Opinions on Century VZ58 quality

[stubbicatt]

Ran a couple of searches, didn't find anything conclusive.

Anybody have hands on experience with the VZ58s made by Century, as compared to the Czech origin versions? Does the quality compare?

Seems the Century version has the original front sight base with bayonet attachment point, combined with an out of place Kalashnikov slant brake.

Wondered what you guys thought?

 

[nalioth]

Is this a joke?


Surely you jest.



The reason the Century model uses the original front sight, is that they are NOT using the original barrel, but a 16" one made in the USA.

 

[Isher]

I MIGHT use a Century as a prybar

To break apart pallets with, that is, if I was a

Desperate drunken monkey...............

And couldn't find my good prybar.

isher

 

[[Pb]]

I have no firsthand experience,
but when I researched this topic I found some bad experiences, I think the issue was with the receivers. It was enough to dissuade me...

 

[rust collector]

Here's another review of a Century build, with some issues:
http://www.therallypoint.org/forum/index.php?topic=6345.0;wap2

Unless I could save a lot of cash, I'd go with CZ-USA. I am about 80% convinced to do that in the next 6 mo. This sounds like a great way to burn 7.62.

 

[armoredman]

I have heard of a few that run right, and some that are downright horrible. My Czechpoint-USA/CZ-USA rifle runs like a champ. Worth the extra bones.

 

[Shear_stress]

"When you buy quality, you only cry once."

 

[stubbicatt]

The *general* reputation of a Century build is what prompted my question guys.

Any of you have actual hands on experience with one of these specific Century built VZ rifles? No offense, and I welcome the input, but this repetition of wisdom gleaned from the internet would have me believe that all AR 15s are unreliable, AKs are inaccurate, the ammonia in Windex neutralizes corrosive salts from ammo, and the world ends in 2012.

I appreciate the link Rustcollector.

I once owned a Century built Yugo AK which was astonishingly accurate with its US barrel etc. Unfortunately the gas block was so pitted I could not clean it to my satisfaction, and so it went the way of numerous other previously owned firearms... to someone else's collection.

My guess is that the CZ product is superior in many ways, and I suspect that if I get one off these rifles, it will be the CZ product due to my affinity for the mark.

 

[surfinUSA]

Laugh about Century quality all you want, but its highly unlikely you would want to run in to my Century FALs including the one built on the Hesse FAL-H reciever as neither has ever failed and both are as accurate as the FN originals. The accuracy is also equal to the military requirements for this type of rifle.

Isher has never probably never owned a Century firearm and is even more unlikekly to be able to prove that he has ever owend one rather than just Parrot what he has read on the internet.


If you are near Miami and will pay for the ammo, I'll be glad to let you try my FALs (just IM me). No I don't own a VZ, but I believe the the FALs are an indication of general century quality and will put either up against the original FN or any other FN licensed builder regarding accuracy and reliability) finish is a different story, (if you're worried about looks spend the money and buy FN or DSA).

 

[Isher]

surfinusa -

Well, my first VZ was a Century.

$499 vs $800.

I went cheap.

When it was not failing to feed, it was jamming.

That, and at 50 yards it shot 8" low and 5" to the left,

No matter what I tried with the sights.

And it got worse further out.

Nonetheless, I really liked the design parameters of the gun,

As compared to an AK.

So I got rid of the Century, at a loss,

And eventually found a CZ USA 58 from a private party.

Night and day difference.

Now, maybe I got the only turd Century ever manufactured,

And maybe I got the one and only good gun manufactured

By CZ USA,

But it was interesting, two/three years later on the Internet,

To see the relative confidence/satisfaction level

Between Century and CZ.

Just my .02


isher

 

[Avenger29]

CZ-USA is the way to roll for the VZ-58. Great quality, and in the unlikely event you do have issues, CZ-USA will actually take care of you without grief.

 

[Wes Janson]

Isher,

Are we practicing haiku? For the love of our eyes and your Enter key both...



My VZ2008 has run pretty much flawlessly since I bought it. The only issue I've ever encountered (other than incorrect re-assembly causing a jam once) has been with Golden Tiger ammo-the primers seem harder than Wolf, and about 1 in 20 or so will require a second strike to fire. Out of all the ammo I've tried, Golden Tiger was the only one that had this problem...so it looks like a steady diet of Wolf for my Century.

The sights did require adjustment for sure (roughly 10 MOA off in both planes), but an AK sight tool works just fine; it only takes a few minutes to make the necessary corrections, and then you're basically set for good.

As far as the finish goes, Century seems to have used something just barely above spray paint on the receiver. On the plus side, Duracoat is quite inexpensive, and works quite well to redeem that original gray-hued appearance.

Every once in a while Century turns out something that can be a good bargain with a bit of TLC. The VZ2008 seems to be one of those things.

 

[Isher]

Wes -

"n., pl., haiku, also -kus.
A Japanese lyric verse form having three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, traditionally invoking an aspect of nature or the seasons.
A poem written in this form."

So, no, I'm not writing haiku.

Even though I appreciate the form.

My experience with Century was a severe bummer.

My experience with CZ USA, and their D-Technik receiver

Has been flawless.

Is what it is.


isher

 

[armoredman]

Well, you COULD call my Czechpoint/CZ-USA vz-58 "poetry in motion."

 

[stubbicatt]

Welp. The CZ offering it looks like it will be then.

Thanks all.

 

[briansmithwins]

These are the guys that build CAI's VZ rifles. BSW

 

[rogertc1]

My Czechpoint was $800. nice gun. The only downside was I wish it had the bayo mount to put the bayo on that came with the gun. I like authentic stuff.
CAI's work but one has to re-build them a little to get them to shoot.
I also do have 2 kits and a VZ58 reciever. NO CAI VZ.

 

[stubbicatt]

Wow. Those are the engineers who designed Chernobyl. I heard they relocated to Iran to help them with their program.

(O god I'm going to hell...)

 

[armoredman]

I have seen that picture for years on the interent - who ARE those guys?

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

C-I-A Sporter

Nothing fits together, yuck

Shoot never, return

 

[Z-Michigan]

Czechpoint-USA/CZ-USA

Are these the same thing? When I looked at Czechpoint's website I got the impression it was a separate, unrelated importer from CZ-USA. The models looked very similar, but I didn't see anything about CZ-USA. Are they the same company, or separate? If they're different, which one is better quality?

 

[nalioth]

Czechpoint-USA/CZ-USA

Are these the same thing? When I looked at Czechpoint's website I got the impression it was a separate, unrelated importer from CZ-USA. The models looked very similar, but I didn't see anything about CZ-USA. Are they the same company, or separate? If they're different, which one is better quality?

The rifles sold by these two entities are indeed produced in the same factory in the former Czechoslavakia.

They're separate companies.

 

[Brimic]

Laugh about Century quality all you want, but its highly unlikely you would want to run in to my Century FALs including the one built on the Hesse FAL-H reciever as neither has ever failed and both are as accurate as the FN originals. The accuracy is also equal to the military requirements for this type of rifle.

I've had enough dealings with Century to know that when they aren't making enormous exaggerations with the conditions of used rifles they are selling, they are putting together kit guns of dubious quality. Occasionallythe monkeys get things right and you end up with a flawlessly running and and accurate enough rifle to be very happy with. I've seen the other side. A friend of mine had to send his WASR-10 back because it wouldn't chamber a round, (headspace or chamber out of spec), they sent it back to him and it ran ok, but occasionally hung up on feeding. My friend ended up cleaning up the feed ramp with a dremel tool and it then ran flawlessly.