I started a thread in GD asking about these rifles and received some good feedback.
One question I had that wasn't answered was: how easy is it to load these rifles using a stripper clip?
I've owned an SMLE in the past and had no problem loading it in this way, but in some youtube videos where clips are used with the vz58 it doesn't seem all that smooth.

This is important to me because the NY-legal version of this rifle has a fixed mag and is top-loaded only.  (It's possibly the only option here for a fixed-mag pistol grip carbine that doesn't have some super goofy way of loading, like the ARs that require you to remove the upper receiver first)

I have a few 10 round VZ mags I use when shooting from a bench and I have some Czech stripper clips for that reason. The strippers from my surplus Yugo M67 ammo also seem to be identical. I've been told the new production Chinese stripper clips don't work in the VZs as well.

Loading isn't hard, BUT I will say that I've also used strippers on a Mauser K98 and an SKS and both of those seemed to load smoother than the VZ. The Mauser & SKS loaded like a YKK zipper. Or it may just be my VZ, I've used the AK mag loaders for stripper clips and that works like a charm.

Ebay is a good source for genuine Czech stripper clips.

Thank you!
Just the type of info I was looking for.

The quality of the stripper clips have a lot to do with it.
Chrome plated BXN clips are the best I think followed by real deal mil surplus from Germany, Russia, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Chinese etc. Commercial stripper clips are junk.

The 'real deal' BXNs are easy to find on ebay, if you don't see them just wait.

BTW I learned a neat trick on loading 7.62x39 strippers. Grab the tip of the top round and pull up on it gently while shoving the rounds in, puts all the pressure on the rims of the cartridges and they load easier.

Most of my stripper loading was with an 8mm mauser which loads fine just by pushing down on the top case but this works better with the tapered 7.62x39 in both my VZ & SKS.

The "BXN" clips are what the S&B m43 ammo from Czechoslovakia comes packaged in. Theyre great. The Yugo ones are also good.
The chinese ones are hit and miss so I usually juat get rid of them rather than waste my time since I have an essentially unlimited supply of BXN ones.

Is the humble SKS prohibited in NY?

No, it does not have a removable magazine.