New CZ-858 has "loose" handgaurd?

Superdude

Superdude

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I have been shooting 22LR for a while now, and recently decided to pick up my first large bore rifle. After debating SKS vs CZ 858, I ended up getting the pricier CZ 858 Tactical 2 (manufactured by CZ, not CSA) from Kelly's. I received it today and am so far disappointed with the fit and finish.

I can accept the visible milling marks, the ugly grey enamel, and the fact that I don't have a "tabbed" bolt carrier, BUT my lower handguard seems to be extremely loose, and it is driving me crazy. I can slide it back and forth at least half an inch. This goes for the barrel hoop thing in front of the lower handguard as well. Is this to be expected? I can't tell if its because the handguard is too short, or if the space it sits in is too long (although I don't think it is the latter).

I have no idea how to fix this aside from somehow making the lower handguard longer (i.e. Inserting a spacer, or replacing with a longer handgaurd). I was considering getting upper and lower NEA handguards, but now I'm worried I won't be able to install them if the problem is that the space is too long.

Anyways, I know some of you have owned, or at least handled, more than one CZ 858. Is my problem a real problem, or just me expecting perfection? Please let me know if you need extra info that I've forgotten. Thanks!

(P.S. The upper handguard seems fine, and is not overly loose).
 
CZ 858 are made el cheapo. No news here.

Return it if you can't live with it. Ask them to tab it, see what they can do for you.

Is the front sight hooded or AK style.
 
First off, ill buy it from you for a reduced price of course cuz the handguard wobbles.

Second, does the.lower handguard have the retaining plate that fits on the rear of the lower h/g??
If it doesnt there is the problem if it does push the roll pin out and place a piece of electrical tape on the rear and put roll pin back in.

People think the cz is in what some "layman terms" would consider el cheapo when in fact this rifle has been in service and still is to this day for almost 60 years!!!!!!
 
bfiles said:
First off, ill buy it from you for a reduced price of course cuz the handguard wobbles.

Second, does the.lower handguard have the retaining plate that fits on the rear of the lower h/g??
If it doesnt there is the problem if it does push the roll pin out and place a piece of electrical tape on the rear and put roll pin back in.

People think the cz is in what some "layman terms" would consider el cheapo when in fact this rifle has been in service and still is to this day for almost 60 years!!!!!!
Click to expand...
The rifle desighn itself is great ges talking about machining quality in wich case te recievers look like ####
 
bfiles said:
First off, ill buy it from you for a reduced price of course cuz the handguard wobbles.

Second, does the.lower handguard have the retaining plate that fits on the rear of the lower h/g??
If it doesnt there is the problem if it does push the roll pin out and place a piece of electrical tape on the rear and put roll pin back in.

People think the cz is in what some "layman terms" would consider el cheapo when in fact this rifle has been in service and still is to this day for almost 60 years!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Bfiles i was waiting for you to join in and say thatLaugh2 does buy at a reduced price ever work for you? you must have alot of cz's if it does. i would try it more often if i didnt feel bad about cutting your grass;)
 
Well, I'm not sure I want to part with it so soon ;)

Bfiles: It does have the rear retaining plate you describe, so I'll try and close the gap using a bit of electrical tape between the retaining plate and lower handguard. Thanks for the suggestion--I'll let you know how it works out.
 
Does the lower handguard have the metal spacer that fits over the end (nearest magazine)?
Pictures would help.

L
 
I wouldn't worry about how an NEA handguard would fit on your gun. Generally the aftermarket handguards fit tighter than the original ones, to the point where you have to file some of them.
 
223762 said:
Bfiles i was waiting for you to join in and say thatLaugh2 does buy at a reduced price ever work for you? you must have alot of cz's if it does. i would try it more often if i didnt feel bad about cutting your grass;)
Click to expand...

LMFAO, i do have a special love for the CZ line of rifles and pistols.

@ the OP, i had to do this to one of mine with the tape trick and it works fine. You will never need to replace it unless you change the lower handguard of course.
 
Check and see if the slotted plate under the forward part of the gas tube (the part that the forward tip of the lower hand guard would fit into) is not loose.
This is what happened with mine.
I had to take some baling wire and wedge/floss it up between the gas block and that plate, it put a lot of rearward pressure on the plate and thus the hand guard itself eliminating the slight forward/rearward wiggle in the hand guard.

You could also use an epoxy on the square lower handguard protrusion that the metal cap fits over. Build it up with epoxy so that it is thicker and pushes the handguard forward towards the muzzle also eliminating the wiggle. You can just build up epoxy and then use a good small file to shape the thing square again and groove out the notch for the guard retaining pin.

Post some pics!
 
half an inch seems like a lot. Mine moved about an 1/8 and that was huge back and forth movement.
To fix mine, I made a thin U shaped brass shim to fit in between the front of the hand guard and the bracket underneath the sight post. Tightened it right up, I had to smack it in.
Let me know if you want pictures of my fix, it's really easy if you have the materials.
 
Travis Bickle said:
You could also use an epoxy on the square lower handguard protrusion that the metal cap fits over. Build it up with epoxy so that it is thicker and pushes the handguard forward towards the muzzle also eliminating the wiggle. You can just build up epoxy and then use a good small file to shape the thing square again and groove out the notch for the guard retaining pin.

Post some pics!
Click to expand...


This is what I'll probably try if I decide to go with stock handguards. However, I'm hoping to snag the NEA upper and lower handguards as soon as they become available again (I've had trouble finding them, but SFRC hopes to have them in a few weeks). So i might just wait a little longer before doing anything. Thanks again for the tips!
 
Superdude said:
This is what I'll probably try if I decide to go with stock handguards. However, I'm hoping to snag the NEA upper and lower handguards as soon as they become available again (I've had trouble finding them, but SFRC hopes to have them in a few weeks). So i might just wait a little longer before doing anything. Thanks again for the tips!
Click to expand...

Then again, you could exchange it for one not so "loose". Call your retailer up and discuss it with them.
 
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