vz2008 reliability, rifle course

[rabbit]

Hello, 1st time poster,

I recently picked up a used vz2008.  It has a tabbed carrier and the previous owner reported no issues with the rifle.  I've put around 500 rounds through the gun and it's performed perfectly.

My question has to do with the  reliability I can expect from this rifle.  I have owned various AKs with varying degrees of reliability, with the highly tuned versions being extremely reliable.  Does the vz58 design, in semi auto, lend itself well to being able to run a high round count rifle course with no issues? Or being durable enough to eventually be considered for home defense etc?

Thanks

[RSR]

Yes.  If you've and previous owner have already put at least 1k rounds through it w/o significant issues, it's probably in Yugo to Saiga-levels of reliability, which is higher than most of the mid to low-level US-made AKs...

Personally, I put "home defense" as a less extreme test than "high round count training course", but YMMV... 
If you have to go through even a full mag in HD situation, you're making national news, even in our current cluster.  Full stop.

[rabbit]

That's very reassuring.

I read in one of the stickies a technique to test for a gremlin, and I think I'm failing but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right.  I pull back the charging handle and hold it back, then squeeze the trigger and hold it in the rear most position.  I released the charging handle and let it ride forward.  This results in an inactive trigger.  Is this something that  could result in a malfunction with live ammo?

[ObiWanBonJovi]

Yes, that could result in a malfunction.  Your tab does not protrude far enough forward.  The tab should release disconnector, before the striker crosses the sear on the way forward.
For some reason, most of the tab jobs I have seen, and nost of the tabs for sale, seem to run the ragged edge of minimum length.  When i tab my own rifles, I run the tab at the maximum length, just so it doesnt hit magazine, and never have problems.

[rabbit]

Yes, that could result in a malfunction.  Your tab does not protrude far enough forward.  The tab should release disconnector, before the striker crosses the sear on the way forward.
For some reason, most of the tab jobs I have seen, and nost of the tabs for sale, seem to run the ragged edge of minimum length.  When i tab my own rifles, I run the tab at the maximum length, just so it doesnt hit magazine, and never have problems.

Thats unfortunate, I had really grown to like this rifle; but it's not reassuring to take it to a class with the knowledge that it may malfunction at any point.
Really appreciatete your information.

[ObiWanBonJovi]

I wouldn't fret too much about taking it to a class, the odds of it malfunctioning are extremely low.  However I would suggest, that when time amd or $ permits, that you have the tab extended.

[rabbit]

I wouldn't fret too much about taking it to a class, the odds of it malfunctioning are extremely low.  However I would suggest, that when time amd or $ permits, that you have the tab extended.

Ok, I'll run it hard and see how it does.  I'll do the tab extension asap.  Would you have any suggestions on somebody who could do the tab extension service?

[TJNewton]

I've had a couple of the narrow lugs on the bolts break, each about a year apart and different rifles.  It could have been coincidence of worn surplus parts, or a flaw in the dimensions of the Century receiver.  Here's some reading:

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=96542.0

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=106694.0

A relatively quick mod you might consider:

"... My VZ2008's functioned perfectly until after about 4,500 rounds when the narrow front lug of the bolt sheared off --  on two separate rifles a few months apart.

It's impossible to know whether those failures were due to shallower rails or simply because the two bolts had a long and unknown round count and possible accelerated wear from excessive full-auto fire.  The coincidence of two separate bolts breaking is entirely plausible.  I've tinkered with classic cars for decades and such simultaneous and seemingly bizarre failures happen far too often.

... Opening the receiver and testing the travel of the bolt along the rails, there was noticeable contact and bounce when it traveled over the ejector area... while both Czechpoint and Century versions have peens in the rails, only the Century rifles have shiny marks on the right side of the ejector and the receiver floor next to it.  I think that's due to the shallower rails of the VZ2008's.

There are no marks on the left side of the ejector nor on the floor next to it, despite that's where the narrow lug travels and that's the part that broke both times.  It seems that the contact of the right-side, wider lug with the ejector and floor "tilts" the bolt as it comes into battery, causing a corner of the left-side, shallower lug to hit off-kilter (thanks for the insights, RSR).  Again, the failures could have very well been due to well-worn parts and this is all irrelevant, but regardless I carefully filed down the bottom of the right-side, wider lug so that it no longer made any contact with the ejector and floor during cycling.  I did it very slowly, trial-by-error, coloring the shiny spots on the ejector and floor with a Sharpie (after cleaning off the oil) to note any contact.  I finally got it to where it was smooth without interference then took the rifles out to test.  I shot a few hundred rounds on each with no problems and the Sharpie marks marks remained undisturbed.

This is not settled as the replacement bolts have only a fraction of the round count the originals did before breaking.  I'll report on here if anything else happens, although it may be a while as I have other projects and won't be firing the VZ2008's as much for a while.

... (this) doesn't take too long; the first bolt took me about an hour and a half as I was going slowly and getting accustomed and the second bolt only took about 20 minutes."

[RSR]

I'm unsure if Forced March is still offering the service or not.  Hasn't been active here since 2018 according to his profile.  Contact info in his sticky: https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=61434.0

[jwc007]

I recently picked up a used vz2008.  It has a tabbed carrier and the previous owner reported no issues with the rifle.  I've put around 500 rounds through the gun and it's performed perfectly.

My question has to do with the  reliability I can expect from this rifle.  I have owned various AKs with varying degrees of reliability, with the highly tuned versions being extremely reliable.  Does the vz58 design, in semi auto, lend itself well to being able to run a high round count rifle course with no issues? Or being durable enough to eventually be considered for home defense etc?

I've not had any trouble with mine and I do use it as my Home Defense Carbine.  It would also be my choice for 3-gun Competition.
Also note that for Home Defense, I use the Silver Bear 124 grain Softpoints, and they expand very nicely.


Customized Vz2008

[rabbit]

I recently picked up a used vz2008.  It has a tabbed carrier and the previous owner reported no issues with the rifle.  I've put around 500 rounds through the gun and it's performed perfectly.

My question has to do with the  reliability I can expect from this rifle.  I have owned various AKs with varying degrees of reliability, with the highly tuned versions being extremely reliable.  Does the vz58 design, in semi auto, lend itself well to being able to run a high round count rifle course with no issues? Or being durable enough to eventually be considered for home defense etc?

I've not had any trouble with mine and I do use it as my Home Defense Carbine.  It would also be my choice for 3-gun Competition.
Also note that for Home Defense, I use the Silver Bear 124 grain Softpoints, and they expand very nicely.


Customized Vz2008

That's a good looking rifle! It really is a slick handling gun

[jwc007]

That's a good looking rifle! It really is a slick handling gun

Thanks!!!     I like it alot! 

[RSR]

*One thing w/ VZ2008s -- and IIRC CitizenPete did the write-up -- is that the edges beneath the locking block are not beveled like on the CSA guns.  That has resulted in feeding issues w/ brass case ammo.  At your own risk -- but beveling them with a file, polishing, and then bluing is fine to remedy the issue.

[rabbit]

*One thing w/ VZ2008s -- and IIRC CitizenPete did the write-up -- is that the edges beneath the locking block are not beveled like on the CSA guns.  That has resulted in feeding issues w/ brass case ammo.  At your own risk -- but beveling them with a file, polishing, and then bluing is fine to remedy the issue.

I have around 10 rounds of nosler ballistic tip in brass case lying around.  If those 10 fire without any issues, do you think this gun should be gtg with brass ammo? Or is 10 rounds not enough to gauge that?

[RSR]

It's a likely issue regardless, just like the push down plate.  Steel cases just aren't as soft so don't hang up, but do get scratched.

Personally, I consider 50 round minimum, 150 preferred for premium ammo AFTER breaking in the gun w/ enough cheaper ball (or similar) rounds to reach 500 total (also hand cycle slides on pistols at least 500 rounds before shooting) across both pistols and rifles.  Double #s whenever possible for rifles.

Here's the thread: https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=78148.0