VZ-52
- Thread starter BoogieMan
- Start date
While the Vz. 52 is a semi-automatic tilting-block rifle, most similarity to the SKS ends there. Unlike most other tilting-blocks, the Vz. 52's bolt tilts down and forward to lock rather than down and backward. Also, unlike the SKS, it has detatchable magazines though it can also be loaded through the top of the action with stripper clips.
The story behind it is that the Czechs have always had a tendency to "go their own way" when it came to firearms and preferred indigenous designs to imported ones. As such, while most other Warsaw Pact nations were using their own variations of Mosin-Nagant and/or SKS, the Czechs came up with the Vz. 52. Unfortunately, the Soviets weren't too wild about it because it used non-standard 7.62x45 ammo rather than the 7.62x39 M43 cartridge. The rifle remained in production for only a few years before the Czechs gave in to Soviet pressure and standardized on 7.62x39. Some Vz. 52's were converted to the Soviet cartridge and re-designated Vz. 52/57, but most were phased out upon the adoption of the Vz. 58 Assault rifle.
While generally considered to be fine rifles, ammo has always been a problem as no majaor manufacturer that I'm aware of produces 7.62x45 ammo. That leaves someone wanting to shoot an unmodified Vz. 52 with only a few options: try to scrounge up some surplus ammo (there never has seemed to be very much), have a custom ammo company make it for you (likely very expensive), or re-form and trim a different caliber cases to handload it yourself (doable but likely a lot of time and effort). There were some chamber adapters made at one time to allow 7.62x39 ammo to be shot, but I've never heard or read particularly good things about them (there has never seemed to be a really good way to affix them inside the chamber).
The story behind it is that the Czechs have always had a tendency to "go their own way" when it came to firearms and preferred indigenous designs to imported ones. As such, while most other Warsaw Pact nations were using their own variations of Mosin-Nagant and/or SKS, the Czechs came up with the Vz. 52. Unfortunately, the Soviets weren't too wild about it because it used non-standard 7.62x45 ammo rather than the 7.62x39 M43 cartridge. The rifle remained in production for only a few years before the Czechs gave in to Soviet pressure and standardized on 7.62x39. Some Vz. 52's were converted to the Soviet cartridge and re-designated Vz. 52/57, but most were phased out upon the adoption of the Vz. 58 Assault rifle.
While generally considered to be fine rifles, ammo has always been a problem as no majaor manufacturer that I'm aware of produces 7.62x45 ammo. That leaves someone wanting to shoot an unmodified Vz. 52 with only a few options: try to scrounge up some surplus ammo (there never has seemed to be very much), have a custom ammo company make it for you (likely very expensive), or re-form and trim a different caliber cases to handload it yourself (doable but likely a lot of time and effort). There were some chamber adapters made at one time to allow 7.62x39 ammo to be shot, but I've never heard or read particularly good things about them (there has never seemed to be a really good way to affix them inside the chamber).
Could any owners chime in with a description of the trigger pull quality? The trigger group seems similar to a Garand, but I'm curious how well they were executed in the VZ52.
BTW, Numrich sells the conversion sleeve that allows them to shoot 7.62x39. If you have a gunsmith do a quality job brazing, welding, or soldering that thing in place, you shouldn't have to worry about it coming out again (like the glued-in 30-06 to 308 adapters in some rifles
)
TCB
BTW, Numrich sells the conversion sleeve that allows them to shoot 7.62x39. If you have a gunsmith do a quality job brazing, welding, or soldering that thing in place, you shouldn't have to worry about it coming out again (like the glued-in 30-06 to 308 adapters in some rifles
)TCB
tahunua001
New member
I don't know of any members here that dote on their VZ52s so there might not be any but if anyone here has one, it would be MJ1
I wonder if the x45 is the same case as 5.56x45. if that is all it is perhaps a modified 300 BLK setup might work to make your own brass.
I wonder if the x45 is the same case as 5.56x45. if that is all it is perhaps a modified 300 BLK setup might work to make your own brass.
tahunua001
New member
of course they have to make things difficult....
it's bad enough trying to track down goofy shell holders my my priming tool without having to get custom dies made and having to find the already hard to find 6.5 carcano brass to have to resize.
it's bad enough trying to track down goofy shell holders my my priming tool without having to get custom dies made and having to find the already hard to find 6.5 carcano brass to have to resize.
I think a better starting point would be 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer brass. There is an article somewhere online that explains it.
Here it is: http://www.mauser98.com/brass.html
Here it is: http://www.mauser98.com/brass.html
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tahunua001
New member
I just spent a few short minutes on wiki(I know, super reliable) looking for a similarly sized case base. (info being about 12 hours old in my brain some data my be corrupted)according to wiki 6.5 MS has a 11.60 base while carcano has 11.40 and 7.62x45 has a 11.20 base so the carcano might be a better base. looking now though 220 swift has a 11.3 base so it would be a better fit.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
I have a pretty nice VZ-52, & when it was my FIL's, he had a couple 100 cases made up from 220 Swift cases... trigger pull is pretty good for an old milsurp rifle, but IMO, not as smooth as my Garand...
I honestly don't shoot it much, as a couple 100 cases aren't much for me, for use in a semi auto rifle... magazines can be hard to get, but I have 3-4... again, not enough for a real afternoon of old gun shooting... I think I have some stripper clips, but it's been a while since I've had them out... odd rim size, would make them caliber specific as well...
will have to check out the on line source for ammo...
BTW... both items at Buffalo Arms are out of stock ( of course ) but are back orderable though... thanks for the info, I book marked both items, & will keep an eye on them...
I honestly don't shoot it much, as a couple 100 cases aren't much for me, for use in a semi auto rifle... magazines can be hard to get, but I have 3-4... again, not enough for a real afternoon of old gun shooting... I think I have some stripper clips, but it's been a while since I've had them out... odd rim size, would make them caliber specific as well...
will have to check out the on line source for ammo...
BTW... both items at Buffalo Arms are out of stock ( of course ) but are back orderable though... thanks for the info, I book marked both items, & will keep an eye on them...
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selector67
Inactive
I bought one recently very cheap, the guy advertised it as the original Czech caliber 7.62x45, and he said he never shot it. So I bought a hundred rounds of the Czech surplus ammo for $65 dollars to try her out but when I brought it home and tried to chamber a round it would not fit, come to find out it shoots 7.62x39 Russian, I was happy and mad at the same time, mad because I bought ammo I can not even use, but happy it fires the cheap Russian round 
The guy probably would have sold it for more if he knew it shot 7.62x39, I think it has one of those barrel inserts so you can shoot the Russian round because nowhere on the rifle does it say it was converted, it has the original Czech caliber on the barrel
The guy probably would have sold it for more if he knew it shot 7.62x39, I think it has one of those barrel inserts so you can shoot the Russian round because nowhere on the rifle does it say it was converted, it has the original Czech caliber on the barrel
Mike Irwin
Staff
Apparently most of the rifles ended up being sent to Cuba after Castro took over.
Model12Win
Moderator
The LGS had/has a crate of 7.62x45mm shells on the floor somewhere, going for $$$ if I remember right. Neat guns but the lack of ammo pushes me towards an SKS for that style rifle.