Now can I uses a ak47 or must I use a VZ lower ? Now I did order in a bunch of the 80% blank lowers that sportsman guide can I mod one of those to work with the VZ58 ? The VZ58 design has nothing in common, internally, with the AK-47, AK-74, or AKM series of rifles.
The VZ58's use "short" stroke gas systems whereas the AK's use "long" stroke gas systems.
The lesser mass of the recoiling parts and the overall design of the VZ58 series make it lighter than the AK series and it has less felt recoil. If the Czech's made a version that accepted AK magazines, I wouldn't have any AK's.
The magazines for the VZ58 are a heavy duty aluminum design that are not interchangeable with any AK variant that I know of.
Both the VZ58 and AK-47 designs use 7.62x39MM cartridges and that's about the extent of "interchangeability".
The VZ58 receiver (there are no upper/lower receiver halves, just a dust cover like the AK series) takes multiple machining operations to complete. I'm not a machinist, but from the 80% receivers I've seen I'd say it's probably not a DIY project if you are not a machinist. I presume the 80% receivers were also not heat treated or hardened.
If you can mod one of those receivers to work reliably with AK magazines, that'd really be something to see.
Good luck with your project. Let us know how it goes.
The VZ58's use "short" stroke gas systems whereas the AK's use "long" stroke gas systems.
The lesser mass of the recoiling parts and the overall design of the VZ58 series make it lighter than the AK series and it has less felt recoil. If the Czech's made a version that accepted AK magazines, I wouldn't have any AK's.
The magazines for the VZ58 are a heavy duty aluminum design that are not interchangeable with any AK variant that I know of.
Both the VZ58 and AK-47 designs use 7.62x39MM cartridges and that's about the extent of "interchangeability".
The VZ58 receiver (there are no upper/lower receiver halves, just a dust cover like the AK series) takes multiple machining operations to complete. I'm not a machinist, but from the 80% receivers I've seen I'd say it's probably not a DIY project if you are not a machinist. I presume the 80% receivers were also not heat treated or hardened.
If you can mod one of those receivers to work reliably with AK magazines, that'd really be something to see.
Good luck with your project. Let us know how it goes.
