Florida Shooters Network

I've become intrigued with these rifles. They're not an AK variant, and in fact the 7.62x39 round is about the only thing they have in common. But, they have a few features that really have me wanting one.

1. Lighter than a stamped receiver AK, even though the VZ has a milled steel receiver.

2. Striker fired. (I think an inline system is less likely to fail than an arc-dependent system, as in hammer fired rifles - I've had hammer springs slip off an AK trigger, rendering the rifle useless.)

3. Magazines hold the bolt open after last shot fired.

4. Uses a short stroke piston, like an SKS or M1 carbine, meaning you have a HUGE ejection port (basically, the top of the receiver opens up to eject) minimizing liklihood of spent-case-related jams.

5. Easily adaptable from fixed to folding stock.

6. Mags are aluminum, saving weight (perhaps at the sacrifice of durability - still researching this.)

7. Fair selection of aftermarket accessories (though, admittedly, not even a fraction of what's out there for AK's.)

So, who has one? Talk me into or out of one.

I had a D-Technik VZ58 and I regret trading it.
Way better than an AK47.
I'm waiting for D-Technik to start importing them as a pistol to convert one to a SBR

captain steinbrenner wrote:I had a D-Technik VZ58 and I regret trading it.
Way better than an AK47.
I'm waiting for D-Technik to start importing them as a pistol to convert one to a SBR

I've seen some pics and videos of these as SBR's, and they make a damn nice little package, especially with 20 rd. mags! Much more streamlined than a Krink or an SBR'd Draco.

A board member has one and let me shoot it a few months ago. It feels really good and is very acurate. I have one on back order for a few months. The only down side is that the hand guards get very hot very fast.

g34man wrote:A board member has one and let me shoot it a few months ago. It feels really good and is very acurate. I have one on back order for a few months. The only down side is that the hand guards get very hot very fast.

The factory hand guards don't have a heat shield. There are aftermarket ventilated guards available that might help this, including a railed aluminum set, but they're not cheap.

Here's a polymer version from Israel: http://www.amazon.com/Mako-Vz-58-Upper- ... cr_pr_pb_i

And here's the aluminum one: http://www.czechpoint-usa.com/products/ ... guard-set/

The aluminum ones with a VFG is the way to go.
They do get hot like hell under rapid fire conditions.

I have 2 of them in parts kits still in boxes, I figure I'll get around to them one day

Rentprop1 wrote:I have 2 of them in parts kits still in boxes, I figure I'll get around to them one day

There's a company called Assault Weapons of Ohio that sells the receivers. As I understand, they bought out the inventory of Ohio Rapid Fire when they closed up. There's a guy that goes by Obiwanbonjovi that sells very nice US compliance parts on several boards. I've got 2 parts kits and one receiver - I was going to sell off one kit and the receiver after thinking I'd found a deal on a complete rifle. That got sold from under me, so I may just go ahead and build it now. Let me know when you're ready to try your hand at it. Shotgun News had a two part article on building one - both parts appeared in last year's "Treasury" edition.

A VZ58 build is not a build for novices so I've heard. Is supposedly a PITA.
I'm not saying either of you are novices....

From what I have read its about as easy as the AK build

Only one rivet to press - the one for the trigger guard / leaf assembly - vs. 10 or 12 in an AKM?

Press fitting the barrel straight and to proper depth for headspace is apparently the tricky part, since the front trunion is incorporated into the receiver. You also have to permanently attach a muzzle device on the factory barrel, to bring it up to the legal length before installing it. Other than those steps, the rest looks pretty simple.

Thinking about getting a VZ2008 so many times, but wasn't sure of the built quality or how used are the parts being assembled together. End up getting two AMD65 from Center fire system for $400 shipped ea plus FFL fee.

i was in the same boat but i jumped in and built my 2 vz's and love them..good shooter's but i have long arms so i went w/cz skeleton stock w/mine..ooh and i bought a vz2008 to make sure i did it right.. hehehe need some vz furniture lol

cbr954fz1 wrote:i was in the same boat but i jumped in and built my 2 vz's and love them..good shooter's but i have long arms so i went w/cz skeleton stock w/mine..ooh and i bought a vz2008 to make sure i did it right.. hehehe need some vz furniture lol

Nice little family you've got there. So, having built two now, what are your impressions of the difficulty for the homebuilder who's done a few AK's? Any particular jigs or tools that made (or would have made, if you'd had them) the job easier? Or, is a 12 ton Harbor Freight press and basic hand tools sufficient?

Do tell . . .

i have a 20 ton press and its the most important tool..pressing out the barrel is not a big deal..building is also pretty easy if you can build a ak(i dont)..i found it easier to press the rec into the barrel using my fal barrel vise..because its easier to also watch your depth while your headspacing..my 10 rd vz was built on a rare slovakia grand powers rec(100 imported in the usa) and the press fit was so tight that it started to flex the barrel so after some good advice from the ak forum i got it done..the receivers that you will buy you might have to knurl the barrel for a tighter fit (assualt weapons of ohio) and the one from cz requires you send the barrel diameter for a proper fitting rec(they were made in different diameters)..the build is really simple its the headspacing and pressing in the barrel straight, that worries alot of new builders..

Thanks - I really need to get that kit out and start to work . . .