The most restrictive states such as California, Connecticut, and New York define an ?assault weapon? as a semi-automatic firearm that accepts a detachable magazine and has at least one other feature such as a muzzle device, pistol grip, adjustable stock, etc, the exact criteria varying slightly among those states. The response from gun manufactures and owners is to make their firearms ?featureless?, removing muzzle devices and resorting to stocks and grips with poor and inhibiting ergonomics. The SKS is generally legal in those restrictive states as it has a fixed magazine. In having a carrier notched for stripper clips, it is very easy to modify a VZ58 variant to have a fixed magazine, be fed with stripper clips, and keep all the ?evil? features such as the bayonet lug, folding stock, muzzle device, fore grip, and pistol grip. Flame thrower and oscillating circular saw are optional.
I removed the spring from the mag catch and replaced it with a ?block? that prevents the mag catch from moving backwards. I used hollow plastic tubing as that is what I immediately had on hand, but anything could be used. It just needs to be about 10mm in width to fit in the channel and a slant on the end that fits against the mag catch.
First step is to remove the split pin from inside the receiver, and then to tap the mag catch/bolt release pivot pin halfway out in order to remove the mag catch and its spring. Then place the block into the channel, place the magazine into the receiver and compress it against the bolt catch spring, insert the mag catch, and tap the pin back in. Replace the split pin into the receiver, reassemble the rifle, and you?re done. In order to remove the magazine, the receiver cover needs to come off. You now have a fixed-magazine firearm that is legal with all the evil features.
It only took about 10 minutes to file the block to fit. Metal could be used for the block, but plastic or wood is better as for ease of installation there needs to be the slightest ?give? when lining up the mag catch and tapping in the pin. If metal is used, a small piece of rubber on the receiver end of the block would probably compress just enough.
I padded the first magazine with tiny strips of loop-sided Velcro under the front and back lips to create and super-tight, wobble-free fit. It?s nice, being locked up solid like an SKS mag, but wasn?t necessary as when I tried other mags without Velcro shims, they also worked perfectly, despite the wobble. Loading a VZ58 with stripper clips in this configuration is just as easy as loading an SKS. Be sure to use good, surplus stripper clips, either BXN or Yugo, instead of the ?brand new? repop crap clips they sell on Amazon and Ebay. Of course it?s not going to be as fast as using factory 30-round magazines, but it?s still pretty quick and you get to keep your rifle EVIL. If you move to a move gun-friendly state, it?s a simple effort to switch back.
One important detail is to make sure that your bolt catch spring isn?t worn out. When I first tried this mod, I couldn?t get the bolt to lock back consistently, which is a major flaw for a stripper-clip fed rifle. I found that my bolt catch spring was weak. It was strong enough to hold the bolt back with detachable magazines, but too weak to resist the pressure of rounds being loaded with a stripper clip. Once I replaced that spring, function was perfect and loading stripper clips was smooth and easy.
I know that Czechpoint has their ?Freedom? line of VZ58?s that accomplishes the same thing, but I don?t know why they went to the effort of machining a sliding piece into the receiver. I watched their video and it doesn?t seem to be necessary as the original spilt pin also requires the disassembly of the rifle and works just as well.
The question arises of what?s better: A fixed-magazine rifle with an ergonomic pistol grip and all the other desirable features, or a detachable magazine rifle with no desirable features and that clumsy, awkward grip wrap that leaves the thumb floating to the side.