CZ 858 or Mini 14
- Thread starter Hamlet
- Start date
The mags are now impossible to find because of the stampede for them in the U.S. but that's an unusual situation. Expensive? That's relative to other locales: According to one source in Australia, Mini 14 mags of any sort start at $350!! So the prices that the fine fellows at Canadian Tactical Cowboy Supplies charge are not in the outer stratosphere yet: http://ctcsupplies.ca/collections/magazines .
I prefer the CZ, but did you consider SKS..... Reliable, semi-auto under 200$ ??? I had a CZ858 and sold it and only kept 5 SKS for my 7.62X39 ammo stock pile 
. I realise that the CZ did nothing more than SKS except detachable mags.
. I realise that the CZ did nothing more than SKS except detachable mags.I prefer the CZ, but did you consider SKS..... Reliable, semi-auto under 200$ ??? I had a CZ858 and sold it and only kept 5 SKS for my 7.62X39 ammo stock pile
For whatever reason SKS doesn't do it for me. I did like the pictured mini though.
Now that's marketing, right there..
ChrisAlston
Regular
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
I vote for the Cz858 all the way. My buddy has a Mini 30 and it's a pretty slick rifle, I mainly like the sights better. But no way would I trade my 858 for it. The Cz is light, slim, accurate, highly reliable, and super easy to field strip for cleaning, much more so than the Mini. There's also tons of stuff to accessorize the Cz if that's what you're after. Plus the Cz comes with four mags in the box, Mini mags are literally impossible to find right now. The only way the Cz could be better was if the barrel was chrome lined, but I just clean it with frog lube and so far no hint of corrosion so no big deal. Overall I feel the Cz858 offers better value, and looks more badass too The Mini's are still nice though don't get me wrong.
The Mini's are still nice though don't get me wrong.What a crock of sh*t. Get a grip, corrosion is a non issue. Clean your gun and move along.
TDC
ETA: The Mini is garbage and grossly over priced. Run a service rifle that works like the 858.
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Corrosive ammo won't make your barrel dissolve. Clean your gun. A stainless mini will undoubtedly last longer than you will probably want to keep it. The CZ 858 is good for tens of thousands of rounds too. Moot point. Hold the two guns. Shoot them if you can find someone's to try. Then decide.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I can't believe some of the stuff written here, so many are on the anti-Mini band wagon without even knowing what they're about. Have you ever taken down a Mini for cleaning? The whole rifle comes apart with one action, you just pull down on the trigger guard. I've owned several VZs, and Minis, the Mini is a lot easier to take down and clean. On every spec the Mini is a better gun than the 858, it's just less AK-looking and "boring" because it's been around so long.
-Stainless will outperform CM anyday, including with corrosive. My Mini-30 stainless didn't even care about corrosive, shoot it as regular
-The sites are substantially better than the 858
-The 580+ series is more accurate than the 858
-The Mini has one of the best scope mounting systems of any rifle, let alone a semi, and free rings
-Comb height allows perfect use of optics
-There are far more accessories for the Mini by a huge factor
The 858 has only the following going for it against the Mini:
-Looks like an AK (this is why everyone here is voting for it, even if they're not aware of it)
-Cheaper mags
I was just going to shake my head and mutter "ignorant f**k" until I read this. Clearly you hate the 858 and I don't care but don't tell me Im just voting for it cos it looks like an AK. Its my pick cos I much prefer everything about it over the mini. I don't like the feel of the mini at all, the 858 suits me much better and is very simple to take down and clean. Having owned several 858s and shot several mini's Ill take an 858 any day hands down. The mini is overpriced for what you get IMO but if you like them all the power to you. I wont sit here and tell you that youre wrong for liking the mini and that you don't know it but you don't like it and prefer the 858. That would be about as f**king ignorant as someone could get without physically violating someone to change their mind. Holy f**k dude. Give your head a shake.
onetwentyish
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Central AB (AKA Northern Texas)
Also consider a vz58 from csa. Basicly the same as the cz 858 except a nicer finish and polymer furniture vs the plywood wana be of a cz 858.
The csa vz58 is also available out of the box with the option of an m4 collapsible stock. Also comes standerd with a drilled and tapped receiver for scope mounting if you chose not to go the dust cover route.
Corrosive ammo is cheap, generally reliable, and is great as long as you CLEAN YOUR RIFLE AFTER EVERY SHOOT.
If your just going out for a few rounds take a few boxes of clean ammo. If your going to enjoy yourself, take a spam can of corrosive and just make sure you run boiling water with a dash of dish soap in it through the gas system, barrel, over the bolt, etc. Then clean normal after you dry it. Don't forget to oil.
The csa vz58 is also available out of the box with the option of an m4 collapsible stock. Also comes standerd with a drilled and tapped receiver for scope mounting if you chose not to go the dust cover route.
Corrosive ammo is cheap, generally reliable, and is great as long as you CLEAN YOUR RIFLE AFTER EVERY SHOOT.
If your just going out for a few rounds take a few boxes of clean ammo. If your going to enjoy yourself, take a spam can of corrosive and just make sure you run boiling water with a dash of dish soap in it through the gas system, barrel, over the bolt, etc. Then clean normal after you dry it. Don't forget to oil.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Somebody is a bit sensitive...
I don't need to give my head a shake, gun for gun, the Mini has a lot more going for it. You are giving up things with the 858, and few would argue that, compared to a stainless Mini-30 Ranch. You get a more time intensive field strip, lack of stainless construction, lack of scope mounts, low comb unsuitable for optics, poorer sights by going 858, and shorter sight radius on the 858, those are all givens. Ergos can go either way but given the Mini's safety is fully ambidextrous and is one of the most intuitive made (straight from the M14), and both have right side charging handles, it's personal preference. I like the Mini's ambidextrous safety better personally. I actually like 858/VZ58s, but it can't compare to a stainless semi with comparable development time and actually more Minis have been produced, sending more rounds down range. I bring this up as people bring "proven" into the conversation with the VZ58- nothing semi auto is more proven than the Mini this side of the AK and AR.
People like to dump on the Mini, but it's a hell of a little gun. And in this comparison, you're going to have more capabilities with the Mini, more accessories, and it will handle corrosive without any worry (stainless).
2 push pins that can be removed by hand, field strips a vz58. Can the mini be field stripped without tools? Sure, one more action on the vz58, but it's a just a push of a pin!
I do find field stripping an SKS to be more of a pain though. That gas block lever, hate it.
Somebody is a bit sensitive...
I actually like 858/VZ58s, but it can't compare to a stainless semi with comparable development time and actually more Minis have been produced, sending more rounds down range. I bring this up as people bring "proven" into the conversation with the VZ58- nothing semi auto is more proven than the Mini this side of the AK and AR.
People like to dump on the Mini, but it's a hell of a little gun. And in this comparison, you're going to have more capabilities with the Mini, more accessories, and it will handle corrosive without any worry (stainless).
Sorry, the Mini is a pile of garbage. A bastardized M1/M14 that doesn't perform nearly as well as those two. The stock is a classic straight stock which is not comfortable for extended periods of time. The stainless construction has zero benefits for those who are not lazy about cleaning their firearms. Mini accuracy is a misnomer, they shoot minute of barn at best. Mounting optics is a pain in the a$$ for the mini, the best three mounts for the VZ are easy to install and two offer the use of irons while installed. Muzzle break options are near non existent for the mini, and plentiful and easy for the 858. Magazines are cheap and reliable for the 858 and the complete opposite for the mini. The safety inside the trigger guard on the mini is a stupid design, full stop.
TDC
HOLD THE PHONE!!! Here's the most important question you should ever ask yourself prior to purchasing any firearm.
TDC
