Need Help Diagnosing VZ 2008 Problem
Greetings All:
I'm glad I found this group! I'm hoping to get assistance regarding an issue I'm having with a used Century VZ 2008 I bought several weeks ago. Though dirty and dry when purchased, the rifle appears to have only been fired a little, based on the lack of wear on the finish of the bolt carrier and receiver rails.
The problem I'm having is that the bolt carrier sometimes jams and stops 2 inches from its closed position. It happens maybe once every 10-20 times that I manually cycle the action, BUT ONLY WHEN THE SAFETY IS OFF. When it occurs, the trigger is pushed all the way to the rear. Afterwards, there are 3 ways to close the action:
1. Pull the bolt carrier back again, and release it. If I pull the trigger afterwards, the striker releases.
2. Hit the bolt carrier handle forward pretty hard with palm of my hand. The bolt carrier slams shut, the trigger goes completely forward, but the striker does not release (it is not cocked).
3. Move the safety lever downward from "Fire" to "Safe". Half way between the two positions (at 45 degrees), the bolt carrier slams shut, the trigger goes forward, and if the lever is moved back to the "Fire" position and the trigger pulled, the striker releases.
This issue occurs with the magazine, dust cover, bolt, and locking block removed, so those parts are not involved. With just the carrier installed in the receiver, I can slide it easily and reproduce the problem. Examining the disconnector (the rounded lever in between the trigger and sear in the pic) and bolt carrier, the only damage I can see is that on one edge of the lowest forward corner of the welded on chunk of metal that Century added to the carrier, the metal is rough / scraped (hard to see in the pics, but at the pointer). This piece of metal contacts the disconnector when the bolt carrier is moved forward. The disconnector moves freely, and doesn't appear to be damaged.
With the carrier removed and the trigger pulled to the rear, when I move the selector from the "fire" to "safe" position, I can see the disconnector move slightly downward (It's even easier to see this downward movement with the trigger released, but I'm trying to duplicate the position of the involved parts when the carrier is stuck).
I took the rifle to the range, and fired 70 rounds (range report to follow soon). I had one FTF, at round 31. I had just inserted a magazine, and either pulled the bolt handle back slightly from the open position, or pulled it back completely from the closed position (I don't remember which; one of my two magazines doesn't lock the bolt open after the last round is fired), and chambered a live round. When I pulled the trigger, nothing happened (sear not cocked). I extracted the round from the chamber, verified the primer was not struck, reloaded the round, and proceeded to fire another 40 rounds without incident.
Based on the visual evidence of damage and the way the disconnector moves downward when the safety lever is manipulated, I believe that the welded metal extension on the bottom of the bolt carrier is binding when it contacts the disconnector (maybe jamming between the disconnector and the receiver?). Even when the carrier doesn't stick, I can feel something mechanically "happening" (but not binding) when the carrier is moving past that exact spot, every time I cycle the action, regardless of the safety lever's position. Has anyone else heard of this sticking problem, or experienced this themselves? I realize that the VZ.58 doesn't have the same fire control group(?) that the Century does. I have read on this forum vague mention of problems with the Century FCG design that was "improved upon" by D-Technik, but I can't find details of those alleged problems anywhere on the Web. The only problems I found related to a recall for loose / wobbly safety levers due to out of spec hole(s) in the receiver (mine is okay).
I would appreciate it if one or more VZ 2008 owners here would slowly move their bolts forward to the position indicated in my picture, and tell me if they feel something mechanically "happening" (for lack of a better term) at about that spot, so that I can determine if my rifle should be doing that, or not. I'd be interested to know if D-Technik rifles do it also. Since I have no warranty, I'm thinking I should smooth the rough area of metal with a file and emory paper. The area in question is not too high; it looks like its been peened down lower on the outer edge of the corner. Any thoughts, suggestions, or advice is welcome. Thanks in advance!
Cary