vz. 54 (Czech: Odstřelovací puška vz. 54) is a Czechoslovak bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in 7.62×54mmR.
== Development == The sniper rifle was developed in Czechoslovakia between 1949 and 1951. Initially, the ZG 49 sn variant chambered in 7.92×64 mm was tested, but the final decision favored the 7.62×54mmR cartridge. The second prototype was based on the Soviet Mosin-Nagant , from which the action was adopted. Selected bolt parts were optimized and the best barrels were chosen. The stock design incorporated features from pre-war vz. 24 rifle production.
== Design == The stock with pistol grip was newly designed; the fore-end is relatively short, exposing the front half of the barrel. It has only one barrel band. The bent bolt handle was purpose-made, unlike the simply cranked ones found on Soviet Mosin sniper rifles. As a result, the stock has a cutout to accommodate the bolt handle. The primary sight is a fixed Czech Meopta 2.5×6 telescopic sight with only 2.5× magnification (compared to 4× or 3.5× magnification in Soviet PE and PU scopes). The backup iron sights consist of a sliding rear notch adjustable from 50 to 1200 meters, paired with a front post.
== vz. 54/91 == In the 1990s, existing police vz. 54 rifles were modernized. They were fitted with new stocks featuring adjustable cheek rests and bipods. The original scopes were replaced with PSO-1 scopes (4× magnification) as used on the SVD.
== Users == Czechoslovak Socialist Republic: Used by Czechoslovak People's Army and police forces. Used by the army until being replaced by the SVD Dragunov in the 1970s. Vietnam: Limited use during the Vietnam War. 1,460 rifles sent by Czechoslovakia between 1966 and 1968. United States: Few examples captured during the Vietnam War. East Germany: Limited use. Police of the Czech Republic: vz. 54/91 used by the Rapid Response Unit units in the 1990s.
External links
"Czechoslovakian VZ54 Sniper". thinlineweapons.com. Retrieved 2018-02-04. "Galas's Rifle". mosin-nagant.de. Archived from the original on 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2018-02-04. Ian McCollum. "Czechoslovakia Recycles Mosins: The vz.54 Sniper". Forgotten Weapons. Retrieved 2023-01-01.