Author Topic: CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance  (Read 121809 times)

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Offline Radom

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« on: April 09, 2008, 10:56:59 AM »
I was a little concerned that I did not know for certain which parts on my vz-58 were made in the U.S. for the purposes of 18 USC 922(r) compliance.  I got a hold of Mike Eagleshield, and here is our e-mail exchange:

  It looks like the 5 U.S. made parts are:
 
  1.Magazine follower (polymer)
 
  2.Magazine base (polymer)
 
  3.Trigger (polymer)
 
  4.Sear (steel)
 
  5.Disconnector (steel).
 
  You were correct in that the two magazine parts were in order to make it comply   with 922R and be importable.
 
  Also in order to comply with 922R it must contain no more than 10 imported parts   and they are:
 
  1.Receiver
 
  2.Barrel
 
  3.Barrel extension
 
  4.Bolt
 
  5.Bolt carrier
 
  6.Gas piston
 
  7.Buttstock (fixed or folding)
 
  8.Pistol grip
 
  9.Handguard (both peices considered one)
 
  10.Magazine body
 
Quote
    -----Original Message-----    
    From:  DELETED    
    Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 1:10 PM    
    To: DELETED    
    Subject: vz-58 Tactical Sporter, 18 USC 922(r) Compliance    
   
 
   
    Dear Mr. Eagleshield:  
   
       
   
    We spoke earlier today on the telephone.  I am writing to inquire as to which parts on the vz-58 Tactical Sporter, as imported by CZ-USA, are made in the     United States in order to comply with 18 U.S.C. 922(r).  As you may recall, my concern was that the magazine floorplate and magazine follower were two of     the necessary five on this model.    
   
       
   
    Thank you for your assistance in this matter.  
   
       
   
    Sincerely,    
    DELETED    
 
The artist formerly known as FEG...

Offline Radom

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2008, 02:22:37 PM »
Okay, I've been doing some research, and here are the potential issues with the CZ-USA imports.

On the Tactical Sporter and Military Sporter models, there is only one OEM magazine. It uses two 922(r) compliance parts (follower and floorplate). This means that using a military surplus magazine with one of the CZ-USA imports is a violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(r).

On the Military model, three of the foreign parts are the buttstock, pistol grip, and the handguards. In other words, four parts count as three. OTOH, the Tactical Sporter poses a problem. Here, three parts count as three parts. That is, the tactical stock counts as a buttstock and a pistol grip, and the handguards as one, for a total of three. On the bright side, if you were to buy a folding stock kit, it can't hurt you, because you are substituting a Czech part for a Czech part.

Back to the real issue. If you want to use military surplus magazines here are your options. Remember, you must replace two parts on either version.

The most practical solution is probably a US made gas piston and a US made pistol grip. Obviously, this idea works a lot better on the Military Sporter model, because a pistol grip can be changed without changing the buttstock. For the Tactical Sporter, the most practical solution seems to be a US made gas piston and US made magazine floorplates (install these in the military surplus magazines).

The muzzle attachment/barrel extension is a real problem for a CZ-USA import. The vz-58 has to have some sort of fixed barrel extension, or it is a short-barrelled rifle and a NFA violation. When you build a vz-58 from a kit, it is pretty easy to get a US made muzzle attachment, and weld it to the barrel. This is not a violation, because you do this before pinning the barrel to the receiver. In order to legally go this route with a CZ-USA import, you have to have someone with a manufacturing license do the work. Alternatively, you may be able to remove the barrel from the receiver and change the barrel extensions. I am not sure on the legality of the latter option, however.

By the way, the US made floorplates are nice, but the US made followers are pretty substandard. They don't even have a ridge or clip to secure the mag spring. I would avoid the followers for two reasons: 1) poor quality; and 2) $6 each.

I almost forgot. US made wooden stock sets are also available. These count as three compliance parts.

Source for U.S manufactured vz-58 gas piston:
http://www.gunco.net/forums/f259/usa-made-vz58-pistons-37547


Source for US manufactured pistol grip:
http://www.lichtenbergresearch.com/parts/vz58pistolgrip/vz58pistolgrip.html


Source for U.S. manufactured floorplates and followers:
http://www.tnguns.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=42&sort=20a&page=2


Source for U.S. manufacured wooden stock sets:
http://www.prexis.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=P&Category_Code=VZ58
The artist formerly known as FEG...

Offline armoredman

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2008, 05:23:25 PM »
Thank you very much for that info! Now the question is, are the CZ offered spare magazines 922 compliant?

Offline Radom

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2008, 08:46:50 AM »
Quote from: armoredman
Thank you very much for that info! Now the question is, are the CZ offered spare magazines 922 compliant?
 

Yes.  They are remanufactured (correct term?) for them by Tennessee Guns International, who are affiliated with the company assembling the rifles in Knoxville.  Basically, they refinish a military magazine body and base tab in black enamel and put the two black plastic US manufactured parts (follower and floorplate) on the mag body.  The spring on the OEM magazine that came with my rifle even had cosmoline all over it, just like the mil surp from Centerfire Systems.

Bottom line:  Budget for a little additional expense on these to convert some mil surp magazines yourself or switch out some furniture.  No big deal, but I though our members needed to know.
The artist formerly known as FEG...

Offline armoredman

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2008, 12:04:38 PM »
Excellent, thank you for the effort!

Offline Radom

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2008, 12:24:47 PM »
Thanks; you are too kind.

At any rate, I myself am going with the first option I mentioned: US made gas piston and magazine floorplates. This would still make the relative cost of the magazines pretty reasonable: about $16-$18 each instead of $40. The piston is $23 delivered. (I wish I had figured all of this out before I stripped the cosmoline off of ALL the mil surp mags I ordered, since some are going into longterm storage now.)

For people who want a folder, the US pistol grip and piston would only run you about $60, and that would be a one-time expenditure.
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Offline quikdraw67

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2008, 06:13:01 PM »
FEG -

thanks for the heads up, I'll go the mag floorplate and follower route, I think.

Anyone got a good source of milsurp VZ58 mags??

Offline Radom

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #7 on: June 05, 2008, 06:59:45 PM »
Quote from: quikdraw67
FEG -  
 
  thanks for the heads up, I'll go the mag floorplate and follower route, I think.  
 
  Anyone got a good source of milsurp VZ58 mags??
 

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/vz58.aspx

These were like new.  One of them was a little beat up, and they replaced it free of charge.

http://www.akparts.com/index.htm?c64.htm&1

AK Parts.com had the same deal at $10 per magazine.  They sold out in less than a month.

We should probably get cracking!  I have nine magazines, and I would like to get 3-7 more if they are already drying up.
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Offline JJB70

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #8 on: June 05, 2008, 07:21:45 PM »
FEG has the right idea, quikdraw.  I too should get a few more mags.

A long while back I saw something else at a really good price at AKparts and I made the mistake of telling myself "I'll order them over the weekend."  It seems to be a good idea to jump on these things when you find them.  I've used Centerfire for mags and kit.



Offline Radom

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #9 on: June 05, 2008, 07:24:45 PM »
Quote from: JJB70
FEG has the right idea, quikdraw. I too should get a few more mags.  
 
  A long while back I saw something else at a really good price at AKparts and I made the mistake of telling myself "I'll order them over the   weekend." It seems to be a good idea to jump on these things when you find them. I've used Centerfire for mags and kit.  
 

+1.  The kit was also in great shape, but I admit I haven't spent the time to count the parts, etc.


EDIT: The Centerfire kit also comes with one mil surp mag.
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Offline quikdraw67

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #10 on: June 06, 2008, 06:06:02 PM »
Thanks guys, haven't dealt with Centerfire Systems in a while, but never had any prob with them.

I'm going to order online tomorrow AM, the mag & pouch kit...not on a secure computer

JJB70 - been there done that...don't wait, get it now!

FEG - thanks again for all the help....you too JJB70

Offline Radom

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #11 on: June 09, 2008, 06:38:24 PM »
Quote from: quikdraw67
Thanks guys, haven't dealt with Centerfire Systems in a while, but never had any prob with them.  
 
  I'm going to order online tomorrow AM, the mag & pouch kit...not on a secure computer  
 
  JJB70 - been there done that...don't wait, get it now!  
 
  FEG - thanks again for all the help....you too JJB70
 

No problem.  Please give me your honest opinion on the mags you receive.  If the quality is going downhill, it's time to PANIC!

The artist formerly known as FEG...

Offline JJB70

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #12 on: June 17, 2008, 06:15:20 PM »
Magazine floorplates:  I e-mailed Lichtenberg Research and they tell me they aren't going to do any more.  Oh well.  So it looks like TGI is the way to go for now.

Offline Radom

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #13 on: June 18, 2008, 11:13:14 AM »
Quote from: JJB70
Magazine floorplates: I e-mailed Lichtenberg Research and they tell me they aren't going to do any more. Oh well. So it looks like TGI is the way to go   for now.
 

The TGI floorplates do fit and look "right," so it could be a lot worse.  

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Offline quikdraw67

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CZ-USA vz-58 Sporters and 18 USC 922(r) Compliance
« Reply #14 on: June 18, 2008, 05:39:22 PM »
Got my Vz58 mags + other stuff from Centerfire Systems...very happy, all looks good, got a bayonet that I didn't know came with the mags..plus they threw in a HK G3 cleaning kit for free..


Just ordered the followers and mags from TGI today...this is the 1st semi rifle I own where I had to do this to keep in 922(r) compliance..kinda a PITA, but better than no Vz58 at all!