New CSA VZ 58

[RSR]

Look at VZ58USA. They seem to have all mag sizes and shapes in stock.

https://www.vz58usa.com/

The $60 for a rattle canned yellow plus a free sticker off of bananas "banana mag" is a hoot!  Did anyone serious buy that at 3x what it's worth!?

[wormraper]

I winced at $45 NOS mil-supr mags when Numrich has THOUSANDS in stock for $19.95

[MeatAxe]

Look at VZ58USA. They seem to have all mag sizes and shapes in stock.

https://www.vz58usa.com/

Wow. They're awfully bleeped proud of their merchandise...not sure how their rifles merit a @ $2,000.00 price tag when CSA's are $1,200 or so at the most.

Who builds their rifles / receivers?

If they could wrangle up an ambidextrous safety, I might be interested, as long as it didn't cost my left nut.

I might have a rear to fire safety or two in my collection that I'd be willing to part with -- forward to fire just requires filing a slot on the 180* inverse and for the detent on the other side.  Probably $75-100 ballpark pricewise.  These were never cheap.

Per mods' request added the same to my classifieds listing here: https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=110643.msg859489#msg859489

Interesting...do you have to do any mods to a CSA Vz58 to get the ambi safety to work?

"Rear to fire only without your modifications AT YOUR OWN RISK!" sounds concerning. What all has to be done?

[RSR]

Interesting...do you have to do any mods to a CSA Vz58 to get the ambi safety to work?

"Rear to fire only without your modifications AT YOUR OWN RISK!" sounds concerning. What all has to be done?

AFAIK: File or dremel in a detent slot at 180* for the disconnector to rise/engage.  File or dremel in a detent slot at 180* for the trigger spring safety arm to engage inline w/ the disconnector slot.

The only forward to fire ambi safety I'm aware of is a VERY rare NEA or whatever the other Canadian vz58 accessory company is that NEA purchased.

[MeatAxe]

Interesting...do you have to do any mods to a CSA Vz58 to get the ambi safety to work?

"Rear to fire only without your modifications AT YOUR OWN RISK!" sounds concerning. What all has to be done?

AFAIK: File or dremel in a detent slot at 180* for the disconnector to rise/engage.  File or dremel in a detent slot at 180* for the trigger spring safety arm to engage inline w/ the disconnector slot.

The only forward to fire ambi safety I'm aware of is a VERY rare NEA or whatever the other Canadian vz58 accessory company is that NEA purchased.

I have no idea why the Vz58 was designed with such a kludgy ass backwards safety lever, especially for the majority right handers. That's one of the few things I dislike about these rifles. Instead of an easy thumb operation, I'm guessing they thought they had to make switching the safety from safe to fire a two handed operation in case gun-ignorant conscripts were prone to negligent discharges during such operation.

There is a screw-together ambi safety made in the Czech Republic, but apparently it will not work with CSA rifles:

http://www.vz58rifle.com/products/ambidextrous-safety-cz858-/

I'm wondering if CSA uses a proprietary semi-auto safety lever for their rifles?

It would seem the some enterprising soul could weld a flat tab on the left end of a semi-auto safety and pin a lever to it to make a useable forward-pushing safety for right handers (like the ambidextrous safety levers on the Bren 2).

[RSR]

I have no idea why the Vz58 was designed with such a kludgy ass backwards safety lever, especially for the majority right handers. That's one of the few things I dislike about these rifles. Instead of an easy thumb operation, I'm guessing they thought they had to make switching the safety from safe to fire a two handed operation in case gun-ignorant conscripts were prone to negligent discharges during such operation.

There is a screw-together ambi safety made in the Czech Republic, but apparently it will not work with CSA rifles:

http://www.vz58rifle.com/products/ambidextrous-safety-cz858-/

I'm wondering if CSA uses a proprietary semi-auto safety lever for their rifles?

It would seem the some enterprising soul could weld a flat tab on the left end of a semi-auto safety and pin a lever to it to make a useable forward-pushing safety for right handers (like the ambidextrous safety levers on the Bren 2).

No, the left side of the vz58 is smooth to avoid snagging on kit as well as when crawling on the ground and rendering the weapon unsafe -- charging handle and safety on the same side for the same reason.

And whatever your gripe w/ vz58, it's still a heck of a lot better than an AK's safety...  And at roughly the same time as the vz58 was developed, US weapons still had safeties w/in the trigger guard -- point being vz58 was far ahead of it's time and contemporary competitors.

And yes, that's the safety I was referencing.

[MeatAxe]

I have no idea why the Vz58 was designed with such a kludgy ass backwards safety lever, especially for the majority right handers. That's one of the few things I dislike about these rifles. Instead of an easy thumb operation, I'm guessing they thought they had to make switching the safety from safe to fire a two handed operation in case gun-ignorant conscripts were prone to negligent discharges during such operation.

There is a screw-together ambi safety made in the Czech Republic, but apparently it will not work with CSA rifles:

http://www.vz58rifle.com/products/ambidextrous-safety-cz858-/

I'm wondering if CSA uses a proprietary semi-auto safety lever for their rifles?

It would seem the some enterprising soul could weld a flat tab on the left end of a semi-auto safety and pin a lever to it to make a useable forward-pushing safety for right handers (like the ambidextrous safety levers on the Bren 2).

No, the left side of the vz58 is smooth to avoid snagging on kit as well as when crawling on the ground and rendering the weapon unsafe -- charging handle and safety on the same side for the same reason.

And whatever your gripe w/ vz58, it's still a heck of a lot better than an AK's safety...  And at roughly the same time as the vz58 was developed, US weapons still had safeties w/in the trigger guard -- point being vz58 was far ahead of it's time and contemporary competitors.

And yes, that's the safety I was referencing.

That was going on 60+ years ago - back when side mounted magazines were still a thing, too. Now things have evolved with ambidextrous safeties, body armor, CQB etc. The AR evolved to ambidextrous controls, same as most modern military rifles. The Vz58 should do the same, otherwise be relegated to the antiquated forever, For most shooters today, an ambi safety would improve their shooting.

[RSR]

That was going on 60+ years ago - back when side mounted magazines were still a thing, too. Now things have evolved with ambidextrous safeties, body armor, etc. The AR evolved to ambidextrous controls, same as most modern military rifles. The Vz58 should do the same, otherwise be relegated to the antiquated forever, For most shooters today, an ambi safety would improve their shooting.

My point is to look at its contemporaries.  It's still way ahead of that curve, and the fact that we're able to upgrade most parts to modern sensibilities/expectations is a testament to it's enduring and advanced designed.

I believe comparing it to guns designed 50-60 years after it and using features they have that this weapon doesn't have to criticize it is an unfair comparison. 

I agree with you on the value of an ambi safety -- however, Czechpoint/CSA is fully invested in the side rail mounts and running those with an ambi safety is a nonstarter for EVERY design I've seen.  I suspect that's the "why."

[Mercs]

I have no idea why the Vz58 was designed with such a kludgy ass backwards safety lever, especially for the majority right handers. That's one of the few things I dislike about these rifles. Instead of an easy thumb operation, I'm guessing they thought they had to make switching the safety from safe to fire a two handed operation in case gun-ignorant conscripts were prone to negligent discharges during such operation.

There is a screw-together ambi safety made in the Czech Republic, but apparently it will not work with CSA rifles:

http://www.vz58rifle.com/products/ambidextrous-safety-cz858-/

I'm wondering if CSA uses a proprietary semi-auto safety lever for their rifles?

It would seem the some enterprising soul could weld a flat tab on the left end of a semi-auto safety and pin a lever to it to make a useable forward-pushing safety for right handers (like the ambidextrous safety levers on the Bren 2).

No, the left side of the vz58 is smooth to avoid snagging on kit as well as when crawling on the ground and rendering the weapon unsafe -- charging handle and safety on the same side for the same reason.

And whatever your gripe w/ vz58, it's still a heck of a lot better than an AK's safety...  And at roughly the same time as the vz58 was developed, US weapons still had safeties w/in the trigger guard -- point being vz58 was far ahead of it's time and contemporary competitors.

And yes, that's the safety I was referencing.

That was going on 60+ years ago - back when side mounted magazines were still a thing, too. Now things have evolved with ambidextrous safeties, body armor, CQB etc. The AR evolved to ambidextrous controls, same as most modern military rifles. The Vz58 should do the same, otherwise be relegated to the antiquated forever, For most shooters today, an ambi safety would improve their shooting.

Let’s not kids ourselves here, it’s far from being antiquated even today. The AKM is still in heavy use today worldwide, and it was designed to be so cheap and fast to manufacture that it could just be left on the battlefield right alongside a dead commie. The VZ-58 was/is clearly a few steps ahead of the AKM. If you need to have all the modern amenities, well then the VZ-58 would not be the rifle for you. It’s becoming more of a collectable niche rifle for those of us with the means to buy better more modern rifles, yet also a desire for tasteful representations of past military prowess


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[MeatAxe]

That was going on 60+ years ago - back when side mounted magazines were still a thing, too. Now things have evolved with ambidextrous safeties, body armor, etc. The AR evolved to ambidextrous controls, same as most modern military rifles. The Vz58 should do the same, otherwise be relegated to the antiquated forever, For most shooters today, an ambi safety would improve their shooting.

My point is to look at its contemporaries.  It's still way ahead of that curve, and the fact that we're able to upgrade most parts to modern sensibilities/expectations is a testament to it's enduring and advanced designed.

I believe comparing it to guns designed 50-60 years after it and using features they have that this weapon doesn't have to criticize it is an unfair comparison. 

I agree with you on the value of an ambi safety -- however, Czechpoint/CSA is fully invested in the side rail mounts and running those with an ambi safety is a nonstarter for EVERY design I've seen.  I suspect that's the "why."

The CSA side rail is pretty stout and the safety pin sits pretty low in relation to it, so the rail could be relieved fairly easily to accommodate a left side safety lever without effecting the integrity of the side rail itself.

[MeatAxe]

I have no idea why the Vz58 was designed with such a kludgy ass backwards safety lever, especially for the majority right handers. That's one of the few things I dislike about these rifles. Instead of an easy thumb operation, I'm guessing they thought they had to make switching the safety from safe to fire a two handed operation in case gun-ignorant conscripts were prone to negligent discharges during such operation.

There is a screw-together ambi safety made in the Czech Republic, but apparently it will not work with CSA rifles:

http://www.vz58rifle.com/products/ambidextrous-safety-cz858-/

I'm wondering if CSA uses a proprietary semi-auto safety lever for their rifles?

It would seem the some enterprising soul could weld a flat tab on the left end of a semi-auto safety and pin a lever to it to make a useable forward-pushing safety for right handers (like the ambidextrous safety levers on the Bren 2).

No, the left side of the vz58 is smooth to avoid snagging on kit as well as when crawling on the ground and rendering the weapon unsafe -- charging handle and safety on the same side for the same reason.

And whatever your gripe w/ vz58, it's still a heck of a lot better than an AK's safety...  And at roughly the same time as the vz58 was developed, US weapons still had safeties w/in the trigger guard -- point being vz58 was far ahead of it's time and contemporary competitors.

And yes, that's the safety I was referencing.

That was going on 60+ years ago - back when side mounted magazines were still a thing, too. Now things have evolved with ambidextrous safeties, body armor, CQB etc. The AR evolved to ambidextrous controls, same as most modern military rifles. The Vz58 should do the same, otherwise be relegated to the antiquated forever, For most shooters today, an ambi safety would improve their shooting.

Let’s not kids ourselves here, it’s far from being antiquated even today. The AKM is still in heavy use today worldwide, and it was designed to be so cheap and fast to manufacture that it could just be left on the battlefield right alongside a dead commie. The VZ-58 was/is clearly a few steps ahead of the AKM. If you need to have all the modern amenities, well then the VZ-58 would not be the rifle for you. It’s becoming more of a collectable niche rifle for those of us with the means to buy better more modern rifles, yet also a desire for tasteful representations of past military prowess


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To each is own, I suppose. I'm not one of those "nyet, rifle is fine" traditionalists. Nearly all my guns are shtf ready, so I upgrade as much as practicable: rails, optics, furniture, fire control, adjustable gas systems, etc. to enable me to hit targets more accurately and efficiently. Though the AK has a kludgy safety, for sure, that's not easily remedied, it has a good trigger (generally) and the ability to upgrade to compete with the latest thing today.

The only complaints I have with the Vz58 are with the safety, the squishy trigger and the iron sights are too low for me.  No gun is perfect, but I do what I can to improve them to my own needs.

[Mercs]

I have no idea why the Vz58 was designed with such a kludgy ass backwards safety lever, especially for the majority right handers. That's one of the few things I dislike about these rifles. Instead of an easy thumb operation, I'm guessing they thought they had to make switching the safety from safe to fire a two handed operation in case gun-ignorant conscripts were prone to negligent discharges during such operation.

There is a screw-together ambi safety made in the Czech Republic, but apparently it will not work with CSA rifles:

http://www.vz58rifle.com/products/ambidextrous-safety-cz858-/

I'm wondering if CSA uses a proprietary semi-auto safety lever for their rifles?

It would seem the some enterprising soul could weld a flat tab on the left end of a semi-auto safety and pin a lever to it to make a useable forward-pushing safety for right handers (like the ambidextrous safety levers on the Bren 2).

No, the left side of the vz58 is smooth to avoid snagging on kit as well as when crawling on the ground and rendering the weapon unsafe -- charging handle and safety on the same side for the same reason.

And whatever your gripe w/ vz58, it's still a heck of a lot better than an AK's safety...  And at roughly the same time as the vz58 was developed, US weapons still had safeties w/in the trigger guard -- point being vz58 was far ahead of it's time and contemporary competitors.

And yes, that's the safety I was referencing.

That was going on 60+ years ago - back when side mounted magazines were still a thing, too. Now things have evolved with ambidextrous safeties, body armor, CQB etc. The AR evolved to ambidextrous controls, same as most modern military rifles. The Vz58 should do the same, otherwise be relegated to the antiquated forever, For most shooters today, an ambi safety would improve their shooting.

Let’s not kids ourselves here, it’s far from being antiquated even today. The AKM is still in heavy use today worldwide, and it was designed to be so cheap and fast to manufacture that it could just be left on the battlefield right alongside a dead commie. The VZ-58 was/is clearly a few steps ahead of the AKM. If you need to have all the modern amenities, well then the VZ-58 would not be the rifle for you. It’s becoming more of a collectable niche rifle for those of us with the means to buy better more modern rifles, yet also a desire for tasteful representations of past military prowess


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To each is own, I suppose. I'm not one of those "nyet, rifle is fine" traditionalists. Nearly all my guns are shtf ready, so I upgrade as much as practicable: rails, optics, furniture, fire control, adjustable gas systems, etc. to enable me to hit targets more accurately and efficiently. Though the AK has a kludgy safety, for sure, that's not easily remedied, it has a good trigger (generally) and the ability to upgrade to compete with the latest thing today.

The only complaints I have with the Vz58 are with the safety, the squishy trigger and the iron sights are too low for me.  No gun is perfect, but I do what I can to improve them to my own needs.

The trigger is squishy, that’s a good way to describe it. Would certainly like a better trigger pull and shorter reset for added shooting pleasure


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