DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.
By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com
December 28, 2009
A company called CzechPoint, Inc. is legally importing Czechoslovakian (Czech Republic) CZ Sa vz. 58 sporter/tactical rifles/carbines and vz. 61 Skorpion submachine guns (SMGs). The CZ Sa vz. 58 rifle/carbine series (7.62x39mm) is the most interesting offering, to us. It’s being marketed as being superior to the Kalashnikov AK-47/AKM rifle series under the tagline “vz. 58…twice the rifle”. But CzechPoint doesn’t just make the claim. They go about backing it up with a number of bullet points highligting the differences between the Sa vz. 58 carbine/rifle and the AK-47/AKM rifle. The following comes directly from CzechPoint’s Sa vz. 58 rifle series brochure (edited for punctuation):
Sa vz. 58 Comparison to AK-47 Type Rifle with Stamped Receiver:
– The vz. 58 has a milled receiver. Most AK-47 type rifles are stamped.
– Even with the milled receiver, it is almost one pound lighter than a stamped AK-47.
– CNC machining on a vz. 58 receiver takes 2 1/2 hours; a stamped AK-47 receiver takes
seconds to produce.
– The vz. 58 receiver is completely enclosed, preventing debris from entering the receiver.
– The bolt of the vz. 58 stays open after the last round in the magazine has been fired.
– The vz. 58 can be reloaded with stripper clips while the magazine is inserted in the rifle.
– The vz. 58 has a more natural point of aim and is faster handling.
– The safety is more ergonomic, making a faster first shot possible with the vz. 58.
– The ejection port is HUGE. There is no chance of an empty case getting stuck in the action of
the vz. 58.
– The vz. 58 gas piston can be removed or exchanged without tools.
– The alloy magazine of the vz. 58 is half the weight of the steel AK-47 magazine. (.42 lbs vs. .84 lbs)
– The vz. 58 is striker-fired, unlike the hammer-fired AK-47. This reduces the number of parts
and possible points of failure.
By the end of the 1950s, the Sa vz. 58 military-issued assault rifle had obtained the impressive combination of weight and length (6.42 lbs and 33.30 inches for fixed stock) to make this rifle the elite among military issued assault rifles of its class.
It remains the only assault rifle of its size that has achieved an empty weight of under 3 kilos.
Full-Auto CZ858 Assault Rifle / CZ vz. 58 SBR (Short Barreled Rifle)/Subcarbine Reliability Test/Demonstration Video:
[youtube VSLV9rd53vw]
vz. 58 rifle magazines are not interchangeable with AK-47/AKM mags, so AK mags will not work in the vz. 58.
Of all the Sa vz. 58 rifle/carbine models offered, DefenseReview is most interested in the two paratrooper-config folding stock versions: the Sa vz. 58 Military Folder and Sa vz. 58 Military Folder – polymer tactical rifle/carbines, since we prefer military versions and collabsible or folding stocks, when available. The former (plastic impregnated wood furniture, i.e. pistol grip and forend) is $850.00 USD right now, and $89.00 USD effective January 1, 2010. The latter is $895.00 USD right now, $915.00 USD effective January 1, 2010.
DefenseReview would very much like to run a Sa vz. 58 at the range, as it looks like a very capable rifle/carbine package.
We should perhaps mention that CzechPoint is also offering Sa vz. 58 stripped receivers. Included with each receiver (at no additional charge) are: barrel pin, safety catch holder, safety catch holder spacer, trigger guard front rivet, trigger guard rear rivet, safety catch stop, and bolt carrier side plate.
Sa vz. 58 Military Folder Tactical Rifle/Carbine Features and Technical Specifications:
RECEIVER TYPE: milled
ACTION TYPE: gas-operated semi automatic
CALIBER: 7.62x39mm Russian
BARREL LENGTH: 16.14 inches (16.14″)
WEIGHT, UNLOADED: 6.42 lbs
LENGTH, OVERALL (OA Length):
Wood-impregnated plastic stock: 34.25 inches (34.25″)
Metal Stock (fixed): 34 inches (34″)
Metal Stock (folded): 25 7/8 inches
FEED MECHANISM: 30 round detachable magazine
FINISH: black
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2300 feet per second (771 yds/s)
Effective range against individual targets: up to 655 yds
Effective range against group targets: up to 875 yds
Maximum range: 3,060 yds
Practical rate of fire: 40 shots/min.
Weapon weight without magazine: 6.59 lbs
Weight of an empty magazine: 0.42 lbs
Weight of a full magazine: 1.50 lbs
Weapon length: 34.06 in
Weapon width: 2.32 in
Weapon height without magazine: 6.69 in
Weapon height with magazine: 9.96 in
Barrel length: 16.14 in
Number of grooves in the barrel: 4
Length of the rifling: 9.45 in
Trigger pull: 5.51 – 5.95 lbs (24.5 – 26.5 N)
ACCESSORIES: sling, 2 magazines, cleaning kit,
owner’s manual and history on CD
From the CzechPoint, Inc. website: “The Sa vz. 58 possesses the required USA made parts to comply with Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(r)”, and “CzechPoint, Inc., in co-operation with local contractors, legally modifies the original vz. 58 Sporter into the vz. 58 Military Folder model by ensuring the rifle has no more than 10 imported parts. This means that all vz. 58 rifles capable of using 30 round magazines possess 5 USA made parts to fully comply with Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(r).”
Company Contact Info:
CzechPoint, Inc.
103 Stone Road
Knoxville, TN 37920
865-247-0184 Office
865-247-0185 Fax
http://www.czechpoint-usa.com Website
Deanna Hale
865-247-0184 Sales/Orders
shipping.deptartment@czechpoint-usa.com
Dan Brown
865-323-5056 Technical
dan.brown@czechpoint-usa.com
Ceska zbrojovka a.s.
Svatopluka Cecha 1283
688 27 Uhersky Brod
Czech Republic
Phone : (+420) 572 651 111
Fax: (+420) 572 633 665
Website (English): http://www.czub.cz/en/Default.aspx
CZ-USA
P.O. Box 171073
Kansas City, KS 66117-0073
Toll-free: 1-800-955-4486
Phone: (913) 321-1811
Fax: (913) 321-2251
E-mail: info@cz-usa.com
Website: http://www.cz-usa.com/
Dan Wesson
5169 Route 12
Norwich, NY 13815
Phone: 607-336-1174
Fax: 607-336-2730
Technical & Svc E-mail: dwservice@cz-usa.com
Parts & Customer Svc E-mail: dwparts@cz-usa.com
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