VZ 52 rifle, ammo question

ironsite

ironsite

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Hi Folks,
I know, you read the subject and said "VZ 52, I don't know what the heck that is" Its a rifle that's very similar to the SKS.
The early models were chambered in........7.62x45......which is a .308 bullet. later models and converted rifles where switched to ...7.62x39......311 bullet.

Here's my question. I have one of these rifles in my hands right now, no markings to tell me which caliber. I slugged the barrel 3 times ( I was having fun, what can I say) and the lands are .300 and the grooves are .311.

I chambered (with the bolt removed) a 7.62x39 round and it fits in the bore just fine. no 7.62x45 to be found anywhere to compare

I'm really scared to pull that trigger though.

Any thoughts on how to solve this mystery?

One good answer was to model the chamber using cerro safe and compare the case specs.

I'm sure there are a few people out there with these rifles any help would be great.
After looking at other rifle pics on the net, I think that what I have is a VZ52 and not the VZ52/57 any thoughts
 
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Its a Vz52 you have...

Here is my Vz52/57 The barrel is pinned and they have a different magazine then the Vz52

10622953_10152714201238552_7992549584133103247_n.jpg

10687111_10152714201128552_3616026017755463760_n.jpg

15790_10152757750253552_390523606698268001_n.jpg
 
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Thanks for the input folks. Like I stated up top I was pretty sure that it was a VZ52 by the research I did. There is no markings on the rifle to identify the model or the caliber. What you see in the picture up top is what I have to go on. I was told a lot of these rifles were converted from the 7.62x45 to 7.62x39 by gunsmiths. I was looking for someone who owned a converted rifle that could tell me what to look for.
Thanks for your time and comments.
If anyone has a suggestion on where I could find some 7.62x45 rounds or spent cases that would be great.....
 
ironsite said:
Thanks for the input folks. Like I stated up top I was pretty sure that it was a VZ52 by the research I did. There is no markings on the rifle to identify the model or the caliber. What you see in the picture up top is what I have to go on. I was told a lot of these rifles were converted from the 7.62x45 to 7.62x39 by gunsmiths. I was looking for someone who owned a converted rifle that could tell me what to look for.
Thanks for your time and comments.
If anyone has a suggestion on where I could find some 7.62x45 rounds or spent cases that would be great.....
Click to expand...

They come up time to time at gunshows or on the EE. The biggest issue is it is a odd sized caliber which hasn't really been produced since the 1960s and even then only for 1 country. I am sure you can find threads where people have made the brass if I remember correctly it is possible to do it out of 6.5 Carcano brass but you need to do your research first. These will primarily be safe queens unless you luck into a case of ammo (which case you can reload the berdan primed cases) or figure out how to make it (which could be a hassle).
 
Trade-Ex Canada had the correct 7.62x45 brass last time I looked. It is Prvi Partizan, Serbian-made, but handles our Boxer primers. Good brass, too.

Yes, you CAN make the stuff up by full-length sizing and shortening 6.5x52 or 7.35x52 Carcano brass, or from 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer casings.

If you have a lathe to use, you can even make it up from .220 Swift by taking the Rim down to BASE diameter, recutting the extraction groove, the full-length sizing and trimming.

Good luck!
 
There are spare magazines in America for the 52. At one time they were real reasonable in price. Most of the 52 models
went to America.
 
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