Country of origin |
Czechoslovakia |
Caliber |
7.62 x 39 mm |
Weight (empty) |
2.91 kg |
Length |
845 mm |
Barrel length |
390
mm |
Muzzle velocity |
705
m/s |
Cyclic rate of fire |
800 rpm |
Practical rate of fire |
40 - 100 rpm |
Magazine capacity |
30 rounds |
Sighting range |
800 m |
Range of effective fire |
400 - 500 m |
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The Samopal
vz.58 assault rifle was developed in Czechoslovakia in the late
1950s. Despite close resemblance to the Soviet
AK-47, the Sa vz.58 is a vastly
different design. Czechoslovakia was unwilling to accept the Soviet
weapon designs and went for their own. Development of this assault
rifle was completed in 1958 and it entered
service with Czechoslovakia in 1959. Production ceased in 1984 and just short of 1
million of there assault rifles were manufactured. This weapon
appeared in numerous conflicts worldwide. It is still in service
with Czech Republic, Slovakia and a number of export operators
worldwide.
The Sa vz.58
is a gas-operated, selective fire weapon. It is chambered for the Soviet
7.62x39 mm cartridge. It is well balanced and handles much better than
the AK-47. Some other shortcomings of the AK-47 were fixed, such as
uncomfortable fire mode selector. Also the vz.58 is lighter. Its accuracy is adequate for
NATO-size targets out to a few hundred meters. Field stipping of
this weapon is extremely easy. However the new design has some
problems on its own.
The trigger
mechanism has a lever-type fire mode selector with manual safety,
located on the right side of the receiver, just above the pistol
grip.
This
automatic weapon is fed from detachable 30 round magazines.
Magazines are not interchangeable with those of the AK-47 or its
variants. In terms of weapon design Czechoslovakia always used to do
things in their own way, different from other Warsaw Pact countries.
The Sa vz.58
has an open-type adjustable iron sights with a sighting range of 800
meters. However effective range of this weapon is around 400-500
meters.
This assault
rifle was originally produced with a solid wood-impregnated plastic
buttstock, pistol grip and handguard (Sa vz.58 P). It was the
standard infantry model. There was also a version with a
side-folding metal stock. This weapon was designed in that way, that
its buttstock could be easily removed and replaced without affecting
operation of the weapon. It appeared that this feature
was needed, as its wood-impregnated buttstock had a tendency to crack in cold
weather and could hardly coupe with abuses that soldiers were
throwing at it.
This weapon is compatible with a knife-bayonet.
A successor
to the vz.58 was proposed the
Lada
family, which included a standard assault rifle, carbine and light
machine gun, chambered for the Soviet 5.45x39 mm ammunition.
However it was not adopted to service due to the budget problems. By
2016 the vz.58 was replaced in the Czech Army service with the new
CZ S805 assault rifle.
The vz.58 might still remain in service with non-frontline units. It is planed that this old assault rifle will be entirely phased-out
by 2020. However this weapon still remains in service with its export
operators.
Variants
Sa vz.58 V
assault rifle fitted with a side-folding metal stock. This version
was designed for airborne troops and vehicle crews.
Sa vz.58 Pi
fitted with a standard mount for a night vision sight and comes with
detachable folding bipod.
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