Not a good range day with the Vz58's!!!

CobraGT

CobraGT

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The rainy part of BC
So, went to the Poco range today with my CSA Vz58 compact/shorty and military-length Vz58. Up until now, I've always been happy with this platform (and still am, overall) but I just couldn't win today!

First, the compact - casing ejects, bolt carrier gets stuck partway closed while chambering next round. I look to see what has happened, and find that the gas piston has snapped in half, with part of it wedged in place above the chamber, keeping the carrier from closing!! :eek:

Ok, so, no problem. I just figure I'll shoot the other Vz instead, and worry about the piston when I get home. Warranty issue, I guess; should be no big deal.

So I break out the standard-length Vz58 - after a couple of boxes, casing ejects, new round chambers, but trigger is dead. Gremlin? Nope, the pin just above and ahead of the safety has slipped out of its hole, and gummed up the works internally!! Probably not a big deal to fix if I had tools - which I didn't - but brought an early end to the range day :(

I'll post pics later, but for now... grrrrrrr!!! I can't win!!!! (ok, I'm done ranting now)
 
They're well-oiled, and it definitely wasn't extreme cold! lol

On the upside, the day wasn't all bad - the new Norinco 1911 functioned flawlessly, all of the other guns worked fine, and I found a good deal on 9mm and .22lr ammo at a shop right on my way home :)

The pics:

Broken piston:
VZ0003.jpg



Wandering pin: (this was a 2-minute fix once I got the gun home... realized that I could have easily fixed this at the range, as it was just the pin locking lever being out of position that caused it)
VZ0001.jpg

VZ0002.jpg
 
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My buddies compact had the same prob with the piston.snapped right in half.
Contact North Sylva as they know about this problem.
 
pc9 said:
My buddies compact had the same prob with the piston.snapped right in half.
Contact North Sylva as they know about this problem.
Click to expand...

Good to know I'm not the only one, but at the same time not reassuring so far as reliability of this part... maybe I should buy a couple of extra pistons! :ang3
 
GT make sure you push down the locking plate on the inside of the receiver or your pins will wander again. Happened to me a couple of times before one of the CGN VZ gurus told me about the plate.
 
PC9 - thanks, email sent to North Sylva - I expect they'll deal with the issue without any problem.

Clobb - thanks, the locking plate was in the open/unlocked position. I knew about this, but never checked it when I bought the gun secondhand! It is now most definitely in the down and locked position :) Shouldn't have this problem again.
 
CobraGT said:
Good to know I'm not the only one, but at the same time not reassuring so far as reliability of this part... maybe I should buy a couple of extra pistons! :ang3
Click to expand...
Maybe CSA should build a better quality firearm. CZ-858s built on 50 year old used parts kits have better reliability. I'd be looking for a refund.
 
Well I don't know what's going on with these compacts but my buddy ended up buying his brothers and he took it out yesterday and shot maybe 20 rnds and guess what. The piston snapped just like the other one:confused:
There is something definitely wrong withe the pistons.
 
i think its all the taticool you have hanging off of your rifle.....im kidding. sad though to see that the pistons are snaping. had a problem with a socom 2 barrel doing that.
 
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