CZ 527 223 barrel breakin

[BinhThuyUSN]

September 22, 2011 was a great day to shoot at a local outdoor target range run by the State of Ohio Department of Natural resources. They have four ranges, a 15 yard pistol range, a 25 yard range, a 50 yard range and a 100 yard range. I gathered up the rifles (527 223, 452fs 22lr, and Sentinel 9 shot 22 revolver). In addition to the rifles, I also took my gun cleaning items. I took the cleaning items because this was the day to use Timberbeast’s barrel break-in procedure.

This target range allows you sight -in on the 25 yard range (three rounds only), but I chose to do all of the shooting and cleaning of the 527 on the 50 yard range. Temp was around 72 degrees, partly cloudy with bits of sunshine, and little to no breeze to speak of. I did not think wind would be a problem with shooting or breaking in my 527.

I want to thank Timberbeast (Rimfire Central.com forum member) for the barrel break-in procedure. I found a similar one on YouTube from a gunsmith with Scheels.com.

It took me about 3.5 to four hours to do the break-in procedure. Not that it was difficult; in fact it was very easy and fun to do. The reason it took that much time was as other shooters arrived and shot and wanted to setup and check their targets; they would call “cease fire” and everyone on the firing line had to stop, unload their magazine, pull the bolt back and stand behind a yellow line until the person who called for the cease fire stated it was clear to shoot again. These cease fires gave me an opportunity to see how I was doing with the break-in procedure and change targets.

One guy commented that this was the first time that he had seen anyone use cleaning items on any of the ranges. One gentleman, even cautioned me about trying run my cleaning rod and attachment thru the scope.

My 527 has a Hawke Optics Sidewinder 30 tactical 6.5-20x42 mm scope and for my rests I used Shooters Ridge front and rear bags. I don’t have a picture of the rifle at the range, I have attached on taken on the rear deck of my home. I have attached pictures of the targets from the range.

Timberbeast barrel break-in procedure is listed below:
For the first 5 rounds, shoot one round and clean. After 5 rounds + 5 cleanings, 3 rounds and clean until the round count hits 20. Then shoot 5 rounds and clean until the round count is 50.

The first shot from my rifle was definitely a flyer, did not hit paper.The recoil of the rifle took me by surpise but the next four hit paper as I started into the break-in procedure. I will let the targets speak for themselves and I am looking forward to have some fun shooting my rifles and revolver.

CZ 527 223 Varmint Laminate with a Hawke Optics Sidewinder 30 Tactical Scope:
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb378/BinhThuyUSN/CZ527 Album/IMG_1265.jpg

First target (One flyer, four hit paper):
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb378/BinhThuyUSN/CZ527 Album/IMG_1287.jpg

Second target (Series of three rounds x5):
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb378/BinhThuyUSN/CZ527 Album/IMG_1288.jpg

Third target (Series of five rounds x5)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb378/BinhThuyUSN/CZ527 Album/IMG_1289.jpg

Last target of five rounds shot:
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb378/BinhThuyUSN/CZ527 Album/IMG_1290.jpg

 

[NCsmitty]

Thanks for the pics, BinhThuyUSN.

You can see the transition of the break in, as the rifle and your technique got better.
Congratulations on a good day at the range.



NCsmitty

 

[rcmodel]

I broke my CZ-527 American barrel in by just shooting the crap out of it during load development.

It shoots one-hole groups now, with handloads and a 3x-9x scope on it.
So, you suppose it would do better if I had wore it out cleaning it every shot?

Also, what kind of ammo were you shooting? Any chance it was FMJ?
Your groups are nice, but a CZ-527 with a 6.5-20x42 scope on it should put them all in the same hole with decent ammo!

rc

 

[sansone]

I have followed a very similar (new brrl) break-in that seems reasonable enough, even for those here that poke fun at shooters that bother.

1. first 5 shots clean after every shot, with designated copper solvent
2. shots 6-14 clean every 3 shots, again using designated copper solvent
3. now I just finish the 20rd box, go home and inspect for copper

after that one box of 20rds I expect to NOT see copper fouling in a quality barrel. I believe hand lapping is not done as much as the old days and new bores can have slight roughness shearing copper from the jackets. If you don't remove the copper your bullets are riding over copper and not smoothing steel.
Some sloppy bores actually shoot better when lined with copper since it's tightening the fit.
grab the popcorn

 

[rcmodel]

CZ-527 barrels are not like that.
At least the three or four in my immediate circle of friends weren't

rc

 

[sansone]

some companies spend a little more time on the new bores than others. My last remington was a copper mine shooting it's first box. It stopped fouling after the above procedure
(I could have made pennies when it was new)..
My Armalite with match barrel didn't copper foul EVER, so after 5 shots I stopped looking.

 

[alsaqr]

broke my CZ-527 American barrel in by just shooting the crap out of it during load development.

So did i. Mine has a Leupold FXIII 6X42 scope. It puts five bullets in a .75" group at 100 meters with great regularity.

 

[sansone]

you can lead a horse...

 

[BinhThuyUSN]

Ammo used during barrel break-in

rcmodel, I thought I put the ammo info in the post, my bad. The ammo I used to during the break in is PMC bronze 223 remington 55grs FMJ-BT.

 

[rcmodel]

O.K.
That FMJ-BT right there is your problem.

No brand of FMJ will group worth beans.

If you want to get the ultimate accuracy your CZ is capable of, buy some HP match ammo, or plastic-tip (Ballistic-Tip, V-Max, etc) varmint ammo in the 55 - 60 grain weight range.

Here is why.
Same exact handload, except Win FMJ-BT and Nosler Ballistic Tip 55 grain bullets out of my AR-15.
Colt SP-1 carbine + EoTech sight at 100 yards



rc

 

[BinhThuyUSN]

rc, out of curiousity what is the twist rate to your Colt?

 

[rcmodel]

1/12 twist.

Same as my CZ-527 American.

rc

 

[jerkface11]

Another way to read those groups is that they got better as cleanings became less frequent.

 

[saddlerocker]

I have a 1/12" twist Vanguard HB-ST and I did a barrel break in as well, but gave up a bit faster.

For inexpensive accurate ammo I LOVE the Fiocchi 40gr V-Max and 50gr V-Max.
Cabelas and Cheaper than Dirt have it for ok prices. Not as cheap as 55gr FMJ stuff, but the cheapest accurate ammo youll find imo

Mine shoots real nice 5 shot groups with the 40gr when I do my part.

 

[HOOfan_1]

I thought the break in was less about accuracy and more about preventing fouling

I've got a .22-250 CZ 550 and I haven't noticed much copper fouling at all.

This was maybe the 5th overall group shot from it with no break in process

 

[quartermaster]

My CZ 527 is in a .204 Ruger. As RC says mine really likes the plastic tip heads and is very accurate. Just 2 weeks ago I used my favorite powder/primer, and coal load that I had worked up and loaded 6 of 40gr BT, Vmax, 39 grBlitzking and 6 32 gr BT and blitzkings. I proceded to shoot each on at a separate target in a round robin manner in 2 separate 3 shot groups for each head. I took my time and let the barrel cool down to a point for all shots and felt that I was shooting good that day leaving me to believe it would be an good test of what shot best ouf of my rifle.

I did throw one of the 40 grain Noslers a bit, but that was a good one to throw as that is the established load that I have been shooting for a year or so and I know what it can do. My results were that the 40 gr BT and the 32 gr Sierras were the most accurate and the POI was almost identical. My worst group was 3/4" which was the Vmax. It struck me as funny the there would be a 32 and 40 as my best groups. grouping for those 2 was 1/4" heavy. Tighter has been had in the past with the 40 BTs on calm days with not too much coffee

Getting back to the subject at hand, I think these 527's are excellant rifles. The only 2 things that I wish they would improve would be the trigger and have a floorplate instead of the detachable mag. The mag really forced me to seat the bullets a lot closer than I wanted to. I'm assuming your triggers are the same as mine being single set and adjustable. I couldn't shoot well with the single set so I don't use it and have it adjusted as light as it will go. It is a nice pull except for the little creep just before it breaks. All in all, it's a great gun

I did break my barrel in also.

 

[quartermaster]

That is a pretty rifle
One more thing that I didn't like about the 527 is the fact that the safety is backwards. Are they still making them that way?

I would buy another in a heartbeat.

 

[Rancho Relaxo]

I did a shoot one-clean one procedure for ten rounds to "break in" my 527 Varmint 223. In retrospect, I don't think it was at all necessary. I later did the Tubb's kit with the 80 grain coated bullets that you shot in a certain order that was supposed to make it shooter better and reduce copper fowling. No difference before or after, I think that CZ barrels are pretty well made to begin with.

These are a sample of how it shoots with a bunch of different bullet combos. Worst groups are with the 40 grain soft point, best groups with 50 grain plastic tip (Sierra, Hornady & Nosler). As you can see, none of the 5 shot 100 yard groups are over an inch. Missing is my 300 yard .69" group with Sierra's 50g Blitzkings.

I never tried FMJ bullets, just didn't seem like a good combo for accuracy.