New VZ 58 & Weird Range Visit

Mickey615

Mickey615

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I wasn't quite sure what I was looking for, but was in Wholesale Sports looking for another rifle earlier this week. The guy at the counter recommended the CSA VZ 58, and told me about all the wonderful modifications I could do to it. Needless to say, with my lack of impulse control it came home with me. Now it could just be the novelty, but in a short time, it has turned into one of my favorites in my small collection.

As soon as I got it home, I stripped it and cleaned it, then hopped on this site looking for inspiration. Here's what we have so far:

- Magpul STR stock
- CAA Tactical foregrip
- Magpul AFG-2
- Vortex Sparc red dot (swapped out Bushnell Trophy)

I'll be watching the mailbox in anticipation for the remainder of my accessories. I have coming:

- CSA mag well conversion (already stocked up on LAR mags)
- CZ/VZ large muzzle break from Wolverines

I think it looks and feels fantastic so far, and can't wait until it's finished.

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So now for my weird range trip story. It didn't make me think any less of the gun. Surprisingly the opposite.

I went with a buddy to the Shooting Edge to zero the red dot and see how it would perform. I had a Bushnell Trophy red dot on it originally. After a few rounds, I noticed the glass of the red dot was getting build up from gas venting at the rear sight. It didn't end the day, but it gradually got to the point where I was squinting to see my target.

Got everything sighted in, and after about 15-20 rounds, had a failure to eject, jamming the next round into it's case. After removing the magazine and the jammed round, I noticed the spent casing from the previous round was still in the bore. I cycled the action to see if the extractor would grab it, but it wouldn't. It was in there pretty good. I ended up using a cleaning rod to push it out. Had one or two more FTE's, but they came right out after cycling the action. Figured out this was my fault, as I was semi-riding the bolt home before letting go. Once I focussed on making sure I wasn't riding the bolt, the FTE's stopped.

So now everything is going well. This is my first time with a red dot, and I have to say I really like it (even though every magazine is making it harder to see through). At around the 80 round mark, I notice that the crown nut and buffer tube have shot loose a little, and the stock is tilting at a weird angle. I gave it a twist to tighten it, but the crown nut had backed up a thread or two, and the stock locked in at an angle. I figured I'd shorten the trip and head home to try and fix it.

Before I left, I went to the counter and purchased the Vortex Sparc, figuring as it was a lot shorter, the grime buildup wouldn't be a problem anymore (And it looks a lot better on the rifle than the Trophy did).

Went home, stripped and cleaned the rifle. Then I tried to fix the buffer tube angle. It wasn't happening. I'd managed to set the crown nut, and it wouldn't budge. As I don't have that wrench yet, I decided to go hunting for one.

I ended up at the Calgary Shooting Centre, and their gunsmith made everything better. He even lock tighted it, and now that tube's never coming off :)

Now I have to wait at least 24 hours for the red lock tight to set, and I can go zero the new red dot.

All in all, minus the small inconveniences today, I think we're going to be great friends!
 
Had one or two more FTE's, but they came right out after cycling the action. Figured out this was my fault, as I was semi-riding the bolt home before letting go. Once I focussed on making sure I wasn't riding the bolt, the FTE's stopped.
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Odd. Riding the bolt closed should cause a failure-to-feed, not to eject.

VZ's sometimes require a bit of break-in. What sort of ammo were you using? Was the rifle well lubricated?

If your stock adaptor has moved, you'll have to take the buffer tube off to re-set and tighten it. Make sure you loc-tite or stake the castle nut when you reassemble. I've drilled through the adapter and tube and used a pop rivet on my CSA. Combined with staking the castle nut it ensures nothing is going to come loose on the stock.

If you don't have an AR stock wrench, you can get by with a hammer and punch. It helps to have a bench vise or a buddy to hold the rifle if you do this.
 
Thankfully the gun smith at the Shooting Centre got the tube fixed for me. Right after I got home the TSE called and let me know they received more of the AR stock wrenches. I figure now that it's been reset and lock tighted, I won't need the wrench.

I was using bulk .223 from Western Munitions. I believe they are factory reloads from spent American brass. Fired 100 rounds, and 3 FTE's. I agree with you that everything will be better after a bit more break in period. Planning on heading out for round two on holiday Monday :)

All in all, still very pleased with it. I enjoy my SKS, but lack of options for inexpensive, indoor range approved, non-corrosive ammo locally has caused it to be left in the safe more and more. Makes me really want to love the VZ 58 as .223 is everywhere and cheap.
 
Ive heard about some stuck bore casings in the 223 versions. I've never had that with the 2 VZ [762] rifles i have now but i still polish the bore with a drill and jewellers polish just to make for easy extractions and prevent lacquer from sticking.

-chris
 
223 can be tempermental in the csa guns, but I've usually only heard of your issues in the shorter barrelled 11.75 223 guns. Mine has the occasional stove pipe FTE but it is happening less and less the more I shoot it.
 
I have a VZ58 in the 223 flavour and I have learned they like the hot loads for sure I reloaded a boatload of em that cycled perfectly in my M4 and gave me nothing but grief in the VZ always FTE but i havent found a factory load yet that i couldnt fire, great choice of guns mine is dressed up in a nice dark wood skirt and looking real ###y lol
Cheers Steve
 
Are the Wholesale VZ's chrome lined? The price is a little more than a CZ858, but I'm thinking it might be worth it for a non restricted gun I can put a folding stock on and use AR mags in.
 
Round two today went really well. I'm loving how she shoots! I'm also really glad I got the Vortex Sparc. So much better than the Trophy I originally had on it. 100 rounds, 2 FTE's (less is better). Shooter in the next bay also had another VZ-58, so we had a good chat about them.

Hopefully the mailman brings me the rest of my goodies in time for next weekends trip to the range.

I've also found myself looking really hard at the BC Tactical handgrips. Any feedback on these? They look fantastic.
 
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