Took the VZ58 plunge! WOW!!!!

[imarangemaster]

Been an M1 Carbine, AK, and AR guy for years, but have been eyeballing the VZ58 for several years. I like off the mainstream weapons - my favorite weapon is my Sterling made Armalite AR180. With Centerfire Systems dropping the price to $349 and accessory kit with 4 mags, bayonet, etc for $79, I could not wait any longer.


I picked my VZ58 up at my dealer today. At $350, it is an amazing value! Light, small, and handy, all with a milled receiver and folding stock. With its alloy magazine, it is over a pound lighter than my plum Saiga with a Mil-surp steel magazine. It just feels MUCH handier than an AK! The safety is way easier to use than an AK lever, too.


The fit and finish on mine is way better than the average Century builds (WASR, etc). Nice dark gray parkerized steel. The 14mm R FUGLY AK slant brake screws on and off easily, so I replaced it with a CNC Warrior VZ58 brake. It came with one magazine and I ordered a $79 accessory kit with pouch, 4 more mags, bayonet and sheath, sling, cleaning kit. All 5 mags are very good to excellent condition. The leather pouch is used, but good condition and very supple. The bayonet, well, it's a bayonet... I have more magazines ordered from Czechpoint at $13 each. I got three more mags, another pouch, and a complete fixed stock assembly from Czeckpoint while they are cheap and available.
CNC Warrior brake:


I thought I would specifically give my impressions of the Century VZ58. The earlier Century VZ2008s has some bad press, so I thought I would review the current issue VZ58 models from Century (different inventory number from prior Century builds). I field stripped it and broke it down. The relative light weight of the weapon, despite a solid milled steel receiver, is amazing! The VZ58 is incredibly easy to strip down, even faster than my AK, especially when you take off gas tubes, too. Most parts in the Century build look new or slightly used with no wear. Recoil and striker springs appear to be new. No rust or signs of any corrosion past or present. Some residue, apparently from test firing, was present. There was no cosmolene or grease of any kind ion the internals. The trigger of the Century builds are steel rather than polymer of the Czechpoint models. Front sight tower and barrel block (and rear sights) are perfectly square and straight. The fit and finish of the parkerized metal parts is excellent, as is the fit of the rather unusual wood impregnated hand guard and pistol grip. The VZ58 sights are almost identical to an AK, which is fine because I actually like them.

I really like the striker system they use. It is very simple design, and appears it would run dry (no oil) as well as with oil. Lots of room for tolerance of dirt and crud. Barrel is US made (by Green Mountain, I understand) with 4 lands and grooves. It is not chrome lined, but considering the majority of commonly available 7.62x39 ammo is non-corrosive (except Yugo Surplus). If you do use corrosive, the weapons platform is so easy to clean, it should not be a problem.

The folding stock is incredibly secure and rigid when open, and folds well out of the way to the right side. It is seems so small and light with the stock folded that it reminds me of an MP38/40 as far as handiness. It really seems much less bulky than and AK, especially a folding stock version. When extended, the VZ58 snaps up quickly and is a natural pointing weapon. while the length of pull seems on the short side, I really like it as it lends itself well to an "elbows tucked in" CQB position. The rear sling loop adjacent the folding stock is perfectly located for single point sling usage (a'la Spetznaz style). The ability to charge partially empty magazines while still in the weapon with SKS stripper clips is an interesting feature, too.

Overall, I am VERY impressed, both with the VZ58 weapon platform, and with the quality of these Century VZ58 builds! Say what you want, this is one of the best $350 investments I have ever made. It has already displaced my restored "Plum furnitured Saiga" as a personal favorite, and is nudging to a close second behind my all time beloved Armalite AR-180!

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