“Just another Kalashnikov”—many may think so when looking at the Czech Samopal vzor 58. But the first impression is deceptive: except for the external appearance and the caliber, the weapon has nothing in common with most AK models.

After adoption of the cartridge M43 (7.62x39mm) as the new standard ammunition of the Warsaw Pact, it was obvious for its members to draw on the Kalashnikov models from the Russian motherland. As time went by, various individual modifications slipped into the state’s own products, depending on what the states appraised as necessary improvements. Only the Czechs acted in total contrast: they went their own way and did not take the AK47 as a basis for improvements. Only the external appearance was aligned with the weapon of the Big Brother. The internal mechanics were very different.

In January 1950 the project “KOŠTĚ” under the supervision of the arms designer Jiří Čermák was launched. The goal was to develop an automatic weapon, which was supposed to replace the adopted submachine gun models 24 and 26 (both in 7.62x25mm) and the semiautomatic rifle models 52 (7.62x45mm) and 52/57 (7.62x39mm).

Jiří Čermák had an early interest in the development of self-loading weapons, in particular for the technique of the pistol CZ-481. After returning from his two-year military service in 1950, the task to convert the self-loading CZ-491 pistol, designed by the brothers Jan and Jaroslav Kratochvil, from 9mm to 7.62x25mm at the state arms factory Česká Zbrojovka was entrusted to him. The result was the famous roller-locking CZ-52. At the same time, the factory was involved in the first attempts to create a modern automatic weapon using a short cartridge similar to the German Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle. The initially favored Z-49 (7.5x45mm) cartridge was dropped soon and finally the Z-50 (7.62x45mm) was classified as the new standard caliber. The development project of this gas-operated weapon got the designation “CZ-502.”

In late 1951, Jiří Čermák received an order by the head of the weapons construction section, Františkem Myškou, to develop a rapid-fire rifle for the new Z-50 cartridge. The weight of the weapon could not exceed 8.8 pounds. Čermák´s design was based on the CZ-502 and he adopted many of its parts. He shortened the barrel step-by-step and tested the muzzle velocity and the accuracy after each step. Barrel and receiver were fixed together and could be removed upwards in one piece from the lower receiver with grip-piece and stock. The whole gun was made of stamped and phosphated sheet metal parts, except for the grip-plates, fore-grip, and stock that were made of varnished birch wood.

Due to problems with manufacturing the stamped sheet metal parts, the completion of the prototypes was delayed until 1952. However, the new weapon, now designated CZ-515, did not satisfy the requirements. A big disappointment was its accuracy, it exceeded the required values by twice as much. It was the fault of the open bolt design. The bolt is held in the rear and moves forward when the trigger is pulled, so that the impact of the bolt on the chamber shakes the weapon.

Fortunately for Čermák, the weapons of the competitors did not gain the advantage. The ZK-503 of the Kouckých brothers, a weapon of the engineer Kynčla, and two developments of the engineer J. Holečka failed to stand up to testing, too. After the first tests Jiří Čermák felt confident that only a radical change in design would bring success: he had to rebuild the weapon as a closed bolt design. After this work and various other changes, the tests were only carried on with two weapons – the ZK-503 of the Kouckých brothers and the CZ-522, as Jiří Čermák’s weapon was now designated. The trials lasted a long time. In between, Václava Holka took part at the competition with his ZB-530 design, but without much success.

Finally Čermák’s design prevailed and the now-called “S 56” would have been ready for an official adoption as the new standard submachine gun (the Czechs did not use the term “assault rifle”). But in the states of the Warsaw Pact, the Russian cartridge in caliber 7.62x39mm had been declared obligatory. And so Čermák had no other choice than to adapt his weapon. The result was the Samopal vzor 1958 (submachine gun, model 1958). That same year it became the standard weapon of the armed forces. The production was taken over by the armament company Česká Zbrojovka in Uherský Brod.

The SA vz. 58 is a gas operated weapon like the AK47, in which the gas pressure leaves the barrel at a barrel vent and flows through a gas-channel to push on a piston. But at that point the similarity ends. On the AK47, the gas piston and the bolt carrier are made of one piece and are moving a long way back and forth. On the SA vz. 58 the two parts are separated and only a short stroke is transferred from the piston to the bolt carrier. At the gas channel, the distance between the compression chamber and the two gas outlet holes is very short, only 0.4 inches. The upper hand guard does not contain a piston tube with holes for pressure reduction like the AK and is entirely open on its underside. Due to the separate construction, the gas piston has its own return spring which is located inside the rear sight base.

After the stroke, the bolt carrier moves back 0.55 inches. Then the breech block is lifted up into a recess at the underside of the bolt carrier. This way the bolt is unlocked. From now on, the bolt carrier and bolt are moving back together. The empty case is pulled out of the chamber and ejected upwards. Finally, the bolt carrier is pushed forward again by the recoil spring taking a new round from the magazine and pushing it into the chamber. Just before the bolt carrier reaches its end position, the breech block drops down and locks the bolt. When the trigger is pulled, a cylindrical striker hits the firing pin and pushes it into the cartridge primer. To avoid a prematurely firing, a strip of sheet spring blocks the striker until the bolt carrier has reached its end position.

When the last cartridge is fired, the follower of the magazine pushes a small locking bar upwards inside the housing. It blocks the bolt in the open position. Now the magazine can be easily changed and the weapon is ready to fire again without cocking. With the bolt in its rearward position, the empty magazine can optionally be filled from stripper clips. For this purpose two grooves for the standard M43 stripper clips are milled into the face of the bolt carrier. The light metal magazines are not interchangeable with AK47 magazines. The fire selector is located on the right side above the trigger and can be operated with the thumb. Its movement is noiseless and the position can be recognized by feel in the dark.

The developers of the SA vz. 58 did a good job. Since its introduction until today, the weapon remains almost unchanged. The robust design made ​​of solid steel (except for the top-cover, trigger guard and a few small parts that are stamped from sheet metal) has been fully proven. Bolt, gas piston and the inside of the barrel are chrome plated. For corrosion protection, all surfaces of the phosphated weapon are additionally coated with a resistant baking enamel.

Two basic models of the SA vz. 58 are most common: The model 58 P with fixed plastic stock (initially made of wood) and the model 58 V with a metal folding stock. For both models, a 6.35-ounce bayonet is available. A special version is the model 58 Pi with night vision equipment: NSP-2 night vision, flash hider and bipod. Some weapons were originally prepared to accept a VG70 rifle grenade launcher (Vrhaè Granátù). These weapons got a shoulder pad, a different rear sight-scale, and the bayonet-mount was moved to the right side of the front sight base. Instead of the lower handguard, the grenade launcher was fixed and hooked into the underside of the front sight base.

Many other models never got beyond the prototype status, like the model AP-Z 69 in 7.62x51mm from 1966/1967 or the assault rifle UP-Z 70 in 5.56x45mm from 1970. Even a bullpup-design (model EZ-B) was tested in 1976. A light machine gun version was planned (project KLEČ) and Vtúvm Slavičín developed a special sniper rifle (model 58/97). The same company also designed a model in 9x19mm (model 58/98)

The SA vz. 58 is still in use with the Czech army. From 1958 to 1964 about 400,000 weapons have been produced. After a break of four years the production at Česká Zbrojovka was resumed from late 1968 to 1984 with an output of more than 500,000 weapons. Damaged weapons were sent to the military maintenance company 025 “VOP 025” in Nový Jičín (Vojenský opravárenský podnik 025) for repair. Depending on the extent of repairs, including the replacement of many parts, often completely new weapons were created, but they always kept their old serial number. Spare parts and models for the civilian market are still in production today.

A big secret is the export of the SA vz. 58. Information isn’t available from the manufacturer or the army. Former employees, however, report deliveries to India, Vietnam, Egypt, and other countries. After the 1989 revolution, a Czech-Swiss company bought 25,000 surplus weapons from the army and exported them

In the 1980s, the army life of the SA vz. 58 seemed to be over. A new weapon (project LADA) for the Russian cartridge M74 in 5.45×39.5mm was in development. By exchanging different components, a model-family from submachine guns to light machine guns could be assembled. Due to many delays and a stop of the development, the LADA-models could not yet replace the SA vz. 58.

And so still today the Czech soldiers serve on active duty with their SA vz. 58 – although modified with various accessories.

Technical Specifications

Czechoslovakia needs no introduction. Their military hardware saw extensive use during WWII and was employed by Axis and allied forces alike. Czech weapon designers have set many standards from which many of today’s combat arms produced from around the world have evolved.

The Vzor 58 was developed and produced by Uhersky Brod Ordnance (one of the many state factories) sometime in 1958. It replaced the earlier M53/57, a semiautomatic rifle utilizing a detachable 10-shot magazine and fired the Soviet 7.62×39 AK-47 round. The Model 53/57 borrowed its gas operated system from the German MKb4(W) Sturmgewehr while the trigger mechanism is derived from the US M1 Garand. This rifle was produced in limited quantities and its adoption was short lived. The VZ-58 on the other hand, has reached its golden anniversary with the Czech armed forces and will likely stay in service for quite a while.

Early models had a wooden butt stock, foregrip and pistol grip. Later versions utilized a wood fiber-filled plastic in its furniture. The VZ-58 was produced in three versions; namely the M58-P (standard), M58-V (folding stock) and M58-Pi (Sniper). The Sniper version had a long dovetail bracket on the left side of the receiver to accept a night vision sight. This rifle is usually equipped with a light bipod and a large conical shaped flash hider. The Vzor 58 externally resembles the Soviet AK but mechanically is different. Unlike the new AKs with stamped receivers, the Czech battle rifle is still made the same old fashion way – its major components are fully machined from forgings and its overall construction is every bit as robust as the original and is the most sought after milled receiver Kalashnikovs. The Czech gun exhibits superb quality of workmanship; a trade mark of its famous maker. However, the VZ-58 lacks the charm and personality of a star battle rifle when compared to other arms in its league in the likes of the AR, AK, H&K, FN or SIG. The overall configuration is streamlined and very compact even with the fixed stock model. This short overall length is attained by incorporating a shorter butt stock than those found on standard M16 rifle. The standard barrel length is 390 mm (15.35 inches). The VZ-58 has stood the test of time with five decades of uninterrupted service to its credit. The Czech rifle was issued with bayonet and scabbard, flash hider, bipod, fabric sling, sectional cleaning rod with brush and patch holder, soft pigskin magazine pouch for four 30-round magazines, front sight adjustment tool and oil bottle.

Despite its five decades of continued service with the Czech army, the VZ-58 failed to achieve a worldwide recognition and popularity bestowed on the AK and AR. Although it remains almost unheard of in North America, the Czech gun was encountered regularly in parts of Africa, the Middle East, Central America and the Far East where rag-tag armies, mercenaries and rebel organizations thrive. The Vzor 58 was also purchased in limited quantities by Cypriot, Somalia and Sudan.

After many decades of being the most elusive military service arm most sought after by advanced Class III collectors in the US, a semiautomatic version of the Vzor rifle is finally available for the civilian market, although a very limited number of original military issue Model 58s converted to semiautomatic have been available in Europe since the 1970s and a few samples were also imported into Canada in that same time along with the Belgian FN CAL’s with burst firing mechanism removed. The US prohibited the entry of any Com-Bloc hardware until the Berlin wall come down and the collapse of the Soviet empire became a reality. The only source of these arms during the cold war era in this part of the world was Canada who maintained its neutrality between the two super powers. With its new found independence, former Com-Bloc nations are reaping the reward by being able to finally export their wares in the US and truly compete in the international market.

Commercial semiautomatic models of the VZ-58 is available both in the US and Canada. In the US, these rifles are marketed in two versions: the Vz 2000 with a longer 19-inch barrel and a compact model called Vz 2000 SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) featuring a 15.5-inch barrel (requires NFA transfer). The Vz 2000 SBR is identical in size to the original military model but with completely new trigger lockwork firing semiautomatic only. Civilian models will not accept the military full auto trigger mechanism and are normally equipped with fixed stocks. The VZ 2000s are supplied complete with an alternate folding metal stock, 4-mag pouch, cleaning kit, bayonet and sling – all original military accessories. The American versions are available from Ohio Ordnance Works, Inc. The Canadian models are available from various sources namely Marstar Canada and Wolverine Supplies. Marstar markets the restricted compact version with 390 mm barrel called the VZ-58S while Wolverine Supplies opted for the longer 482 mm (19-inch) barrel making their version a non restricted firearm. The Wolverine designation for the non restricted model was CZ-858 “Tactical” or CZH 2003 “Sport” as marked on the receiver.

As the popularity of the civilian version of the Vzor 58 began to soar in the commercial market, it is no surprise that its producer took advantage of the new market for tactical upgrading by introducing new line of accessories to include a very effective muzzle brake, black polymer skeletonized stock (that replaces the existing stock and pistol grip), a new pistol grip that is slightly larger and more ergonomic than the original, a three rail hand guard and a matching railed upper hand guard. The railed upper hand guard however did not come with a steel liner so it cannot be readily assembled.

To use this custom part, the steel liner of the regular hand guard in the gun must be removed first and transferred to the replacement guard. This procedure is a little bit tricky to do and needs a little care so as not to damage the liner. To transfer the steel liner from the issue guard to the replacement part, carefully pry the tab on each side of the liner with a small screwdriver until a long nose plier can grip and bend it straight upward. Once the two tabs are straightened up, carefully bring them closer together at the center until the two ends touch each other in the shape of a triangle. This will allow the guard to be rotated and off the liner. To install the liner to the new part, reverse the procedure as previously described. Once the liner is seated and centered to the polymer component, push the tabs back with a non marring tool or screwdriver handle against the side of the guard and carefully bend the tabs back on the underside shoulder of the new part as it originally locked with the issue part. Looking down at the top of the rail, you will see two pre-drilled holes. Use these two holes to drill through the metal liner using the exact size that fits the hole. The kit comes with two screws and matching nuts for this purpose. Once the holes are drilled, assemble the screws and nuts and cut any protruding end of the screw below the nut so it will not interfere with the barrel during assembly.

The upper hand guard may require some tightening at the rear where the retaining pin is assembled. Usually some minor side-to-side play can be encountered here depending on the gap or tolerance. Any side play on this part, minor or major will affect the accuracy of the optic which is being mounted on the top of the guard. If the gap is extremely minor, little squeezing on the vice is all that is needed but of equal pressure to maintain centrality of the part when assembled. If the side play is too much, the gap is normally excessive. A shim will be required on each side of the pin to eliminate this problem. Again, depending on the size of the gap, there are various readily available materials that can be improvised to make the shim. The shim can be cut from water bottles, pop cans, motor oil or milk jugs. These containers may vary in thickness and color and can be easily cut in circles using an empty 9mm brass sharpened on the edges. You may use a .22 shell to punch the center hole to clear the assembly pin. Once the right thickness shims are installed in the inner side wall at the rear of the liner where the assembly pin is inserted, side play is virtually eliminated. Although rare, the front end of the liner may also have some looseness or side play. This can be simply squeezed up a bit until the play is eliminated and the guard can become a solid platform for the optic. If this procedure is too much for you to handle, you can opt for the Scout Scope Mount. This accessory simply replaces the issue rear sight and the extended rail hangs over the hand guard. These accessories are all available from Wolverine Supplies. Except for accessories, firearms and parts are not importable to the US.

The matching lower hand guard features a 3-rail system, one on each side and one in the bottom. Side rails can be used for mounting lights and lasers. The bottom rail will take either a forward grip or bipod with bases that are designed to slide on rails. Ideally, these mounting platforms should run the entire length of the hand guard, which is already short to begin with. If done properly, a longer rail on the bottom will accommodate a forward grip and a bipod at the same time and not one at a time. One quick solution to achieve this requirement using the short bottom rail is by incorporating a secondary mounting rail that can take both a forward grip and bipod. The secondary rail will then be mated to the guard’s built-in bottom rail. The ideal secondary rail for this purpose is Brownells’ AR-15 flat top riser mount. This accessory is very well made and is economically priced. It is flatter than most similar items out there thus offering less bulk when mounted to the bottom guard complete with grip and bipod. The two large knurled thumb operated screws of the riser allows for a quick detach mode as one unit. This versatile set up can be universally employed to virtually any tactical type rifle, SBR or SMG with rails mounted below the forearm including the AR, AK, H&K, 1022, etc., and is quite easy to put together giving the operator the option to choose what brand or type of forward grip and bipod to combine with in creating this simple but very effective accessory.

For longer rail requirements at the bottom of the hand guard, the Peace River AR-15 Carry Handle Scope Base (available from Brownells) can be modified and adapted. This part is 7-1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch thick and is perfect for the project. It features a true 1913 Picatinny rail and is of high quality manufacture and economically priced. This part is cut lengthwise leaving about 1.325 of its front end uncut and blended quite nicely at the front of the hand guard. The hand made rail had a height of .285 inch at the rear and elevated at the base of the uncut portion to about .375 inch to provide a straight horizontal level when mounting a laser sighting device. The ultra-trim rail configuration of the modified accessory perfectly blended with the slim line format of the gun’s forearm that it seated very snuggly in place virtually eliminating unsightly bulk normally associated with most readily available bolt-on rails. Securing the rail to the hand guard are three 8-32 socket head screws. The three screws tighten up with one-piece aluminum flat .075 thick positioned on the other side of the guard like a liner. Since the guard can not be assembled to the gun with the rail pre-installed, two separate 6-32 screws keep the aluminum flat seated in place. The rail can then be installed using the three mounting screws after the hand guard is fully seated and secured to the gun. This set up allows the forward grip to be mounted as high as possible when installed to the rail providing the most comfortable shooting stance and ergonomics. The extra length of the rail permits ample space to mount three tactical accessories such as the CAA VG1 battle grip, bipod and Streamlight TLR LED flash light or Laser. The versatility and simplicity of the CAA bipod allows it to be mounted behind or in front of the forward grip. Its uncluttered design keeps the overall set up of the upgraded battle rifle sleek, foolproof and outright stunning.

The early original pistol grip of the gun closely resembled that of a revolver pattern and the new polymer grip slightly differs in configuration. It is a tad larger and superior in terms of ergonomics and styling and the textured dull surface of the black polymer accessories are excellent. They provide non slip purchase in wet or dry conditions. The built-in rails of the hand guards are reasonably well made. However, the rails lack the precision of machined aluminum or steel material. The CZ rails are somewhat oversize at the top and the upper taper on the side of the rail is steep so that an EO Tech optic will not engage the rail. Most optics equipped with a clamp on type lock are the only ones that will readily fit the rail. To fit the EO Tech to the CZ rail, the rail must be fitted to the optic’s locking mechanism.

When using optics, the fixed stock seats quite low and is a bit awkward to aim at targets. The original stock is tailored perfectly for the iron sight. To attain correct and comfortable aiming position, a straight stock is necessary. The quickest and most economical solution to correct this problem is to raise the level of the stock using Brownells’ 3/4×1 inch Scopeeze. This stick-on type accessory seats over the stock and instantly raises the elevation of the stock to correct level for comfortable aiming with optics. The only drawback to this accessory is, it is non adjustable and using the iron sight will be quite a challenge. The folding stock appears to seat just a tad higher than the fixed stock and an acceptable compromise for both optic and iron sight usage. Better yet, buy a spare and bend the metal stock straight for optic use. The ideal solution that will permit the use of both optics and the issue iron sight is the optional skeletonized butt stock. This part is made of black lightweight polymer material and perfectly matches the other tactical upgrades. It features a built-in ergonomic sniper type grip with a wrist clearance (right hand only) to permit a natural shooting hold. It has a snap-on type cheek piece with soft rubber lining for optic use. The butt stock also has a matching removable rubber cap for maximum comfort and recoil absorption. The sniper type stock is about 1-3/4 inches longer than the standard fixed and metal folding stocks. One very unique feature of the skeleton stock is how it allows the operator to adjust his shooting position from optic to iron sight instantly without the need for an adjustable check piece. The snap-on part elevates shooting posture by about half an inch, just perfect for most low mounted optics. Resting the cheek behind the elevated part positions the eye at a correct level with the iron sight. The stock design is based on a ramp principle. It is simple, effective, and it works.

As the demand and popularity of the VZ-58 semiautomatic family grows in the civilian gun market, there is no doubt CZ will accelerate its effort to creating even more unique and sophisticated tactical accessories for its best selling semiautomatic models to compete with the worlds best. With a new promising venture on the horizon, it will perhaps make up for the limited success of its military model counterpart. The VZ-58 has finally found a new beginning.

SOURCES

Ohio Ordnance Works, Inc.
P.O. Box 687
Chardon, OH 44024
(440) 285-3481
www.Ohioordnanceworks.com

Wolverine Supplies
Box 729 Virden
Manitoba, Canada ROM – 2CO
(204) 748-2454
www.Wolverinesupplies.com

Marstar Canada
Rural Route #1
Vankleek Hill, Ontario
Canada KOB – 1RO
(888) 744-0066
www.Marstar.ca

Command Arms Accessories
76 Vincent Circle
Ivyland, PA 18974
(267) 803-1002
www.Commandarms.com

Brownell’s, Inc
200 South Front Street,
Montezuma, IA 50171
(800) 264-3068
www.Brownells.com

“The supply of weapons and ammunition is most difficult, particularly at the time the unit is established, but this problem can always be solved eventually. Guerilla bands that originate in the people are furnished with revolvers, pistols, bird guns, spears, big swords, and land mines and mortars of local manufacture. Other elementary weapons are added and as many new type rifles as are available are distributed. After a period of resistance, it is possible to increase the supply of equipment by capturing it from the enemy.– Mao Tse-Tung, Yu Chi Chan (Guerilla Warfare)

I was reading Mao’s old handbook on guerilla warfare, written in 1937 and translated by Brigadier General Samuel B. Griffith (who also performed the best translation I have seen on Master Sun Tzu’s The Art of War), and was struck by the agelessness of the above passage. It was interesting to note how in other passages, Mao quotes such diverse Western luminaries as Von Clausewitz and Lenin in his book. A significant part of the book is devoted to the tedious details of operating and supplying a hidden army, and that has much in common with the minutiae of the supply chain in modern armies that are far from home. It also has much in common with the guerilla tactics that our soldiers are facing in Iraq and Afghanistan today. Uncle Ho followed The Chairman’s recipes in Vietnam, and perhaps every rebel group has followed it as well. Combining these teachings with the violent capabilities of modern terrorist doctrine makes for a potent threat. Identifying the resources of the insurgents goes beyond simply finding their weapons caches; without food or other supplies, the terrorists and insurgents lose effectiveness.

It is to the great benefit of the modern soldier to have a thorough understanding of the weapons and tactics used by his enemy, and the archives of SAR are certainly a good place to start that education.

Q-I am a subscriber to Small Arms Review and recently received an interesting request from a friend in the UK for some information about the replacement of .50 BMG barrels during combat operations in WWII. My friend is the curator of a small museum at an RAF station, an enthusiastic shooter (when he can be, under current UK law), and an avid collector of militaria. When I read his question I thought you might be able to provide some references or anecdotal information to send to him.

Now for his technical question. “Last week I visited what was the MOD Pattern Room, which you will remember as a truly fantastic collection of firearms. I was shown two sectioned barrels of Browning 0.5″ M3 machine guns which had been seriously eroded and damaged by prolonged sustained automatic fire. I was informed that the root problem was such that barrels had to be changed after 180 rounds continuous automatic fire on the ground gun and after 150 rounds on the aircraft version.” What my friend wishes to know is: How did the USAAF cope with this problem in WW II when each B17 carried 10 or more of these guns? Did they change all barrels automatically after each sortie? Or, did the armorers have a quick check method to ensure that a barrel was sound?”

A- The short answer is that armorers could tell what needed to be changed out by the ammunition expended on return or with periodic checks of keyholing. The rule of thumb was that if more than 4% of the rounds keyholed at short range, the barrel was shot out. The bases you refer to in the UK had firing pits off the sides of the runways where the armorers could have the gunners test their weapons into large dirt piles. Some of these are still in use today in the UK as firing ranges.

There is more to the story though. All of the guns in the U.S. Army Air Force aircraft early on during the war were the M2 AC variant (AC stands for Air Craft), which was a relatively high speed gun with a rate of fire around 850 rpm. The later guns in 1945 were of the M3 AC-Basic configuration, which had a much higher rate of fire at 1,150 to 1,200 rpm. One of the prime differences from M2 to M3 was in the lining of the barrel. Both guns had lighter barrels than the venerable M2HB whose rate of fire was in the 500 rpm range. As you have noted in your question, there is a difference in the recommended barrel change frequency related to use.

First, let’s look at the mid-war (1943) manual recommendations:

TM 9-225 Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, Aircraft, Basic Section 9-d Permissible bursts of automatic fire.

Aircraft machine guns are air-cooled. As guns are mounted at present, there is little difference in the rate of cooling whether the gun is fired on the ground or in the air. Because of the absence of an efficient cooling medium, the temperature of the barrel of a caliber .50 aircraft machine gun rises rapidly during firing. The longer the burst, the higher the temperature attained. The progressive heating of the barrel gives rise to several effects: (Lists four different ones)…

(2) For firing during training, a maximum burst of 75 rounds may be fired from a cool gun. Approximately 1 minute after firing a 75-round burst, firing may be resumed and a 20-round burst may be fired and repeated each minute thereafter.

(3) Combat firing is unrestricted, but bursts of longer duration than 75-rounds (5 second bursts) decrease accuracy and may lead to a stoppage due to overheating. Furthermore, the barrel will probably have to be scrapped, since a brand new barrel can be ruined by a prolonged burst of one half minute duration. (The manual continues with description of problems in synchronized guns and propellers.)

From this description in the manual, it is clear that the early barrels were considered trashed at about 450 rounds continuous fire. The armorers could tell how much firing was done by the rounds expended and asking the gunners what the burst ratio was – was it all at once in a furious fight, or more stretched out over several engagements. Ground testing was also done to function check the guns, and the armorer could tell about keyholing at this point.

Obviously, the barrels couldn’t be changed during the flight, and as noted in section 3, combat firing was unrestricted. There was no Pollyanna wishful thinking that anyone in combat would do other than put the hammer down in a fight. Barrels were changed out as needed, indicated by the type of fire they went through. Spare barrel supply was a big issue on the M2 AC guns.

The M3 AC-Basic .50 caliber machine gun had a much higher rate of fire, but the barrels were stellite lined and had a much longer life. Chromium plating was also introduced. The incidence of barrel destruction due to prolonged bursts went down, but armorers still had to watch carefully for keyholing and a degradation of accuracy. There was no point in sending out a plane where the gunners couldn’t hit their targets.

Of perhaps more interest to civilian shooters is the danger from long bursts. I have included a picture of a barrel that came from a civilian shoot where the shooter stood on the trigger so long that the barrel heated up to the point of reaching an elastic state. On a scale of good and bad, this is a “Bad” thing. As the metal reaches super high temperatures, the pressure of the expanding gases behind the projectile make the barrel appear to “pulse” white hot with each projectile moving down the bore. While this may make for the colorful combat stories frequently told of Ma Deuce in the fighting against the attacking Chinese human waves during the Korean War, it is a sign of the system reaching critical failure. This particular barrel failed at a shoot, and the projectile split the barrel and exited the side of the barrel jacket. Fortunately, no one was injured and the owner of the gun gave me the barrel to keep at LMO’s classroom as an example of what can go wrong. I am hoping this picture is a wake up call for recreational shooters as to what the real problems are with long bursts out of these air-cooled machine guns. Slow down a bit, and be safer, or buy a water-cooled machine gun for your prolonged bursts. You want one anyway, so here’s your excuse to get one. “Honey, I have to buy a 1917A1 because Raffica says that it isn’t safe or smart to shoot long bursts out of my air-cooled guns anymore. It’s about more safety for the children.” That should work.

Q-Do you have a cut off number for pre ban Mini-14 rifles? I want to make a side folder out of my Mini-14.

A- This isn’t really a relevant concern anymore. The so-called Clinton Assault Weapons Ban “sunsetted” in 2004 and went away after ten uneventful and inconsequential years. Like most feel-good legislation, it accomplished nothing other than annoying legitimate firearms owners and giving the regulatory agencies more incomprehensible, technical law to have to deal with. For historical purposes, here are the Ruger manufacturing dates, but today you can take any Mini-14 and put any stock on it as long as you keep it within Title I regulations with a barrel over 16 inches and an overall length over 26 inches. Remember that you may have state or local laws to contend with as well. Anything under that and you have to file a Form 1 to make a Short Barreled Rifle before you make it. This shouldn’t have any effect on your desire to put a folder on a standard Mini-14. This list also doesn’t address which model of Mini-14 was made, rifle, folder, or GB. I have also never been able to determine if there is a misprint in this list as the 1993 serial number range is the same on the Mini-14 and the Ranch Rifle, but this is the best info we have ever had on these dates.

Ruger Manufacture Dates

Q-I have an original low serial number AR-15 that is full auto with ArmaLite markings and I want to make sure I have the right magazine for it for my display. Which one would be correct?

A- This is a tough one, because you didn’t give me the serial number range on the rifle or tell me if it said “Colt” on it as well. Since it is marked ArmaLite AR-15 and is an original gun, then it has to be earlier than the Model 602. Most of the later guns would be correct with any aluminum bodied 20 or 30-round magazine, or the steel bodied 20-rounders. I suspect from your comment that it is a “low serial number” that you have one of the very early guns. This would be worth taking a look at the first two magazines that were made. The Colt Model 601, referred to as an “01”, was marked both Colt and ArmaLite. After the Model 601, the magazine wells only had “Colt” on them and up until the Model 614, they had “AR-15” as a model designation with other markings to indicate “O1” or “614” etc. The first guns were only marked with “ArmaLite”. If, in fact, you have a very early gun that is only marked Armalite, you have a truly special gun. See me after class, we need to talk.

Q-I am in Iraq and have found an AK magazine that looks different. It has a grey color paint and a large rib on the back, and it won’t fit into any of the AKs we have found. It is definitely 7.62×39 caliber. Is this for some odd Iraqi weapon?

A- You didn’t state where you were serving, so I can’t give you any feedback on other groups in your area, but from your description this is for the Czech VZ58 select fire rifle. There are three ways this magazine could have gotten to Iraq and into your hands. There is a contingent of soldiers from the Czech Republic on duty with the Multi National Force, and they have a hospital operation in Basra among other presence. Czech soldiers may be armed with the VZ58, as well as other more modern weapons like their homegrown AK74 variant. The Iraq government had procured some VZ58s at one time, not a primary weapon, but in testing. One of these that had been pimped up with a chrome finish was captured in the Battle of Fallujah. Astute reader, Iraq War vet and long time Rafficarian Andrew Clyde wrote in to us, and the picture of that little chromed out gem appeared in Raffica SAR Volume 8 Number 11. To further complicate the tracking on this magazine, there are a lot of VZ58s floating around on the world market, very inexpensively. We never were able to final track where that chromed example found in Fallujah came from, but our conjecture is that it was a palace guard model. So the exact source of your oddball magazine is ambiguous at best, but it does belong in-country.

I once had a set of VZ58s that were bring-backs from the Vietnam War purportedly taken from an NVA officer, and these were Amnesty registered so they were fully transferable. VZ58s have shown up in numerous places, and will continue to do so. SAR has covered these rifles in the past, as well as the American made semi-automatic VZ2000 from Ohio Ordnance Works, and the Czech offered VZ58S.

Q-I have been told the correct tripod for my M60 is the M122 and that it looks exactly like the tripod for the 1919A4. Is there a difference?

A- The one for the 1919 is marked M2, and the one for the M60 is marked M122. They are essentially the same and are interchangeable, but for technical and historical accuracy, your M60 should be mounted on an M122 marked tripod. There were many of the old 1919A4 tripods designated the “M2” that were remarked as “M122” and no further work was done to them. The primary differences in the shooting platforms are in the pintle and Traverse & Elevation mechanisms (T&E). Some of the later M122s had a smoother transition from the legs to the feet, appearing to be made from one piece and not welded. The best ID is from the photos accompanying this answer.

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The Ceská Zbrojovka Samopal vzor 1958 assault rifle entered service as the standard assault rifle of the Czechoslovakian army in the late 1950s and continues to serve Czech forces on duty in Iraq. While it shares a passing resemblance to a Kalashnikov, its engineering is entirely different. Recently, a Czech factory released a semi-automatic version of the Model 58, called the VZ-58S. One such rifle became available for inspection and testing and Small Arms Review decided to see how it would perform at the range.

With the VZ-58S (a.k.a. the CZH-2003 Sport), you have an exact duplicate of the military version, right down to the markings and barrel length. For all intents and purposes, it appears to be the same 7.62x39mm rifle that Czech arms designer Jirí Cermák created in the town Uherský Brod. Here was a design so successful that the Czechs continued to produce them when all other Iron Curtain countries were forced to manufacture Kalashnikovs.

The VZ-58 is a gas operated, magazine fed, select fire weapon. It employs a short stroke gas piston located above the barrel but, unlike the AK the gas piston, has its own return spring. The locking system features a tilting locking piece, not too far off from what we see in the Walther P-38 and Beretta M92 pistols, and the bolt locks into the machined receiver.

The charging handle is located on the right side of the bolt carrier and the carrier also provides a stripper clip guide. The 30-round magazines are pressed aluminum construction and incorporate a rear tab to lock the bolt open when the magazine is empty. This is an inspired addition to the weapon which makes reloading very fast.

The trigger group arrangement is also unexpected as it is a striker fired design. The striker uses its own spring located under the main bolt carrier return spring. The fire selector is situated on the right side of the receiver and has three positions for safe, single shot and fully automatic fire. It is a simple design, but as with all Czech workmanship, the entire package is over-engineered and machined to a high degree. It would not have been cheap to produce the VZ-58.

The open sights include a hooded front post and open notch adjustable rear, which looks like the AK type. A bayonet mount is provided and unexpectedly the blade bayonet slips on from the rear to lock forward. In the same way, a folding bipod is fitted to certain 58s in the field.

There are three basic variants of the VZ-58: the 58P with its fixed buttstock and the 58V with a side folding metal stock. The 58Pi includes a large optic mounting bracket on the left side of the receiver for the mounting of night vision equipment.

The furniture is unique in that it is made of wood-impregnated plastic in later models. What we have here is essentially the addition of wood chips to a plastic resin placed into a mould. The resulting furniture is red in appearance, strong and durable.

When compared to Kalashnikovs, the VZ-58 is notably smaller and lighter. It is roughly the same size as an M1 Carbine. The Czech Army had planned to replace the rifles with the newer 5.56mm NATO CZ-2000 rifle system, but that transition has been stalled for economic reasons. If you watch the news, you would be surprised how often the VZ-58 is used, including its use by the current Afghanistan government forces.

A closer look

The factory produced semi-auto only version of the VZ-58 is now being sold to civilians around the world for under $500 a unit. It seems that cash is king in the Czech Republic and for qualified buyers, even full-auto 58s can be had for $80 US.

Note that the VZ-58S is not made by simply converting the host rifle into a semi-automatic version. Each VZ-58S starts out as a receiver that has never been used to construct a VZ-58, but one that has simply sat around in crates all this time. The receiver has then been modified to prevent the use of full-auto parts. The result is a rifle that externally looks identical to the military assault rifle right down to the fire control selector. Turning the selector to ‘30’ (full-auto) now disconnects the entire trigger group.

It should be stressed that the VZ-58S is not importable into the USA for civilian use for a number of reasons. Its barrel is the standard length of 15.35 inches, it is not constructed using any US made parts, and its receiver was originally built in the late-fifties to the 1970s as a select-fire receiver.

The finish on the VZ-58S is a uniform grey, likely manganese phosphate, that contrasts nicely with the red synthetic stock, handguards and pistol grip. It is evident that once the rifles were assembled, they were given a finish treatment so that out of the box the rifles look great.

In many respects the rifle is ambidextrous. The fire selector can be moved to ‘30’ with the left thumb from the safe position. Naturally, this is only useful for real VZ-58s. The cocking handle is angled up to a slight degree and located high on the right side of the breech block so right handed operators can load without canting the weapon. The magazine release can be used with either hand with equal ease.

Mechanically the rifle is tight and the fixed stock takes a long handled screwdriver to aggressively remove it. The ergonomics are exceptional but the rifle and its pistol grip will feel small in most hands. The pistol grip, additionally, needs periodic tightening.

What is exciting about receiving one of these rifles is the array of accessories available. The test rifle came from Marstar Canada and included two 30-round magazines, one short 10-round magazine, a new leather two pocket military magazine pouch, a field cleaning kit with blank firing attachment, military sling and a gun case.

It gets better with the optional accessories: four 30-round magazines, a four pocket leather magazine pouch, a bell type flash suppressor, a bayonet and scabbard, a military folding bipod and the paratroop issue folding stock. The folding stock is very strong but does not provide a comfortable cheek weld. For this reason, this writer constructed a slip on wooden cheek pad finished to match the rest of the furniture. It allowed the convenience of a folding stock with the comfort of a fixed stock.

Modern range test

For our evaluation, we took the Czech rifle to the range along with a crate of Czech 7.62x39mm, some Norinco ball and an assortment of magazines and accessories. The chosen range was 100 yards. Inserting a 30-round magazine into the carbine, it is easy to see why the VZ-58 is so popular – it is so light. One chambers a round by merely pulling back the operating handle and letting it go.

At 100 yards in the standing position, it is effortless to place five shots within seven inches. This kind of accuracy is more than enough to subdue an adversary. The trigger has a somewhat spongy two stage feel to it, but it works. The brass would eject up and forward and usually spun like a propeller; which was mesmerizing to watch.

When the 100 yard bench test was conducted using the military bipod, the groups shrunk to around 2.5 inches. This does not qualify the rifle as a tack driver, but for a military 7.62x39mm with open sights, this is pretty good. Most AKs and SKSs have a great deal of trouble duplicating this feat.

The rifle is easy to shoulder and operate and the recoil is moderate. The one negative aspect of the design, however, is its propensity for muzzle climb and subsequently its effect on the shooter’s cheek. Fortunately, the Slovakian firm Grand Power produces a highly effective muzzle compensator. This is a most welcome accessory that makes rapid firing accurate.

After 500 rounds, there was not a single failure to feed, fire, extract, or eject. Being able to use stripper clips was indeed handy. The carbine did not beat the shooter’s shoulder and it was quick to reload and bring to bear.

Field stripping

It is straightforward to field strip the VZ-58S. First remove the magazine, clear the chamber, and let the bolt go forward. Pull the trigger. Then press in a pin located at the rear and left side of the receiver. Pulling the pin to the right, the next motion is to press the sheet metal dust cover forward and up out of the receiver. The recoil spring and striker spring are captive and come with the dust cover.

The breech block and bolt are pulled to the rear and lifted out of the receiver. Removing the striker cylinder out of the breech block allows the bolt to drop out. The bolt can be further stripped using the tools provided in the issue cleaning kit, but this is not required for a field stripping.

The top handguard comes off by pressing another pin to the right. The operating rod is pulled back slightly to clear the gas block and then pivoted up and out of the rifle.

Conclusion

It may be that as a combat weapon the VZ-58’s time has eclipsed. As the civilianized VZ-58S, then again, the design may have a new lease on life. The range test provides a short insight into what it would be like to trust one’s life in the little rifle and the results are gratifying. In this writer’s opinion, the VZ-58 is in every way a superior weapon to the Kalashnikov.

It is true that the VZ-58S is not legal in America, but there is an alternative. So as to not tease the reader too greatly, those interested in the VZ-58 pattern should consider the well regarded VZ-2000 rifle obtainable through Ohio Ordnance Works.

New variants of the VZ-58 continue to come out of the Czech Republic, including one with an 18.9 inch barrel to make it legal in more jurisdictions. A picatinny rail upper hand guard is available as well as a CAR stock adaptor. The VZ-58 is one well-conceived package and so it should be interesting to see where the design is headed in civilian hands in its various forms.