Customer Reviews for CIA VZ2008 30+1 7.62mmX39mm 16.25"

Solid firearm, but certainly not for 6.5k.

Very very good for the money. I like it better than any ak I have owned. It does thrown brass like crazy but I like that. Found a $75 rail at centerfire fit easily. The fit and finish is good a little better than usual century guns.

I ordered this gun and Bud's shipping was fast as usual. When I picked it up I inspected it and was perfectly content with my new gun. The Good: The finish on the gun is great. It is nice and thick. I see no machining marks and everything is smooth and really well done. I could not be happier with the overall quality of the firearm. I function checked everything and everything worked. I've heard of people complaining about the hard trigger pull, and even though it may be a little hard I have no issue with it. It goes click. That's what matters. I've also heard of the trigger not resetting on a very few number of guns. Mine doesn't have this issue, so again I'm happy. The sights seem to be setup up dead-on, but I haven't taken it to the range yet, so I will find out soon. The Bad: There are some small scuff marks on the receiver, bolt carrier, and barrel, but they appear to have been done post-paint possibly by a tool being drop or something else entirely. In reality it is no big deal to me because they are so minor they won't affect the function of the rifle. I function checked all the magazines and have no issues with any of them, except for one. The first few rounds from the one magazine keep nosediving into the barrel, and if I smack the bolt handle hard they go in. Since only one out of the 5 magazines has this issue I don't think this is the guns fault. A different magazine also was damaged. One of the feed lips has a divet on it. I thought this would cause issues, but the magazine functions perfectly. Notes: The first thing is that the surplus sling that came with the gun was trash, but that really isn't a big deal. I wasn't planning on using it anyways. The leather pouch for the magazines and bayonet are in good shape and I'm happy with them. I also want to point out that the threads on my barrel are 14x1 RH. I have heard of people getting LH threads so definitely check what kind you have before you buy a muzzle brake. The last note I have is that inside my bag of oil and cleaning stuff I got a punch to drive out the pin for the lower handguard which is awesome. Overall I am very pleased with the firearm. This is my third purchase from Bud and I will continue to buy from them in the future. This gun is a great, if not amazing, deal.

The Good: Went to pick up at FFL and when he lifted the box cover, I was greatly surprised to have the complete cleaning kit, 1 mag with gun, 4 extra mags in pigskin pouch (pouch was moldy but I like that authenticity touch and the pigskin still has that OLD leather smell), a virtually perfect bayonet with the smooth surface leather scabbard circa 1969 (the numbers on the bayonet were EARLY production and it's a 9.5 out of 10 bayonet; the scabbard showed signs of a bored soldier with bayonet pokes on the tip, "Civil Zima 2004 69" " was inked on the inside belt hoop (believe it's 04/20/69"). There was even oil in the canister tool too. The magazines were ALL in excellent condition. 2 of them had wear from the pigskin pouch cover, (as evident on the skin), but the other 3 had no such wear. But even with the small wearing on the bottom corners of the 2 mags, they still look new elsewhere. All 5 look great, and 3 of 5 have really stiff springs, whereas the other 2 seem a little more broken in. Also received a near perfect rifle sling, with minimal wear and very light leather with green strap. As far as the extras go, I hit pay dirt. So right off the bat there was easily $120 worth of historical extras I didn't think I was going to be getting. The Good, Bad, and Ugly The gun itself looked OK for the most part. No real scratches or visible defects with exception being the front sight hoop. It has a noticeable "bump", as if it were struck on something. But this appears to be pre-paint damage as there is no scuffing of the surface, so minus 1 star from Century for ignoring a visible defect. The rear sight is sorta cheap. After oiling the button, I was able to adjust elevation easily, BUT the side to side tolerances aren't great, meaning it's possible it might be a little askew if hastily adjusted, leading to accuracy inconsistencies. The bolt cycles, but hangs slightly midway if cycled slowly (no ammo being cycled). Dunno if that's normal or not, but it's there. It might need oiled on the rails or inspected further for surface roughness. None of the "buttons" were oiled. So, I had to oil the folding stock, upper hand guard, rear cover, and bayonet "buttons" to make everything either work or move as they were near frozen, but NO rust thankfully. After the top hand guard was removed and the block and rear cover were out, I pulled the gas piston and removed it's spring. Then reinserted the piston without the spring and manually worked it while rotating the piston. I discovered that it was "catching" in one position rather badly. So, if it were a clock, it'd always catch in the 10 o'clock spot. Took a gunsmith stone to it and worked the outer surface coating off (not chrome, so I doubt it's surplus) by putting the spring end into a hand drill and uniformly spinning the outer surface off the piston ends as I was thinking the rod was bent. It still "hung" in the same spot, but after working back and forth, it scuffed the polished surface from the stone and I could clearly see high spots (both piston landings) and a TINY imperfection indent in the second, thinner landing. The final ring guide surface that's seated near the spring, was also rubbing and causing friction. I was able to essentially "lathe" a few thousandths off everything to correct this, but this serious defect shouldn't be in a production gun. I'll eventually get a chrome plated "real" VZ58 counterpart for $30, but for now it at least works and I shouldn't have to worry about failed casing ejections or worse broken piston rod. So that's definitely a star removal. I also leveled the mating surface of the piston top to make sure it seated correctly. I suggest a gunsmith inspection and fix as opposed to DIY. Or just save the hassle and get a chechpoint part (assuming they'll fit). All 5 of the magazines wobble a bit, but with NO wear on the mags I'm not suspecting mag faults. Seems the receiver was machined a bit on the "loose" side for some reason. Either live with it or shim. If manually working the bolt slowly, gotta watch you don't scrape fingers against rear sight as the nub is rather short. Looks like a competent welder could move the nub to the opposite side or lengthen slightly. Overall though, I like the gun, and figure I paid in the high $300 range for a very light, 30 round 7.62x39 rifle (with folding stock no less and non-welded muzzle break) with a $120 worth of extras that'll make a good plinking rifle for a fraction of the "real" thing, that I can customize and still have less in it than outright price of an import. It's set up for a lefty, which makes dropping the mag or selecting safety lever left-handed easy. It's also a cheap platform that readily accepts aftermarket rails, grips, lights, sights, ACOG, etc. Aftermarket sights are probably a good idea for best accuracy. ** I strongly suggest inspecting this gun thoroughly BEFORE going to the range with it. Any peculiarities (like the badly cast piston in mine) need to be squared away before shooting. There was virtually NO oil on anything, so find out what needs oiled too. Another oddity was there was NO literature with the gun. No warnings, no advice, no handling instructions, NOTHING. Other than what's stamped on the receiver, that's the only thing "written" anywhere. So please, buy with some caution and don't be the "I opened the box and went straight to the range with it without oiling or inspecting guy".

I understand Centuries can be a hit or miss but I have heard you get better odds with the VZ58 and so I decided to pick one up. Buds was great and my VZ58 has performed flawlessly so far. 120 rounds of steel case(have not tries brass) and has ran perfect. Bolt hold open works and I have found the trigger at least on mine seems to be better then most people say. Could hit steel at 50 or 100 yards easily with the iron sights. The mags are a pain to find and the add ons are a tad pricey but it is the best 7.62x39 I have shot.

Despite Centuries hit or miss reputation, I decided to give them a shot on the build. When I went to pickup the riffle at my FFL, I noticed a small crack on the rear of the receiver cover, which as a bad start. I decided to accept the transfer anyway, knowing I could buy an original receiver cover is much better shape for about $20. Went home, tested it out...no trigger issues like the ones commonly reported. Things were looking OK. I proceeding with basic field strip, and took my time cleaning the firearm properly, noting tons of filth everywhere. Barrel took a long time to clean, countless patches were black. I noticed the recover cover was difficult to remove, (yes I pulled the trigger first to relax the springs) After about 2 hours of CLP work, firearm reassembled. Trigger functioned and all seemed well. Later that night trigger was failing on-and off. I found setting the by setting the safely on and off and cocking, The trigger worked again. I haven't fired it yet. Today I took it out to check it out. 2 days ago when I put it away the trigger was working. Today trigger fails no matter what I do. I also can't field strip since trigger doesn't work. I now strongly regret this recent purchase. Century is a local company for me, only 5 miles from where I live. I wanted to give them a chance. I would not again. I'm no gunsmith, but having an engineering background, I know how this firearm works. I would have been better off doing a quality build myself and having a gunsmith check my work. While Century is in my neighborhood if they were willing to help I understand the average turnaround is 6 weeks. I'm at the point where I may just use the thing for parts and built do a built I know will be reliable, rather than wait forever to get my new riffle back. Given the circumstances I can't recommend this product, I'm taking a loss on this one, but would risk a CIA build again. It seemed like a good deal, but not worth the frustration of a firearm that doesn't fire. I know others have reported good experiences. Add me to the list of CIA failures, and I hate having to say that about a local company I would have proudly supported.

What a cool rifle! Just received my VZ and she is flawless mag looks almost new sling is new w the Czech crossed swords and date stamp of 1972. Bayo looks great along with the cleaning kit. Fast shipping as always and I couldn't be any happier with my purchase...I will def be back as buds is great to deal with :-)

Great buy overall for the money. The rifle came with a sling, bayonet, an un-issued cleaning kit and one VZ58 magazine. I'd recommend cleaning/lubricating the rifle before use. Ive currently run 10 mags (300 rounds) without ANY kind of malfunction. Only thing needed was an AK sight tool to adjust the front post for elevation. Best 5 rnd group was 2.5 MOA @ 100 yards with Red Army Standard 7.62x39 Thats pretty good for an iron sighted battle rifle. Be aware that if you run back to back mags through it the foregrip will get HOT! You can also wrap the side folding stock with paracord to improve comfort and cheek weld. Overall a great rifle for a good price.

Excellent rifle! Lighter and more compact than an AK. The whole rifle feels nice and tight when firing. The mags load and insert easily, and the bolt hold open is a nice feature, and I plan on installing a bolt release lever. Fit and finish is excellent. This rifle makes my wasr 10 feel like $100 rifle. Everyone that sees the rifle asks about it. I paid with ACH payment and it drove me nuts waiting for the funds to clear, next time ill use a card. I am very happy with my purchase and plan to go through buds again. Now its time to find more mags and ammo.

Got it fast- as is the Bud's norm. Took it home, stripped and cleaned the gun. Easier than just about anything- two retained pins and done. Took this bad boy out to the range and could hit plate standing all day at 25 and 50 yards shooting fast. Ate cheap steal cased ammo the whole time. Get one. It'll do anything you could ask of a 7.62x39. Champ little rifle.

Buds service and delivery were fast and reliable. I always buy from Buds because they provide great customer service and fair prices. that said the VZ 2008 is one solid piece of machinery. The AK platform without the AK problems. Using a striker fired system rather than the hammer strike like the AK the short cycle time is a nice change. The entire breach opens upon ejection which gives zero chance of a jam. The gun can be stripped without tools or a brain in a few seconds..including the gas chamber. Trigger pull is a nice crisp 3.7 pounds. The safety and mag release are great for lefties like me. Sights are good and compared to my bore sight reference were spot on. The chamber handle is big enough for easy pull. The collapsing stock is a great feature for compact carry. Nice machined receiver and aluminum magazines that fit easily into the gun. Comes with a bayonet and cleaning tool kit….Highly recommend this Czech masterpiece…….

very light " buy it now" very accurate, shooting same hole with iron sights ,and i have to use scope on other rifles because my sight is not what it used to be

These come with the rifle, 1 mag, the bayonet and a surplus cleaning kit. Very nice machining, good finish, good quality. Great low cost option for a nice 7.62x39 semi auto rifle. Highly recommend gettin the extra 4 pack of mags while you can, buds pricing is the lowest at the moment. The mags are all surplus so don't expect beauty queens, they have dings and scrapes but the work great and are czech surplus. Best deal in the vz58 style market right now.

Just picked up my VZ58 this morning. I checked it out thoroughly, but haven't actually fired it yet. It came with a cleaning kit, bayonet, sheath, sling, owners manual AND a magazine. The rifle looks and feels flawless. I was very happy with the rifle. Earlier concerns about the folding stock being sticky were not present in my rifle. It opened with ease and locked up real nice. The magazine was used but in decent shape. It locked into the mag well easy and without any effort. The sights appeared straight. Thanks Buds - another great purchase and great service.

Product was as described. Mine came with a bayonet & scabbard, sling, tool kit and ONE 30 round magazine.

Overall let me just say that i'm pleased with this rifle. The receiver and internals are excellent. It came shipped with one magazine. The folding stock locks up tight and is easily manipulated. The mag fits tight and does not wobble. Now for the issue i had with the rifle. The front sight post was canted to the right about 10 degrees. This meant that at 25 yards, the rifle shot 10 inches to the left... uncool. Despite things i've heard about Century Support, they took my RMA and sent me a pre-printed label. Century should fix the Rifle soon and ship it back to me. I would buy another, but just make sure that before you accept this rifle at your FFL, check the sight post, you will notice it when you look down the sights. Also, one thing to mention; this gun has a three position safety. Fire, safe and "really safe". the third position, "really safe" isnt marked and can be confusing. just something to watch out for when you go to shoot it. This is a good rifle for the money and would buy another.

The gun arrived clean and well-packaged. It came with one magazine, a bayonet, sling, and cleaning kit. I was impressed with the accuracy out the box. It's also louder than comparable AK's I own. Note that it does not take AK magazines - this is a different gun altogether. Also, you may find the folding stock is a little difficult to work outside in the cold. Work with it some and oil it before taking it out. I've heard folks knock these, but I was very pleased with this purchase.

Overall, this gun was just as good in fit and function as my last purchase of this model. This one came with less mags, but also cost much less. You do get what you pay for. The only flaw I'd note was that the bayonet handle is loosely attached due to the handle slot being too wide. I'd still give the product and the service from Bud's 5 stars.

I checked the gun before acceptance,and the fit and finish of the gun itself looked fine.It fits to the shoulder well,and looks like a well made product.The problems were:the cleaning kit had broken components,there is a front sling mount missing(looks like a swivel was left off),and it only came with one magazine,unlike the rifle in one of the earlier reviews.I don't know if that's typical,but it was a surprise.

Fit and finish are better than usual military fare. Mine came with 5 mags total, bayo, sling, cleaning kit, and frog. That combination makes this one awesome deal! It shoots great after working the action some and liked it enough to buy a 2nd for spares. If you're a fan of SKS and AK's, then this is a great combination of the two styles.

Great gun. Small and light. Fast delivery and made it in time for Christmas. the hinge on the stock sticks. Thread lubricant helped but I might need to take it apart and smooth some edges. Took it out and put 30 rounds thru it without issue. Look forward to getting a spam can of ammo and putting it thru a real workout.

The rifle's fit and finish are as expected for a military gun. The sights were on at fifty yards and I had zero malfunctions from the 60 rnds on hand. A lot of people are very negative about the Century Arms VZ 58s but I have no idea why especially at half the price of the other brands. The Buy Safe service provided by Buds gave me a check for 50.00 since the price lowered in the given amount of time. I couldn't be happier.

i love this gun. nice solid gun.