the first shot the chips went sailing on the second. The balance and light weight makes for a decent carbine. It will be going to the range with me again tomorrow. I've got to see what my limits are with the rifle and iron sights. It flings spent cases from the open bolt to the moon and back so clearing FTEs will be a non issue and it apparently seems to think Russian ammo is the gold standard. That works for me since my 5.56 and 7.62x51s have a taste for caviar rather than fish bait. I can shoot my VZ all day and not put a dent in the wallet, well, a dent maybe, but not a big one. If you haven't given the CZ VZ58 a try you really ought to. It'll outshine the typical AKs and many of the lower end ARs without breaking a sweat. I could see carrying the VZ58 in the field and not wearing yourself out. The only weakness being it uses a proprietary 30 round magazine. Fortunately they work every bit as well as the rifle so having to replace them won't happen anytime soon. 
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Where's the pics?
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Just bought my second last week. A Century was my first....the 2nd is a D-Technik that I'll be SBRing.
I'm in the same boat as you. I own a couple of nicer ARs, LWRCs (6.8/5.56), a POF 308, had 3 Colts, 3 XCRs, etc..... The VZ is quickly becoming my favorite just b/c of the reliability and very good accuracy for an "AK type" rifle. Sean |
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Yeah, spend todays afternoon with mine, first time shooting past 100m, while results werent really good, i would call them promising (error between triger and ground).
Quoted:
Hopefully the 5.56 version will be out soon Its out by now actualy , but it costs 3~4 times more than the 7,62 one.. |
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Hopefully we get them for around what the 7.62 version costs here
Quoted:
Yeah, spend todays afternoon with mine, first time shooting past 100m, while results werent really good, i would call them promising (error between triger and ground). Quoted:
Hopefully the 5.56 version will be out soon Its out by now actualy , but it costs 3~4 times more than the 7,62 one.. |
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http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/6660/p1080895i.jpg
Some Vz fun .-) |
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No fair, you've got a 20 rounder and flash hider. I wish I knew that I was going to buy a VZ-58 when I was over there. I would have bought some mags and anything else I could find. Wanna send some stuff to me ? |
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Now, this is just my opinion based on the new D-Technik I just picked up from TGI (Tennessee Guns). I already have a CAI (Century) VZ-2008.
The only major benefits I see to the D-Technik is that it has a surplus chrome lined bbl, some gun smiths will not work on a Century, and it has a nicer "paint job" than the Century. Also (someone correct me if I'm wrong) the D-Technik is sold as new....the Century is "used". Both use surplus parts though so I'm not sure how they break that down. In any case, the reasons I think the Century is a better buy....one is cost. $429 vs. $594 (or $899 from Czechpoint-usa.com). 2) The Century has an American made bbl (green mountain) which is very accurate (though it is not chrome lined). 3) The CAI has an American made receiver....so you can use full surplus mags without worrying about 922r compliance for mags. 4) The CAI uses a steel trigger group. The D-Techniks use plastic (but you can convert to US made steel parts for 922r compliance, but it's another $62). 5) The CAI has a parkerized finish that I *think* is phosphate coated. While the D-Techniks look nicer at first....I'm guessing the CAI finish will be more durable. 6) The CAI receiver was designed as a double stack....not a single stack sporter like the D-Technik that is machined to accept double stack mags. My D-Technik is pretty tight with the mags....I'm hoping it will break in. The CAI is perfect. 7) CAI uses a 16" legal, already threaded bbl with a slant brake. You can buy a good compensator for $26 from www.cncwarrior.com if recoil reduction is needed. That's my short report on why I like the CAI better. I'll see if I can come up with any more stuff...I feel like I'm leaving something out. Sean |
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