Author Topic: VZ2008 (Read 6161 times)

Guy1az · « **on:** February 03, 2013, 05:47:43 pm »

This is a lousy picture but I am trying to watch the super bowl and do this at the same time..not doing either very well. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this rifle. I purchased some time ago when it was pretty cheap. It is 7.69x39 and has a non rotating bolt and a different type hammer system. It feels significantly lighter and smaller than a regular Ak. It takes a unique magazine which is why I purchased four..regular AK mags will not fit. It is assembled by Century from U.S. parts and original parts. Anyway I had sort of tucked it away in the gun safe and have not even fired it as of yet. I see they are up to $900 now which is crazy. Anyone have any experience with these? I had read a few reviews and others had purchased them and absolutely raved about them...I will make up my own mind but just wondered if anyone was familar with them.

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coelacanth · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2013, 07:43:27 pm »

Pretty good rifles. Czechoslovakian variant of the eastern European battle standard. They are lighter than the standard AK and parts and magazines are harder to find but neither is a deal breaker for me. I decided the SKS was a better "truck rifle" for me because of the fixed magazine so I never picked one up. One of the guys over at We The Armed is kind of a specialist in Czech weaponry - M.W. Coleburn of Coleburn Armory. He could probably give you the straight scoop as well as anyone.

Guy1az · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2013, 08:26:39 pm »

Good info I appreciate it. Hard to go wrong with an SKS.. I remember I bought mine for $89 and they had a ton of them. But I digress I am eager to see how this bad boy shoots when it dries up and warms up a little.

Son of Jared · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2013, 09:40:37 pm »

The VZ 2008 (VZ58) is the BOMB! They are a better AK! Love me some VZ58.

I would go on and on but am a little tired right now after the game. Pretty sure most of the concepts came from the German Sturmgewehr 44. I will leave you with this little diddy. When the Russians rolled into Czechoslovakia, they were so impressed with the VZ 58 that they allowed the Czechs to continue production as the national rifle. This was the only exception the soviets made to the AK47.

Guy1az · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2013, 09:50:52 pm »

Wow I had no idea .. Grest thanks !

brandyspaw · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2013, 10:22:10 pm »

Jerry, I need to check because at one time I had a couple of those magazines. They came in the Sportsmans Guide magazine "lottery" purchases from a few years back. They were selling unsorted packs of mags that came out of Serbia after that conflict and they were a wild mix of all kinds of AK mags. I'm sure one bundle I bought had a couple of VZ-58 mags. They look similar at a glance but are different than AK's.

They were in my box of odds and ends mags I had at the last gun show I did last year. I'll check and if they weren't sold at the gun show I'll let you know.

Guy1az · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2013, 10:44:04 pm »

Great thanks Bill.

Classictruckman · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2013, 01:41:28 am »

Looks alot like a STG44 mechanism, and they were built like tanks.... Simple field strip.... Looks like some furniture upgrades would go a long way to improving the overall design, perhaps a better quality adjustable shoulder stock and pistol grip....

Interesting bonus - the open top lock open bolt system would, as the video suggests, allow reloading from stripper clips....

Guy1az · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2013, 06:56:44 am »

The release button on the folding stock is incredibly hard to operate. I have tried soaking it in oil, breakfree etc to no avail. I need to replace it for sure.

capcyclone · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2013, 08:52:22 am »

I always admired the looks of those in catalogs/flyers - but I've never seen one at the range or shooting with friends. Had the opportunity to get one in a trade, but passed.

Harm · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2013, 12:33:58 pm »

Shot one at a shoot about 6 months ago. Sorely tempted to buy one.

idiotsayswhat · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2013, 03:00:01 pm »

I have the Czech VZ58 and it's a great gun. There are some "minor" differences between the two, but many people love the Century build VZ2008's.

You can get magazines here and there online cheap. I recommend joining the original CZ forum too. There is an entire section there dedicated to this rifle...

Guy1az · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2013, 03:42:34 pm »

Well I know the Lula loader won't work on their magazines...that's a pain.

idiotsayswhat · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2013, 11:29:28 pm »

Quote from: Guy1az on February 05, 2013, 03:42:34 pm

Well I know the Lula loader won't work on their magazines...that's a pain.

Yeah, we've all been crying for a loader, but nobody is interested... I believe people from the CZ forum have pestered the lula for sometime about it now.

A guy on youtube made his own that seems pretty impressive / easy if your the handy type.

I still haven't tried stripper clips with mine...

Guy1az · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2013, 09:49:40 am »

I tried stripper clips that go to my sks because that's all I had....they certainly did not work.

idiotsayswhat · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2013, 10:08:55 am »

Quote from: Guy1az on February 06, 2013, 09:49:40 am

I tried stripper clips that go to my sks because that's all I had....they certainly did not work.

See, I couldn't remember whether or not those worked right in the VZ. There was a guy on the original CZ forum doing a group buy for czech stripper clips specifically designed for this rifle... They are different I guess. Again, I've never used them. My interest was there, but not the financial backing to get in on the buy if you know what I mean...

Guy1az · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2013, 10:48:18 am »

After trying the sks stripper clips I quickly saw they don 't fit. They intrude too far into the magazine itself.

Twinsen · « **Reply #17 on:** February 06, 2013, 11:45:48 am »

They're great. Just figure it's an FAL in 7.62x39mm. Tilting bolt, short-stroke piston, LRBHO, all the fun goodies. The difference is the caliber and that the VZ/CZ is striker fired instead of hammer.

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