1. about 2800 rounds so far, no breakages. Only one stoppage, easily cleared by cocking. The Czechs KNOW how to make semi auto and full auto rifles. They designed the BREN gun of WW2 fame, and also the lesser known but equally well performing MG's.
2. Yes, there ARE rigid mounting options...and there are some options that are not so rigid. Check out the “stickied” threads at the top of this Red Rifles subforum, there should be one dedicated to scope mounting options, check through that.
3. I haven't personally. I do know that others have...but it's not terribly common to do, because surplus ammo is so cheap as to eliminate that advantage from casting. Of course you'd know all about gas checks and Linotype hardening if you are already casting similar cartridges! But...getting enough 7.62x39 brass to actually load them into could be an issue. Also, these guns have to be “broken in” with a few thousand rounds (say two crates of steel cased surplus) before they'll feed brass without significant dents. See, the Commies made these not for enthusiasts who reload, but for mass armies issued with ammo that has steel casings and a lacquer outer finish. But once you break it in, none of this should be an issue.
4. I can't speak to scopes and group sizes. I'm not even very familiar with scopes in general...I'm ex military from the age of iron sights. With old surplus rounds, shooting at a steel 10” square plate, at 200 yards, my buddy and I will strike the plate 18 times out of 20...iron sights only.
5. Yes, there IS a pile of aftermarket options. You can spend a little, or a lot. But mine is next to bone stock, I only replaced the front sight with a red fibre optic post. And I didn't really need to either. The aftermarket is all about stuff you want, rather than need. Preferences rather than necessities. The more popular ones involve mounting red dot scopes for speed, telescoping stocks for winter jackets vs summer shirts, a muzzle brake to reduce recoil and flip for even faster follow up shots, a “tactical sling”, and maybe different stocks for your front handhold.
These aren't bolt action rifles. These are military carbines made for 300 yard shooting. But they are very light, easy to point, easy to get hits, have a unique and good trigger for the real world, are reliable, accurate enough for this cartridge. It's closest competitor is the AK-47 original (meaning the earlier AK-47 with machined receiver, not the sheet metal receiver of the far more common AKM rifle/carbine). And IMO and that of many Canadians who own them, they are significantly better overall than an AK. Add to that the price of both the rifle and it's ammo, which is now far more commonly available than most ammo, and you have a winning combination!
It's worth considering that there are both Non-Restricted versions (long barrel 19”) and Restricted versions (16” all the way down to 7.5” SMG size). All come with legal for Canada 5 round magazines.
2. Yes, there ARE rigid mounting options...and there are some options that are not so rigid. Check out the “stickied” threads at the top of this Red Rifles subforum, there should be one dedicated to scope mounting options, check through that.
3. I haven't personally. I do know that others have...but it's not terribly common to do, because surplus ammo is so cheap as to eliminate that advantage from casting. Of course you'd know all about gas checks and Linotype hardening if you are already casting similar cartridges! But...getting enough 7.62x39 brass to actually load them into could be an issue. Also, these guns have to be “broken in” with a few thousand rounds (say two crates of steel cased surplus) before they'll feed brass without significant dents. See, the Commies made these not for enthusiasts who reload, but for mass armies issued with ammo that has steel casings and a lacquer outer finish. But once you break it in, none of this should be an issue.
4. I can't speak to scopes and group sizes. I'm not even very familiar with scopes in general...I'm ex military from the age of iron sights. With old surplus rounds, shooting at a steel 10” square plate, at 200 yards, my buddy and I will strike the plate 18 times out of 20...iron sights only.
5. Yes, there IS a pile of aftermarket options. You can spend a little, or a lot. But mine is next to bone stock, I only replaced the front sight with a red fibre optic post. And I didn't really need to either. The aftermarket is all about stuff you want, rather than need. Preferences rather than necessities. The more popular ones involve mounting red dot scopes for speed, telescoping stocks for winter jackets vs summer shirts, a muzzle brake to reduce recoil and flip for even faster follow up shots, a “tactical sling”, and maybe different stocks for your front handhold.
These aren't bolt action rifles. These are military carbines made for 300 yard shooting. But they are very light, easy to point, easy to get hits, have a unique and good trigger for the real world, are reliable, accurate enough for this cartridge. It's closest competitor is the AK-47 original (meaning the earlier AK-47 with machined receiver, not the sheet metal receiver of the far more common AKM rifle/carbine). And IMO and that of many Canadians who own them, they are significantly better overall than an AK. Add to that the price of both the rifle and it's ammo, which is now far more commonly available than most ammo, and you have a winning combination!
It's worth considering that there are both Non-Restricted versions (long barrel 19”) and Restricted versions (16” all the way down to 7.5” SMG size). All come with legal for Canada 5 round magazines.
