School me on the VZ-58

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FLYBYU44

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I was in my LGS yesterday, I went in to check out what they had for another SKS rifle. They had one left and it wasn't really what I was looking for. The sales guy reached up behind the counter and grabbed a rifle. He handed it to me and said, "Perhaps this would interest you." I asked what it was and he tells me a VZ-58. It apparently is a newer one with the synthetic stock and M4 style butt on it. It is very light and I shoulder it, fits like a dream, the only problem was the price, about $400 more then I have in my gun budget right now. So I want to save up and get one, I have a real fondness for nice light carbines.

I'm very unfamiliar with these rifles, are there any issues with them? How about magazines? Can you get smaller magazines at all?
 
Lots of good ones and a few bad ones.

My first one was a lemon. Second one is awesome. Warranty work is handled promptly here in Canada.

Simple gun to dress up or down.

Mags are typically 5/30 but Zahal and a few others sell 5/20, and stubby 5 round mags.

Martin at Corwin Arms used to stock lots of cool parts. Not sure what he's stocking or bringing in until the 858 fiasco is sorted out.

Video of various brakes


In my opinion these are one of the best non restricted option in Canada.
 
Both, it will last longer and is easier to clean. I bought a vz last week and absolutely love it I have about 250 rounds of surplus down the barel and I'm just in love with this rifle.
 
Chrome lining is a military requirement. Soldiers cannot always maintain their cleaning schedule in the field. Its nice for a civilian rifle but not necessary. X39 is not a barrel burner, throat and bore life is very long. The chrome lining has little effect on the useable life of the rifle. It will however save your butt if you forget to clean soon enough with corrosive ammo. Zahal.org has 5/20 and 5/5 mags but they're pricey. 5/30 mags are still fairly cheap. Grab an extra firing pin or two and keep them with your range gear.
 
I just bought a chrome lined CSA from the shooting center in Calgary. Love it.

After I bought I read some complaints about the 2013 CSA's that worried me. But Here's the thing. You can't really get anything but a CSA in Canada right now that I can see. And they do have a stellar 5 year warranty with what everyone says is a really good Canadian service center. So what the heck right? I read some thread that said there is a 20% problem rate on them. But that could just be hearsay and made up numbers. The problems I saw reported were oversized gas ports on the 2013 causing the bolt to crack in half. And of the people I saw reporting that, they said they sent it to the Canadian service center and they fixed it better than new, and they really know their stuff. I'm sure at this point they are 2014 rifles coming into Canada, or so I would expect.

Things of note about the CSA VZ. It's light, extremely light. And it's a relatively small rifle. The milling on them is really nice compared to an 858. Nice and smooth and clean. I like the finish and furniture much better than the ugly blue paint and beaver barf the 858 had. One thing I noticed that's really nice. They pre-drilled the receiver for a scope mount which they sell. And wolverine has in stock. It's basically two holes plugged with allen key studs where you can bolt on a rail then the side scope mount clips right on no questions asked. Very nice addition so you don't have to start drilling holes when you want an optic if you choose to go with a rear mounted one.

It has standard threading for any kind of VZ brake to bolt right on which is nice. The stock is cheap crap, sorry to say. The cheapest M4 stock known to man. I ordered an adjustable M4 tube adapter from Canada Ammo with a single point sling attachment on a whim to try it out. Hoping I like it better than the slight angled tube adapter it comes with. And I'm probably going to get a Magpul CTR like someone else suggested and slap that on. They are a relatively cheap upgrade and a really nice stock. I was handling one at P&D in Edmonton on Saturday and almost bought it but held off. I should have just bought it. It's a Mil Spec tube it comes with for reference just in case you decide to replace the stock.

I'm guilty of not reading up on all the posts, so if someone hasn't already said it, yes you can get smaller mags all the way down to a tiny 5 round mag. Though I haven't seen anyone stocking them as of yet. And it would be kind of welcome for bench shooting. Because that big ass 30rd mag necessitates a lot of lift on the bench.

That's all I can think of right now. No regrets. Super fun rifle and such a nice upgrade from an SKS. Just get one is my advice. Because there really isn't any other rifle that's going to be reasonably accurate and chew steel case hard primer 7.62x39 ammo up at will. I was thinking of a Ruger mini 30 but I backed off that when I read more about how it needs soft primer hunting loads to function. And you can power up the spring but it may break the firing pin eventually.
 
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FeistyLemur said:
You just cost me $279 damn it. Because Kelly's also had the NEA aluminum foregrip I want in and I bought that with 2, 5 round mags for the bench. Damn it my wallet can't take this forum.
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:evil:

Yes, this forum will do that. And sometimes you will score a good deal on the EE. So watch it like a hawk.

Oh, to the OP. Buy a Vz58.
 
So who's got the best deals on Vz 58s? Frontier has a couple, Wanstalls, where else can I shop? I'm having a hard time finding more than 2 sources. My connection isn't fast enough to burn through links and thumbnails without losing patience...
 
ShotgunNut said:
So who's got the best deals on Vz 58s? Frontier has a couple, Wanstalls, where else can I shop? I'm having a hard time finding more than 2 sources. My connection isn't fast enough to burn through links and thumbnails without losing patience...
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$999 is the cheapest I've seen for the chrome lined right now. Wanstalls was high by $50. Calgary shooting center I think still may have them for 999, but you may pay less for shipping from Wanstalls since they are right there in BC for you so it might even out. (for Calgary shooting center you have to go to their forum post and click the link because their online store sucks and there's no way to even get to the item unless you click the link on the forum, that I can find anyway.)

I think Kelly's might be selling the non-chrome lined because they have them for $949 and the description says nothing about chrome. P&D enterprises in Edmonton also has them for $999 presumably for the chrome lined as of Saturday. SFRC seems to be sold out.

Basically if you want one, my advice is don't hem and haw. I did that back in June/July then everyone sold out and I had to wait till the next shipment which seems to be what's happening right now in that a bunch must have come in cause quite a few places have them at the moment. $999 seems to be the going rate for chrome lined now, and the 7.62 is way more popular. They sold out first back in early to mid summer. And I'm guessing they will this time too.

If you can walk into your LGS and get a chrome lined just do that honestly.
 
ShotgunNut said:
I don't think there are any in town, it's probably better for me to order one than to get a retailer to order one. Thanks for the info though man, that will help.
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Canada ammo gets them sometimes and they have free shipping over $200, but they have none in stock. I'm thinking Wanstalls is the best bet in BC at the moment, despite the $50 price premium. Heck if you're in Vancouver you could probably drive down and pick one up, they are in Lougheed.
 
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