CODE – 02-029-948

NAME – Vz-25

NAME (NATIVE) – Samopal CZ 48b

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Czechoslovakia

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1948

CALIBER – 9x19mm

OVERALL LENGTH – 44 cm (17.31 in) Stock folded, 67.3 cm (26.5 in) Stock extended

BARREL LENGTH – 28.3 cm (11.13 in)

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6-grooves, Right-hand twist

BULLET DIAMETER – 9.02mm (0.355 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 7.45 g (115 gr)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 381 m/s (1250 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 541 j (399 ft/lb)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 3.5 kg (7 lb 11.5 oz)

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 4.23 kg (9 lb 5.2 oz) with 40 round magazine

SIGHTS – Front sight, protected inverted V, Rear sight, 4-sides vertical rotating angled drum, V-notches for 100, 200, 300, and 400 meters (109, 219, 328, and 437 yards)

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 200 m (219 yds)

OPERATION – Blowback, fires from open bolt

TYPE OF FIRE – Selective, semi and full automatic, progressive trigger

RATE OF FIRE – 40 rpm Semi, 100 rpm Full

CYCLIC ROF – 600 rpm

FEED DEVICE – 24 or 40 round box magazine, double column, double feed

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 24-round – 0.17 kg (6 oz), 40-round – 0.26 kg (9 oz)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 24-round – 0.45 kg (15.9 oz), 40-round – 0.73 kg (1 lb 9.8 oz)

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 4-40 round magazines (160 rounds)

LOAD WEIGHT – 2.92 kg (6 lb 7 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Ceská Zbrojovka, Bruna, Czechoslovakia

STATUS – Out of production

SERVICE – Czechoslovakian military (1948-1951), supplied to Nigeria, Cuba, Syria as well as sold to South Africa

     This is the folding stock variation of the 9mm Vz 23/25 family. Mechanically, it is the same as the Vz 23 and was produced at the same time. The difference is that the Vz 25 was fitted with a folding stock for use by troops where size is a serious consideration, such as airborne troops (Paratroopers) and armored vehicle crewmen. Under pressure from the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia was forced to change the caliber of its weapons to match that of the rest of the Warsaw Pact. This resulted in the production of the 9mm Vz 23 and 25 weapons to be suspended after less than two years of production, though nearly 100,000 specimens were manufactured. A minor redesign of the weapons resulted in the Vz 24 and 26, the same basic design but chambered for the 7.62x25mm round.