Bought me a VZ-858 at..................

[Stevo]

M43 Ball is the standard Soviet 7.62x39. You can find M43 in many different case configurations (ie brass, steel, lacquered, copper washed) and countries of manufacture. M43 is like 7.62 NATO, it's a general term, not specific.

You can be guaranteed that the Czech M43 Ball available in Canada is most definitely corrosive.

 

[Flobalob]

You can be guaranteed that the Czech M43 Ball available in Canada is most definitely corrosive.

Then how is it that no special cleaning is necessary to obtain a corrosion free rifle ?

 

[Stevo]

Then how is it that no special cleaning is necessary to obtain a corrosion free rifle ?

Good question. Check the Ammo Forum for threads on the Czech M43. It' worth noting that Marstar, Wolverine, and CanadaAmmo all advertise their Czech M43 as corrosive.

What exactly do you consider "special cleaning". I've never done more than add a step with water or windex before my normal cleaning when using corrosive ammo. I've never had a problem. YMMV.

 

[Mykhaylo]

I have serious doubts that the Czech ammo is corrosive.

The instruction manual that comes with the  CZ 858 states..........  "These rifles are specifically engineered to comply with the Mod. 43 cartridge".   The Czech ammo that comes on 10 rnd stripper clips in 20 rnd blue boxes IS the Mod .43 cartridge.

The instruction manual gives specific instructions for cleaning the rifle that does not include anything other than the ordinary cleaning methods that I would perform with any rifle after using non corrosive ammunition.
I have cleaned the rifle normally after using Mod. 43 ammo without any signs of corrosion being apparent later.

I think the Mod. 43 ammunition is dirty but NOT corrosive.

What makes the Czech ammo corrosive is the salts they use in the Berdan primer in the cartridge. Mod.43 just refers to the calibre, just as you can have all different kinds of M43 loads. You would see that quite quickly if you didn't clean your rifle after shooting Czech or Hungarian surplus, the rust sometimes only takes 48hrs to develop. (Had a buddy ruin an SKS this way). The reason the Commies used corrosive primers was that they felt that a corrosive primer had a more positive ignition (and less chance for misfires) in a cold climate. And in the 1970's Soviet Union, they were probably right. Anyways, as a guy who doesn't want to see you lose a great rifle to rust, I suggest you look at a few methods to clean your gun immediately after shooting it with the Windex treatment, or boiling water (regular cleaning won't dissolve the salts) or you can be a lazy bugger like me, and just shoot non corrosive, like Norinco, which is dirty, but won't require all the cleaning hassle.

 

[Flobalob]

Good question. Check the Ammo Forum for threads on the Czech M43. It' worth noting that Marstar, Wolverine, and CanadaAmmo all advertise their Czech M43 as corrosive.

Yes I know, that is why I have been surprised by the lack of corrosion.

What exactly do you consider "special cleaning". I've never done more than add a step with water or windex before my normal cleaning when using corrosive ammo. I've never had a problem. YMMV.

I consider special cleaning to be anything other than wiping the bore and other parts until clean and then lightly oiling.

 

[Flobalob]

What makes the Czech ammo corrosive is the salts they use in the Berdan primer in the cartridge. Mod.43 just refers to the calibre, just as you can have all different kinds of M43 loads. You would see that quite quickly if you didn't clean your rifle after shooting Czech or Hungarian surplus, the rust sometimes only takes 48hrs to develop. (Had a buddy ruin an SKS this way). The reason the Commies used corrosive primers was that they felt that a corrosive primer had a more positive ignition (and less chance for misfires) in a cold climate. And in the 1970's Soviet Union, they were probably right. Anyways, as a guy who doesn't want to see you lose a great rifle to rust, I suggest you look at a few methods to clean your gun immediately after shooting it with the Windex treatment, or boiling water (regular cleaning won't dissolve the salts) or you can be a lazy bugger like me, and just shoot non corrosive, like Norinco, which is dirty, but won't require all the cleaning hassle.

I can't speak for any 7.62 x 39 ammunition other than the Czech. I have found that by following the instructions for cleaning ( straight forward normal cleaning ) recomended by the makers of the rifle there are no corrosion problems. I would be more than a bit surprised if they did not know how to clean their rifles.

 

[Liquid_Snake]

federal has a 7.62x39 thats not corrosive i beleve. You should find it allmost anywhere in canada

 

[MAG58]

Out of curiousity, do the 19" Barrel CZ 858-2's have a chrome lined barrel like the restricted Marstar ones?

 

[wobbles99]

Out of curiousity, do the 19" Barrel CZ 858-2's have a chrome lined barrel like the restricted Marstar ones?

No.

Handled both the 58 and the 858 at Bashaw sports while waiting on approval for my 1911. I like the build quality and the fact that it feels more solid than my norcy sks. I would certainly trade up for one of these if my cash flow and tolerance from my future wife weren't at a all time low.

 

[platnumbob]

you better use special cleaning techniques (ie, hot water/windex) after using the czech ammo! i left cleaning for just over 24hrs once and when i went back to clean my gun rust was already forming!

 

[300Spartans]

I wish our Cdn Tire sold VZ's. I'm lucky on some days to even find a box of ammo.

 

[Mykhaylo]

I can't speak for any 7.62 x 39 ammunition other than the Czech. I have found that by following the instructions for cleaning ( straight forward normal cleaning ) recomended by the makers of the rifle there are no corrosion problems. I would be more than a bit surprised if they did not know how to clean their rifles.

Well, maybe you got lucky, and got a case of surplus that doesn't have these issues. I would still keep an eye on it though, as I suspect you might have problems later on. But, I hope not. And, I'm not an ammunition expert, I've just done some reading on the subject (I have a degree in Russian history, and anything Soviet fascinates me). Anyways, like I say I hope you don't get a rusty rifle or gas port.

 

[mtallman]

I haven't ever seen any firearms at our tire's in Winnipeg.
Here, a few stores have taken a stance against airguns, nvm firearms.

 

[Flobalob]

Well, maybe you got lucky, and got a case of surplus that doesn't have these issues. I would still keep an eye on it though, as I suspect you might have problems later on. But, I hope not. And, I'm not an ammunition expert, I've just done some reading on the subject (I have a degree in Russian history, and anything Soviet fascinates me). Anyways, like I say I hope you don't get a rusty rifle or gas port.

I have used the regular Czech so called corrosive ammo, but so far no problems. I keep checking for signs of rust but it's just not there.

 

[.45colt]

Is it just me or does the Czech ammo seem a bit hot?

 

[P0WERWAGON]

federal has a 7.62x39 thats not corrosive i beleve. You should find it allmost anywhere in canada

but i bet it is not $160/1120 is it? more like $20/20. not really needed in a cz58.

 

[Big JD-From the hills]

Its $10.99 for 20... at whole sale sports.

 

[Flobalob]

True oil finish. I was going to spray it black but thought I would give this a go first. I have a crap camera these are the best pics I can post.

 

[Mykhaylo]

F

Flobalob - did you prep that by sanding first? What grit?

 

[Flobalob]

I started off with fairly course sand paper and went finer and finer till there was no finer paper available. It feels like glass, nothing like it was to start with. As always preparation is everything. The stock material is real nice stuff to work on.