PerversPépère
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Shawinigan (Quebec)
VZ-52/57 take-down
The Thing: some say it's overly complicated and difficult to take down. Probably they didn’t play long enough with one…
Let’s see what we can do.
Here are the only tools you’ll really need.
You can see the complete action.
Now, let’s remove the upper handguard. Grab and pinch the two opposite latching tabs while holding the rear of the handguard and pivot it upwards while tugging slightly to the rear.
Pull the arming lever to the rear with an empty magazine in the well; this will lock the action open. Now, remove the magazine but do not close the action.
Let’s now remove the action from the stock.
Just behind the front sight assembly, there’s a small retaining piece that slides in two opposite grooves and is retained by a latch.
Take a cartridge and insert the bullet’s tip into the hole through the folding bayonet’s hilt. Notice that hole is tapered: it's made for the 7,62x39 bullet's ogive.
Pushing the cartridge fully in acts on a plunger which unlocks the barrel front anchor, free to slide forward.
Lift the front of the barrel from the stock and pivot the entire action upwards and to the rear. While at it, take a look at the rear action anchoring point which is adjustable to compensate for stock dimensional changes.
Let’s have a look at the gas system. Here, you can see the relationship between the annular gas piston/gas-port adjustment nut and locknut, the “U” channel connecting piece and the secondary actuator.
While holding the piston, push the “U” channel connecting piece to the rear and lift it from its holding cuts. Now, you can examine the parts.
Slide the piston to the rear to uncover the gas port and adjustable base. The only part readily removable is the “U” shaped connecting link. The annular piston, the secondary actuator and its spring are captive and cannot be lost. Clean them thoroughly, lightly grease them and put everything back on.
Here are the main modules:
Let’s remove the trigger/hammer module from the action. First, push the safety lever in.
You can see where the trigger module is anchored by the action lugs and the latching lever formed by the trigger guard.
Place a large screwdriver flat blade at the rear of the trigger guard bow and unlatch it by turning the blade. This will pop the guard up and off its rear retaining lug.
Now, pivot the trigger guard towards the front.
Slide the trigger module forward off its lugs and lift it up from the action.
No more stripping down is necessary nor recommended.
I'll add some more pics soon to illustrate the action cover, mainspring, carrier and bolt assembly removal.
I'll also add a chapter delving exclusively on the complete stripping, cleaning and reassembly of the bolt.
Have fun!
PP.
The Thing: some say it's overly complicated and difficult to take down. Probably they didn’t play long enough with one…
Let’s see what we can do.

Here are the only tools you’ll really need.

You can see the complete action.

Now, let’s remove the upper handguard. Grab and pinch the two opposite latching tabs while holding the rear of the handguard and pivot it upwards while tugging slightly to the rear.


Pull the arming lever to the rear with an empty magazine in the well; this will lock the action open. Now, remove the magazine but do not close the action.

Let’s now remove the action from the stock.
Just behind the front sight assembly, there’s a small retaining piece that slides in two opposite grooves and is retained by a latch.

Take a cartridge and insert the bullet’s tip into the hole through the folding bayonet’s hilt. Notice that hole is tapered: it's made for the 7,62x39 bullet's ogive.

Pushing the cartridge fully in acts on a plunger which unlocks the barrel front anchor, free to slide forward.


Lift the front of the barrel from the stock and pivot the entire action upwards and to the rear. While at it, take a look at the rear action anchoring point which is adjustable to compensate for stock dimensional changes.

Let’s have a look at the gas system. Here, you can see the relationship between the annular gas piston/gas-port adjustment nut and locknut, the “U” channel connecting piece and the secondary actuator.


While holding the piston, push the “U” channel connecting piece to the rear and lift it from its holding cuts. Now, you can examine the parts.
Slide the piston to the rear to uncover the gas port and adjustable base. The only part readily removable is the “U” shaped connecting link. The annular piston, the secondary actuator and its spring are captive and cannot be lost. Clean them thoroughly, lightly grease them and put everything back on.
Here are the main modules:

Let’s remove the trigger/hammer module from the action. First, push the safety lever in.

You can see where the trigger module is anchored by the action lugs and the latching lever formed by the trigger guard.


Place a large screwdriver flat blade at the rear of the trigger guard bow and unlatch it by turning the blade. This will pop the guard up and off its rear retaining lug.

Now, pivot the trigger guard towards the front.

Slide the trigger module forward off its lugs and lift it up from the action.


No more stripping down is necessary nor recommended.
I'll add some more pics soon to illustrate the action cover, mainspring, carrier and bolt assembly removal.
I'll also add a chapter delving exclusively on the complete stripping, cleaning and reassembly of the bolt.
Have fun!
PP.
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