VZ58 and CZ 858 - Whats the difference? Why is one $1k and the other $700?
- Thread starter int3grity
- Start date
no it is actually not a better rifle, despite the name, the cz 858 is the real deal while the vz58 is made by csa.
time affected pricing as well as canadian dollar and recent events now resolved
CZ858 had very few problems while the CSA was plagued with bolt, overgassing and 'blow up in your face' problems (do a search). I believe they are now fixed and CSA is pretty good with the warranty work... A sponsor blew out shorty 5.56 CSA's (with no warranty, AS IS) at a loss a couple years ago because they were so bad. Only problem with the CZ858 was the trigger 'gremlin' which had a DIY fix written up.
I'd take an old 'surplus' CZ858 over a CSA, which has a new receiver. I'm sure a lot of CSA guys are happy with their VZ and will attack my position, but there have been many issues - which have been reportedly, fixed. A reputation does stick with you though.
I bought an FSN with a restricted barrel, pretty well a total surplus rifle. It's been awesome.
I'd take an old 'surplus' CZ858 over a CSA, which has a new receiver. I'm sure a lot of CSA guys are happy with their VZ and will attack my position, but there have been many issues - which have been reportedly, fixed. A reputation does stick with you though.
I bought an FSN with a restricted barrel, pretty well a total surplus rifle. It's been awesome.
Chrome lined bore is way easier to clean, for one thing (as I've had both). Chrome lining is actually to reduce friction, chrome rusts like hell too. I've read that accuracy is better in bores that aren't lined but haven't noticed a difference in mine - I'm not the best shooter...
I do like my 15.5" Chrome lined model.
I'll give you 440 and you can sleep easier lol
BeaverMeat
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nanaimo, B.C.
The CSAs are getting better. I've been putting my '14 dated rifle through its paces. Give or take a 1000 rounds so of non-corrosive without cleaning. Only problems I've had were ammo related (Tula & LCW)
As of the 2015 batch, CSA VZ58s uses chromelined German Lothar Walther barrels. The current CSAs are very very high quality. Even the bolts are newly in house made now. I cant say if the the older CSAs were this good, but CSA has certainly stepped up their game.
I don't know why guys are so hard on CSA's, I put 1700 hard rounds of corrosive through mine and not a hick up. They are nicely finished, nice machining, they are chrome lined and they have a whole market of parts for them weather your rifle breaks or after market parts. AAAAANNNNNDDDDD they have 5 years warranty which most rifles don't have. Other then the 5.556 BS that happened along time ago there has never been a problem really that I'm aware of with the 7.62 round. Every year these rifles get produced the quality keeps on going up, and thats a good thing.
I've been in the Red Rifle section for a long time and it's littered with CSA problems... may have just been a bad batch (2013) but every couple months another thread comes up with problems. Yes, 7.62 had bolt and overgassing problems as well. Post was from October 2014.
The other day I fired a box of 20 Norinco copper wash non-corrosive 7.62x39mm through my VZ58. The rifle functioned flawlessly. When I got it home I field stripped it for a quick cleaning and noticed that the top corner of the bolt was chipped off.
I have a few questions for the CGN masses. Has this happened to anyone else? Also, as a stupid question how safe is it to operate this way? Note that it probably operated like this for some time before I opened it up, it's not like it FTF'd. Finally who has replacement bolts for this thing? I attempted to contact SFRC (where I purchased it) through their site and am currently waiting to hear back from them. The rifle probably has 200 some rounds through it and it was purchased in July 2013.
Thanks for the wisdom.
From May 2015
So I was at the range today and my vz 58 jammed on me. I cleared the problem and reinserted the magazine only to have another jam.
A piece of my bolt has broken off and my rifle has been rendered useless. Now its time to try and get ahold of north sylva and see about warranty....
I'll post pictures when the rifle is apart.
Mumbles Marble Mouth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland
The 858 had two issues. Both were called the Gremlin although there was type 1 and type 2. Type 1 was the simpler of the two to fix. Simply shim the sear pin. Type 2 was where you needed to weld the bolt carrier. The Cz 858 is a Vz 58. It's just CZ's commercial name. It's made from surplus parts. The CSA Vz 58 had an over gas issue that CSA handled the warranty perfectly yet the burden of the over gassed rifles continues on. I've owned both. The CZ in 7.62x39 and the CSA in 5.56. I was very happy with both guns even though both suffered from their known issues. The CSA is also pre drilled and tapped for a side optic mount and has available chrome lined barrel. The gun is also newly manufactured although the inconsistency from one rifle to the next would suggest some surplus parts are used. I would say neither is better. They have their equal + and -
