Vz58 Modernization - Sights, Optics and Controls - Part 1

[Tok36]

Carl at InRangeTV shows some VZ58 tuning options.

Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EOl84rFoOs

[Grendel]

If I see ANYTHING remotely like the garbage I just removed from this post again, anywhere on this forum, the authors will be leaving by the nearest window.

Take heed and check yourselves before posting.

[RSR]

Curious about his claim that it "aesthetically looks like an AK because it needed to -- that was one of the requirements."  Makes sense just haven't heard that specific claim before best as I can recall.

[PLANofMAN]

Curious about his claim that it "aesthetically looks like an AK because it needed to -- that was one of the requirements."  Makes sense just haven't heard that specific claim before best as I can recall.

The whole "had to be approved by the soviet" thing, most likely. Though I doubt we will ever know more than at least one was sent to the Kremlin for testing, it passed the trials, and the soviet allowed the Czechs to produce the rifle. That and the rifle had to use 7.62x39 ammo.

The irony is that it was originally chambered for 7.62x45 ammo, which is very close to .300 blackout or Grendel, I forget which.

[RSR]

7.62x45 is most ballistically similar to 6.8 spc IIRC, and of the two you mentioned probably closer to 6.5 Grendel.  .300 BLK is closer to 7.62x39.

[jwc007]

Part 2

https://youtu.be/5qBH5kT7V1I

[Tok36]

This one is starting to remind me of the Ship of theseus.

[RSR]

This one is starting to remind me of the Ship of theseus.

He just replaced the furniture, rear sight, and mag and bolt release.  Still the same house -- just with new furniture and hardware.

The sling he had originally was an AK sling, so not even bothering with that -- though I find rear of receiver to rear of front handguard makes pushes the (short-side) limits of many modern slide adjustable slings, insofar as full range of intended motion/use...  I prefer QD on stock and QD of rear handguard, but on my VZ58s I use OE locations despite sub-optimal IMO.

[Bigdude]

Not real impressed with his build. The plastic handguards by FAB Defense are junk. The side mount for the red dot is not my preference, way too heavy and bulky. And the Holosun red dot is cheap Chinese garbage IMO.

My build has some custom work; such as the top handguard has the red dot mount welded in place to keep a low profile, the pistol grip which accepts AR-15 grips and the sling attachment is custom made. Leica Red Dot is absolute co-witnessed. Plus are my internals are coated with ArmorLube. Muzzle brake is made of titanium and very light. Smoke composites rear stock to reduce weight as well. Weight as pictured is 6.8 pounds. My only regret is not having the bayonet attachment on the front sight block machined off for a cleaner look and to prevent snags.

[RSR]

Not real impressed with his build. The plastic handguards by FAB Defense are junk. The side mount for the red dot is not my preference, way too heavy and bulky. And the Holosun red dot is cheap Chinese garbage IMO.

My build has some custom work; such as the top handguard has the red dot mount welded in place to keep a low profile, the pistol grip which accepts AR-15 grips and the sling attachment is custom made. Leica Red Dot is absolute co-witnessed. Plus are my internals are coated with ArmorLube. Muzzle brake is made of titanium and very light. Smoke composites rear stock to reduce weight as well. Weight as pictured is 6.8 pounds. My only regret is not having the bayonet attachment on the front sight block machined off for a cleaner look and to prevent snags.

That Gen2 Bonesteel does look slick, and I like the flush sides to prevent busted knuckles vs gen 1 (less of a deal on VZs than AKs).

He's testing the new and recently released Gen2 FAB handguards with MLok -- don't know how they compare to Gen1.  FAB's stuff is generally useable and fairly durable, albeit perhaps not "go to war" quality.

[woolgar]

Not real impressed with his build. The plastic handguards by FAB Defense are junk. The side mount for the red dot is not my preference, way too heavy and bulky. And the Holosun red dot is cheap Chinese garbage IMO.

My build has some custom work; such as the top handguard has the red dot mount welded in place to keep a low profile, the pistol grip which accepts AR-15 grips and the sling attachment is custom made. Leica Red Dot is absolute co-witnessed. Plus are my internals are coated with ArmorLube. Muzzle brake is made of titanium and very light. Smoke composites rear stock to reduce weight as well. Weight as pictured is 6.8 pounds. My only regret is not having the bayonet attachment on the front sight block machined off for a cleaner look and to prevent snags.

That is a slick and light build. Can you post more about the welded red dot sight and how that was done. Id love to see a pic of the cowitness too. 

Im wondering if this build of his was off hand so he'd have something cheapish to shoot in matches. (7.62x39 vs 5.56 current prices)

[RSR]

Not real impressed with his build. The plastic handguards by FAB Defense are junk. The side mount for the red dot is not my preference, way too heavy and bulky. And the Holosun red dot is cheap Chinese garbage IMO.

My build has some custom work; such as the top handguard has the red dot mount welded in place to keep a low profile, the pistol grip which accepts AR-15 grips and the sling attachment is custom made. Leica Red Dot is absolute co-witnessed. Plus are my internals are coated with ArmorLube. Muzzle brake is made of titanium and very light. Smoke composites rear stock to reduce weight as well. Weight as pictured is 6.8 pounds. My only regret is not having the bayonet attachment on the front sight block machined off for a cleaner look and to prevent snags.

That is a slick and light build. Can you post more about the welded red dot sight and how that was done. Id love to see a pic of the cowitness too. 

Im wondering if this build of his was off hand so he'd have something cheapish to shoot in matches. (7.62x39 vs 5.56 current prices)

In archives.  Looks like some of the pics have expired though...

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=100050

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=104554

[MeatAxe]

Not real impressed with his build. The plastic handguards by FAB Defense are junk. The side mount for the red dot is not my preference, way too heavy and bulky. And the Holosun red dot is cheap Chinese garbage IMO.

Careful, that sounds like criticism - we’ve been warned that He Whose Name Must Not be Mentioned is protected. Funny, his You Tube viewership seems to be plummeting of late - wonder why?

Looks like Gun Jesus is doing quite well on his own, though. Hope he keeps it that way.

[Bigdude]

Not real impressed with his build. The plastic handguards by FAB Defense are junk. The side mount for the red dot is not my preference, way too heavy and bulky. And the Holosun red dot is cheap Chinese garbage IMO.

My build has some custom work; such as the top handguard has the red dot mount welded in place to keep a low profile, the pistol grip which accepts AR-15 grips and the sling attachment is custom made. Leica Red Dot is absolute co-witnessed. Plus are my internals are coated with ArmorLube. Muzzle brake is made of titanium and very light. Smoke composites rear stock to reduce weight as well. Weight as pictured is 6.8 pounds. My only regret is not having the bayonet attachment on the front sight block machined off for a cleaner look and to prevent snags.

That is a slick and light build. Can you post more about the welded red dot sight and how that was done. Id love to see a pic of the cowitness too. 

Im wondering if this build of his was off hand so he'd have something cheapish to shoot in matches. (7.62x39 vs 5.56 current prices)

Regarding your question, I do not shoot in matches. My goal was an accurate, lightweight 7.62x39 rifle that was not an AK-47.

Here are some more pics. For the mounting of the red dot, I simple purchased a red dot pistol mount like the one below. I then used a dremel and cut away a small section of the Bonesteel arms upper rail where I would like it to be welded. Then I had my local gunsmith weld the red dot mount to the rail. I made sure to tell my gunsmith to weld it just slightly higher than the gas piston, the goal to have it sit as low as possible. A typical picatinny mount for red dots will not work because it would sit too high. The welded mount eliminates that as well as saves some weight. I really tried to keep the overall weight of the build as low as possible.

One disadvantage of this obviously is you cannot mount anything other red dots to your rifle nor can you switch out the red dot easily. Luckily there is a gunsmith located a few minutes from my house that specializes in VZ-58 rifles. I don't think I would allow just any gunsmith to work on it. Let me know if you have any further questions.











Here is a pic of the upper rail with the red dot removed. The top surface of the mount is flush with the top surface of the pic rail, thats how low it needs to be for absolute co-witness of the VZ-58.

[woolgar]

That is a slick and light build. Can you post more about the welded red dot sight and how that was done. Id love to see a pic of the cowitness too. 

Im wondering if this build of his was off hand so he'd have something cheapish to shoot in matches. (7.62x39 vs 5.56 current prices)

Regarding your question, I do not shoot in matches. My goal was an accurate, lightweight 7.62x39 rifle that was not an AK-47.

I was referring to Karl (InRange) about the matches, I should've been clearer

And thank you for the pictures, your GS did an excellent job!