cz 527 Vs tikka t3 varmint 223

Hi all, which would you prefer?
A tikka T3 varmint or a CZ 527 Varmint?
If you have any experience with either or both of the rifles, it would be much appreciated if you could share those experiences with me. Thanks Everyone.

My Tikka T3 Lite (non varmint) in .223 is about a 1/2 MOA rifle.

neither...get a Remington 700 in 223...

I have no experience with the Tikka, but the CZ is a magnificent little rifle. There are shortcomings as I see it. One, which is a good thing/bad thing sort of deal is the diminutive little action which as a good thing makes it a light little rifle. The bad thing is that bolt clearance issues may be experienced with this action if you put a scope on it. The detachable box magazine is a nice idea, the controlled round feeding is also nice, and it isn't difficult for the extractor to pop over the case head with single loaded rounds.

They have cold hammer forged barrels, I am led to understand. My CZ527 was stolen summer of 2011. Her older brother, the CZ550 I still have and enjoy shooting far more than any other bolt rifle I have owned. It is accurate and a really nice example of a pedestrian gun maker's art. (Nothing embellishing it like engraving or high dollar walnut).

It is magnificently accurate.

I am a real admirer of CZ products generally, and would recommend one to you.

Tikka's have and incredibly smooth bolt and amazing accuracy. With a short bolt lift. Only con I can think of is that they use the same length receiver for all models but use a bolt stop. That is a pretty small con.

CZ's are nice. CRF and a true short action. If the reliability of a CRF is important to you, even though I'm sure it's just for varmints, i'd go CZ.

Can't go wrong with either. Plus Tikka has a decent aftermarket, I don't know about CZ, if that is important to you.

I am saving for a CZ 527 Varmint. The 1:9 twist rate is important to me as well as the fact that CZ USA has stated the the CZ 527 .223 is chambered for and can shoot 5.56 NATO. That is great since my other rifles are 5.56 NATO and 90% of my rounds are 5.56 NATO.

My cousin purchased a Browning in .223 and didn't think about the twist rate. He was shooting some heavier bullets (greater than 55, I think 60 something) and they were key holing and such. Man was he ticked. Not the rifles fault. I think the Browning is 1:12.

Don't know about the Tikka. What is the Tikka's twist rate and can it shoot 5.56 NATO?

I must confess, I have not shot the Tikka. But I did buy the CZ527 Varmint in .223 amd it is freaking awesome. Love the gun, I can guarantee that you will be happy with it.

Is the Tikka T3 Varmint in .223 available? If it is, where?

I have no experience with either, yet, but both have great reps.

I have a cz 527 in a 204, which is super accurate, as well as having great wood on the stock.

I also have a tikka SS Laminated in a 300WSM. It also is a nice smooth working rifle. Considering the caliber, I had no expectations for it to shoot as accurate as the CZ.

The only con on the 527, unless they have changed it, is that the safety works backwards. Safe is forward and fire is back.

Still, I would favor the CZ, but you can't go too wrong with either.

QM

Tikka is a 1:8'' twist from their table on the website.

I like the trigger on the Tikka, but does the 527 have the set trigger? I've only handled a few CZ bolts so my knowledge of them isn't perfect.

**Never mind, did my research. 527 does have the single set trigger. At this point it's a toss up. CZ's website says it's a 1:12'' twist. So if you want to shoot heavier bullets go Tikka, lighter go CZ. 1:8 should be good down to 50 grains (since my 1:7 AR will shoot 55gr minimum) 1:12 probably nothing much higher than 55gr. Correct me if I'm mistaken.

CZ Varmint is 1 in 9....

The 527 Varmint models in .223 Remington feature a 1:9" twist barrel, intended to stabilize bullets up to 70 grains, while the 527 American models in .223 feature a 1:12" twist more suitable for bullet weights of 55 grains or less.

I love my 527. Nice looking gun and shoots great.

well it seems most people think the 527 is the better option, i did too, but after hearing about how silky smooth the tikkas are, i thought id ask around just in case, i dont like how the tikka is a one-size-action fits all approach, and much prefer how the cz is scaled down to suit the cartridge, any mods need to be done to these rifles? do the triggers need tuning like the cz 452's? do they need to be bedded? whats everyone think?

I don't use my single set trigger. Just something about it that i didn't like. I adjusted it in the regular mode as light as it would go. It does have a tiny amount of creep in it, but not too bad. I shoot well with it, so probably will leave it.

I shot 15 or so boxes of factory loads through mine before I started loading for it. It shot factories very good, but handloads really showed its capabilities

I would say to shoot it and give it a chance before doing any bedding. It may not be necessary, but it never hurts, for sure. Mine is not. QM

Tikkas have a user-adjustable trigger.

Be very aware of the twist! I bought a Tikka T3 Lite in 223 1:8 twist to shoot Ground Hogs with. I could not get very good accuracy with 55gr bullits and 60gr + were more than I needed so I sold it and bought a Weatherby 1:12 twist and it shoots the lighter bullits exteremly accurately. The Tikka was a very fine rifle for the $ but depending on the size of the Varmints you want to shoot you need to pay attention to barrel twist in the 223's.

Faster twist isn't your problem with 55 gr. bullets. It may be that they're too thin for the faster rotation, or some other unrelated problem. My 8" twist Tikka shoots 55s into about 0.25".

Be very aware of the twist! I bought a Tikka T3 Lite in 223 1:8 twist to shoot Ground Hogs with. I could not get very good accuracy with 55gr bullits and 60gr

I have a couple 1/8 that shoot 50 and 55s very well.