The Original CZ Forum
CZ LONG ARMS => VZ-58 semi auto rifle => Topic started by: Chip N Sawbones on October 31, 2014, 12:01:15 AM
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I ordered a couple boxes of stripper clips off of eBay from a seller in Slovakia, and they came with the following message inside:
"I offer 45 rnds mags for Sa vz.58 in 7,62x39mm. Each 45 rnds mag is excellent hand welded by blacksmith from two original 30 rnds mags. Each 45 rnds mag has new colour with great surface for grip. Price for one is 60.-USD including shipping. I'm sorry for this advertising, but I can not offer this item on eBay. Best regards,
Vladmir"
I've never met the guy and I can't vouch for the quality of his 45 round mags, but his eBay seller rating was 100%, and the stripper clips he sent were good. PM me and I'll give you his email. 30 rounds at a time is enough for me, but I thought some people here might prefer more.
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Heck! I would like to see pictures of that item. Sounds interesting.
Jason 8)
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What are the legalities of shipping a 45rd magazine from Slovakia to the US? I remember searching for an answer to this once and what I found is it lands in the "grey area". It seems everyone is in disagreement on whether it is legal or not.
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Those would go over great in DC and California.
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Buy one and post pics! :)
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I have two of Vladimir's 45 round magazines. Anyone want to give me a quick tutorial on uploading photos so I can post pics?
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[imghttp://(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag401/idahopostman/qq_zpsb5d362a1.jpg) (http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/idahopostman/media/qq_zpsb5d362a1.jpg.html)][/img]
Only pic I have at the moment.
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Guess I figured out how to post pics myself... :)
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag401/idahopostman/a1_zps7635956a.jpg)
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag401/idahopostman/a3_zpsec591fe6.jpg)
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag401/idahopostman/a4_zpsd2b8b832.jpg)
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag401/idahopostman/a2_zpse94653a9.jpg)
These literally arrived at my door yesterday and were waiting when I got home from work. Sorry if the pics are too large. Finish is really good. Just a hint of where the tow mags were joined to make one. Have not had a chance to use them yet. Anything else anyone wants to know about mine?
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Is the spring longer than standard?
Guessing he's using RPK mag springs (@ 40 rounds), but don't know for certain...
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Just disassembled a regular 30 round mag and one of the 45 rounders. Springs are identical in each.
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It looks so strange but makes me want one just for the heck of it
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I should have the chance to test fire the mags this weekend and will post the results. Painted finish on these mags is very good as stated before, but more "textured" than the milsurp Czech or Czechpoint mags I have. Fit in the weapon is solid. More to come.
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Obviously, the pic with the two magazines shows a standard 30 rd mag to the right of the 45 rd. Should have posted this with the photo for clarity's sake.
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Looking forward to your review of his product.
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The construction is decent enough and the finish is good looking, my concern would be the function of the 30 round-mag-spring. Your range test will be telling.
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You would only need one mag on a hunt, that's fer sure.
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Depends on what you're hunting, the area you can see/cover with fire, and how good of a shot you are...
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This should blow your mind... This is what Vladimir is working on currently... translucent polymer... O0
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag401/idahopostman/DSCN3907_zpsea8745f0.jpg)
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag401/idahopostman/DSCN3908_zpsd51eee3b.jpg)
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Getting ready for the test....
(http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag401/idahopostman/aa_zps4c9377b2.jpg)
Can you tell I just learned how to post pics?
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Can you tell I just learned how to post pics?
No, but I can tell that you take advantage of Harbor Freight's coupons. Aren't those free flashlights great?
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Free junk at Harbor Freight rules! I dream of retiring and traveling the country selling all the bin loads of crap I picked up for free at HF!!!
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Free junk at Harbor Freight rules! I dream of retiring and traveling the country selling all the bin loads of crap I picked up for free at HF!!!
I always laugh when I see people selling free Harbor Freight stuff for more than Harbor Freight sells it for
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Got out over the weekend and had 500 round of Tulammo to run through my two extended magazines to see how they functioned. Wanted to include photos but that did not happen... it was raining lightly when my range time began and continued raining harder throughout the test. My range is my backyard, so no covered lanes... yet :). Only got through 440 round then it got too wet even for me. Short story is: one mag GREAT, one mag needs some adjustment.
Loaded both mags to full capacity, along with nine BXN stripper clips for an additional full reload each. Remaining ammo came with me boxed up. First mag ran flawlessly. Shot the first 45 round magazine 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rounds per burst with breaks to let the barrel cool. No malfunctions. This left 5 rounds in the mag. This is where I thought I might run into problems because of the mag spring not having enough force to advance the last shells. Five bangs with each trigger pull. Loaded the first mag with varying numbers of round, multiple times and not a glitch. 1 round, 3 rounds, 2 rounds, 9 rounds whatever etc. Whatever I loaded, mag A fed in my rifle. Used 4 1/2 stripper clips to fully reload the magazine while in the rifle. Again no issues. Shot all 45 as fast as possible with zero failures. I am happy.
On to mag B. Wanted to repeat of all the tests done with mag A. Fully loaded with 45 rounds, the second shell fails to cycle in mag B The bolt would not strip the round from the magazine to load in the chamber. Instead the bolt would just force the bullet forward, but not up the ramp into the bore. This pattern continued with every other round failing to load... until the magazine capacity was at thirty rounds or less, then it functioned just fine. Initially I thought that it might be the follower/spring. Went and got a 30 round mag from the house. Swapped out the follower/spring. Issue persisted. Disassembled mag again and upon inspection it appears there are some rough areas on the interior of mag B where the joint is that formed the extension. It is just out of finger reach from the bottom of the mag, approx. 3 1/2 inches from the bottom. Plan on working some emery cloth, or something similar, over the area to see if this will correct the situation. Have not had the chance to work on it. When I do, I will post the results. Next time I will break out my other vz as well to check the reliability in another rifle. As I said, I initially worried about failures with the last few rounds... reality was just the opposite.
Contacted Vladimir (the seller), about what occurred and, unsolicited, he told me he would send me another mag. This does not surprise me. I have been emailing him for some time and have purchased multiple items from him, initially through Ebay and then on my own. I have ALWAYS received what was promised and have been more than satisfied with each and every transaction. Not wanting to broadcast his email information without his consent, I asked him if I could give out his contact information, if asked. Green light given, so if anyone wants his email shoot me a PM and I will respond. I told him about this site, but I imagine he already knew about it. When you contact him, tell him the postman says hello. For full disclosure I have no horse in this race. I have nothing to gain from these mags or their sale... other than to help a friend I met. I'm sure I left something out, but I wanted to get this down sooner than later. Also, no issues at all with the Tulammo. Questions? Please ask...
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Got out over the weekend and had 500 round of Tulammo to run through my two extended magazines to see how they functioned. Wanted to include photos but that did not happen... it was raining lightly when my range time began and continued raining harder throughout the test. My range is my backyard, so no covered lanes... yet :). Only got through 440 round then it got too wet even for me. Short story is: one mag GREAT, one mag needs some adjustment.
Loaded both mags to full capacity, along with nine BXN stripper clips for an additional full reload each. Remaining ammo came with me boxed up. First mag ran flawlessly. Shot the first 45 round magazine 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rounds per burst with breaks to let the barrel cool. No malfunctions. This left 5 rounds in the mag. This is where I thought I might run into problems because of the mag spring not having enough force to advance the last shells. Five bangs with each trigger pull. Loaded the first mag with varying numbers of round, multiple times and not a glitch. 1 round, 3 rounds, 2 rounds, 9 rounds whatever etc. Whatever I loaded, mag A fed in my rifle. Used 4 1/2 stripper clips to fully reload the magazine while in the rifle. Again no issues. Shot all 45 as fast as possible with zero failures. I am happy.
On to mag B. Wanted to repeat of all the tests done with mag A. Fully loaded with 45 rounds, the second shell fails to cycle in mag B The bolt would not strip the round from the magazine to load in the chamber. Instead the bolt would just force the bullet forward, but not up the ramp into the bore. This pattern continued with every other round failing to load... until the magazine capacity was at thirty rounds or less, then it functioned just fine. Initially I thought that it might be the follower/spring. Went and got a 30 round mag from the house. Swapped out the follower/spring. Issue persisted. Disassembled mag again and upon inspection it appears there are some rough areas on the interior of mag B where the joint is that formed the extension. It is just out of finger reach from the bottom of the mag, approx. 3 1/2 inches from the bottom. Plan on working some emery cloth, or something similar, over the area to see if this will correct the situation. Have not had the chance to work on it. When I do, I will post the results. Next time I will break out my other vz as well to check the reliability in another rifle. As I said, I initially worried about failures with the last few rounds... reality was just the opposite.
Contacted Vladimir (the seller), about what occurred and, unsolicited, he told me he would send me another mag. This does not surprise me. I have been emailing him for some time and have purchased multiple items from him, initially through Ebay and then on my own. I have ALWAYS received what was promised and have been more than satisfied with each and every transaction. Not wanting to broadcast his email information without his consent, I asked him if I could give out his contact information, if asked. Green light given, so if anyone wants his email shoot me a PM and I will respond. I told him about this site, but I imagine he already knew about it. When you contact him, tell him the postman says hello. For full disclosure I have no horse in this race. I have nothing to gain from these mags or their sale... other than to help a friend I met. I'm sure I left something out, but I wanted to get this down sooner than later. Also, no issues at all with the Tulammo. Questions? Please ask...
Can you PM me his contact information. I need to grab some of these mags.
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Great write up. I'll take his info, too, for those polymer mags whenever he finishes. Thanks!
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This should blow your mind... This is what Vladimir is working on currently... translucent polymer... O0
Interesting, but I question the need for the polymer since 1) the VZ mags are already so light and 2) all the problems noted with non-steel reinforced polymer mags across other platforms -- especially w/ AKs.
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shipping mags from outside the country is, unfortunately illegal due to ITAR. I looked into this with a possible group by for standard mags direct from the Czech Republic... I even went so far as to call the ATFE... I'm sure onesie, twosies will get by, but don't get froggy and try ordering tens or hundreds, I'm fairly certain that none of us want to spend time in club fed for some mags! ;)
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shipping mags from outside the country is, unfortunately illegal due to ITAR. I looked into this with a possible group by for standard mags direct from the Czech Republic... I even went so far as to call the ATFE... I'm sure onesie, twosies will get by, but don't get froggy and try ordering tens or hundreds, I'm fairly certain that none of us want to spend time in club fed for some mags! ;)
What if they are disassembled into "rebuild" kits? Does that skirt the legality?
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shipping mags from outside the country is, unfortunately illegal due to ITAR. I looked into this with a possible group by for standard mags direct from the Czech Republic... I even went so far as to call the ATFE... I'm sure onesie, twosies will get by, but don't get froggy and try ordering tens or hundreds, I'm fairly certain that none of us want to spend time in club fed for some mags! ;)
Wow I had no idea. I was always under the impression exporting from USA was the restriction, not the other way around. I'd love to try the polymer mags, I'm sure they'll be neat, but not worth incurring Uncle Sam's wrath over it. Pity...