These are a couple of Czech snipers from my collection that are not often encountered in the states. Both of these rifles are a joy to shoot, and always gather there fair share of attention at the range.
Here is a little info on the Czech VZ54, & VZ54/91 rifles, along with some attached pics. The last 3 are screen shots from the early 2000's of an excellent article CZ published on them that has since disappeared on line.( sorry they are hard to read but very intresting)
The Czech VZ54 was an attempt by the Czechs in the early 50's to allow "unification" of there equipment with the Soviet equipment of that period. The Czech's had always used Mausers for there sniper rifles and that some of that carried over in the VZ54, like the use of capture screws on the action screws, hooded front sight, sling attachment, and hand guard design. The requirements the Czech's laid down for the receivers the Soviets where going to furnish was so strict that most the soviets furnished where rejected and only after the Czech's loosened up there tolerances on the thread diameter for the receiver threads for the barrels did they get enough receivers to begin production. Production commenced in 1955 with a run of 100 test rifles , but only 75 test rifles had been produced by December of 1955. Production of 4000 VZ54's was scheduled for 1956 but due to ongoing issues with soviet supplied receivers only 108 rifles where completed and accepted by the Czech Army , and these where produced between Sept./Dec 1956. In 1957, with supply issues final worked out the Czech's produced a total of 5410 VZ54 sniper rifles, with an additional 3 produced in 1958 before production ceased. The VZ 54 is both shorter and lighter than it's PU sniper counterpart, and sports a heavier barrel and a unique 2.5x scope. The stock is a pistol grip design with a uniquely designed bolt. The bolt handle has a slot on its head to tighten/loosen the scope mount from its base and is designed to maintain it's Zero if removed and reinstalled. The Czech requirements for these rifles to be accepted was that they put 10 rounds into a 50x50cm square @ 800m something that was easily achieved by these rifles thanks to the heavier barrels. These rifles served in the Czech National Army until the 1970's when they where replaced with Soviet SVD Dragunov's. Afterwards they where used by domestic police forces and starting in 1990 where upgraded with new stocks, optics, and bipods to become the VZ54/91 sniper rifle. A new wooden stock was designed and fit to the rifle which incorporated an adjustable cheekpiece for a proper sight picture and the addition of a removable adjustable bipod to provide stability in the firing position. The rifle was also re-equipped with the PSO-1 I.R. scope (4x25) and mount of the SVD-63 rifle. This optical package added a range finding reticule and an illuminated reticule for low light conditions. The optical sight could be safely removed as well without losing its zero. This new rifle was designated the Vz54/91 and would continue to serve in the URN and other provincial police and security agencies until its eventual replacement a few years later by the SSG-3000 rifle.
The rifle now retired from military service have found their way into the surplus market was they are prized rifles in shooting sport clubs and with military and police competitions. Exact numbers of the Vz54/91 rifles are not known but the rifles command a high price on the Czech sport markets and are highly sought after by shooting enthusiasts. Heavy weighted bullets are preferred to be used in this rifle such as the Czech Tz bullet of 11.75gr.
Here is a little info on the Czech VZ54, & VZ54/91 rifles, along with some attached pics. The last 3 are screen shots from the early 2000's of an excellent article CZ published on them that has since disappeared on line.( sorry they are hard to read but very intresting)
The Czech VZ54 was an attempt by the Czechs in the early 50's to allow "unification" of there equipment with the Soviet equipment of that period. The Czech's had always used Mausers for there sniper rifles and that some of that carried over in the VZ54, like the use of capture screws on the action screws, hooded front sight, sling attachment, and hand guard design. The requirements the Czech's laid down for the receivers the Soviets where going to furnish was so strict that most the soviets furnished where rejected and only after the Czech's loosened up there tolerances on the thread diameter for the receiver threads for the barrels did they get enough receivers to begin production. Production commenced in 1955 with a run of 100 test rifles , but only 75 test rifles had been produced by December of 1955. Production of 4000 VZ54's was scheduled for 1956 but due to ongoing issues with soviet supplied receivers only 108 rifles where completed and accepted by the Czech Army , and these where produced between Sept./Dec 1956. In 1957, with supply issues final worked out the Czech's produced a total of 5410 VZ54 sniper rifles, with an additional 3 produced in 1958 before production ceased. The VZ 54 is both shorter and lighter than it's PU sniper counterpart, and sports a heavier barrel and a unique 2.5x scope. The stock is a pistol grip design with a uniquely designed bolt. The bolt handle has a slot on its head to tighten/loosen the scope mount from its base and is designed to maintain it's Zero if removed and reinstalled. The Czech requirements for these rifles to be accepted was that they put 10 rounds into a 50x50cm square @ 800m something that was easily achieved by these rifles thanks to the heavier barrels. These rifles served in the Czech National Army until the 1970's when they where replaced with Soviet SVD Dragunov's. Afterwards they where used by domestic police forces and starting in 1990 where upgraded with new stocks, optics, and bipods to become the VZ54/91 sniper rifle. A new wooden stock was designed and fit to the rifle which incorporated an adjustable cheekpiece for a proper sight picture and the addition of a removable adjustable bipod to provide stability in the firing position. The rifle was also re-equipped with the PSO-1 I.R. scope (4x25) and mount of the SVD-63 rifle. This optical package added a range finding reticule and an illuminated reticule for low light conditions. The optical sight could be safely removed as well without losing its zero. This new rifle was designated the Vz54/91 and would continue to serve in the URN and other provincial police and security agencies until its eventual replacement a few years later by the SSG-3000 rifle.
The rifle now retired from military service have found their way into the surplus market was they are prized rifles in shooting sport clubs and with military and police competitions. Exact numbers of the Vz54/91 rifles are not known but the rifles command a high price on the Czech sport markets and are highly sought after by shooting enthusiasts. Heavy weighted bullets are preferred to be used in this rifle such as the Czech Tz bullet of 11.75gr.
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