Do CSA VZ-58s still have the "gemlin"?

762mm

762mm

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This might've been answered before, but... do CSA VZ 58s still have the dreaded gremlin, where the gun periodically jams on ammo? (according to what I've read, on the original VZ-58 made by CZ it was due to one of the internal springs being too weak). I am particularly interested in the .223 versions, as I am seriously considering getting one of these to go with my CZ-858 in 7.62x39.

So... any thoughts or, even better, first hand experiences with these CSAs anyone?

:confused:
 
The gremlin is not the "gun periodically jamming on ammo."

And no, they don't have the gremlin due to the tab on the bolt carrier.

There's a pile of threads on the CSA guns.

IMG_1629Medium.jpg
 
Stevo said:
The gremlin is not the "gun periodically jamming on ammo."

And no, they don't have the gremlin due to the tab on the bolt carrier.

There's a pile of threads on the CSA guns.
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Thanks for the info, much appreciated. Nice VZ by the way, is it yours? I'm thinking of putting a few toys on mine too, but can't decide whether it's best to build up the .223 or the 7.62x39, as I'm only going to do it to one of them... because those accessories can cost more than the gun itself, lol!

:p


As for the threads related to CSAs, I have manually browsed through many in the last few days (just casual reading with nothing specific I was looking for)... but I haven't stumbled on anything relevant to that particular question this far, and then realized that it was indeed an important piece of info I'd need before buying the CSA. Anywho, it's good to know that the issue was addressed! Now I can fully justify dumping that $1000+ on a CSA.

:D


P.S. I really like the flash suppressor you've got on yours. Where did you get it from, if you don't mind me asking?


cdm said:
happened to a buddys csa but i found if you really slam the bolt closed it was fine.
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Hmm... good to know, thanks! :)
 
762mm said:
Thanks for the info, much appreciated. Nice VZ by the way, is it yours? I'm thinking of putting a few toys on mine too, but can't decide whether it's best to build up the .223 or the 7.62x39, as I'm only going to do it to one of them... because those accessories can cost more than the gun itself, lol!

:p


As for the threads related to CSAs, I have manually browsed through many in the last few days (just casual reading with nothing specific I was looking for)... but I haven't stumbled on anything relevant to that particular question this far, and then realized that it was indeed an important piece of info I'd need before buying the CSA. Anywho, it's good to know that the issue was addressed! Now I can fully justify dumping that $1000+ on a CSA.
:D


P.S. I really like the flash suppressor you've got on yours. Where did you get it from, if you don't mind me asking?




Hmm... good to know, thanks! :)
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Your paying more than 1K for a CSA? I'd keep shopping around since the new MSRP for the carbines is now $ 899.
 
CSA's were designed from the ground up to be semi-auto. The other 3 versions were done on the original desesign. Hence the rifle is lacking a few normal parts.
 
Cool, thanks for all the info guys! There's definitely quite a few useful things I've learned in this thread! As for the non-restricted CSA's in .223 Remington, the cheapest I've found one was at Wanstall's for $950 (so just over $1k with tax & shipping). Everywhere else it's $999 before taxes & freight. Not cheap, but still beats a "restricted" Colt AR-15 both in legal status and price (and overall durability too, most likely).


Satain said:
CSA's were designed from the ground up to be semi-auto. The other 3 versions were done on the original desesign. Hence the rifle is lacking a few normal parts.
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So... the "other" ones are built on converted _ _ _ _ re-ceevers? (spelling + second word blanked out on purpose... because we dare not speak of such evil in a politically correct environment!)

:eek:
 
762mm said:
So... the "other" ones are built on converted _ _ _ _ re-ceevers? (spelling + second word blanked out on purpose... because we dare not speak of such evil in a politically correct environment!)

:eek:
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No obusley not as that would make it a 12.5 coverted auto and would require us to use a prohib licence to aquire it. As they are new recievers and the rest of it are either made up of surplus parts or could be new. But they use the orignal drawings and then modify the reciever to not allow certain I call saftey features not to be installed. Use the search field to find out more.
 
Satain said:
No obusley not as that would make it a 12.5 coverted auto and would require us to use a prohib licence to aquire it. As they are new recievers and the rest of it are either made up of surplus parts or could be new. But they use the orignal drawings and then modify the reciever to not allow certain I call saftey features not to be installed. Use the search field to find out more.
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Thanks!

That said, once upon a time I saw a non-restricted 858 Tac 2 which had the safety switch stamped with "1" (on the semi-auto firing side) and "30" (on the opposite side of the switch) on the receiver. The safety switch wouldn't go into the "30" zone, but it was stamped on there nevertheless (almost as if...). It also featured a fully chrome lined bore from the factory (all 18.5" of it). I know the general consensus is that the CZ 858 Tac 2 never came with a chrome-lined bore, but this one did (it was brand new, very early model).

Weird, eh?

:p
 
The 858 has never come with a non-restricted chrome-lined barrel. Ever.

You may be confusing it with a non-restricted CZH 2003 (aka VZ-58L)as imported by Marstar in very limited numbers.
 
Stevo said:
The 858 has never come with a non-restricted chrome-lined barrel. Ever.

You may be confusing it with a non-restricted CZH 2003 (aka VZ-58L)as imported by Marstar in very limited numbers.
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Like I said... it was a VERY early model (first batch?) and the 18.5" bore was silver shiny and had evidence of chrome lining in the bore & chamber, unlike the grey-colored chambers/bores I've seen on all the other (later) 858's delivered to Canada afterwards. It also had the "1" & "30" on the receiver (at the safety toggle), unlike the later ones that only have "1" on the semi side. Also, the front sight cover was a half-moon style, not a full circle like the later ones. The gray paint on it seemed a little lighter-colored too, as opposed to darker gray on the later 858 rifles.

It was definitely a CZ 858 and it came in a CZ box with all the standard accessories. It had the "Tactical 2" stamped on the receiver as well. All the mags it came with had the "5 round pin" rivet painted the same color as the rifle, almost as if they factory painted the mag & rifle AFTER pinning the mags. It was bought at the time when the first Vz58 style rifles hit the Canadian market (roughly the first week they were offered for sale) and let's just say that I had the opportunity to handle/play with/take apart that gun more than once... and that I've never seen another one like it since. Chrome lined bores DID exist on early CZ-858's, but were a very short production run apparently. Most people who got them probably didn't even notice.

Now, I wonder if I still have pics of it somewhere... I'll have to look. :confused:
 
Given that you're the only person who's seen one of these rifles or reported it on the internet, and that Wolverine has never advertised a model like that, forgive me if I remain skeptical.

The front sight style is not an indicator of anything other than that's the part that was pulled out of the bin to assemble that particular rifle.

What reason would CZ discontinue a rifle that would sell even better than the regular non-restricteds?
 
Stevo said:
Given that you're the only person who's seen one of these rifles or reported it on the internet, and that Wolverine has never advertised a model like that, forgive me if I remain skeptical.
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No offense taken. I don't know what else to say other than the fact that I've once (many moons ago) bought a brand new CZ-858 with a chrome-lined bore in what appeared to be a full military configuration, minus the capacity to shoot full auto and the non-restricted 18.5" bore... fully chrome lined! I was actually quite disappointed when I bought a second one a few years ago and it came with a gray, non chromed bore & chamber. I felt like CZ had cheaped out in a big way, not knowing (at the time) that my previous one had obviously been a rare specimen.


Stevo said:
What reason would CZ discontinue a rifle that would sell even better than the regular non-restricteds?
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Costs, maybe? Inability to outsource the service locally and/or for cheap? I am sure that chrome lining every NEW bore they produced must've made the production process longer, more complicated (logistics-wise) and therefore more expensive. I might've lucked out and bought a model where they, at first, tried to experiment with chrome lining the 858 bores. Then shortly after, for whatever reason, they abandoned the idea altogether.

Maybe one of the dealers who has contacts at the CZ factory can confirm why? It would be awesome to know the full story behind this. It shouldn't be a big secret as far as the people at CZ are concerned, especially now that CZ has discontinued producing the CZ-858 rifles (in other words, they no longer need to hide why they "cheaped out" later in the production run, lol!).
 
I'm sure the cost is prohibitive. CSA isn't even doing 16" chrome barrels for the US market, they just weld an extension on the end of the stock 15"-ish barrel to make it US legal.

Maybe it just had a finer finished bore on the one you saw? Hence the shinier appearance.
 
Satain said:
Maybe it was a CZ 2003 or most lilely it was the supper rare VZ 58L. They came with non-restricted chromed barrels. Also if I am not mistaken the VZ 58L came with the number 1 and 30 marked on it.
VZ-58L-L.jpg

http://www.marstar.ca/gf-VZ-58L/index.shtm
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The problem is, I got mine when the 858 rifles first hit the Canadian market... in 2004, was it? (or earlier?) Anyway, it was a big hype and cost me quite a bit of money, but I always wanted an AK and no one in my family ever thought of getting one prior to the 1995 bans... big mistake!

So, when these came out, I jumped on the occasion without hesitating. The second I saw how it looked (com-block AK look alike in 7.62x39), I was sold. Mine had the CZ-858 TACTICAL 2 stamped on the receiver, so I have no idea of how it could've been another model.

As for the "shiny bore" being mistaken for chrome... it was definitely chrome lined and not just polished, as I could distinctively see small bits of chrome lining coming out of the chamber (which was also fully chromed inside). I saw some of the completely grey non-chrome lined bores on later 858's and it's night and day in comparison.

I'm still looking for some pictures, but here's a fellow who also claims his Cz 858 was chrome lined... the front sight on my 858 looked exactly the same, but obviously I can't make out any other similarities from his picture. So, although no one else seemed to believe him in his thread, I certainly do! ;)

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=441588
 
Satain said:
No obusley not as that would make it a 12.5 coverted auto and would require us to use a prohib licence to aquire it. As they are new recievers and the rest of it are either made up of surplus parts or could be new. But they use the orignal drawings and then modify the reciever to not allow certain I call saftey features not to be installed. Use the search field to find out more.
Click to expand...

I think that says it all right there. I thinnk some people need to take a closer look at the internals of their CZ rifles.
 
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