Best Rifles to Use Steel Cased .223/5.56 with?

[Life During Wartime]

I recently came across the CZ 527 at the gunshop and learned that it is specifically made to work well with steel cased ammunition. The manufacturer even goes as far to imply that the gun works better with steel, something I've never heard other manufacturers say. Is this a fairly unique feature or do other .223/5.56 rifles gobble up steel without issue to things like the extractor? Specifically, I am most interested in bolt action and other non-AR style, such as the Mini-14, Howa Mini-Action and H&R Survivor.

 

[MIL-DOT]

Something to consider with foreign, steel-cased ammo isn't the steel cases (which are actually quite soft and not the detriment so many think they are) but that much of it seems to use bi-metal jacketed projectiles, which are more abrasive than copper jackets.
That being said, from what I've read, the increased wear isn't hugely significant (especially in the short term), but for me personally, given that they aren't chrome bored, I prefer to avoid the bi-metal jackets in my CZ 527.

edit: one other thing to consider: the newer 527's have a faster twist than rifles from a few years ago, and are therefore highly compatible with the heaver,high quality hunting rounds (stuff weighing more than 62grs.) The older 527 .223's had a 1:12 twist that shoots the lighter varmint rounds (40 gr range) just fine, and up to 55gr very well, but 62gr is pushing it (in some rifles), and beyond that will likely keyhole, from what I understand.
So if that rifle you're considering (or already bought?) has the older 1:12 twist, you won't be able to use the premium,heavier .223 ammo.
BTW, I've fired some 62gr stuff at about 100 yds, and had no keyholing, so it looked like my 1:12 rifle stablizes 62gr (at least that brand) just fine.

 

[CB900F]

Life During;

While I know that CZ specifically rates their 527 as being perfectly compatible with both 5.56mm & .223 ammunition, I was not aware that they stated that the steel cases were also accepted by them as well. Not that I'm particularly worried about it in my gun mind you, just wasn't aware that the factory even mentioned it.

900F

 

[Reloadron]

I recently came across the CZ 527 at the gunshop and learned that it is specifically made to work well with steel cased ammunition. The manufacturer even goes as far to imply that the gun works better with steel, something I've never heard other manufacturers say. Is this a fairly unique feature or do other .223/5.56 rifles gobble up steel without issue to things like the extractor? Specifically, I am most interested in bolt action and other non-AR style, such as the Mini-14, Howa Mini-Action and H&R Survivor.

Could you provide a link to where CZ actually says in print that the CZ 527 rifle works better with steel cased ammunition? Where does CZ imply that or suggest the use of steel cased or steel jacketed ammunition? Sorry but I am having a hard time accepting that.

I recently bought a new CZ 542 and it is the first actually "new" rifle I have bought in likely 20 plus yaers as I like the older rifles. I am considering a CZ 527 and a nice blue walnut flavor runs in the $700 to maybe $750 range. While they are not expensive compared to other nice rifles I can't see buying one and running lower end economical priced ammunition through it. I have run countless steel cased, steel jacketed rounds of ammunition through SKS and AK type rifles but just have a hard time putting economical ammunition through a good quality rifle.

Ron

 

[ford8nr]

Best Rifles to Use Steel Cased .223/5.56 with?

Yours, lmao

On a serious note I've always considered steel case ammo to be lower quality and with reloadable brass .223 at $ .32/rd why shoot steel?

 

[Kame B.]

Is this a fairly unique feature or do other .223/5.56 rifles gobble up steel without issue to things like the extractor? Specifically, I am most interested in bolt action and other non-AR style, such as the Mini-14, Howa Mini-Action and H&R Survivor.

I really wouldn't worry about the extractor, they are made of a denser metal than a steel casing. Even though I have never shot a CZ527, they look really nice. But if you want to go the semi auto route, then the Min 14 will do what you ask. I own 2 Mini 14's and they perform flawlessly with Tulammo.

 

[Kame B.]

Yours, lmao

On a serious note I've always considered steel case ammo to be lower quality and with reloadable brass .223 at $ .32/rd why shoot steel?

Hmmm, I'm buying tulammo at 20 cents a round.

 

[ontarget]

My Howa mini action .223 does not like the steel cases. I had several FTE where I actually had to force the action open and then pound the empty case out with a cleaning rod. Never a single issue with brass. I do shoot a ton of steel through my AR without a hicup though.

 

[Jackal]

If your main concern is cost, then steel cased is fine. Now, if you actually want to hit anything with any degree of accuracy, not so much. Steel is good gravel pit ammo.

 

[armoredman]

I have been shooting a CZ 527M in 7.62x39mm for some years, and it shoots brass cased ammo just fine. In fact, it hasn't had a steel case in it for many years, as I reload and cast for that caliber. I can't speak of the .223 version, but I never saw anything from the company stating that steel case ammo was preferred. I agree, shooting nothing but Tula junk through a premium rifle is like putting a restrictor plate on a carburetor, makes no sense to hobble yourself.

 

[aHFo3]

I remember reading that the 7.62x39 model 527 was made with steel case ammunition in mind, but I don't remember where I read it or if it was a from a reliable source.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[armoredman]

The actual word from CZ-USA reads thusly,
"Built to CIP specifications, our 7.62×39 chambers are ideal for shooting steel-cased surplus ammo. Designed to shoot .311 bullets, some American brass ammo may not perform as well as the imported steel-cased variety because of SAAMI brass dimensions and varying bullet diameters.

Our .223s will happily eat 5.56, since CIP doesn’t differentiate between the two cartridges and just has the higher pressure as its standard. So our .223s will shoot everything from the cheapest Russian steel to match .223 brass ammo."

I have had plenty of experience with the 7.62x39mm variants, and I size my cast bullets to .311. I shoot jacketed, plated and cast with what I consider decent results. Of course, every internet commando in the world can shoot rings around me. Rifle has been re stocked, pillared and bedded, so I SHOULD be able to do much better than I am...

200 yards with Berrys plated bullets, rested, scoped.



110 paces, standing, iron sights,



Fat man, shooting.

 

[Reloadron]

This is all I could find as to ammunition:

Ammunition
Use only factory-manufactured ammunition of appropriate caliber, which are in compliance with CIP regulations (International Proof
Commission for Firearms) or SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute Inc. of the United States). The use of other
cartridges could damage the firearm or cause injury to the shooter.

They mention CIP and SAAMI. The above quote was taken from the CZ 527 Owners Manual. Thanks for sharing what you had.

Ron

 

[highpower]

I must have close to a dozen .223/5.56 rifles. The only one I have that is 100% reliable no matter what steel case ammo I feed it is my Valmet M76. All the others have varying degrees of trouble with different steel case .223.

 

[CB900F]

Highpower;

Do you have a CZ527?

900F

 

[HankC]

My Howa mini action .223 does not like the steel cases. I had several FTE where I actually had to force the action open and then pound the empty case out with a cleaning rod.

That surprise me. Bolt guns should not mind steel case as much as semi-auto. My Savage eats steel case fine and the chamber is tight. Your chamber must be super tight or need polish.

 

[ontarget]

Must be tight cause its brand new. Less than 100 rounds through it. All problems were from the same box of ammo.so maybe just a bad box but in the future I will be using brass only in that rifle. My AR loves the steel so I will continue to stock it though.

 

[Corn-Picker]

If your main concern is cost, then steel cased is fine. Now, if you actually want to hit anything with any degree of accuracy, not so much. Steel is good gravel pit ammo.

I get two MOA at 100 yards with the 124 grain HP Tulammo in my CZ 527 (scoped from the bench). My CZ 527 is a sub 125 yard still hunting deer rifle wearing a peep sight and a Patridge post; two MOA is better than I need to practice from field positions. When deer season rolls around I switch to a Double Tap TSX load (1.5 MOA scoped from the bench). The Double Tap is about $2/cartridge, the Tulammo is $0.25/cartidge. If the Tulammo were acceptable for deer I'd probably use it...

 

[M1key]

Are we talking 223 or x39?

Hornady makes steel cased, copper jacketed 223 and x39.

A few friends own the 527 in x39 and were advised by CZ customer service that it was designed for steel cased ammo and that some US factory brass stuff would not fire consistently. This fact was verified recently by a stranger shooting a 527 next to me at the range and he stated the same.

Apparently Winchester won't work well, as well as PMC, but Fiocchi, Tula, Wolf will. Must be something about primers and/or the way various factory rounds headspace in that chamber.

One of my friends sold his upon learning this.

Don't know how 223 rifles are affected.

Good luck

M

 

[highpower]

CB900F:

Do you have a CZ527?

No I don't. But the OP did ask, and again, I quote:

Is this a fairly unique feature or do other .223/5.56 rifles gobble up steel without issue to things like the extractor? Specifically, I am most interested in bolt action and other non-AR style

So my comment was germane to the original question. Reading comprehension is a good thing, you might try it sometime.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I think they are mainly talking about their 7.62x39mm CZ-527 when they're talking about steel cased ammo.

 

[highpower]

I think they are mainly talking about their 7.62x39mm CZ-527 when they're talking about steel cased ammo.

Yes, but if you read the original post, he was specifically asking if other rifles were okay to shoot steel ammo. Somehow the posters went off on a tangent and starting talking about their own CZ's and failed to answer the primary question. He already knew that the CZ527 would do that as he has one.

Look at the title of the OP. That was the thrust of his post. As I said, reading comprehension is a fundamental thing, unfortunately too few practice it these days.

 

[M1key]

So is writing...

M

 

[I6turbo]

He already knew that the CZ527 would do that as he has one.

As I said, reading comprehension is a fundamental thing, unfortunately too few practice it these days.

Where did he say he already has a CZ 527? Was it somewhere in this post?

I recently came across the CZ 527 at the gunshop and learned that it is specifically made to work well with steel cased ammunition. The manufacturer even goes as far to imply that the gun works better with steel, something I've never heard other manufacturers say. Is this a fairly unique feature or do other .223/5.56 rifles gobble up steel without issue to things like the extractor? Specifically, I am most interested in bolt action and other non-AR style, such as the Mini-14, Howa Mini-Action and H&R Survivor.

Reading comprehension is a fundamental thing, unfortunately too few practice it these days.

 

[highpower]

Touché. I was trying to say that the OP had looked at a CZ. Unfortunately, I am a terrible at typing and I was thinking three thoughts ahead of what I was typing.