VZ58 parts kit?

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Dan Forrester

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Looking at VZ58 parts kits. I know I'm a little late to the VZ58 game but better late than never. What should I be looking for in a parts kit for a future build? All I know is I want a fixed stock. where can I currently get a good kit? I appreciate the help!

Thanks! Dan
 
The only kit worth buying is a Century VZ2008 ;). Seriously, for an extra hundred bucks you get a decent quality gun. If kits went below 200$, they'd maybe be worth it, but right now they're kinda high. I bought a folder some time back for a future test bed project (belt fed mod and integral can), but for a standard build the Century from PSA is a really good bargain. Fantastic guns, the VZ's.

TCB
 
Yup, the VZ2008, despite being CAI built, is a sweet gun, and cheeeeap. PSA has had them for $379 with 5 mags, mag bag and cleaning kit. Bayonets are pretty cheap, too.

I'm not a big fan of the folding stock, but fixed milsurp beaver barf stocks are out there, as well as modern AR type stocks.

Unless you are in it for the labor of love that is building a gun from a pile of parts, buying a VZ2008 and making changes to an already functional rifle is the best way to go. Costs a little more, but you have a working rifle right away.
 
Would love to know your receiver plans, too. The hybrid deal from Hellbox is the only unfinished setup available (assuming it is available)

TCB
 
Recent VZ2008s (the last 2-3 years or so) have been very relaible and show no sign of "the gremlin".

My only complaint is that my muzzle threads (or is if the front of the front sight) are not square enough for a silencer.

The only downside seems to be the ugly excessively huge dot matrix markings on the OA receiver.
 
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PSA has had them for $379 with 5 mags, mag bag and cleaning kit. Bayonets are pretty cheap, too.

I bought my 2008 from PSA when they were running for $399 but included a bayonet with sheath and sling as well. A fantastic value. The fit and finish of these later VZ2008s are very good and reliability has been perfect.

Some folks complain about the vz.58 V folding stock, but there is nothing wrong with at all, other than a sharp edge that I easily remedied with a paracord wrap. The only other change I made was to replace the silly AK-style slant brake with a proper surplus vz.58 muzzle nut.
 
My only complaint is that my muzzle threads (or is if the front of the front sight) are not square enough for a silencer.
I guess my oldest son and I were lucky, both of ours lined up perfectly.
The YHM QD flash suppressor/mount that I had made for a 59/66 SKS worked great.

I'm actually surprised that you had problems. Green Mountain is making (and I assume threading) the barrels and their work is usually excellent.

If the front of the front sight is causing your problems, you could probably dress it with a file and some cold blue to solve the problem.
 
Green mountain barrels! I didn't know that. I've read the barrels weren't chrome lined so I just assumed it was some cheap POS barrel century made to fit it.

I've always been leery of anything from Century Arms but I'll just need to get over it I guess.

I'm going to order one from palmetto state armory this weekend.

Thanks for all the info!

Dan
 
Green mountain barrels! I didn't know that. I've read the barrels weren't chrome lined so I just assumed it was some cheap POS barrel century made to fit it.

It's my understanding that Century doesn't make the VZ2008. It's contracted out to another manufacturer.
 
Obviously, lol. The only barrel issue I'm aware of is the bores are 308, even to this day. I assume those blanks are cheaper, so Century refuses to use the proper size.

TCB
 
Till this day any firearms built by century arms are still in question for the fact they have a history of some shody builds..... even the vz2008 AKA=the gremlin. can you imagine if century used the correct barrel to shoot the Russian diameter .311? Wonder if the vz2008 price will still be cheap:eek: with the facts given on the gremlin vz2008, would not even trust my life on it. But would be a fun beater/range gun.
 
I ordered one up from Palmetto State Armory yesterday. Hopefully I get a good one! How is the reliability once the bolt has the tab welded on? Looks like a nice light travel gun. Would anyone trust it in a home defense capacity?
 
If the VZ 2008 barrels are really that bad, Apex has VZ-58 barrels for $50.

I don't think barrel origin effects 922r, so that may be a decent investment if you have the ability to swap it.
 
Originally posted by: ifit
...with the facts given on the gremlin vz2008, would not even trust my life on it.
"The Gremlin" isn't confined to the VZ2008, from what I've read, it's the natural result of removing the full auto sear. Apparently it's been a problem with semi auto builds in the Czech Republic and various methods have been devised to deal with it. They've apparently had good luck controlling the problem with spring modifications

My understanding is that the welded on tab was actually used by Century until Czechpoint patented the idea and CAI had to stop doing it.
 
Originally posted by: justin22885
cant you do a reweld on a VZ58?
I assume you're talking about welding a couple of torched receiver halves together to make a functional weapon?

I'm sure you could weld 'em together, how safe or reliable it would be, I haven't a clue.

I may be off base here (and if someone knows better, please correct me), but my understanding is that using a full auto receiver (and presumably two halves of full auto receivers) would put you in possession of a machine gun in the eyes of the ATF.

It makes no difference if the weapon is actually capable of fully automatic fire or not, ATF's stance is; "once a machine gun, always a machine gun". :(
 
Swampman, so in the Czech Republic instead of tabing the bolt carrier...your saying they have better luck with spring modifications? Wouldn't it be easier for them to just tab the bolt in the "Czech Republic"? If this is true why don't century arms fix their gremlin issues with modified springs? Instead of giving the consumers a hit or mis vz2008

I regards to century tabing the bolt carrier, century first released their first batch of vz2008 with their welded tabs(wonder where they got the idea) seems century did not know that when czechpoint started selling their quality built vz58s they held the patent ever since. Once czechpoint found out about this....they were gonna go to court fir this. Im glad czechpoint stood up against a company that copies and has a shody history on building firearms.
 
The VZ2008 has an extra-wide sear that engages both the semi and full auto side of the leaf spring. I just broke the full auto leaf off mine the the result is a pretty darn nice trigger pull. My bolt carrier is not tabbed and I have had no sign of the gremlin and there have been no reports of gremlins in any of the guns in the last 2-3 years.

Mike
 
I would not worry about the gremlin with the centurys, but I do want to learn more about this belt conversion. I was thinking myself how cool that would be
 
Arizonamike, last I researched the vz2008 till this day and even last year and year before people posting problems with their vz2008 including the gremlin issue. And probably those who fixed the problems with the vz2008 won't even post knowing that they had issues with century's build to begin with. considering they know the history/problems with the rifle they just take it upon themselves to fix what century could not or......if they send it back to century before warranty expires
 
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