Bolt action .223/5.56 opinions

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I wish the mini actions took flush fitting mags, or had internal boxes. Least the wood stocked ones.
I had a RAR in .300aac, and liked everything besides the cartridge, and honestly if I get another similarly sized cartridge it will probably be that, or I'll build up a Howa mini action.

I've handled, and used the CZs, and I like them, but with the dm sticking out the bottom it breaks the lines up enough for me that the other, cheaper, guns edge up in the running.

From the factory tho, and with a wood stock, it would probably be my choice.
 
They do offer a 5 round magazine for the Mini Howas but don't know how far they protrude from the stock. Probably not flush I am assuming.
 
echo6mike said:
Situation: I've got a desire to pick up a bolt-action gun for target shooting and general plinking, out to 200-300 yards at most, in .223/5.56 since I have plenty of that ammo on hand anyway.

I like wood and steel with iron sights, and have a CZ452 which I love for my good .22, so the CZ527 is in the lead, but it doesn't hurt to ask for other ideas/opinions.

In the CZ, for example, there's the carbine, the standard 20", the 527LS, all a little different, so anyone with experience comparing some of those would be great to hear from.

More as it comes, thanks!
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You can get this same rifle in .223, it's a Savage, very nice, not exactly light, but for the money, it's a beautiful rifle IMHO:

IMG_0137.jpg
 
Mr. Hill said:
Consider this Remington 700 ADL on sale;https://www.cabelas.com/product/REMINGTON-ADL-VARMINT-RIFLE/1702465.uts

It doesn’t have the wood and steel, but at that price you can get really good glass, and maybe a nice premium synthetic stock if you want.
Click to expand...

I could easily like the 700 ADL if it had at least a 1/9 twist. The 700 ADL is a good value and I think Remington is trying to bring back their reputation as a quality producer of fine and competitive priced rifles. But, the 1/12 twist is the only thing that keeps me away from the ADL.

Remington if you are paying attention, the 1/8 twist is the perfect twist and allow the box magazine enough length to load the heavier bullets long, especially in .223. You are so close to getting it right.
kwg
 
The look of the CZ is tough to beat, but my next target rifle might be a Browning X-Bolt Varmint in .223. They finally gave it the proper 1:8 twist this year. It is also a good looking rifle, but I can only guess how it shoots.
 
Frostbite said:
The look of the CZ is tough to beat, but my next target rifle might be a Browning X-Bolt Varmint in .223. They finally gave it the proper 1:8 twist this year. It is also a good looking rifle, but I can only guess how it shoots.
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Rifling twist rate is always a fun topic when .223/5.56 rifles are being discussed. My experience with shooting NRA and CMP rifle matches puts me in the camp that favors the 1:8" twist barrel for a .223/5.56. I've seen and done first-hand that those barrels will shoot great with everything from little 52gr HPs all the way up to the long 80gr BTHP match bullets.

My CZ527FS only has a 1:9" twist barrel. I got lucky and it'll shoot the 75gr Hornady HPBT well enough to please me. Unfortunately I don't expect it to work with the Nosler or Sierra 77gr HPBT match bullets. But I do think it'll shoot well with the 69gr Nosler (or Sierr) match bullets, which is my favorite magazine-length .224" offering.

And yes, I would not have looked twice at the CZ if had been dorked up to take AR magazines. I have an M4gery and a match-ready A2 Service Rifle to use those magazines. (Incidentally both wear 1:7" barrels.)
 
wanderinwalker said:
Rifling twist rate is always a fun topic when .223/5.56 rifles are being discussed. My experience with shooting NRA and CMP rifle matches puts me in the camp that favors the 1:8" twist barrel for a .223/5.56. I've seen and done first-hand that those barrels will shoot great with everything from little 52gr HPs all the way up to the long 80gr BTHP match bullets.

My CZ527FS only has a 1:9" twist barrel. I got lucky and it'll shoot the 75gr Hornady HPBT well enough to please me. Unfortunately I don't expect it to work with the Nosler or Sierra 77gr HPBT match bullets. But I do think it'll shoot well with the 69gr Nosler (or Sierr) match bullets, which is my favorite magazine-length .224" offering.

And yes, I would not have looked twice at the CZ if had been dorked up to take AR magazines. I have an M4gery and a match-ready A2 Service Rifle to use those magazines. (Incidentally both wear 1:7" barrels.)
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It is so odd, you know the rules but once and a while a gun will like something it is not suppose to like.
 
fpgt72 said:
It is so odd, you know the rules but once and a while a gun will like something it is not suppose to like.
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A lot of stabilization has to do with velocity, so you can sometimes get away with a 1:9: that drives a bullet faster than a shorter barrel would and it will be stable. The Berger twist rate calculator (free) takes velocity into consideration:

http://bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/

I've also got a 1:9" Rem 700 that "shouldn't" shoot 75s well, but does at a little over 3000 FPS.
 
fpgt72 said:
It is so odd, you know the rules but once and a while a gun will like something it is not suppose to like.
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Yep. This was drilled into me way back when I was shooting Highpower: don't fret over the numbers, see what the targets show you.

Here's a 10 shot, 100 yard group from the CZ with the Hornady 75s. The flyer was round #1 after retorquing the action screws. And this isn't a worked up load; it's a max charge of Varget with the whole works seated to fit in an AR mag. I consider this good shooting for a lightweight sporter with a 4x scope and breaking position between 5 shot strings. 84061.jpeg
 
You guys with RAR/P ever have feeding problems from the ar mags. I had a mossberg mvp varmint and have feeding problems all the time
 
LoonWulf said:
I wish the mini actions took flush fitting mags, or had internal boxes. Least the wood stocked ones.
I had a RAR in .300aac, and liked everything besides the cartridge, and honestly if I get another similarly sized cartridge it will probably be that, or I'll build up a Howa mini action.

I've handled, and used the CZs, and I like them, but with the dm sticking out the bottom it breaks the lines up enough for me that the other, cheaper, guns edge up in the running.

From the factory tho, and with a wood stock, it would probably be my choice.
Click to expand...


The 3-shot magazine option on the .223 versions of CZ 527 comes close to a flush fit, but it requires substituting a different triggerguard (minus the diagonal web in the mag well) and mag catch if your version didn't come equipped that way from the factory. Some .223 527 models now come standard with this style of triggerguard -- with those you just need to get the shorter magazine. On the 3-rounder, only the baseplate and the end of the mag catch protrude below the stockline, just far enough to give you something to grab when changing mags.

I bought the replacement parts for my rifle through their website -- including the triggerguard, catch and one 3-shot mag plus shipping, it costs more than $150 to go this route, but the good news is the parts were drop-in fits on my full stock. Both long and short mags work with this triggerguard, so you can still keep the longer 6-shot mag in your pocket as a reload.

http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/527016966415_Trigger-Guard-527-M1-3rd
http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/527007020217_Magazine-Catch-527-M1-3
http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/13008_Mag-Cz-527-223-Rem-3rd-Flush-M1-Only

CZ5273RoundMagInserted.jpg CZ5273RoundMagLoose.jpg
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
The 3-shot magazine option on the .223 versions of CZ 527 comes close to a flush fit, but it requires substituting a different triggerguard (minus the diagonal web in the mag well) and mag catch if your version didn't come equipped that way from the factory. Some .223 527 models now come standard with this style of triggerguard -- with those you just need to get the shorter magazine. On the 3-rounder, only the baseplate and the end of the mag catch protrude below the stockline, just far enough to give you something to grab when changing mags.

I bought the replacement parts for my rifle through their website -- including the triggerguard, catch and one 3-shot mag plus shipping, it costs more than $150 to go this route, but the good news is the parts were drop-in fits on my full stock. Both long and short mags work with this triggerguard, so you can still keep the longer 6-shot mag in your pocket as a reload.

http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/527016966415_Trigger-Guard-527-M1-3rd
http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/527007020217_Magazine-Catch-527-M1-3
http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/13008_Mag-Cz-527-223-Rem-3rd-Flush-M1-Only

View attachment 830920 View attachment 830921
Click to expand...
Is that the necg peep sight. If so how do you like it. I am thinking of getting one for my 7.62x39 cz
 
codytrucker said:
I have a full stock carbine .223 , and an american model , maple stock .204.
.223 shoots speer 50 gr. about 5/8 to 3/4 " . sighted in an 1 1/2" high at 100 yards, and 65 gr. gamekings about 7/8 " in a 5 shot group about 2 1/2" high , same zero. pretty handy.
.204 shoots hornady factory 40 gr vmax about 3/4" , and a load w/same bullet and cfe223 or benchmark , about the same . took a while to find a load that shot as good as factory from that rifle ,though.
a good friend has a 223 varmint , the older one with a kevlar stock and 1-12" barrel , that shot a tiny about 1/10'" group with .
i wish they had flush magazines , and the scope rings are a little to tall , but i think you can get lower ones now . but , oh well . nice easy handling , pretty rifles that shoot extremely well, factory bedded , makes them a bargain in my book.
Click to expand...

I think the high scope ring problem is still a problem -- the latest model 527s I've seen in local shops all have the same shape bolt handle.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
The 3-shot magazine option on the .223 versions of CZ 527 comes close to a flush fit, but it requires substituting a different triggerguard (minus the diagonal web in the mag well) and mag catch if your version didn't come equipped that way from the factory. Some .223 527 models now come standard with this style of triggerguard -- with those you just need to get the shorter magazine. On the 3-rounder, only the baseplate and the end of the mag catch protrude below the stockline, just far enough to give you something to grab when changing mags.

I bought the replacement parts for my rifle through their website -- including the triggerguard, catch and one 3-shot mag plus shipping, it costs more than $150 to go this route, but the good news is the parts were drop-in fits on my full stock. Both long and short mags work with this triggerguard, so you can still keep the longer 6-shot mag in your pocket as a reload.

http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/527016966415_Trigger-Guard-527-M1-3rd
http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/527007020217_Magazine-Catch-527-M1-3
http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/13008_Mag-Cz-527-223-Rem-3rd-Flush-M1-Only

View attachment 830920 View attachment 830921
Click to expand...

Now that I could live with!
 
troy fairweather said:
Is that the necg peep sight. If so how do you like it. I am thinking of getting one for my 7.62x39 cz
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Yup, and I also had to install one of their tallest brass-faced front sights to get the elevation right. The rear peep elevates by unlocking and turning 180 degrees, so it's one of those combinations that you want to adjust once and then leave alone.

I like the combination -- it makes the rifle more svelte and gets around the 527's need for high scope mounting.

https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/Gun_Services/item_info.asp?Brand_id=4841&ST=CZ Patridge Sight#.XIk-TvZFxeM
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
Yup, and I also had to install one of their tallest brass-faced front sights to get the elevation right. The rear peep elevates by unlocking and turning 180 degrees, so it's one of those combinations that you want to adjust once and then leave alone.

I like the combination -- it makes the rifle more svelte and gets around the 527's need for high scope mounting.

https://www.newenglandcustomgun.com/Gun_Services/item_info.asp?Brand_id=4841&ST=CZ Patridge Sight#.XIk-TvZFxeM
Click to expand...
I have the new sights on my varbine, they look to be made by necg. The front sight has 2 set screws and it swings up and down. I need to call them they show a ghost site and the peep. Is the hole threaded for a insert.
 
well if money grew on the trees in my yard I would have a SAKO, I borrowed a version of such in my youth and was smitten but never have that much play money.

-kBob
 
troy fairweather said:
My new carbine has the low pro bolt it is thinner where the bolt would hit the scope. Mine is dated 2018.
Click to expand...

http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/40110_Bolt-Handle-527-New-Style

I stand corrected: just checked the CZ Webstore and under bolt handles they list a "NEW STYLE MODIFIED FOR SCOPE CLEARANCE".

It says for all right hand models, so perhaps it could be a retrofit option for older production rifles.

From what I can tell by comparing the webstore photos, I think the new handle is a little longer and has the bend further down? When you get the chance, could you post a photo or two of your rifle, preferably shown from the rear with the bolt raised. I think the CZ guys on this thread would be interested to see how this changes things.​
 
Last edited:
Dave DeLaurant said:
http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/40110_Bolt-Handle-527-New-Style

I stand corrected: just checked the CZ Webstore and under bolt handles they list a "NEW STYLE MODIFIED FOR SCOPE CLEARANCE".

It says for all right hand models, so perhaps it could be a retrofit option for older production rifles.

From what I can tell by comparing the webstore photos, I think the new handle is a little longer and has the bend further down? When you get the chance, could you post a photo or two of your rifle, preferably shown from the rear with the bolt raised. I think the CZ guys on this thread would be interested to see how this changes things.​
Click to expand...
i do have this bad photo with the blot back, you can see it's lower the the rear dovetail.
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