While the Czech vz58 may look similar to an AK, its design is not a copy of the Soviet AK47. 

The only commonality between the vz58 and AK47 is the 7.62×39 chambering; even the magazines are incompatible. For some clarity, consider that when the Warsaw Pact was formed in 1955. Virtually all the members adopted the Soviet-designed 7.62×39 SKS rifle. Only Czechoslovakia did not. Instead they designed and fielded their own carbine. It’s also important to note that the Czechs had a proud firearm design/manufacturing dating back to the 17^th Century; they maintained this tradition in spite of the communist Warsaw Pact. Naturally when armies upgraded from carbines to actual select-fire assault rifles, the Czechs did what they did best and developed the vz58.  

Vz58 Vs Kalashnikov 

Unlike [most] stamped Kalashnikovs, the vz58 is built on a fully milled receiver. Action-wise, the vz58 uses a short-stroke gas piston versus the AK’s long-stroke piston. And the vz58 also uses a striker instead of the Kalashnikov’s hammer. AKs are famous for not having a bolt hold-open feature, but that wasn’t the case with the vz58. The latter features a very clean yet simple button that can be pressed to drop the action forward. Vz58 magazines, which are proprietary, are also designed to hold the bolt carrier back after the last round. In addition, vz58 magazines are manufactured from a lighter-weight aluminum alloy to reduce weight. They weigh roughly 50% less than the standard steel AK-47 magazine.

Unile the AK’s triangular-shaped selector, the vz5 uses a much more refined “paddle” safety/selector that’s located on the right side of the receiver. It’s much more ergonomic than the AK’s since the vz58’s unit doesn’t have to play the part of dust-cover either. Keep in mind that the safety operates opposite of an AR-15’s. Down/vertical is “safe” and horizontal is “fire.”

Vz58s don’t use a rotating bolt. Rather, they incorporate a pivoting lock-piece that locks the bolt assembly to the receiver. Its locking system is similar to the locking-block on the Walther P.38 pistol and the earlier Czech-designed weapon: the Bren light machine gun.

The [Modern] Czech Connection

Czech Small Arms (CSA) is a firearms manufacturer located in Jablunka, Czech Republic. Not to be confused with the world-famous Česká Zbrojovka (CZ), CzechPoint was launched in October 2008. CSA partners with American-based company CzechPoint who is the current exclusive partner, importer, and distributor of CSA-manufactured firearms in the US. CSA vz58s originally started out from hand-selected military-issue parts stocks that were legally converted for sale. As surplus stock military surplus rifles dried up, CSA started manufacturing its own receivers. They also outfitted these new receivers with Lothar-Walther chrome-lined hammer forged barrels and an assortment of other small parts. Once ashore in the US, CzechPoint ensures these builds are legal and compliant. 

The CzechPoint vz58 braced pistol that’s featured in this review, is one of several models offered by CzechPoint. My specimen arrived with  a Shockwave Blade large-format pistol brace. 

My CzechPoint vz58 Pistol 

Besides the brace, this build sports a Lothar-Walther 7.62-inch barrel. It has a Phantom flash suppressor over its muzzle. At a well-balanced 5.7 pounds this pistol isn’t too unwieldy; it has an overall-length of 25.4-inches with the brace collapsed. 

The slightly thicker new-production CSA receiver makes space for an optic side-rail, similar to those seen on certain AKs. I’m glad it comes with an optics mount because I did not fancy using the vz58 irons, especially with a six-inch sight radius. I mounted A ZeroTech HALO red-dot sight.

I initially considered legally converting this vz58 pistol into an SBR. Since the Shockwave Blade brace works so well, there was hardly an incentive to do so. Instead, I added an MDT folding stock adapter at the rear, and doing so sealed this vz58’s fate as a large-format pistol. Not to mention, its slightly easier to discreetly stow the vz58 as pistol versus an SBR.

Dead Air Wolverine 

My vz58 pistol wears a Dead Air Wolverine suppressor. After spending some time with Dead Air’s Mike Pappas at Athlon Rendezvous events, I was impressed by his enthusiasm about this 7.62×39-centric silencer. It’s why I didn’t hesitate to add it to this project. The Wolverine was purposely built to be compatible with a wide-variety of Eastern-bloc weapons, from the 5.45 mm AKS-74U to the RPK. Part of the Wolverine’s secret sauce includes a design that’s compatible with Eastern-bloc muzzle threads while also including a baffle stack that accounts for threading that isn’t perfectly concentric (something commonly encountered with communist-made weaponry). Beyond that, the Dead Air Wolverine also incorporates materials like Cobalt-6 and 17-4 pH stainless steel.

My vz58’s barrel profile is an ideal candidate for the Wolverine. The Wolverine’s mount works with the vz58’s existing front sight block pin. Of course, the vz58 is threaded right instead of left, like the Kalashnikov. Dead Air has adapters that make this a non-issue.

Shooting The vz58 Pistol 

I tested a variety of 7.62×39 ammunition including products from Hornady, Wolf, and Red Army Standard. I kept my eye on the Hornady SST load due to some reports of brass-cased ammunition having extraction issues with vz58s. Fortunately, I didn’t encounter any issues. 

At 50 yards, my Hornady groups measured about an inch. Given that I was shooting a pistol with a red-dot, I was quite satisfied. Other loads printed slightly wider groups, in the 1.5-1.75-inch range. I’d also like to point out that 7.62×39 experiences surprisingly little muzzle-velocity loss from shorter barrels in comparison to full-length 16-inch barrels. Therefore it’s an excellent caliber for firearms with shorter barrels. Loads that typically clock 2,340 fps out of 16-inch barrels still generated mid to high 1900 fps from my vz58’s 7.62-inch barrel.

After zeroing, I started the rest of my evaluation by function test-firing several magazines in rapid succession at steel target arrays found at Echo Valley Training Center. I love the instant feedback that steel targets provide. I also took this time to practice magazine changes both with classic vz58 magazines and the newer clear polymer style that were included with my pistol. The vz58’s magazine release is placed on the left side of the receiver. For right-handed shooters, it’s quite convenient. 

The vz58’s recoil impulse feels milder than the AK’s. This is likely due to a combination of factors including the vz58’s crisp short-stroke mechanism. Trigger-wise, the unit on my CzechPoint vz58 was also a pleasant surprise. I can reasonably describe it as feeling “two-stage” ish, with a positive reset. This nice trigger, along with milder-than-expected recoil and that ZeroTech HALO optic made for an easy-shooting and fast-handling firearm. 

Manipulating the CzechPoint vz58

Just like AKs, vz58 magazines also rock into place. I noticed that vz58 magazine-changes feel smoother compared to the AK too. Comparing the classic aluminum-alloy vz58 magazine versus the newer clear polymer units, I thought the aluminum vz58 magazines were less finicky–likely due to the latter’s thicker polymer construction.

The vz58’s paddle safety is located on the receiver’s right side. Most right-handed shooters will use their index finger on their trigger hand to actuate it. Also, with most of us having spent time around AR-15s, it can be easy to confuse the safety. Vz58s are on “safe” when the lever is in the vertical position. They’re on “fire” when the lever is folded up and parallel to the receiver–the complete opposite of the AR-15. Interestingly, vz58 safeties work independently of the striker. It’s possible to actuate the safety whether the rifle is loaded or not. Furthermore, the vz58 can be loaded or unloaded regardless of the safety-selector’s position. 

I found that it pays to mind your support hand placement, especially with this shorter-barreled pistol. I wasn’t worried about flagging my hand with the muzzle. The front of the weapon just gets very hot, and the handguards are obviously shorter. Using the magazine as part of your grip feels natural and will keep your hand from wandering forward. 

Closing The Curtains

The CzechPoint braced vz58 pistol to shined during some training scenarios I put it through, like EVTC’s 360 and the “Jungle Walk. My pistol had no problem laying down some potent firepower and combat accuracy. It also proved itself when firing around range vehicles, simulated cover and barricades. Some of the strings of fire I shot ranged from 10 rounds to 95 rounds, with target distances measured in feet out to a hundred yards or so. All in, I fired around 800 rounds without a hitch; the only thing I did was some initial lubrication upon unboxing it. It’s hard to deny the functionality of a .30-caliber pistol/carbine that feeds from 30-round magazines with a proven short-stroke gas system. When paired with a suitable suppressor like the Dead Air Wolverine, it’s even better!

Regardless of the situation, one may find themselves in, whether in a rural setting with longer distances or in a more urban environment requiring CQB-style tactics, the vz58 pistol can effectively satisfy the mission. Not much more can be asked of a rifle that has origins as an assault rifle with roots back to the 1950s.  

Performance: CzechPoint SA vz.58 braced pistol