Just added a VZ-52 rifle to my collection

[selector67]

Hey guys, just aquired a VZ-52 to add to my mil-surp collection, got it for a pretty good price, not much info online, but I know the ammo is hard to find being 7.62x45, bought a hundred rounds for $65 from someone on Gunboards. I know these rifles are getting harder to find these days, does anyone have any experience with these rifles, are they accurate, are they superior to the SKS?

 

[monotonous_iterancy]

According to the internet, the 7.62x45 round is slightly more powerful than the 7.62x39.

 

[selector67]

Yeah, I know, I also read somewhere that some of these were sent to Vietnam and the VC preferred these over the SKS

 

[Jackal]

Good time to start reloading.

 

[Ken70]

Is the stock cracking just below the through bolt? Ones I looked at were all cracking about there.

 

[bobinoregon]

I have one I bought years ago. It's like any other battle rifle, if you are looking for moa shooting it's not there. Years back you could buy something like 2500 rounds of corrosive surplus ammo for around $100 as long as you didnt mind about 1/3 ftf. Pretty sure there was also a chamber insert available that would let you use 7.62x39. If I remember right mine was part of a bunch that came from Panama or somewhere in that area.

 

[mf-dif]

Looks like an SKS met a Garand. Nice rifle.

 

[Vaarok]

Actually a SVT met a Garand with some bits from a K43. Garand triggergroup, SVT bolt, K43 mag, annular gas piston, very good rifle.

I've owned three, still own two. Sold my SKSes because the Vz is better, more accurate, feel if not actually are lighter, and has better ergonomics and points better. Sight hoods are murderously expensive, though, and mags are pricey if you're not patient.

 

[selector67]

Yeah, the stock has a slight crack, but has been repaired But now I have an update, come to find out the rifle is not 7.62x45 but 7.62x39, the guy I bought it from said he never shot it, there is nothing on the rifle to indicate it is 7.62x39, so now I bought ammo I do not need, and I do not know if it has been rebarreled or have one of those barrel inserts, how can I tell?

 

[bobinoregon]

The inserts I remember were epoxied in place. If it wont chamber the 7.62 x45 it may have one. I personally would go over every inch of the barrel looking for markings. I havent looked at mine in quite a while but there should be something. I'll be home after thursday and I'll be happy to check mine and see where the markings are then.

 

[selector67]

Thanks bobinoregon, would appreciate that

 

[Vaarok]

If the rifle can be disassembled by sliding the barrel collar forward, it has an insert. If it's been shortened such that the barrel collar hits the sight base, the rifle has been rechambered by setting back the barrel.

 

[selector67]

Thanks Vaarok, but if it does have an insert, can it be removed? I cycled the bolt back and forth chambering a round and ejecting, seems like it hangs up every third round or so, the magazine is made for 7.62x45 so I figure that is why it is not feeding reliably, will a 52/57 that is 7.62x39 mag work in the rifle where it feeds better, or should I just try to remove the insert?

 

[bobinoregon]

Mine is marked on the left side of the barrel between the bayonet mount and the front sight 762x45 czech cai st albans vt which would be Century's import marks.

 

[bobinoregon]

Mine

 

[Kernel]

rechambered by setting back the barrel

If that's the case, removing the insert alone would not allow you to go back to 7.62x45. You'd have to remove the barrel and recut the chamber. (After removing the insert, of course.)

 

[bobinoregon]

I would be surprised if anyone went to that effort unless they were a gunsmith. When I bought mine they were only going for around $100 for a really clean one cause ammo is hard to find. Best bet is take it to a gunsmith and have him check. Anybody know where to get brass for these?

 

[selector67]

You got a nice one there bobinoregon It is funny that the guns that were dirt cheap back then are hard to find now, and if you do find one you pay a pretty penny for it, SKS, K-31, Finnish M-39, Russian M-44, just to name a few, always told ourselves, ahh, I will get one next time, they are dirt cheap, well that diirt cheap rifle aint dirt cheap no more, makes you wish you would have stocked up and bought a few. I am afraid the Mosin 91/30 is headed that way, it is still cheap, but not as cheap as they once were, and there prices are climbing, pretty soon we will be saying I remember when I could have bought one of those for a hundred dollars, those were the good old days

 

[bobinoregon]

Hate to hurt feelings but I also bought an unissued russian sks from the 50's for $99 several years ago. Only damage on it was the electro pencil importer marks on the barrel. Ten years from now people will be saying "remember when you could buy" talking about now

 

[kBob]

Unless my memory fails me the 7.62x45 is ONLY in use in Czech military guns of the 1950s and no one ever made reloadable brass for it. I am not sure there is even anything that can be converted even if George Nonte were still around with his gear and burning desire to convert existing cartridges to anything ever made.

I just did some searching as I thought there was a difference in the magazines of the x45 and x39 guns noticable from the outside but can find no reference for that.

I suspect the reasons these rifles are hard to find despite being cheap when they came in is like with the Rashid.....first there really weren't that many imported and second folks that bought then cheap odd balls fired them with the corrosive ammo that was available, rode them hard (while the ammo lasted in the case of the 52) and "put them up wet" as in not cleaned and so they rusted badly.

I might be happy to have a x45 52 and a few hundred rounds and call it a day.

-kBob

 

[bobinoregon]

The ammo I have for mine seems to be extra corrosive as in "clean it like you mean it". I have maybe 200 rounds for it somewhere so it rarely gets used cause I havent seen any for sale in quite a while.

 

[Vaarok]

.220 Swift or 6.5x52 Carcano are easily trimmed and reformed into x45 casings.

 

[Bingo46]

Buffalo Arms has .220 Swift refromed to X45, but you can reform 6.5 Carcano the easiest, from what I've read. Dies from RCBS on the way, so I haven't done the work yet. Check Wikipedia for all the cartridge dimension. Start up cost is high, but saves the rifle from the very corrosive ammo.

Oh, make sure the action fits tight in the stock top avoid cracking the wood. Their is a post somewher that shows how to make a brass shim, about .035m that fits on the front of the lug. When sliding the action back on the stock it takes up the slack, like the lock-up on the Garand.

Post your success, and have fun with the new toy.

 

[Scott7891]

I would only get a Vz-52/57 because it is in 7.62x39.