Galil ACE vs. VZ 58?

[briang2ad]

You can also install both AR-style AND AR-height and AR-style or other irons to the Vz58.

And... I am GTG with it if you get a full length rail which does this without a bunch of added weight.

I am not sure we are arguing at this point - I am arguing to NOT take away USE of irons.

If someone offered a service to RAISE the rear and front sights on the VZ, I'd consider it.  But... I doubt it would happen given the numbers in the VZ market.   

[MeatAxe]

You can also install both AR-style AND AR-height and AR-style or other irons to the Vz58.

And... I am GTG with it if you get a full length rail which does this without a bunch of added weight.

I am not sure we are arguing at this point - I am arguing to NOT take away USE of irons.

If someone offered a service to RAISE the rear and front sights on the VZ, I'd consider it.  But... I doubt it would happen given the numbers in the VZ market.

A couple of years ago, I was frustrated by the low OEM iron sight on my CSA Vz58 and inability to easily co-witness them with a 1x RDS on the RS Regulate mount, so I contacted Dinzag Arms, who does a lot of custom work to un-neuter sporterized Veprs and Saigas. They make a quality front sight base that they can custom drill to the diameter of the Vz58 barrel FSB journal (I forget the diameter measurement) which can then be pressed on and then drilled and pinned to secure it. Dinzag’s FSB is quite a bit taller than the Vz58 FSB, so it’s capable of co-witnessing an optic without straining your neck. Even comes with a sprung indexing pin to secure your muzzle device.

The rear sight could probably be raised / improvised with a short pic rail pinned in place of the oem leaf sight (I’ve seen that conversion advertised from time to time - in Canada?) and one of various rear BUISs.

In the end, though I ordered the customized FSB, it was just too much trouble for me, so I just went with a PA ASCS 3x prism scope, which suits my purposes very well as a x39 brush rifle for deer and pigs.

I hear Dinzag is pretty busy these days (one man operation), but he’s good and capable of accomplishing what you want with the FSB. Unfortunately, I hear he’s been backed up for a while, so it may take some time.

http://www.dinzagarms.com/saiga_762x39/akfsb.html


Then for the rear sight you could substitute the original rear sight leaf for a short picatinny rail and use any BUIS rear sight you want to bring it in line with the taller FSB.

https://www.theshootingedge.com/cproduct/967/vz-58-rear-sight-mount--

[Laufer]

briang2ad:

My newest pair of favorite Guns are a pair of HK-91 clones, the  PTR-91 ("GI" classic and the A3SK). Both are about 9 & 1/2 pounds empty. Girls in several European armies dealt really well with the military G3 rifles, including the ergos.
--
But because I'm too old to be accepted by the Ukrainian Army or various militias ( I Really Wanted to fly Chicago nonstop to Warsaw then volunteer at the Ukr. border- ask my wife in a 'pm' to me --here--she will verify).....

... the weight of such a gun probably does not matter, as no enemy troops seem to be near west TN.

[RSR]

briang2ad:

My newest pair of favorite Guns are a pair of HK-91 clones, the  PTR-91 ("GI" classic and the A3SK). Both are about 9 & 1/2 pounds empty. Girls in several European armies dealt really well with the military G3 rifles, including the ergos.
--
But because I'm too old to be accepted by the Ukrainian Army or various militias ( I Really Wanted to fly Chicago nonstop to Warsaw then volunteer at the Ukr. border- ask my wife in a 'pm' to me --here--she will verify).....

... the weight of such a gun probably does not matter, as no enemy troops seem to be near west TN.

PTRs haven't seen nearly the same price inflation of Vz58s -- what 7-8 years ago, they were both high 800s retail, 1k msrp?

And were they not .308s, you'd see the $1500 pricetag of MP5...

There's a lot going for the PTR as a KISS (keep it stupid simple/simple stupid) battle rifle -- less settings than FAL and less delicate than M14/M1A1 (reliability and consistent zero).  And the price of mags has long been attractive (remember when .308 ARs were made to accept FAL mags b/c they were cheap -- that's a long time past now...).  In truth, my only grip is denting the sides of your upper receiver can put them out of action. 

But yes, your point about weight is well-noted, and that weight is BEFORE putting a 20 round mag in them that weighs double (steel mag HK) or nearly double (aluminum mag HK) that of 30 round AR15 GI aluminum mag.

BUT -- that goes back to my point about RIFLE vs CARBINE roles.  The Vz58 is a handy carbine and very light weight for its 7.62x39 caliber.  The Galil and PTR91 are full size and heavy rifles.  Kind of like assessing danger risk using Jeff Cooper's color code -- they're situation dependent with greater potential danger requiring (and excusing weight) on more offensive-capable rifles.

[RSR]

WPS just did a review on the Galil ACE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTQhJw32uLU

One thing he didn't touch on is that vs DI 5.56 AR15 at sub 11-12" barrel, piston-driven mechanisms are likely to be more reliable.  You're obviously losing a lot ballistically going that short, but as he notes about concealability, there are some advantages.  W/ 7.62x39 you lose less ballistically than 5.56.

Snappiness he discusses may be overporting for Russian Steel case or just the weight of the AK bolt carrier vs AR15 -- doesn't specify enough for his specific issue/experience.

Beyond that, I think his review is fair and covers the high points.  Weight, low irons, sub-optimal polymer lower receiver furniture, etc.

Also, my understanding is that fixed irons variants are not the primary commercial variant being sold -- now full top rails w/o irons.