VZ.58 Club:

[Maverick223]

Welcome to the club, Mike.

I'm assuming that is powder residue, not unburnt powder on your support hand. No easy fix for that (unless you count a glove as a solution), but you can line the upper handguard with foil to prevent most of the radiation by reflecting some of the heat away (it's only a partial solution because some heat is still convected, but it does help and is an simple modification to perform). Personally I wouldn't bother with the lower (most of the heat comes from the gas system), but you could perform the same operation on that as well. While you are messing with it you may also want to peen the divot in connecting strap that affixes the upper handguard for a more solid fit (mine initially had a little wobble, which seems to be commonplace).

 

[coalbed]

Nice rifle ifit. A Vz with the bells and whistles is hard to beat for home defense.

 

[snoopfighter]

Well, I have about 400 rounds or so through it. Other than zeroing I've been using the rifle for movement/ready-up drills.

Here is how she was configured before:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgt6Gwp5Gfo

Here's a picture of her now.



It's a ORF receiver build with parts I obtained sometime in 2012. The gun has been flawless and I've even run her with zero oil just to see how'd she would fair. I want to keep the 'minimalist' look to her regardless of what upgrades I add in the future. I don't mind the wire stock but currently need to apply some locktite since it has developed a little bit of play at the base (not at the hinge) where it mounts to the rear of the receiver.

Let me know what you all think.

 

[Maverick223]

Welcome to the club, snoopfighter!

I added a little loctite to my big machine screw that attached the folder as well. Just make sure to use the blue (medium strength) type so it can be easily removed as needed in the future.

I'm a fan of the original "beaver-barf" furniture, but I can understand why someone might want to loose the stock grip (I have small hands so it works for me, but not everyone can say the same). I'm toying with the idea of adding a short P-rail to my stock grip so I can add a small tac-light (like a Streamlight TLR-1HL...or HP if it will fit), and will be adding a Trijicon dual-illuminated RMR atop a railed upper handguard at some point, so we have similar taste in that regard.

 

[cchiang1]

Greetings all:
For those of you who are not aware, there is an informative and well-written review of our VZ.58 rifles on the Truth About Guns.com website here:

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/04/joe-grine/gun-review-czech-vzor-58/

The writer seems to have a bit of bias against the VZ 2008 and Century in general, but in this case it seems to be justified.

Cary

 

[Maverick223]

I can't say this often, but I really liked the aforementioned article, it was very thorough and didn't seem to be a "bought review" as is oft the case these days. Whilst the review of the Vz-2008 was less than favorable, it was, from what I could tell, accurate and represented his own experiences with a firearm that he owns (and pitted it against another rifle, a TGI imported D-Technik vz.58 build)...something that I can respect. I enjoyed the read; thank you for posting the link to it, Cary.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I can't say this often, but I really liked the aforementioned article, it was very thorough and didn't seem to be a "bought review" as is oft the case these days. Whilst the review of the Vz-2008 was less than favorable, it was, from what I could tell, accurate and represented his own experiences with a firearm that he owns (and pitted it against another rifle, a TGI imported D-Technik vz.58 build)...something that I can respect. I enjoyed the read; thank you for posting the link to it, Cary.

I think the warranty issue soured him on Century and he takes that attitude to the rest of the review. I have to agree that starting the 1-year when the gun does to the dealer and not the customer is not good.

However, he makes too much of a deal about some guns having AK style threads. AK threads are 14mm+/1mm LH (often on the large side for 14mm), while VZ threads are 14mm/1mm RH. Mine is RH. I think they are all RH now. The fact that some were LH is probably viewed as a feature for some as there are a lot more AK muzzle devices out there. Also chasing AK style threads with a die is nothing new in the AK world.

I love the sear design on the Century. It holds the striker from the center and not the side and my gun has absolutely no creep. It does turn the military auto sear spring into a second semi-auto sear giving a trigger pull > 10lb but I simply broke mine off and I have a nice 5 1/8 lb pull (which should break in lower).

Military VZ.58 sears (auto sear on top of picture/right side of gun).

VZ2008 sear (just break off the right spring leaf for a very nice trigger pull)


Mike

 

[cchiang1]

You have more guts than I do, Mike. To reduce the trigger pull on my VZ2008, I bent the right spring leaf down about 1/4 inch so that it no longer contacted the sear (I initially did it as an experiment, before the modification became common knowledge). This way the second leaf is still available for re-use, in case the left spring leaf should fatigue or break off for some reason. I have noticed that the trigger pull weight has indeed fallen a bit more with usage, as you surmised that it would.

Cary

 

[cchiang1]

FAB Defense VZ.58 Accessories Review

BTW, within the above referenced vz.58 review, is a link to another review written by the same author, on some vz.58 FAB Defense accessories. It is also a good read. It can be found here:

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/20...eview-fab-defense-vz-58-upgrades/#more-308023

Enjoy.

Cary

 

[barnbwt]

That was a very well done review. Up there with the 50AE "VZ vs AK" article

TCB

 

[coalbed]

I hope its ok to post this. The CZ forum is doing a group buy on unissued VZ 58 bi-pods, and have asked for other forums to join in to lower the costs. It may be a good chance to finish someones collection, or just get one for your kit. If anyone is interested the link is http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=63700.msg425864#msg425864 from 2 days ago. As I don't know these guys personally, I can't take responsibility if it doesn't work out for you, but it looked like a way to reduce the price on these.

 

[barnbwt]

Hmm, my belt fed VZ concept could probably use one of those...

TCB

 

[Maverick223]

coalbed, that is perfectly fine with me. I'm certain there are some folks here that would like to have one.

P.S.: Since it was asked...this isn't the buy, sell, & trade forum, but if anyone has any commercial interests, knows of any sales, group buys, et cetera regarding VZ variants it is perfectly fine with me (please note that I'm not a Mod/Admin, so I do not get the final say here) to briefly mention them here (as long as it adheres to the THR forum rules). My only requests are that someone is honest about it (if the poster is representing a brand/product just inform everyone) and actual sales are not conducted in this thread (I don't want the thread to degrade into one long advertisement, but a brief reference to the B,S,&T forum would be fine).

 

[Bohemus]

Just to add some info:
Bipods were just for vz.58pi version - for gen.1 night vision so they are quite rare.
And from my experience (38th page of this thread) it moves impact rather significantly.

 

[barnbwt]

According to some goober on Gunbroker who's relisted it for years, a VZ bipod is worth at least 200$ . I understand they use the bayonet mount, so D-Techniks kids are out of luck on this one

TCB

 

[Swampman]

Due to the current unavailability of aftermarket conversion parts, I finally decided to try converting one of my 30 round mags to a 20 using only original magazine parts. Since I gave the project about a 50% chance of total failure, I used my most beat up, finish worn magazine for the project.

It actually turned out better than I'd expected, although it was fairly time consuming. I cut the mag body slightly long since I figured that I might need the extra length for multiple attempts at forming the bent out "lips" that hold the base plate on. As it turned out, I got them formed correctly on the first try, so my converted magazine actually holds 21 rather than 20 rounds.

The magazine functions perfectly, it feeds 100% and locks the bolt back every time. I think that it may actually be superior to the kit conversions since it doesn't use any plastic parts and looks just like a shorter version of the stock magazine.

It really adds to the overall handyness of the weapon and makes it even closer to the M1 Carbine in how the rifle carries and feels. I figure a 20 round magazine should be perfect for walking up hogs since I've never managed to get off more than 12 rounds on a single sounder anyway.

Many thanks to Maverick223, since I used his excellent instructions in post #578 of this thread as the starting point for my project.

If there's any interest, I'll try to write up an illustrated tutorial for this project in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Maverick223]

Happy to be of some service, Swampman.

I'm glad you've come up with a solution to the lack of parts and I would be most interested in knowing how you performed the bends because I've heard of folks having problems forming the aluminum without cracking it in the process (it's hardened). Furthermore, I'm certain that others would like complete instructions if that wouldn't be too difficult to compile.

 

[Ignition Override]

This rifle was available at today's "swap' at MSSA, near Memphis. Have previously seen only one, at the Germantown gun show about four months ago.

The 58's extended folding 'stock' made the rifle seem extremely short. Replacing this with a real stock would seem like the only practical solution, then adding an extension pad.

 

[Maverick223]

IO, it really depends upon the length of pull that you are comfortable with. I'm 5'9" and find the standard folder to be just fine, while a lot of other folks replace it with one of the many aftermarket stocks that are available (some have adjustable LOP) or add a cheap rubber AK buttpad (the ones made for use with a grenade launcher) to extend the stock an inch or so.

 

[Ignition Override]

Maverick223: Some of you guys must have had nice training on carbines. Even barely at 5'11", the 1" slip on pad makes my pair of SKS still seem kind of short.

Maybe my arms seem to be that of an orangatan ape (Clint Eastwood: "Right turn, Clyde!"), though this was never pointed out.
But Clyde's similar IQ has been pointed out...

 

[Maverick223]

Ignition Override, no formal training on soviet bloc firearms here...but I suppose that I've enough experience with them to become comfortable with their less-than-generous LOP. Probably stems from putting a great deal of rounds through an M1-Carbine, which has a similar LOP, years ago (and even today when I can procure brass for it).

 

[Bohemus]

Finally, new stock has arrived
Straight and way longer than the original one.

 

[armoredman]

Very nice, sir.

 

[Maverick223]

Bohemus, that looks a lot nicer than the prototype you have pictured above (and not just because of the black coating). Keep us posted with respect to how well it performs.

 

[barnbwt]

Who'd of thought a decent-sized buttpad would make the gun look so much more solid? Looks good, though 'full sized' (I would say "American Sized" but, you know...)

TCB