Just threw my VZ2008 w/ OE folding stock on scale and it weights 8 lb 5 oz.
NEA top rail w/ primary arms micro red dot w/ killflash weighs ~7 oz.
Weaponlight and mount weighs ~5 oz.
With both top rail and red dot removed and weaponlight removed it weighs ~7 1/2 lbs (~7 lb 8 oz), or roughly the weight of a 16" AKM.
Modifications from standard at that weight are paracord wrap on factory stock, FAB galil ultra grip, zendl steel extended mag catch and bolt release, NEA aluminum lower handguard w/ 3 side rails mounted (1 long and 2 short and magpul/ergo ladder rail covers on two partial rails), magpul afg 2, gogun aluminum RS2 gas pedal, and CNCW steel vortex flash hider.
Without all that stuff, the Vz58 is basically at stripped M4 socom weight.
And given 7.62x39's roughly double recoil energy of .223 in similarly weighted weapons, there is a benefit to that greater weight.
FWIW, my lightest weight home defense AR15 16" carbine w/ ballistic advantage hanson .625 16" pencil barrel is at 7lb 3oz w/ weaponlight and and 1x vortex spitfire prism optic (and sling removed), so the Vz58 as configured above is just ~1lb and 15% heavier. Now that AR is not the the lightest build possible, but lightest I consider prudent, and the optic and mount itself adds nearly a pound.
The vickers unpadded sling I have for it w/ Midwest Industries HD QD swivels weighs ~6oz, which closes the gap to ~12oz (or 3/4 lb) and 10%.
Point being, if you can get your weapon fully configured below 8 lbs, I think you're in the ballpark of what's reasonable and prudent.
Did some more searching and standard CSA side rail is ~5.5 oz, and skeltonized is ~3oz, so 2.5 oz or nearly 1/2 savings. And I'd imagine the detachable optic mount would weight at least 5 oz again -- not seeing weight listed.
And again, my NEA top rail w/ micro red dot alone is just 7 oz and change, so easily a half pound of savings there.
