Trouble With CSA AR Mag Adapter

BullOnParade

BullOnParade

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Eastern Ontario
I recently acquired a CSA VZ58 (5.56) and AR adapter from two separate CGN members. I promptly installed the adapter and immediately noticed feeding problems. The rounds are feeding about 1/8" too low, and impacting on the breach face. The lips of the adapter appear to be sitting lower than the rails of the rifle by about 1/8" too.

Can anyone provide insight to my dilemma and/or pictures of how the CSA mag adapter should look when installed (from the inside).

Any help would be appreciated.

Here's a photo of how the adapter is misfeeding, I can take more tonight if someone needs to see something specific to aid in the diagnosis.

null_zps138a01be.jpg
 
Does it do it with all magazines?

I know mine doesn't like certain magazines, I had most success with RRA LAR-15 mags, USGI 5/30 and Gen M3 PMAGs
 
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gosse said:
Could it be possibly that you have an early gen VZ that required machining with the adapter?
Click to expand...

From: CSA Small Arms

The adapter will work in Sa vz. 58 Sporter Carbines with serial numbers 5600004CA through 5600127CA and Sa vz. 58 Sporter Rifles with serial numbers 5600008C
through 5600089C only if the receiver of those firearms is modified. To perform this modification, please see the authorized CSA importer in your region
 
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I knew that was a thing, but completely forgot about it. I'll have to check the serial number when I get home. It fits flush and looks right from the outside, but I don't know exactly what it's really supposed to look like, so if its off, I wouldn't know. Thanks for finding the serial number range for me.

Edit to add; I know the rifle was originally purchased in Quebec last December, anyone know if this is likely to be an older rifle?
 
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BullOnParade said:
I recently acquired a CSA VZ58 (5.56) and AR adapter from two separate CGN members. I promptly installed the adapter and immediately noticed feeding problems. The rounds are feeding about 1/8" too low, and impacting on the breach face. The lips of the adapter appear to be sitting lower than the rails of the rifle by about 1/8" too.
Click to expand...

Do the mags seat properly? I am working on making the 5.56 adapter work in my 11.8" carbine in 7.62x39 and I need to machine a bit of material to clear the front corners of my XCR pistol mags and allow them to seat properly. Once that is done it looks like everything will line up properly.


Mark
 
Okay, my rifle was made after 5600089C, so the adapter should work as is. The mags sit flush with the adapter, I wholly believe it is a fault with the adapter or my installation. I have a difficult time blaming my installation because adapter not only sits flush with the bottom of the receiver, but also locks in place with the replacement VZ mag release.

Mark Williams, could you take a picture at roughly the same angle as in my OP? Trying to tell if your adapter sits at the same height as mine.
 
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BullOnParade said:
Thanks Mark!
So it looks like the plastic tabs on top of the adapter are sitting directly under the steel rails. Are they touching?
Click to expand...

No there is a gap of at least 1/8".

I would have said it's definitely your mags, but as you say it's not that I'll be buggered if I know what could be the problem.
 
What's that alloy looking thing directly below the bullet in your picture ?

It looks like the front of the magazine is covering the lower feed ramp.
 
I agree with Mark. You are probably going to have to modify the mag to make it fit properly.

From Czechpoint website:

The Czech Small Arms mag well adapter was designed specifically for aluminum mil-spec USGI M16/AR-15 5.56x45mm magazines. During research and development of the mag well adapter, CSA confirmed that different brands of M16/AR-15 magazines can vary considerably in size and in construction.

Due to the limited space within the vz.58 magazine well, CSA could not design the adapter to function with all M16/AR-15 magazines found on the market. It is this reason that CSA designed the adapter to function reliably with aluminum mil-spec USGI magazines.

For highest reliability in feeding, activation of bolt catch, and dropping freely of the mag well adapter when ejected, CSA recommends the new manufacturer branded magazines below.
These mil-spec USGI M16/AR-15 magazines exhibited outstanding fit and function during mag well adapter testing.

-NHMTG
-D&H Industries
-C Products
-Okay Industries
- Lancer model L5AWM

Addtional magazine information gained from testing:

- surplus/old stock USGI 30 round magazines were found to drop freely and easily using the following branded magazines: Colt, Adventure Line, and Labelle. Feeding and bolt catch performed flawlessly.

- P-mag and E-mag will not fit/function without without taking a few minutes with a file and removing plastic in areas that rub.

- an old 20 round Vietnam era magazine did not fit nor function well.

- Thermolds do not fit/function

- Israeli Orlites do not fit/function

- new production 30 round aluminum magazines from Brownells did not activate the bolt catch. In addition, these magazines did not drop freely from the adapter.

- Tango Down ARC magazine will not fit/function without taking a few minutes with a file and removing plastic to allow full insertion.
 
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wingshots said:
I agree with Mark. You are probably going to have to modify the mag to make it fit properly.

From Czechpoint website:

The Czech Small Arms mag well adapter was designed specifically for aluminum mil-spec USGI M16/AR-15 5.56x45mm magazines. During research and development of the mag well adapter, CSA confirmed that different brands of M16/AR-15 magazines can vary considerably in size and in construction.

Due to the limited space within the vz.58 magazine well, CSA could not design the adapter to function with all M16/AR-15 magazines found on the market. It is this reason that CSA designed the adapter to function reliably with aluminum mil-spec USGI magazines.

For highest reliability in feeding, activation of bolt catch, and dropping freely of the mag well adapter when ejected, CSA recommends the new manufacturer branded magazines below.
These mil-spec USGI M16/AR-15 magazines exhibited outstanding fit and function during mag well adapter testing.

-NHMTG
-D&H Industries
-C Products
-Okay Industries
- Lancer model L5AWM

Addtional magazine information gained from testing:

- surplus/old stock USGI 30 round magazines were found to drop freely and easily using the following branded magazines: Colt, Adventure Line, and Labelle. Feeding and bolt catch performed flawlessly.

- P-mag and E-mag will not fit/function without without taking a few minutes with a file and removing plastic in areas that rub.

- an old 20 round Vietnam era magazine did not fit nor function well.

- Thermolds do not fit/function

- Israeli Orlites do not fit/function

- new production 30 round aluminum magazines from Brownells did not activate the bolt catch. In addition, these magazines did not drop freely from the adapter.

- Tango Down ARC magazine will not fit/function without taking a few minutes with a file and removing plastic to allow full insertion.
Click to expand...

That's very interesting but not surprising. I have told several people that mags need fitting to a particular firearm and they have looked at me like I am out to lunch. "If it's made for an sks it should work in an sks" Gimme strength.
 
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