VZ. 58 Barrel Swap

[Canuckster]

Hey guys,

I have a 15.5" vz. 58 barrel from a parts kit that I want to swap into my 858.

1) Does anyone have a lead on a barrel press fixture?
2) Has anyone actually pressed out a barrel from a complete receiver & pressed in a new barrel?

I'm using a 20 ton press and making a custom arbor to press the old barrel out (2 staggered and welded together to fit inside the receiver)

So where did all the parts kit barrels go? Is anyone using them?

Cheers

 

[H Wally]

All heresay on my behalf, but have heard that rebarreling them is difficult. Don't have much info past that since most sources are american and using US made parts, different receivers etc. Just be careful - don't want to wreck the gun, and sounds harder than average

 

[Canuckster]

All heresay on my behalf, but have heard that rebarreling them is difficult. Don't have much info past that since most sources are american and using US made parts, different receivers etc. Just be careful - don't want to wreck the gun, and sounds harder than average

Thanks Wally,

I've done a ton of research on the US sites. I think a lot of their issues were related primarily to barrel support during pressing (i.e. not doing it) and barrels not fitting properly due to variation in the US made receivers.

This is why I'm really interested to know who did what with all those vz. 58 parts kit barrels that Marstar (?) sold a while back...somebody must have tried pressing one in.

Cheers

 

[ButtWhat]

There is a build somewhere on the web where a guy shows step by step rebuilding his VZ including the barrel. I do not have the direct link though. If I find it I will post it.

 

[wbaad]

I wouldn't do it unless the barrel was toast and you had nothing to lose. Better off trading it for a shorter barreled one, which is restricted btw.

 

[Deckard]

I think the Shooting Centre owner has a lead on this. Let us know.

 

[Canuckster]

There is a build somewhere on the web where a guy shows step by step rebuilding his VZ including the barrel. I do not have the direct link though. If I find it I will post it.

Chances are I've got it bookmarked, but I'd still appreciate seeing whatever you've got.

There's plenty of stuff out there on AK barrels, but I've only ever found one youtube vid of a vz barrel pull from a cut receiver:

and one of the factory pressing barrels in ('CSA Factory' at 7:20):
http://www.csa.co.cz/en/14-videos.html

Cheers

 

[Canuckster]

I wouldn't do it unless the barrel was toast and you had nothing to lose. Better off trading it for a shorter barreled one, which is restricted btw.

Life's a journey, and I want to do this. I'm aware the 15.5" barrel length of the replacement is restricted, thanks

I think the Shooting Centre owner has a lead on this. Let us know.

Thanks for the lead Deckard, good hearing from you again.

Cheers

 

[Porkchopsandwhich]

There's a video from checkpoint? on YouTube that shows a tour inside CSA. nothing really technical but if i recall they heat the receiver prior to pressing the barrels on.

*unable to find the video

 

[P0WERWAGON]

the ones i saw, they cut flush the barrel, then bored it out in a lathe and cut a slot on the inside so the barrel would come out easy. then pressed in the new barrel.