Bolt carrier getting stuck halfway, only on fire.

[rramero]

I recently purchased a CAI VZ2008 in a private sale for a good price. The owner said he bought two, one to keep in the box, one to shoot. He sold me the one he kept in the box.

I gave the rifle a disassembly, inspecting all of the parts and cross referencing the diagrams in the manual he gave me, as well as diagrams online.  Everything checked out, although I still haven't fired it yet.

After practicing working the action and chambering rounds, I noticed a peculiar problem that only happens on fire. If I try to ride the bolt (Not letting go), it gets caught on something half way. If I partially release the tension and flip it back to safe, or rack the carrier all the way to back and let go it will go back into it's original position.

I tried googling this and searching these boards, but no one has seemed to mention it. I even see youtube videos of Century owners without this issue.

I just wanted to know if this would be a problem and if it would actually interfere with the rifle's operation?

Thank you.

[kyron4]

Mine does the same thing, it's the bolt carrier trip hitting the top of the disconnector.  Just like you it only does it when I ride the bolt slowly with the trigger forward. If you pull the trigger to the rear and hold it back, it doesn't catch, like it will be when it cycles. If you pull the bolt back and let fly it's fine too. I was worried at first also but after 100 rds. without a single issue I realized it's not a problem at all. Some AK's will do this too if you ride the bolt closed, the bolt will stop on the top of the hammer. The bolt on rifles are meant to slam home not slowly riden home. Take it out and fire a few mags, thats the real test.

[rramero]

That's good to hear. I'll be taking it out this weekend once a couple of my friends get back from their trips.

Thanks for the clarification.

[kyron4]

Does yours have the metal tab welded onto the bolt carrier ?

[rramero]

Yes, it does. That was actually one of the first things I noticed when I was taking apart the rifle. The weld looked out of place so I looked it up as well.

I did the test that ObiJonBonJovi came up with and it passes, so the tab is functional.

[kyron4]

What test is that ?

[Stogies]

I actually had the same issue with a Century WASR 10, exact same story. I used it as an improvised bolt open 

Functionally it didn't cause any issues either.

[rramero]

What test is that ?

http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=38703.msg214121#msg214121

hold carrier to the rear of rifle, press and hold trigger, release carrier.
You will find the tabbed carrier will remain cocked, while the untabbed will follow 100% of the time.

[vblue42]

hold carrier to the rear of rifle, press and hold trigger, release carrier.
You will find the tabbed carrier will remain cocked, while the untabbed will follow 100% of the time.

After reading this thread I decided to test this and sure enough, mine VZ2008 does this as well. So if the bolt locks midway through travel with the trigger held, this is a good thing?

[rramero]

hold carrier to the rear of rifle, press and hold trigger, release carrier.
You will find the tabbed carrier will remain cocked, while the untabbed will follow 100% of the time.

After reading this thread I decided to test this and sure enough, mine VZ2008 does this as well. So if the bolt locks midway through travel with the trigger held, this is a good thing?

Not exactly sure what you're trying to describe. It seems like you're combining the suspected issue of the bolt carrier locking halfway and Obiwan's test.

As Kyron stated, the bolt locking midway through travel on fire is the bolt getting caught on the disconnector. Holding the trigger has no effect on this.

If you want to make sure the welded tab on your carrier is functional, you do the test of holding the trigger while cocking the striker.

[Stogies]

hold carrier to the rear of rifle, press and hold trigger, release carrier.
You will find the tabbed carrier will remain cocked, while the untabbed will follow 100% of the time.

After reading this thread I decided to test this and sure enough, mine VZ2008 does this as well. So if the bolt locks midway through travel with the trigger held, this is a good thing?

Not exactly sure what you're trying to describe. It seems like you're combining the suspected issue of the bolt carrier locking halfway and Obiwan's test.

As Kyron stated, the bolt locking midway through travel on fire is the bolt getting caught on the disconnector. Holding the trigger has no effect on this.

If you want to make sure the welded tab on your carrier is functional, you do the test of holding the trigger while cocking the striker.

What's an "Obiwan Test"? 

[rramero]

What test is that ?

http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=38703.msg214121#msg214121

hold carrier to the rear of rifle, press and hold trigger, release carrier.
You will find the tabbed carrier will remain cocked, while the untabbed will follow 100% of the time.

The test stated here, and in the link.

[cchiang1]

My vz 2008 did the same thing.  I bought my rifle slightly used.  I discovered that the lower leading edge of the welded tab had a large burr on it from striking the dis-connector slightly off-center.  I filed the burr off, and re-shaped the leading edge of the tab to give the contact point a more rounded shape.  My bolt carrier now easily slides back and forth smoothly on its rails without oil or the springs installed, just by tilting the muzzle up or down slightly.  Moving the selector switch from fire to safe lowers the dis-connector slightly, which is why your bolt doesn't stick when on safe.  I believe I wrote about this problem and solution on The High Road VZ-58 forum.

Cary

[kyron4]

Is this slight "catching" of the disconector only noticed in the vz2008 or can it be felt in the CP vz58 ? It's very subtle and you only notice it when the bolt is slowly moved forward. Not that it's a problem ,just wonder if they all do that.

[Varickm]

Couldn't this issue potentially cause the striker to follow the carrier?  The bolt carrier would be forcing the disconnector forward, before it pushes it down. This would cause the trigger to pull back and the sear to lower. If my rifle did this, I would either do what cchiang did, without shortening the disconnector, or replace it with a Bonesteel Arms disconnector.