Herrara Vz58 Vid

[RSR]

Nearly 600k views in 4 days -- language warning FYI:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB15S57kfuA

Not in my top 5 or 10 gun youtubers, but a Vz58 vid (trigger warning, he's VERY pro-AK).

[briang2ad]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-VSGqRzCfE

I think Herrera and others (see also MAC) are responding to Grandthumb and others who taut that the VZ 58 is 'better'.  Other than some of these love to blaspheme and drop the F bomb, they provide some useful comments.

H seems to want to criticize the accuracy based on its full auto fire, but that he tests with no brake - hardly fair.  The VZ 58 is likely more accurate.  I find the recoil snappier, and as I am wont to do, I criticize it for sights that are too low for the stock setup making it hard to find a combo with the irons that doesn't make you work for it.  An Ambi mag release makes life better, and maybe I need to try the bolt release - bringing speed and precision to mag changes. And now... the price of entry of the 58 and limited aftermarket makes it really 'not as good' as the AK.  (Of course its a bad time to buy an AK as to price).

But it is a WAY cool gun and a tribute to the Czechs thumbing their nose at the Soviets.

[MeatAxe]

I think Brandon is just biased in favor of AKs (being the “AK Guy” and all). The overall tone was of reluctance to do the Vz58 review in the first place. Maybe somebody will set him straight, slap the piss out of him, or whatecer. Obviously, Branson Herrera has the license and means to build a select fire, traditional configuration Vz58 off a Tort Tort receiver, which is pretty cool - I didn’t know that the full auto Vz58 has a much higher cyclic rate than the AK, which may actually make it more accurate in full auto than the chug chug AK.

Of course, most people with the CSA semi auto Vz58, at least, with its Lothar Walther barrel, are going to say that the milled Vz is a much more refined, handier, more accurate rifle than the vast majority of AKs, despite the squishy stock trigger.

I also note that Rob Ski (the “AKOU Guy”) had nothing but glowing reviews of the CSA Vz58 that he tested in several episodes during his 5,000 round torture, function and accuracy test a couple of years ago. So who are you gonna believe? Rob Ski, Garand Thumb or the AK Guy’s lying eyes?


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VEKDcUUdTKQ

[RSR]

Yeah, he runs the Vz58 without a comp/brake, while he runs his AKs with aggressive brakes...

He said outright he was doing the vid b/c of user-request, so don't assume he was even giving it a fair shake.

Yes, Vz58 mags are a major pro, not a con.

[briang2ad]

I'll say this:

- There are some VZ 'betters' such as weight, accuracy, and bolt hold open.  Not without merit. Also switching from fixed to folder is also an advantage.
- There are some downsides, and magazine durability is one - its not fatal, but it is not a big plus.  OEM mags will fail when loaded and dropped on the lips. 
- The safety is not an ergonomic thing
- The trigger is just not that great for what is now a $1500+ gun. 
- AKs have a much better aftermarket - right now you cannot even buy a side rail mount.  Maybe tomorrow, haha. 

If we are sharing vids, I like Larry's (he doesn't whine about the gun on FA):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QRSUwFB9Jc

[briang2ad]

BTW:  I thought BRANDON hated AKs!   

[RSR]

I'll say this:

- There are some VZ 'betters' such as weight, accuracy, and bolt hold open.  Not without merit. Also switching from fixed to folder is also an advantage.
- There are some downsides, and magazine durability is one - its not fatal, but it is not a big plus.  OEM mags will fail when loaded and dropped on the lips. 
- The safety is not an ergonomic thing
- The trigger is just not that great for what is now a $1500+ gun. 
- AKs have a much better aftermarket - right now you cannot even buy a side rail mount.  Maybe tomorrow, haha. 

If we are sharing vids, I like Larry's (he doesn't whine about the gun on FA):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QRSUwFB9Jc

Yes, the trigger's not great, but stock AK trigger is fairly garbage too, but can be more easily cleaned up with some filing, sanding, and stoning...  And as you mentioned, aftermarket.

Odds are low that mags would be dropped from 6 ft in the field, while full, directly onto feedlips and onto concrete with no backups remaining...  All that feed lip drop test shows is the plasticity of the material.  I'd argue Vz58 mags are definitely more durable than aluminum GI-spec AR mags, and almost certainly also the steel ones.

Bare muzzle Vz58 is more controllable than bare muzzle AK as demonstrated in this vid -- it's possible it's just because he's a lefty and Vz58 on left, but I think it's more than that.  Roughly around the time of this vid, this dude was in my then-local PO in Central Texas shippping back a dealer sample with the worst packing/taping job I've seen with his insta girlfriend.  Both were a hot mess.  Think it was around the time of SXSW.  Don't know where his home base was (maybe Houston or East Texas), but he's not from around here...  Point being, I'm only recommending this video's video as reference and ignore most of his commentary and ridiculousness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k67xvNAsJh0

Here he says he's from Cali 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2FXd6iVsXs

[RSR]

BTW:  I thought BRANDON hated AKs!   

Few of his videos cross my feed, so you're probably more informed on him than I am.  His style/approach isn't really my speed.  I think it was probably the Vz58 algorithm...