My Palmetto VZ2008 is NOT going back to Century again

[OdinWiski]

I finally got it back up and running. Everything seems to be working fine AS OF NOW. Not sure whether Gremlin issue will occur. I guess we will see. I do appreciate what the VZ platform has to offer, but I have to say I've never had any problems with any of my AK's.  Here's the problem child that throws fireballs

https://www.youtube.com/v/K4ZD58aV7bk?version=3&vq=hd1080

History:

Bought the VZ2008 months ago from Palmetto. $399 with 5 mags and all the other stuff sure was a steal!! When I was picking it up at my FFL, I noticed that the front sight blade was missing. So I had him send it back to Centuryy. Century was very good about it but the turn-around time was 7 or 8 weeks. It got back with a front sight blade installed.

I took it to a range to sight the irons and red dot in. I had trouble sighting in the irons and noticed that the front sight pin was moving rather under recoil. Came to find out that the front sight base pin was installed with the wrong up side down. That was why the blade was missing in the first place. Now the new blade was lose and the base pin was walking itself left and right under recoil. Took it apart and reinstalled it correctly.

Then, after a total of less than 100 rounds from the first time I fired it, the tip of the firing pin broke off! I was just firing regular WOLF. At this point, I really did not want to send it back to Century again for warranty service - not another 7-8 weeks! I had also already accessorized and painted it. So I ended up ordering a firing pin for $25 from Czechpoint and swapping it out myself. Only one video on youtube on how to detail strip the bolt and put it back together, which was very helpful, because the extractor was a pain.

[CitizenPete]

Sorry to hear of your Century issues.  I can relate.

I sent one of the PSAs back to Century as well for a bad sticking trigger and a bayonet lug that would not accept a bayo.  After zero communication and 6 weeks it was returned with a trigger that was ground on one side, not repainted, and they switched out a perfect bayo I sent them and exchanged it for a beat one that has the tip broken off that still does not attach.  The barrel was also marked up on both sides.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate Century customer support -1 and the rifle quality a 4-6 in fit, finish, and materials.  From all the reports it can be hit or miss with the VZ 2008 rifles. None of the 4 I have fit together very well, and unless I rebuilt them with new parts, I would not rely on them as a "go to" gun. They are the "WASRs" of the VZ58s, certainly not the "Arsenals".

I own a bunch of Century import/builds that are fine. Just this weekend I was shooting a PSL with the Century label and that gun is great. They just missed on some of these VZ58s and the repairs are crap (at least I my experience).

Ohio Ordance and Checkpoint/CSA I rate both 10+ for quality and support.   I don't know about the other vendors that make VZ58s.

I still would recommend a PSA VZ58 to someone, with the caveat that it is cheap (not inexpensive) and you get what you pay for.

[OdinWiski]

Sorry to hear about your experience. 

To be fair, Century was very courteous to deal with on the phone and had no problem taking the rifle back the first time for repair.  The 7-8 week turnaround time for me did seem long to the end user.  I'm not sure who put the front sight base pin in upside down.  And breaking the firing pin within the first 100 rounds was indeed disappointing.

My FFL was commenting on this being the first time there was a problem with a firearm with so many transfers he had done for me.  I guess it is a hit-or-miss with these VZ2008.

I have plenty of go-to rifles (AKs and ARs) and wasn't planning on using this as one even before my purchase.  I did want to get proficient with this platform.  Now fingers crossed with the potential gremlin problem?  Not sure whether Century's fix with the two springs really works 100%?

One more thing - I understand the receiver should be the same as the ones from Checkpoint?  But for some reason, the specs between the receiver and the handguard retaining bracket with sling attachment are as such that I had to grind and file down the rear portion of the NEA lower hand guard quite a lot to be able to install it.  I had not heard of people having fitment issues with their NEA or Troy handguards?  But maybe they just weren't telling

[RSR]

I removed 1/8" from the front of my Troy (same as NEA) handguard.  Same effect as the back but much easier to remove the material...  Mainly, vs the beaver barf (matched up as the same dimensions), the difference was that the metal grinded vs beaver compressing upon install...  A little grease on the rear hanguard really helped with the install.  I had a thread on it about a year ago..

There's a sticky at the top.  There is no solution to the gremlin other than tabbing.  Century can't do it due to copyright/patent issues (previously sued by Czechpoint which required killing the tab and some other receiver modifications...).