Gunners762

* This is my VZ52 Czech rifle. It was made and used by the Czechs from 1952 through 1956. In 1957 due to Soviet influence rifles were converted or new rifles produced to to 7.62x39 caliber, a communist standard in Eastern Block Countries and same caliber used in Russian Rifles. This is known as the VZ52/57 or VZOR 52/57. Rifles in the Russian caliber were produced for only a short time before being replaced with the more modern VZ58 rifle.

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RIKA

Thats a business-like looking rifle and probably quite rare. Does it shoot 7.62x39; how does it shoot?

RIKA

DblTap

It looks kinda like an SKS. Does it improve on the SKS?

Gunners762

Czech 7.62x45mm cartridge At first glance, this rifle appears to be a variant of the Soviet SKS. Closer inspection reveals nothing could be further from the truth. Disassembly reveals an interesting mix of American, German, and Czech designs. The trigger group is surprisingly similar to the U.S. M1 Garand, right down to the safety lever and trigger guard takedown apparatus. The gas system is an annular piston around the barrel, closely machined to an exact tolerance, much like the German MKb 42(W). The piston drives an operating rod that is little more than a C-shaped piece of stamped steel. This operating rod propels two small steel "fingers" on a separate carrier, which impart motion to the bolt carrier on firing. The bolt is a tipping design, as in the Tokarev, FN-49, and SKS, but differing in the fact that it locks with 4 distinct lugs in the front of the receiver,vs. the rear as in the aforementioned rifles. The box magazine is a detachable ten round unit, and its follower engages a bolt hold-open plunger after the last round is fired. The sights are quite simple: A tangent rear, with range marks incremented to 900 meters, and a front inverted V mounted on a tall base, with grooves for a hood. The barrel is threaded at the muzzle end, which is protected by a knurled cap. Under the barrel is a heavy forend cap that secures the barrel to the stock, and also serves as the base for the permanently mounted pivoting bayonet. The bayonet folds and locks along the right side of the rifle, flush with the stock via an inletted portion of the right forearm. At the opposite end of the rifle, the buttplate is a stamping that is removable to reveal an inner buttplate with storage for a cleaning kit. The sling mounts from the left side, with mounts inset into the stock, much like the M1 Carbine and Mauser 98K. TEN ROUND STRIPPER CLIP OF 7.62x39 LEFT RIGHT Czech (7.62x45mm) Five round Stripper Clip. TOP PHOTO:

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Gunners762

My rifle shoots the Czech (7.62x45mm). I always thought the VZ52 was the better rifle of the two.

gripper

Did't they convert a bunch to 7.62x39 after the Soviets forced standardization on them?? I seem to recall encountering a few in both calibers years ago.

Gunners762

In 1957 due to Soviet influence rifles were converted or new rifles produced to to 7.62x39 caliber, a communist standard in Eastern Block Countries and same caliber used in Russian Rifles. This is known as the VZ52/57 or VZOR 52/57. Rifles in the Russian caliber were produced for only a short time before being replaced with the more modern VZ58 rifle.

Ballard66

I was reading that many of the vz. 52 rifles ended in Cuba. Cuba then exported vz 52 to south america to arm marxist revolutionary groups.

BigEd63

How does the round compare to the 7.62x39 and the 7.62NATO?

Have you ever chronoed any?

Gunners762

Its been a few years since i've really went out and shot my VZ52, BigEd. Other then playing around. The 7.62x45mm ammo is difficult to come by and when available not cheap. The 7.62x45mm shell case is 6mm longer than the 7.62x39.. The (7.62x45mm) " Accuracy /Range/Recoil " is about the same as the 7.62x39mm. ( The 7.62x51 NATO like compared to 7.62x39 ) Ill take the 7.62x51mm any day over the 7.62x39mm.

Coyote

What is the grainage of the bullets? Solid core or built to yaw?

BigEd63

Post mined!

I saw a less than prsitine example about a year ago at a LGS.

Some creative nimrod, probably named bubba, took one and restocked it with a USGI fiberglass M14 stock and hand guard. Then spray painted the stock and HG with dark brown flecked texture paint.

The thing was priced at about $89. I was tempted just for laughs to buy it and make a rough looking display case for it using a reprint of one of the old Planet of the Apes movie posters as a background.

Yes I know they didn't use those as prop rifles but you should have saw that particular one it would have fit in either there or in Road Warrior.

Garand

Just curious, is it possible to buy reloadable 7.62x54mm brass? If so is their a cast lead bullet mold available or would jacketed bullets be easier to buy?

BigEd63

Garand-Do you mean 7.62x54R as in MN 91/30? Or do you mean ammo for the VZ 52 which is x45?

The former yes S&B or Winchester which is S&B under their name. If not brass then just buy the ammo and save the brass. I also think Norma or Lapua ought to have some but expect to pay more.

The later 7.62x45mm if that is what you meant no not that I'm aware of not even sure if a set of forming dies could be made to work with anything else like .308Win or .30-'06.

Bullets for either should not be a problem however as they run in the .308 to .311 range unless the bores are out of standard spec/worn.

I have reloaded 7.62x54R with good results in the past, after slugging the bore of a rifle and used .308 Speer bullets, 150grSP, and afore mention S$B brass, The brass I got from ordering 120rd of 180gr S&B ammo for a Hungarian M44.

Not sure if I posted the results here or on the now defunct Patriot Network as part of my "Bargin Clunker Bolt Action" rifle project. Where I bought a $45 MN 91/30 and cut/ recrowned the barrel and intsalled a used 1x Burris IER scope in place of the rear sight. Then trimmed back the stock and hand guard and glass bedded/pressure bedded the action back into it.

Garand

sorry 7.62x45mm, my mistake. I was just wondering as I have been playing around with 3 different "obsolete" rifle calibers and cast lead bullets. At least with .32-40, .38-55 & 6.5x55mm you can still get brass for them. A rifle that can't be fed in the long haul has only temporary use.