The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Art of the Rifle: Semi-automatics

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old September 21, 2014, 11:32 PM   #1
marine6680
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2012
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 4,594
Vz handguard mod for reduced heat

For those of you that have a Vz58 with the "beaver barf" furniture, you know how hot they can get in just a short amount of time.


I decided to try something to increase airflow and keep the front handguard from getting so hot.


There is very little venting so heat builds quickly. To combat this, I drilled a few holes in the bottom handguard, and two in the upper handguard. I used a larger bit to bevel/debur the holes. The holes will allow air to flow via convection much easier than it can normally.

At the range, the results of this mod were very positive. I was able to fire a couple mags through the rifle, and while the barrel and gas block were very hot, the handguard was only warm... a couple more mags would have gotten them hot though. Still, better than before.

I think that I might enlarge the holes a little to increase air flow a little more, but not 100% on that yet.

I will add some pics to show what I did.



Attached Images
File Type: jpg 2014-09-21 22.35.27.jpg (213.8 KB, 635 views)
File Type: jpg 2014-09-21 22.35.56.jpg (209.1 KB, 619 views)
marine6680 is offline  
Old September 24, 2014, 10:47 PM   #2
Sappyg
Member
 
Join Date: June 24, 2014
Posts: 47
That's a great idea.

I just let mine rest with an open bolt while I shoot something else. It never really cools down much but it helps. 20 rounds and it goes to time out.
Sappyg is offline  
Old September 29, 2014, 11:55 AM   #3
richg204
Junior Member
 
Join Date: September 28, 2014
Posts: 7
my vz
richg204 is offline  
Old September 29, 2014, 03:26 PM   #4
Fishbed77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 23, 2010
Posts: 4,862
I just wear gloves.
Fishbed77 is offline  
Old September 29, 2014, 09:19 PM   #5
marine6680
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2012
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 4,594
I hate gloves... even in winter.
marine6680 is offline  
Old September 30, 2014, 10:35 AM   #6
Fishbed77
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 23, 2010
Posts: 4,862
Me too. But that's how the Czechs handle it.
Fishbed77 is offline  
Old July 1, 2015, 09:43 PM   #7
Grendelgene
Junior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2015
Posts: 6
There is a guy on YOUTUBE and Ebay that sell home made heat shields... I havent tried them so I dont know.

MY SOLUTION has been to install a MAGPUL RAIL on the bottom handguard and use a pistol grip. It has to be a stubby one or it will hit the magazine.







Grendelgene is offline  
Old July 1, 2015, 10:01 PM   #8
dakota.potts
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 25, 2013
Location: Keystone Heights, Florida
Posts: 3,084
I have seen that some people prefer the Magpul Angled Foregrip on the AK/VZ for that very same issue of it interfering with the magazine
__________________
Certified Gunsmith (On Hiatus)
Certified Armorer - H&K and Glock Among Others
You can find my writings at my website, pottsprecision.com.
dakota.potts is offline  
Old July 2, 2015, 02:04 AM   #9
Brotherbadger
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 10, 2010
Posts: 1,149
Nice solution. I'm shocked the Czechs didn't think of that.
__________________
Once Fired Brass, Top quality, Fast shipping, Best prices.

http://300AacBrass.com/ -10% Coupon use code " badger "
Brotherbadger is offline  
Old July 2, 2015, 10:52 AM   #10
marine6680
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2012
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 4,594
I'm not a vertical grip type, but for those who are, thus is a good solution.
marine6680 is offline  
Old July 2, 2015, 03:48 PM   #11
Grendelgene
Junior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2015
Posts: 6
Well, the rail also can accommodate a bipod.... or light. Whatever.
Grendelgene is offline  
Old July 2, 2015, 06:20 PM   #12
marine6680
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2012
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 4,594
Yeah it's a really useful mod.
marine6680 is offline  
Old July 3, 2015, 11:26 AM   #13
doofus47
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 9, 2010
Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent
Posts: 2,483
I just used a couple layers of tec 2000 thermo tape and an air gap created by chopping up an aluminum can.
Problem solved.
Be sure your tape doesn't overlap where the handguard slides over the receiver. If it does, trim it back with a razor. That's what I did.
__________________
I'm right about the metric system 3/4 of the time.
doofus47 is offline  
Old July 4, 2015, 05:26 AM   #14
Grendelgene
Junior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2015
Posts: 6
I would love to see that mod of yours.....
Grendelgene is offline  
Old July 4, 2015, 10:01 PM   #15
Grendelgene
Junior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2015
Posts: 6
I came up with something today that I felt somebody here might find useful.

If one lower handguard heat shield will do the trick, TWO must be better!!!! I came up with this CHEAP solution and felt it had to be shared with you all:




First of all i got some of that aluminum tape that they use for sealing air ducts and I covered the inside of the handguard creating the first thermal barrier.




Then i got some industrial aluminum pipe wrap from work and made a heat shield for the barrel itself!!!! Unfortunately, one side of my aluminum had a teflon coating! BUT HEY, it was free and I will upgrade it when I find a better piece of aluminum without the teflon.





The piece i made fits right INSIDE the front lower handguard cap. IT DOES NOT GO in the groove for the handguard itself!!! In back it rests on the the receiver as shown and it will rest on the bottom of the handguard when installed.


Grendelgene is offline  
Old July 4, 2015, 10:02 PM   #16
Grendelgene
Junior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2015
Posts: 6
Now the dimensions of the barrel shield are such that it does not protrude above the handguard:







And here is a drawing of the barrel shield should you wish to copy it!




Total cost... about nothing! and two heat shields to boot!


Happy 4Th of July!
Grendelgene is offline  
Old July 4, 2015, 11:59 PM   #17
marine6680
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 24, 2012
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 4,594
I used a bit of aluminum tape myself. It helped a little, but dual layers should work much better.

A combination of thermal tape, and venting would make for a very comfortable shooting session as well.
marine6680 is offline  
Old July 5, 2015, 10:41 AM   #18
barnbwt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 17, 2012
Posts: 1,085
I've been meaning to work on a new piston/gas block that would vent to the front, essentially by copying an HK G36 gas system (stepped piston with a reduced section that plugs the forward vent until retracted, and never leaves the gas tube)

TCB
__________________
"I don't believe that the men of the distant past were any wiser than we are today. But it does seem that their science and technology were able to accomplish much grander things."
-- Alex Rosewater
barnbwt is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:55 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07164 seconds with 9 queries