Once upon a time; probably around 4 years ago.
I saw a VZ-52 on a used gun rack, and it caught my eye.
I had never seen one before; like an SKS, but not quite. More wood, ghetto looking bayonet.
The tag said something in the $3-400 range, and "ammo also available, $### for ###".
I thought; heh, must be hard to get ammo for, and I walked away. Regretted that move once i looked up what they were worth at the time.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, and one came up at an auction. Grabbed it for $431 after fees and tax. No sight hood, and no cleaning kit. Barrel has a couple of pits near the muzzle, but otherwise is quite shiny.
A picture, as I'm sure most cgn'ers just come here to look at pretty guns:
The rifle draws me in like no other I have owned, and boy have I owned a few. The look of a wooden battle rifle transitioning to a modern assault rifle really attracts me to these rifles from the mid twentieth century. There's also the "not another sks" aspect, and the mystic that comes with rare rifles. I identify as a rifle hipster; ARs are overrated, and the SKS is so popular that I sold all of mine... but then bought a non-refurb because, well, what else fills the take anywhere and plink hole? The design of the gas system and bolt also fascinates me. I have field stripped it several times just to look at it in awe.
There is however, a catch.
Everyone who has owned one knows what i'm talking about: 7.62x45mm. I guess I bought "a really nice wall hanger" (as one local store said) because 7.62x45mm is ultra rare. Must be why I got the rifle for what seemed like a good deal. That leaves 4 options:
1. Purchasing ammo:
-My efforts to find some x45mm have been fruitless. Perhaps the Calgary gun show with smile upon me, and I will locate some 7.62 Dodo.
2. Hand loading:
-Rare and expensive dies
-Rare and expensive brass, or make your own with rare and expensive case former and expensive brass
-Guess work, as no reloading data seems to exist.
3. Re-barreling:
-I have found discussions on re-barreling to 7.62x39, or 6.5 Grendal.
-Interesting, certainly expensive to the point where buying any other rifle makes more sense.
4. Chamber insert for 7.62x39
- Some say they eject out
- Some say the mag doesn't feed properly after 4-5 rounds (not an issue in Canada!)
- Looks like $80 shipped from the US. Canadian stocked anywhere??
Some questions:
Does anyone have experience with the inserts? It seems like the only solution if I want to shoot this thing, and boy do I want to shoot this.
Any stripper clips around? Any other clip type work? I would love to do some service rifle or tactical style competitions it is indeed more accurate that the SKS.
Sometimes I just post weeks' worth of thoughts that run through my head....
I saw a VZ-52 on a used gun rack, and it caught my eye.
I had never seen one before; like an SKS, but not quite. More wood, ghetto looking bayonet.
The tag said something in the $3-400 range, and "ammo also available, $### for ###".
I thought; heh, must be hard to get ammo for, and I walked away. Regretted that move once i looked up what they were worth at the time.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, and one came up at an auction. Grabbed it for $431 after fees and tax. No sight hood, and no cleaning kit. Barrel has a couple of pits near the muzzle, but otherwise is quite shiny.
A picture, as I'm sure most cgn'ers just come here to look at pretty guns:
The rifle draws me in like no other I have owned, and boy have I owned a few. The look of a wooden battle rifle transitioning to a modern assault rifle really attracts me to these rifles from the mid twentieth century. There's also the "not another sks" aspect, and the mystic that comes with rare rifles. I identify as a rifle hipster; ARs are overrated, and the SKS is so popular that I sold all of mine... but then bought a non-refurb because, well, what else fills the take anywhere and plink hole? The design of the gas system and bolt also fascinates me. I have field stripped it several times just to look at it in awe.
There is however, a catch.
Everyone who has owned one knows what i'm talking about: 7.62x45mm. I guess I bought "a really nice wall hanger" (as one local store said) because 7.62x45mm is ultra rare. Must be why I got the rifle for what seemed like a good deal. That leaves 4 options:
1. Purchasing ammo:
-My efforts to find some x45mm have been fruitless. Perhaps the Calgary gun show with smile upon me, and I will locate some 7.62 Dodo.
2. Hand loading:
-Rare and expensive dies
-Rare and expensive brass, or make your own with rare and expensive case former and expensive brass
-Guess work, as no reloading data seems to exist.
3. Re-barreling:
-I have found discussions on re-barreling to 7.62x39, or 6.5 Grendal.
-Interesting, certainly expensive to the point where buying any other rifle makes more sense.
4. Chamber insert for 7.62x39
- Some say they eject out
- Some say the mag doesn't feed properly after 4-5 rounds (not an issue in Canada!)
- Looks like $80 shipped from the US. Canadian stocked anywhere??
Some questions:
Does anyone have experience with the inserts? It seems like the only solution if I want to shoot this thing, and boy do I want to shoot this.
Any stripper clips around? Any other clip type work? I would love to do some service rifle or tactical style competitions it is indeed more accurate that the SKS.
Sometimes I just post weeks' worth of thoughts that run through my head....
