okay now I am really torn between the CSA vz58 and the Cz858....
I am just really really indecisive about this... sorry to waste everyone's time.
either a used cz858 with 700 shots through it, but cleaned and taken care of apparently, for 600$,
a new csa vz58 for 800$+tax...
or a new cz858 + 1200 ammo for 900$ and tax..
so you guys think its worth paying that little extra cash to get a nice csa?? thanks everyone
I bought a pair of CZ-858's a few years ago at $650 a piece new and have been competing with one for a while now. The other is my surp queen that only shoots corrosive ammo, lol... Both have had near 10,000 rounds through and they both have the non-chrome lined 19" barrels. I wouldn't buy a .223 VZ or CZ myself. Defeats the purpose of the rifle in my eyes. If you want a cool .223 for under $1K, buy a Norc AR.
I can attest to the durability and reliability of the CZ-858's though. In the 10K rounds though my surp shooter, nary a single jam, nor a mag feed issue, nor a jam or misfire or failure to eject. It's been left out in the cold and been frozen closed almost and still shoots. It's ridden in a pack on my back while riding my motorbike in the mountains, no issues. It's been surreptitiously and unceremoniously dropped in mud puddles and still goes bang,
Only thing I have done with it is add a tactical bolt release and it's a folder version. Shooting surplus it's important to wash out the salts before cleaning, but it's only an extra 5 mins of work.
The other is a non-folder, but it's more of a Franken-CZ now than anything. It too, however, has NEVER given me an issue... I only run MFS mild steel jacketed non-corrosive through it just so I don't have to bath it after a competition.
My vote? 7.62 all the way. It has punch power, fun factor and ammo is ridiculously cheap. Plus, if you wanted to hunt with it (as long as you got a 19" barrel) it's NR and is fine to hunt with. Buy new if you intend on keeping it for a while. I have heard of guys getting 50K rounds through one before...
