- Location
- Alberta Free State
*Rant On*
So, I put an ad in the EE looking for a VZ-58 scout mount, in order that I could mount my Bushnell holosight on my folding-stock VZ-58. That particular sight, which I had on hand, seemed like an ideal match for the short-barreled VZ-58 (CZH-2003, to be more precise). This was my first rifle of this family (I've got a few more now); I have used it with iron sights only for several years. But, I'm getting older and so are my eyes. Time for some upgrading.
After placing my EE ad, I received a PM from a company making a new type of scout mount, different from the traditional one that has been floating around for several years. Would I be interested in one?
So, I PM'd back - yes, I'd be interested in one, like to see some pictures and get shipping costs. The company very kindly did several photos of their new scout mount for the 58/858 and posted them on CGN, and very graciously responded to my query with a quote for mount plus shipping. I have nothing but praise for their efforts to answer my questions.
I had also heard good things about the new company's tactical bolt release, and thought it would be nice if I could order one at the same time. The response to that was that they were sold out, but that another CGN site sponsor was selling a combo pack of the tac bolt release and an extended mag release at a special summer sale price.
My only problem there was that I already have extended mag releases, and had no use for another. I'm also on a fixed disability pension, so spending the extra cash for an un-needed piece was a factor.
In the meantime, several other people tried this new scout mount and have given it very good reviews. Bravo!
Also in the meantime, I had a bit of bad luck and wound up in hospital for several days, and then had a big family wedding. So, it was about two weeks before I was able to follow up on the scout mount.
After first sending a PM and then an e-mail, I did get a polite response from the company who had initially offered me the new-type scout mount. It contained the unfortunate (for me) news that they had sold their entire stock of mounts to a major Canadian firearms wholesaler and had none left to sell me.
Now, yes, my bad for getting myself put into hospital and attending my nieces wedding instead of attending to purchasing firearms accessories.
In hindsight, I should have jumped all over the new mount without pausing to draw breath. But, life is what it is, and circumstances intervened, and it's history.
And, if the company who have developed the new type scout mount had an offer from a major distributor that they couldn't refuse, that's a real piece of good luck for them. Product sold, cash in the bank. Amen. Score one for the guy with the better product. I'm a big fan of successful private enterprise.
However, I am left with one "Arrgghh" and it is this:
What do I have to do to get an optics mount for my VZ-58 and CZ-858's?
It would appear that the latest entry on the scout mount scene is no longer available from its originator - for now, at least.
Will that change? Unknown at this point.
Perhaps the major eastern wholesale distributor that bought the entire stock will make them available to retailers, or perhaps they will be an accessory available when new stocks of these rifles are imported into Canada. Either way, the eastern wholesaler does not deal directly with the retail customer. I have direct experience with this company and know that for a fact.
In any case, even if the new scout mounts do become available again, they are useful only for holosights, red dots, or small reflex sights, not for a full size scope.
* * * * * * * * * * FULL SIZE OPTICS
Over the years we in "Red Rifles" have discussed many different methods that have been or can be used to mount optics of various types to the VZ-58/CZ-858 family of rifles. All of these are written up in the excellent FAQ put together by Curtton and posted here as a sticky.
Many thousands of CZ 858's and VZ-58's, straight from the CZ factory, have been sold in Canada. I suspect very few owners of these rifles would be prepared to sell them off at fire-sale prices and then re-purchase their collection from the CSA catalogue, just because CSA has an integral east-bloc optics mount rail.
Prior to the CSA versions of these rifles becoming available, with an east-block side mount already attached as standard equipment, numerous work-arounds were put forth. As well, a couple of different manufactured solutions have come and gone.
The only one still available, to my knowledge, is the NEA/Neit Arms Cantilever rail mount. This device requires removal of the factory stock and use of a collapsible AR-15/M4 stock; the cantilever is a picatinny/weaver rail that extends forward approximately to the front edge of the rear dust cover. This was to be a three part system: 1) the adapter block that bolts to the receiver, 2) the cantilever rail that mounts to the adapter block, and 3) a casing deflector that integrates into the system. Still waiting for part "3" to appear after a great many months. I was one of the first buyers of the cantilever setup.
Some of the "home brew" methods involved adding rails at the fore-end.
Several companies now offer replacement furniture - hand guards and covers - with integral rails. All of these are good for adding red-dot or reflex sights, and some people have even experimented with adding small very-long-eye-relief scopes. I've got a couple of sets of replacement furniture for the CZ-858's from different makers, both very high quality and worth the money. I've got one unmodified, except for a muzzle brake - the original "beaver barf" I don't mind a bit.
Notable among the "home brew" ideas for full-size scopes are two different (and both excellent) methods developed by CGN member Kasat - one a no-gunsmith bracket with an east-bloc side rail, and the other a no-gunsmith mount that puts a full-length picatinny rail from the rear of the receiver to the rear leaf sight mounting point. The latter mount had a quick removal feature, as well as a positive RTZ. Forum member Saitan also developed an ingenious CNC-machined mount that attached to the pistol-grip hard-point.
I find it surprising, after owning several of these excellent Czech rifles for several years, that the problem of mounting a full-length scope rail, not just a red-dot or BUIS mount - is still without a definitive solution that does not involve home or hired gunsmithing.
*Rant off*
Anyone care to offer a positive suggestion for going forward with an idea for mounting a full-size optic?
("Drop Dead A*hole, F*&k Off, or "you're an idiot" don't fall into that category and will be ignored
).
So, I put an ad in the EE looking for a VZ-58 scout mount, in order that I could mount my Bushnell holosight on my folding-stock VZ-58. That particular sight, which I had on hand, seemed like an ideal match for the short-barreled VZ-58 (CZH-2003, to be more precise). This was my first rifle of this family (I've got a few more now); I have used it with iron sights only for several years. But, I'm getting older and so are my eyes. Time for some upgrading.
After placing my EE ad, I received a PM from a company making a new type of scout mount, different from the traditional one that has been floating around for several years. Would I be interested in one?
So, I PM'd back - yes, I'd be interested in one, like to see some pictures and get shipping costs. The company very kindly did several photos of their new scout mount for the 58/858 and posted them on CGN, and very graciously responded to my query with a quote for mount plus shipping. I have nothing but praise for their efforts to answer my questions.
I had also heard good things about the new company's tactical bolt release, and thought it would be nice if I could order one at the same time. The response to that was that they were sold out, but that another CGN site sponsor was selling a combo pack of the tac bolt release and an extended mag release at a special summer sale price.
My only problem there was that I already have extended mag releases, and had no use for another. I'm also on a fixed disability pension, so spending the extra cash for an un-needed piece was a factor.
In the meantime, several other people tried this new scout mount and have given it very good reviews. Bravo!
Also in the meantime, I had a bit of bad luck and wound up in hospital for several days, and then had a big family wedding. So, it was about two weeks before I was able to follow up on the scout mount.
After first sending a PM and then an e-mail, I did get a polite response from the company who had initially offered me the new-type scout mount. It contained the unfortunate (for me) news that they had sold their entire stock of mounts to a major Canadian firearms wholesaler and had none left to sell me.
Now, yes, my bad for getting myself put into hospital and attending my nieces wedding instead of attending to purchasing firearms accessories.
In hindsight, I should have jumped all over the new mount without pausing to draw breath. But, life is what it is, and circumstances intervened, and it's history.
And, if the company who have developed the new type scout mount had an offer from a major distributor that they couldn't refuse, that's a real piece of good luck for them. Product sold, cash in the bank. Amen. Score one for the guy with the better product. I'm a big fan of successful private enterprise.
However, I am left with one "Arrgghh" and it is this:
What do I have to do to get an optics mount for my VZ-58 and CZ-858's?
It would appear that the latest entry on the scout mount scene is no longer available from its originator - for now, at least.
Will that change? Unknown at this point. Perhaps the major eastern wholesale distributor that bought the entire stock will make them available to retailers, or perhaps they will be an accessory available when new stocks of these rifles are imported into Canada. Either way, the eastern wholesaler does not deal directly with the retail customer. I have direct experience with this company and know that for a fact.
In any case, even if the new scout mounts do become available again, they are useful only for holosights, red dots, or small reflex sights, not for a full size scope.
* * * * * * * * * * FULL SIZE OPTICS
Over the years we in "Red Rifles" have discussed many different methods that have been or can be used to mount optics of various types to the VZ-58/CZ-858 family of rifles. All of these are written up in the excellent FAQ put together by Curtton and posted here as a sticky.
Many thousands of CZ 858's and VZ-58's, straight from the CZ factory, have been sold in Canada. I suspect very few owners of these rifles would be prepared to sell them off at fire-sale prices and then re-purchase their collection from the CSA catalogue, just because CSA has an integral east-bloc optics mount rail.
Prior to the CSA versions of these rifles becoming available, with an east-block side mount already attached as standard equipment, numerous work-arounds were put forth. As well, a couple of different manufactured solutions have come and gone.
The only one still available, to my knowledge, is the NEA/Neit Arms Cantilever rail mount. This device requires removal of the factory stock and use of a collapsible AR-15/M4 stock; the cantilever is a picatinny/weaver rail that extends forward approximately to the front edge of the rear dust cover. This was to be a three part system: 1) the adapter block that bolts to the receiver, 2) the cantilever rail that mounts to the adapter block, and 3) a casing deflector that integrates into the system. Still waiting for part "3" to appear after a great many months. I was one of the first buyers of the cantilever setup.
Some of the "home brew" methods involved adding rails at the fore-end.
Several companies now offer replacement furniture - hand guards and covers - with integral rails. All of these are good for adding red-dot or reflex sights, and some people have even experimented with adding small very-long-eye-relief scopes. I've got a couple of sets of replacement furniture for the CZ-858's from different makers, both very high quality and worth the money. I've got one unmodified, except for a muzzle brake - the original "beaver barf" I don't mind a bit.
Notable among the "home brew" ideas for full-size scopes are two different (and both excellent) methods developed by CGN member Kasat - one a no-gunsmith bracket with an east-bloc side rail, and the other a no-gunsmith mount that puts a full-length picatinny rail from the rear of the receiver to the rear leaf sight mounting point. The latter mount had a quick removal feature, as well as a positive RTZ. Forum member Saitan also developed an ingenious CNC-machined mount that attached to the pistol-grip hard-point.
I find it surprising, after owning several of these excellent Czech rifles for several years, that the problem of mounting a full-length scope rail, not just a red-dot or BUIS mount - is still without a definitive solution that does not involve home or hired gunsmithing.
*Rant off*
Anyone care to offer a positive suggestion for going forward with an idea for mounting a full-size optic?
("Drop Dead A*hole, F*&k Off, or "you're an idiot" don't fall into that category and will be ignored
).
Last edited:
- in the original photo the finish appears much darker than the grey/blue finish on my own Czech models. My bad.
