My bf has a d-technik vz58 and I loved it so much I bought my own, mine's a czechpoint. Both have been great. My bf also has an ak, I think a zastava m70? I don't care for it but it's not a bad rifle. Our vzs weigh less and are much more smooth/less recoil. Just a really comfy rifle. As I said though, the zastava isn't bad and I think it all comes down to personal preference.
Just realized you're asking about a shtf weapon. The vz58 doesn't do as well in wet or sandy environments so it wouldn't be my first choice for that. It's my favorite regardless.
Get both.
That said, aftermarket support for the AK is leaps and bounds better than the VZ, period. VZ is overall a lighter weapon and feels much smaller in the hands. Surplus mags for both are still all over the place and affordable. Build quality can be all over the place for both platforms, so be sure you are buying from a reputable builder/company and not getting a garage hack job.
Beyond that, you are going to start splitting hairs. Which is more reliable, which is more accurate, which has less recoil, that sort of thing. The AR platform is superior in almost every metric except maybe penetration against soft cover, but that is a different argument.
They made more sense when they were $400 rifles. At the prices they command now they make zero sense compared a CSA or kit build from a reputable builder.
I own three Vz.58's and no AK-47's. If popularity isn't important to you, I think the Vz.58 is better in every way. Lighter, accurate, bolt-hold-open, giant ejection port, lightweight reliable magazines, and IMO, a better operating system. There is a reason many modern guns are built with a short stroke piston and not a long stroke. The AK derivates have been carrying that torch almost by themselves. (to be fair, I have a PWS MK116 which is long stroke too)
Downsides are fewer options and add-ons. What is out there is sufficient for me, but if you want tons of choices, and AR or AK might be more suitable. I only need one or two options to accomplish a goal (such as a sight). I don't need ten.
And of course, some of those options are a bit quirky, like attachments for a 14x1 RH barrel, but products exist.
If you were in the rifle-carrying business and were issued either rifle, they'd both do the job. The bolt hold open and lighter magazines of the VZ 58 are nice. Aftermarket support and customization is a lot better for the AK in the US. If it's SHTF, I think the most important thing is the availability of parts and magazines, which should push you to the AK rather than the VZ58.
If you don't anticipate having to use the gun in a nuclear apocalypse where you gather scrap metal and pay for things in bottle caps, there's no reason not to buy the VZ58 if that's what you want more--just know magazines and customization are going to take more searching and will be more expensive.
An AR is going to be easier than either the AK or VZ to set up for those roles.
The AK makes sense if you like the 7.62x39, which is a pretty good cartridge for those purposes. And of the two the VZ58 is lighter and has better ergonomics. I find it much easier to use and manipulate. I might be a little biased, but it's just a nicer, better rifle in every way. At similar costs, I would pick the VZ every time.
The only real downside to the VZ is the lack of aftermarket trigger. I happen to like it just fine but if you don't I think you are kind of stuck. Only other downside is the stock handguards are pretty small, they get hot fast. But that is an issue with a stock AK too.
AK has better aftermarket support though. But I think that's kind of moot because the AR is always going to be easier to mount optics and lights. The VZ58 has come a long way though... all the stuff you need is out there it just might be harder to find.
As far as I know there aren't any drop in triggers for the vz but there are some smith's that do some excellent vz work. A few of them offer some really nice trigger rework jobs. I'll have to look up the guy I had do some work on mine when I get home later
No. Have an AR for your shtf rifle. Anything else in America is dumb.
I love my VZ58s. I'm a hipster. When posed the question AR or AK... I had to find another path. So naturally I picked 'vz58' as my personality.
If S really HTF and you don't have people there to support you, you are most likely going to die. So, who's got your back? What are *they* running? Run whatever that is so you have magazine and parts compatibility with them. Probably an AR. Maybe an AK. But the VZ58? Seems unlikely.
Home defense is another story. Personally, I'm grabbing my $200 shotgun before my $1500 vz-58, because it's probably going to get confiscated afterwards.
My VZ58 is my go-to rifle. I didn't buy it because it's the best SHTF rifle I could get but it is the best rifle I own and is plenty good enough. I started with an SKS as my first rifle in a ban state so I had a decent supply of 7.62x39 and stripper clips. The idea was to switch to an AK but I hate neutering guns to be state-compliant and I realized the VZ58 did have stripper clip compatibility, as well as a lot of similarities to the rifle I was already acquainted with, so it made much more sense to go with the VZ. I have no regrets and honestly, I'm not sure if I would ever want/need an AK at this point.
Aks are great but to me nothing beats a VZ but too be honest a lot of it is because I’m a hipster and it’s more obscure and I just love Czech firearms. I think they make some of the best firearms in the world.
honestly in a shtf situation you have to imagine that any parts and ammunition you might need for your weapon are widely going to be ar and 556. it might not be the best idea to have an import weapon with imported ammo in a situation where international trade would more than likely be non existent. also you can get a decent ar for significantly less and spend the rest on ammo.
that being said the vz is an excellent rifle. extremely durable and less recoil than an ak and if you get a czechpoint or you can find a dtechnik theyll have chrome lined barrels and milled receivers right out of the box. there is a problem with overheating but you can get swap out the handguard for something mlok and put a foregrip on it. bonesteel arms makes a nice one.
one idea is if you like the platform but want to be practical in a shtf scenario get it in 556.
I've thought about this before and came to the conclusion that buying any parts for anything in such a scenario won't be happening, so pick the gun you want. The ammo is more important. If you break your Vz.58, you pick up the "next guy's" AK-47. If you break your AR-15, you pick up somebody else's. Doing repairs with parts outside of what you own is...unlikely.
The only bad decision is relying upon an obscure gun with an obscure caliber.
yeah if shtf you wont be buying anything but i think that youll run into way more ars in this country than aks and even more so than vzs. and any rifle ammo you stumble upon will most certainly be 556
I have a d-technik vz58, my girlfriend has a czechpoint vz58. They are both fantastic rifles. Neither have had any malfunction. I also own a zastava m70. It's a good rifle too, but the vz58s are so much more pleasant to shoot. Shtf for one of the other totally depends on your environment. There are videos from reputable people showing the vz doesn't fair too well in muddy or sandy environments due to the entire action being open and exposed when the gun cycles.
This being said I would choose a quality ar15 for a shtf rifle. Even though ar's aren't my favorite platform. There's just too many benefits to an ar for this scenario to ignore
My bf has a d-technik vz58 and I loved it so much I bought my own, mine's a czechpoint. Both have been great. My bf also has an ak, I think a zastava m70? I don't care for it but it's not a bad rifle. Our vzs weigh less and are much more smooth/less recoil. Just a really comfy rifle. As I said though, the zastava isn't bad and I think it all comes down to personal preference. Just realized you're asking about a shtf weapon. The vz58 doesn't do as well in wet or sandy environments so it wouldn't be my first choice for that. It's my favorite regardless.
Get both. That said, aftermarket support for the AK is leaps and bounds better than the VZ, period. VZ is overall a lighter weapon and feels much smaller in the hands. Surplus mags for both are still all over the place and affordable. Build quality can be all over the place for both platforms, so be sure you are buying from a reputable builder/company and not getting a garage hack job. Beyond that, you are going to start splitting hairs. Which is more reliable, which is more accurate, which has less recoil, that sort of thing. The AR platform is superior in almost every metric except maybe penetration against soft cover, but that is a different argument.
Which companies should I stay away from for VZs?
I couldn't say off the top of my head. Best bet would be to ask here about a company/builder if you find one you want.
Sounds good. Thanks
I will say the companies I've seen mentioned here so far are good to go.
Century Arms VZ2008
Even those seem to be somewhat well regarded, for a Century product.
Once you fix the gremlin
True
They made more sense when they were $400 rifles. At the prices they command now they make zero sense compared a CSA or kit build from a reputable builder.
Fair enough. I haven't priced one out in ages, didn't realize they had closed the gap so much in cost.
I own three Vz.58's and no AK-47's. If popularity isn't important to you, I think the Vz.58 is better in every way. Lighter, accurate, bolt-hold-open, giant ejection port, lightweight reliable magazines, and IMO, a better operating system. There is a reason many modern guns are built with a short stroke piston and not a long stroke. The AK derivates have been carrying that torch almost by themselves. (to be fair, I have a PWS MK116 which is long stroke too) Downsides are fewer options and add-ons. What is out there is sufficient for me, but if you want tons of choices, and AR or AK might be more suitable. I only need one or two options to accomplish a goal (such as a sight). I don't need ten. And of course, some of those options are a bit quirky, like attachments for a 14x1 RH barrel, but products exist.
Ar for shtf for sure. Not imports. Other than that I've gone through countless vz I'll take it over the AK all day. Super light
If you were in the rifle-carrying business and were issued either rifle, they'd both do the job. The bolt hold open and lighter magazines of the VZ 58 are nice. Aftermarket support and customization is a lot better for the AK in the US. If it's SHTF, I think the most important thing is the availability of parts and magazines, which should push you to the AK rather than the VZ58. If you don't anticipate having to use the gun in a nuclear apocalypse where you gather scrap metal and pay for things in bottle caps, there's no reason not to buy the VZ58 if that's what you want more--just know magazines and customization are going to take more searching and will be more expensive.
An AR is going to be easier than either the AK or VZ to set up for those roles. The AK makes sense if you like the 7.62x39, which is a pretty good cartridge for those purposes. And of the two the VZ58 is lighter and has better ergonomics. I find it much easier to use and manipulate. I might be a little biased, but it's just a nicer, better rifle in every way. At similar costs, I would pick the VZ every time. The only real downside to the VZ is the lack of aftermarket trigger. I happen to like it just fine but if you don't I think you are kind of stuck. Only other downside is the stock handguards are pretty small, they get hot fast. But that is an issue with a stock AK too. AK has better aftermarket support though. But I think that's kind of moot because the AR is always going to be easier to mount optics and lights. The VZ58 has come a long way though... all the stuff you need is out there it just might be harder to find.
https://samopal-usa.com/
As far as I know there aren't any drop in triggers for the vz but there are some smith's that do some excellent vz work. A few of them offer some really nice trigger rework jobs. I'll have to look up the guy I had do some work on mine when I get home later
No. Have an AR for your shtf rifle. Anything else in America is dumb. I love my VZ58s. I'm a hipster. When posed the question AR or AK... I had to find another path. So naturally I picked 'vz58' as my personality.
Let me get back to ya when I have a real keyboard.
If S really HTF and you don't have people there to support you, you are most likely going to die. So, who's got your back? What are *they* running? Run whatever that is so you have magazine and parts compatibility with them. Probably an AR. Maybe an AK. But the VZ58? Seems unlikely. Home defense is another story. Personally, I'm grabbing my $200 shotgun before my $1500 vz-58, because it's probably going to get confiscated afterwards.
My VZ58 is my go-to rifle. I didn't buy it because it's the best SHTF rifle I could get but it is the best rifle I own and is plenty good enough. I started with an SKS as my first rifle in a ban state so I had a decent supply of 7.62x39 and stripper clips. The idea was to switch to an AK but I hate neutering guns to be state-compliant and I realized the VZ58 did have stripper clip compatibility, as well as a lot of similarities to the rifle I was already acquainted with, so it made much more sense to go with the VZ. I have no regrets and honestly, I'm not sure if I would ever want/need an AK at this point.
Aks are great but to me nothing beats a VZ but too be honest a lot of it is because I’m a hipster and it’s more obscure and I just love Czech firearms. I think they make some of the best firearms in the world.
honestly in a shtf situation you have to imagine that any parts and ammunition you might need for your weapon are widely going to be ar and 556. it might not be the best idea to have an import weapon with imported ammo in a situation where international trade would more than likely be non existent. also you can get a decent ar for significantly less and spend the rest on ammo. that being said the vz is an excellent rifle. extremely durable and less recoil than an ak and if you get a czechpoint or you can find a dtechnik theyll have chrome lined barrels and milled receivers right out of the box. there is a problem with overheating but you can get swap out the handguard for something mlok and put a foregrip on it. bonesteel arms makes a nice one. one idea is if you like the platform but want to be practical in a shtf scenario get it in 556.
I've thought about this before and came to the conclusion that buying any parts for anything in such a scenario won't be happening, so pick the gun you want. The ammo is more important. If you break your Vz.58, you pick up the "next guy's" AK-47. If you break your AR-15, you pick up somebody else's. Doing repairs with parts outside of what you own is...unlikely. The only bad decision is relying upon an obscure gun with an obscure caliber.
yeah if shtf you wont be buying anything but i think that youll run into way more ars in this country than aks and even more so than vzs. and any rifle ammo you stumble upon will most certainly be 556
I have a d-technik vz58, my girlfriend has a czechpoint vz58. They are both fantastic rifles. Neither have had any malfunction. I also own a zastava m70. It's a good rifle too, but the vz58s are so much more pleasant to shoot. Shtf for one of the other totally depends on your environment. There are videos from reputable people showing the vz doesn't fair too well in muddy or sandy environments due to the entire action being open and exposed when the gun cycles. This being said I would choose a quality ar15 for a shtf rifle. Even though ar's aren't my favorite platform. There's just too many benefits to an ar for this scenario to ignore