On top is a Century Arms Vz-2008, a commercial adaptation of the Czechoslovakian Vz.58. On the bottom is a Zastava AK clone.
Both are 7.62x39mm. Both have 30 round capacities. Both are piston gas operated and air cooled. Other than looking similar that's about the end of how they're alike.
It's almost as if the team in Brno said, "no matter what, make it different than the AK."
I'd say the succeeded.
It's LIGHT. Really light. And this is with the steel receiver that Century makes, the originals were aluminum.
It's a hair under 8 lb. loaded with 1.45 lb. magazines.
The Yugo came in at 9.3 lb. loaded with 1.8 lb magazines.
The folding stock is teh suxxor for consistent cheek welds.
Willard is laying on the pressure for me to adopt something in 7.62x39mm, that's why I had these here to take pictures of. Going to the range with them and an SKS sometime next week for a more detailed comparison.
I hadn't known that the VZ-58 had a civilian version. I'll be interested to hear what you have to say about it and how it compares with the AK.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing YOU will notice is that it's definitely set up better for a lefty. The selector and magazine release are far easier to manipulate if you act like it's a left handed gun.
ReplyDeleteThe extractor is angled so that it's about 30˚ off vertical so you wouldn't even eat brass firing it that way.
We need to get to the range and double check.
So far the only thing that I actively dislike is the folding stock. Fixed stocks are out there.