Czech Vz-52 questions

rdf.hack · July 12, 2011, 09:43 PM

I have teh opportunity to possibly acquire a VZ-52. Ammo is a concern, yes I know. So I was thinking, if I bought the gun, got a chamber collar, could I use the 52/57 magazines? I've googled and got conflicting information.

I know that x39 ammo will result in poorer accuracy, but assuming the bore sizes are the same it would be a nice stopgap while I find some reloadable brass, I could get used to the rifle.

Its between this and an SKS rifle, and this deal on the 52 puts the SKS prices ive been offered to shame.

mwells72774 · July 12, 2011, 10:33 PM

those collars have a tendency to come out... best advised against it

ruffie8 · July 13, 2011, 01:10 AM

surplus ammo and parts can be found online.. I havent heard about collars coming out , but the bullet is the same as an sks..it is the cartridge and powder charge that makes the differance. the VZ was superior to the sks with the exception soviets wanted the 39 varient, they tried it by collaring them down. it so drasticaly affected the cyclic rate that often if the weapon fired it jammed or failed to cycle at all. I own both weapons and the vz is fun to shoot,but ammo is becoming more scarce,you can cut down certain rnds and load your own.but the sks has the plus of ammo is everwhere and it is highly upgradeable. hope that helped

doofus47 · July 13, 2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

I know that x39 ammo will result in poorer accuracy

They should be about equal, I would think, if the original bullet weight is about 125. I'm not sure what the exact weight of a 7.62x45 is, but the bullets look pretty stubby to me. I'm thinking that the performance of the two cartridges should be similar at plinking distances.

rdf.hack · July 13, 2011, 10:17 AM

the ammo will result in poorer accuracy because the bullet has a jump to the rifling.

mwells72774 · July 13, 2011, 10:59 AM

"They should be about equal, I would think, if the original bullet weight is about 125. I'm not sure what the exact weight of a 7.62x45 is, but the bullets look pretty stubby to me. I'm thinking that the performance of the two cartridges should be similar at plinking distances. "

Its 135 if I remember right. I'll weigh one when I get home. got a few boxes left from when I had one

jsmaye · July 13, 2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

the ammo will result in poorer accuracy because the bullet has a jump to the rifling.

chack · July 13, 2011, 06:54 PM

the VZs are notorious for having cracked stocks usually right around the wrist area. The Czechs used really lousy wood for them and when they were imported by century they "repaired" ALOT of them by coating the stocks with an epoxy type truck bed liner like material. They also often have very corroded bores.

Mine has the coated stock and a bore that is so shot out that it keyholes rounds consistently. I bought a 7.62x39 barrel for it that I am trying to find a gunsmith to install so that I can convert it to a VZ 52/57 configuration.

I've read that the 7.62x39 round functions well in a VZ 52 mag, but not as reliably as in the 52/57 mag. I also read about converting AK mags to function in a VZ 52/57 or VZ 52 that had been converted to 7.62x39. if/when I convert ine I will try that...

rdf.hack · July 13, 2011, 07:01 PM

I've passed on the VZ52 because a friend with an SKS recently decided to sell it. I'll get one eventually though.

chack · July 18, 2011, 11:56 PM

I bought that VZ 52. It's in worse shape than I expected and was missing parts. It does have a great bore though and I can use parts from it and my other rifle to put together one gun that is in original configuration and really great shape and another to keep as a shooter with a 7.62x39 barrel.

Not what I was hoping for, but it'll work out ok.

rdf.hack · July 19, 2011, 09:33 AM

Good for you! Getting a Chinese SKS for 275, local sale too.

Magnum Wheel Man · July 20, 2011, 08:59 AM

Just as an FYI... if you reload... ( it is possible to convert 220 swift cases to 7.62 x 45 ) my father in law had a local machinist make him up the dies to do it... I now own the stuff... I haven't personally run any with the dies, but have several 100 converted cases for my '52

July 12, 2011, 09:43 PM	#1
rdf.hack Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2011 Posts: 173	Czech Vz-52 questions I have teh opportunity to possibly acquire a VZ-52. Ammo is a concern, yes I know. So I was thinking, if I bought the gun, got a chamber collar, could I use the 52/57 magazines? I've googled and got conflicting information. I know that x39 ammo will result in poorer accuracy, but assuming the bore sizes are the same it would be a nice stopgap while I find some reloadable brass, I could get used to the rifle. Its between this and an SKS rifle, and this deal on the 52 puts the SKS prices ive been offered to shame.

July 20, 2011, 08:59 AM	#12
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Just as an FYI... if you reload... ( it is possible to convert 220 swift cases to 7.62 x 45 ) my father in law had a local machinist make him up the dies to do it... I now own the stuff... I haven't personally run any with the dies, but have several 100 converted cases for my '52 __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

July 12, 2011, 10:33 PM	#2
mwells72774 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2011 Posts: 325	those collars have a tendency to come out... best advised against it

July 13, 2011, 01:10 AM	#3
ruffie8 Junior Member Join Date: July 7, 2011 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 4	surplus ammo and parts can be found online.. I havent heard about collars coming out , but the bullet is the same as an sks..it is the cartridge and powder charge that makes the differance. the VZ was superior to the sks with the exception soviets wanted the 39 varient, they tried it by collaring them down. it so drasticaly affected the cyclic rate that often if the weapon fired it jammed or failed to cycle at all. I own both weapons and the vz is fun to shoot,but ammo is becoming more scarce,you can cut down certain rnds and load your own.but the sks has the plus of ammo is everwhere and it is highly upgradeable. hope that helped

July 13, 2011, 10:17 AM	#5
rdf.hack Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2011 Posts: 173	the ammo will result in poorer accuracy because the bullet has a jump to the rifling.

July 13, 2011, 10:59 AM	#6
mwells72774 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2011 Posts: 325	"They should be about equal, I would think, if the original bullet weight is about 125. I'm not sure what the exact weight of a 7.62x45 is, but the bullets look pretty stubby to me. I'm thinking that the performance of the two cartridges should be similar at plinking distances. " Its 135 if I remember right. I'll weigh one when I get home. got a few boxes left from when I had one

July 13, 2011, 06:54 PM	#8
chack Junior member Join Date: May 24, 2011 Location: dixie Posts: 477	the VZs are notorious for having cracked stocks usually right around the wrist area. The Czechs used really lousy wood for them and when they were imported by century they "repaired" ALOT of them by coating the stocks with an epoxy type truck bed liner like material. They also often have very corroded bores. Mine has the coated stock and a bore that is so shot out that it keyholes rounds consistently. I bought a 7.62x39 barrel for it that I am trying to find a gunsmith to install so that I can convert it to a VZ 52/57 configuration. I've read that the 7.62x39 round functions well in a VZ 52 mag, but not as reliably as in the 52/57 mag. I also read about converting AK mags to function in a VZ 52/57 or VZ 52 that had been converted to 7.62x39. if/when I convert ine I will try that...

July 13, 2011, 07:01 PM	#9
rdf.hack Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2011 Posts: 173	I've passed on the VZ52 because a friend with an SKS recently decided to sell it. I'll get one eventually though.

July 18, 2011, 11:56 PM	#10
chack Junior member Join Date: May 24, 2011 Location: dixie Posts: 477	I bought that VZ 52. It's in worse shape than I expected and was missing parts. It does have a great bore though and I can use parts from it and my other rifle to put together one gun that is in original configuration and really great shape and another to keep as a shooter with a 7.62x39 barrel. Not what I was hoping for, but it'll work out ok.

July 19, 2011, 09:33 AM	#11
rdf.hack Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2011 Posts: 173	Good for you! Getting a Chinese SKS for 275, local sale too.