Took my new CSA VZ.58 762 Rifle to the range today....

[Garys4598]

Took my new CzechPoint-USA VZ.58 762 rifle to the firing range this afternoon for its baptismal firing session.  It would be a mild understatement to convey how impressed and satisfied that I am with her.  She performed terrifically.  I could not be more pleased!



At this point, the only things that I've done to her is to install an ATI Tactlite Scorpion Recoil buttpad to her, and a Tactlite Adjustable Cheekrest (which will come in useful, once I mount a red dot optic to the rifle).  Also, before heading out to the firing range I installed a modified aluminum heat shield within the polymer lower handguard.



Today's shooting session was purely about breaking her in and seeing whether any gremlins or hiccups would reveal themselves.  None did and she fired approximately 75 rounds flawlessly.  I'm stoked!

All my rifles have some sort of aiming device mounted to them, whether a magnified scope or a non-magnified red dot.... so shooting this VZ.58 with her simple iron sights was a little out of my comfort zone.  At my age (55) I'm not the best shot without some kind of optic magnification.... nonetheless, I was very pleased with how the rifle grouped at 50 yards (habitually I shoot at 100 yards or farther... but as I mentioned, this shooting session was simply to break the rifle in).

Here are my results at 50 yards:



Right now I am not sure what I will ultimately settle upon regarding mounting an optic or red dot on her.  My intention has always been to mount a Trijicon RMR 1MOA red dot on a BoneSteel/CNC Warrior forend rail, but after having test fitted the one that I recently received onto the rifle.... I'm not liking the gap between the edges of the rail and the rifle's polymer lower handguard.  By gap I'm referring to when looking down upon the rifle, versus viewing it from the side.  I don't like the open space or gap that I see into the lower handguard's barrel channel.  Anyway, this will be something for me to figure out during the near future.

Lastly, I'd like to comment on the rifle's felt recoil.  When firing, it felt.... wonderful!  Whether its attributable to the CSA muzzle brake, or the additional padding provided by the Tactlite Scorpion buttpad, or the short stroke piston (personally, I'm thinking its the short piston design), the rifle's felt recoil was markedly less than my Saiga IZ-240 rifle (5.45x39mm).  This VZ.58 is truly enjoyable to shoot!

~Gary 

[gwvt]

Nice report - you answered a few questions I had about this version.

[Garys4598]

Nice report - you answered a few questions I had about this version.

Whatever questions you have, I'll attempt to answer them to the best of my ability.  Fire away.

[AZ_CZ]

Nice shooting!

I'm in that eyesight challenged club with open sights also. I love the choice on what to see clearly, target or sight.

What type of ammo?

[Garys4598]

Nice shooting!

I'm in that eyesight challenged club with open sights also. I love the choice on what to see clearly, target or sight.

What type of ammo?

Thank you for the kind words.  I was shooting WOLF Performance 123 gr. HP (black box).

[muggia59]

VERY nice. I was looking at their close quarters gun, and like the shorter barrel. You already have a side mount plate on it. Any reason you don't want to mount over the dustcover? I assume that maybe the Trijcon would hang over the ejection port to far. Very nice. An actual CZC is on my bucket list.

[Garys4598]

... You already have a side mount plate on it. Any reason you don't want to mount over the dustcover? I assume that maybe the Trijcon would hang over the ejection port to far...

I wanted the side mount plate to provide me possible options during the future.  I simply feel the mounting plate makes the rifle more versatile.   

[RSR]

Believe someone here weighed the sideplate and it came in at something like 10 or 12 oz...  ~3/4 of a lb, just for the plate -- before the optic mount and optic...  That's nuts IMO.  Someone needs to talk manticore/sven or horse/rs regulate into making a vz58 skeletonized and/or lighter alloy mount...

Also, really disappointed about Czechpoint drilling out all receivers now...  For them nearly doubling their $ on all rifles sold (markup of at least 1/3rd based upon Canada retail prices for similar/same guns...), it'd really be great if they allowed buyers to have some customization options like trigger guards, fsb, drilled or undrilled scope mount receivers, etc...  But I guess when one has an exclusive monopoly on import, distributing, and retailing, consumers are sort of SOL on things like options other than what the retailer deems consumers deserving...

[Garys4598]

@ RSR -- Wow.  You come across as kinda bashing on CzechPoint-USA (such is how I read your response anyway).

I've only just recently become a member of the SA VZ.58 Rifle fan base.  The CzechPoint VZ.58 products are unquestionably 'expensive'.  Generally (not always), one gets what they pay for, right?  And yes, other than going with Century Arms International or building a VZ.58 from a parts kit, CzechPoint-USA is apparently the only other 'game in town'.  Personally, I think its very astute of CzechPoint to drill out all their receivers to make them adaptable for installation of the side plate, regardless as to whether the rifle version one purchases from them comes with the side plate.

This particular iteration of CzechPoint VZ.58 rifle has a full (legal) length chrome lined barrel, that didn't require the muzzle device to be welded or pinned in place.  IMO that's fantastic!  For me, it makes cleaning the barrel and the muzzle brake much easier.  The rifle's FCG is also completely original Czech OEM, with a steel trigger blade.  I think CzechPoint continues to head in the best direction.

Just say'n.

[RSR]

Correct, I don't believe that Czechpoint's monopoly on import, distribution and retail is in the best interest of consumers or the vz58 fanbase... YMMV.  Lots of reasons, some noted above.

[Flashpoint]

These rifles were in the $800 range for awhile and I even bought my first one for $600 brand new. The thing is that the demand and quality are there. Hell, I bought a new CSA VZ58 and don't regret it. Although I think their home builds should be priced lower. The rifles are continuously out of stock so the market is tolerating the price point for these rifles and I rarely see these for sale on the secondary market.

[Orpheus]

The prices in Canada are based on the relative parity our currencies enjoyed until somewhat recently.

[gunner1972]

I've been reading this forum for quite some time and this thread compelled me to register and reply. 

Gary:  Cool pics and review.   Thanks for posting!  My next Czechpoint purchase was going to be a 12 inch barrel pistol, but now you've got me thinking of the Tactical model (currently have an older D-technik rifle and the new CQB model).  My next purchase is not so clear now.   Thanks for the confusion  

RSR:  This thread was started by Gary to review his rifle and you hijacked it into a negative rant on Czechpoint.   If you want to state your opinions about Czechpoint, you should have started a new topic.   

I'm not going to get into a debate or offer my opinions on your comments as this is Gary's review, but I want to correct a couple of things you said.  (1) The CSA side rail weighs 5.2 ounces (just weighed the side rail on my postal scale).  (2): Czechpoint sold their military model almost 7 years ago for $799.00 (I purchased my rifle from them for $799.00 in November 2008).  Today, the military model they sell is $1065.00 and includes new furniture, new chrome lined barrel, and a lot of new production parts. Saying that Czechpoint has nearly doubled their dollars on all rifles sold is simply not accurate.  When CZ USA was selling the D-technik rifle, before Czechpoint took over, retail price on the CZ USA rifle was averaging $950.00.  CzechPoint lowered the price of the vz. 58 when they started selling. 

Sorry Gary for stepping in on your rifle review.   I won't post again in your thread so as to avoid further hijacking. 

[Garys4598]

@ gunner1972 -- It's all good brother!  I personally appreciate the info that you've brought forward, for clarification purposes.   

[Horse]

And as for the mount we make, the VZ-304 lower is 3 ounces.  Uppers vary in weight depending on which one you use.  I'm just waiting on a form 1 to come back to revamp my VZ