CZ 527 Carbine

My Jeep rifle is a very handy M4 .223. But, there is a CZ 527 Carbine on the shelf at our Outfitter's supply. That CZ Carbine is so tempting. It is wining my resistance is dropping every day. That is one excellent Jeep rifle. In my opinion.


http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-527-carbine-223-rem/

8mmman said:

I'm thinking of getting a CZ 527 Carbine in 223 and I understand they are a control feed action. However I was wondering can you inset rounds in the clip without removing the clip or do you have to always remove the magazine to reload the rifle?

Thanks Tom

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You can certainly drop a cartridge directly into the chamber, the extractor will snap over the rim when the bolt is closed.

I've never tried to load the magazine while it was inserted. It's a single stack design, and given how small everything is in the 527 action it would be faster to remove the magazine and load it. I don't see any reason why you couldn't do it, but I think it would be an exercise in frustration (it wouldn't be easy like loading a rifle with a dual stack magazine and hinged floor plate).

My 527 is an American Sporter in .222Rem.
It presently wears a 6-24X scope in the factory supplied rings. So, no unrestricted easy access to action/ejection port.

To answer your first question, YES. The extractor is not a true Mauser claw, but rather a SAKO style claw that will snap over the case head, allowing the round to be drop/inserted into chamber and bolt closed.

Second question, a qualified yes. Tedious and granted you have smaller agile fingers. It will involve sliding case foward, downward and rearward.
I bought a second magazine.
Rifle is VERY accurate with ammo it "likes".

Though it is marked 1 /14" twist, by actual measurement, its 1/16.9". NOT a good conversion of metric to English, I think!
Most flat based bullets to 63gr shot ok, but 53gr Hornady Vmax shot patterns. Likewise some 53gr HP blems. (Both 1/2moa from 1/9" AR).
It shoots very small groups with 50gr Sierra's, or 50gr Vmax. RL10 @ 21.5gr. Seated to, but not into the lands. Short throated, still fit magazine.
Factory "set" trigger "sucks". Heavy, "crunchy" lots of creep unset ~8lbs. Set, creepy and "catchy" at~1.5lbs.
If I keep it, it's going to find a single set adjustable trigger.

Can you load the magazine one round at a time through the action without removing the magazine from the rifle?

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I own one of these carbines. It's a keeper. I just went to it to try for you; the answer is no. The feed lips are too rigid. My carbine is chambered in X 39. I did not try GG's (the post above) method, although in my chambering with the larger diameter case and short action, if doable, it would be indeed tedious and not worth the time relative to dropping the mag.

The action will allow single-loading, however. The extractor has enough range of motion perpendicular to the bolt axis to cleanly snap over the rim of the cartridge at bolt closure.

You can load the magazine on a CZ 527 carbine with the magazine inserted in the firearm.

That said, because it is a "single feed" magazine it cant be done in the traditional sense of loading a standard mauser type action (i.e. simply pushing the rounds down from the top of the magazine).

To load a 527 with the mag inserted you must push the round to be loaded about 7/8ths the way into the chamber with your thumb (past the feed lips) and push down on the follower with the round and drag the round back into its loaded position.

If you have a scope mounted on your CZ 527 it becomes a whole lot more difficult to manipulate the round to be loaded but with an empty magazine I can get three loaded in my scoped 527 Carbines (I have both the 223/5.56 version and the 7.62X39) before it becomes a giant PIA.

GooseGestapo said:

Factory "set" trigger "sucks". Heavy, "crunchy" lots of creep unset ~8lbs. Set, creepy and "catchy" at~1.5lbs.
If I keep it, it's going to find a single set adjustable trigger.

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That's unfortunate. I have 5 CZs with the SST and haven't had that issue with any of them. Have you gone through the proper adjustment procedure with yours? It really sounds like something is wrong with it if it is "creepy and catchy" in the set mode. It might be worth going through the adjustment process to see if it improves. From what I've seen, they aren't necessarily adjusted very well from the factory.

The unset trigger is not bad once adjusted, but the set trigger is excellent. I was shooting my 527 Varmint a few days last week and on every shot I was thrilled with how I could fire the shot exactly when I wanted to using the set feature. I don't know how light I have it, but I'd guess it's in the 12 ounce range. Just when I THINK I want the shot to fire, it does.

I will say that originally I wasn't very thrilled with the SST on CZs, and kept them adjusted so that the set feature was disabled and the regular trigger was at about 3 pounds or so. Then I spent a little time getting the set adjusted precisely to my liking, and now I'm a big fan of the SST for target or precision shooting from a bench or half-decent rest.

Here's the "half-decent" rest I was using last week. Shooting half-MOA groups with Black Hills 40 grain V-Max, and also some very affordable 55 grain FMJ GECO ammo.

I have the 527M in 7.62x39mm, and the set trigger is like snapping a glass rod. The normal trigger is quite nice, too. Yes, it can be loaded through the top, but it's a PITA. better to get a spare magazine...or, build a bigger one, like my gunsmith friend did. I actually do both at once. Welcome to the addiction!

one other thing to consider....if you wish to shoot single rounds....is to get a "sled"...or make one your self....

CZ-USA...Original Bob Sled for CZ527....

Took the trigger adjustments through the range of functionality. No significant improvement.
From what I understand, this particular trigger has been discontinued by CZ, and a variant of the previous trigger now offered. For ~ $125 CZ will sell me a replacement single set adjustable trigger which I'm told is a viable replacement.
I've used set triggers in past. This one is a poor facsimile. CZ now acknowledges so. But I'm sure the lawyers approved of it. Only a conscientious pull of the trigger will set it off. No regard to trigger control or "shoot-ability" either un-set or set.
I now know why it was such a buy...

I have two, x39 and .223/5.56.

If I may add, single loading becomes much easier if the claw face is polished up with fine steel wool. When new the claw can still have rough tool marks and balk a bit.

Also note the new .223 carbines are 1-9" twist, so look for that.

I will second the trigger, once adjusted to take out creep, overtravel and takeup, it becomes something quite special. I don't even bother with the set feature as it breaks perfectly.

I was looking around for a 223 and considered buying a 527 as they seem to be a real popular rifle. I know why because I have a 455.

I'm not trying to shake you off of a 527 but take a look at a Howa 1500 mini before you buy one. Great 2 stage trigger and moa. Howa builds all of Weatherby's actions and barrels. You won't have any problems with that trigger and it will load singles just fine. The 527 set trigger is what turned me away from CZ. Needless complexity.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/HOWA-M-MINI-ACTION-BOLT-ACTION-RIFLE/2230219.uts

Lose the magazine and get a single shot adapter from James Calhoon in Montana. Much better than Bob Sled

http://www.jamescalhoon.com

527 American and it even shoots M193 pretty good. Federal 52 gr hollowpoint .......awesome.

Good looking rifle. I have no real interest in 223, but that looks like a nice rifle to shoot poodles with, if one is so inclined.