Vz. 52 rifle

vz. 52 and vz. 52/57
Vz. 52 from the Swedish Army Museum.
Type	Semi-automatic rifle
Place of origin	Czechoslovakia
Service history
In service	1952–1959
Used by	See Users
Wars	Invasion of Grenada
Production history
Designer	Jan and Jaroslav Kratochvíl
Designed	1951–1952
Manufacturer	Považské strojárne, Česká zbrojovka
Produced	1952–1959
No. built	~ 1 Million
Variants	vz. 52/57
Specifications
Weight	4.14 kg (9.13 lb) (vz. 52) 4.30 kg (9.5 lb) (vz. 52/57)
Length	1,005 mm (39.6 in) 1,205 mm (47.4 in) with bayonet deployed
Barrel length	520 mm (20.5 in)
Cartridge	7.62×45mm (vz. 52) 7.62×39mm (vz. 52/57)
Action	Gas-operated, tilting breechblock
Rate of fire	25 rounds/min (practical)
Muzzle velocity	760 m/s (2,493 ft/s) (vz. 52) 735 m/s (2,411.4 ft/s) (vz. 52/57)
Effective firing range	650 m (vz. 52) 400 m (vz. 52/57)
Maximum firing range	2,000 m (vz. 52/57)
Feed system	Clip-fed, staggered-column, 10-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Open iron sights graduated from 100 to 900 m

The vz. 52 rifle (often incorrectly called the "CZ 52") is a self-loading rifle developed shortly after the Second World War in Czechoslovakia. Its full name is 7.62mm samonabíjecí puška vzor 52. Vz. 52 is an abbreviation for vzor 52, meaning "model 52". It fires the unique 7.62×45mm cartridge. It is considered both reliable and accurate. The first 5000 vz. 52 rifles were made by Považské strojárne in Považská Bystrica, but due to production difficulties, its manufacture was taken over by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod.

The vz. 52 is a shoulder-fired semi-automatic rifle with a tilting-bolt locking mechanism powered by an annular short-stroke gas piston system. The bolt is locked by two lugs that recess into slots machined into the receiver. However, unlike most vertically-locking breech mechanism, the rifle's bolt has the unusual feature of tipping the bolt frontally to lock the mechanism, whereas other tipping bolt designs tip the bolt to the rear. The piston is actuated by residual gases from the bore, vented into a sleeve surrounding the barrel to overcome the inertia of the bolt carrier, bolt and the resistance of the return spring in order to unlock the chamber, eject the empty cartridge casing and then introduce a new round into the chamber upon return to battery.

The barrel is press-fit and pinned into the receiver. The manual safety switch is placed inside of the trigger guard and is manipulated by the shooter's index finger. The trigger mechanism closely resembles that used in the American M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle. The cocking handle is integrated into the bolt carrier and is located on the right side of the rifle; this arrangement enables the shooter to reload the rifle without disturbing his aim.

The rifle is equipped with open-type iron sights with a hooded front post and V-notch rear sight placed on a sliding tangent, adjustable for elevation between 100–950 m. The rifle can also accept day and night-time optics that interface with an optional, receiver-mounted side rail. The one-piece pistol grip stock is carved from either walnut or beech and stained a yellowish-brown color; the stock has a hollowed butt which is used as a storage compartment for a cleaning rod, oil bottle and accessories. The rifle has an integral blade bayonet which folds into a recess carved into the stock on the right side.