Bolt-action 7.62 x 39mm pros and cons

[ECVMatt]

I think the CZ is the way to go...

I had a Ruger and found it to be too big for the cartridge.

It really lends itself to a scaled down action. I have a CZ now and love it. It is a beautiful little rifle and shoots fairly well. I still need to shoot it more to get it dialed in, but for just plain old plinking in the desert it is great.

I really like the FH TSR, but I will be getting the .223. I hope they make it in a sporting rifle configuration as well as the target/varmint currently offered. I think they are on to something there...

 

[rangerruck]

I 've got the cz; it will turn crap eurtrash ammo, into sub moa, it is a mind blower. Now then, You have to realize, if you have never shot a cz, two things are going to happen; you are going to want to marry , and have kids , with the single set trigger. They are that good.

You will curse the day you were born, if you do not get CZ FACTORY, high mount rings; if you do not, CZ also adds a guarantee with each rifle sold, that their bolt handle will hit, and dent in your rear eye bell, on your scope.
(kidding about that last part) but you can bet, that proly every dude here, who has had a cz carbine, that unless they had some short, or oompa loompa type scope on it, the eye bell got smacked around, by the bolt arm.

The 527 carbine, may just be , the shortest, lightest, handiest rifle ever made,
and they are beautiful to boot. Too bad they don't make the carbine in 223, with a 1/9 twist.

 

[chris in va]

I have a CZ carbine.

One of my favorite firearms, usually gets the most use along with my CZ Kadet. I guess it's accurate, don't have a scope mounted on it...just like to plink at the range.

It does have issues though. The firing pin spring is weak from the factory (shocker!) and won't set off all the Wolf I feed it. No worries, I just flip the bolt handle up again and it fires. CZ sent me a new spring but it didn't help much.

Also understand it takes proprietary scope rings that are very expensive ($50). They have to clear the high angle bolt handle too, otherwise it'll be hitting the bell.

The bolt was difficult to work smoothly when new. The metal has to literally round off this sharp edge on the receiver before it'll cycle like butter.

I did have a bad issue with the last round not feeding. It would stick up at a 45 degree angle. Sent the mags back to CZ, they "couldn't find anything wrong" as usual. But they sent me two new ones that did the same thing, so I got fed up and took a closer look. Seems the machined cutout on the back of the mag is roughly done, so I took a file and rounded off the sharp internal edge that was catching the round's base...works fine now.

How is it I can find the problem, but CZ refuses to listen when I discover it?:banghead:

 

[Col. Plink]

Wow, y'all are really making me want to get a CZ 527! I even downloaded/printed/bound one of CZ-USA's current catalogues. It's honestly one of the few things that makes me wish I was a richer man. Not because CZ is fantastically over-priced, actually the opposite. It made me realize that there are fine, new arms available at reasonable prices but are still beyond my reach. There was a new CZ 527 advertised here for about $500 ( a STEAL) but I couldn't move on it and likely won't be able to afford another gun for some time.

I like the idea of an accurate bolt-action carbine in 7.62x39, as I can attest that Barnaul ammo is cheap and FAR better than Wolf, which I thought were the same thing. Shot some Wolf for the first time through my SKS the other day and had FTE's for the first time and one that had ripped around the neck; also unpredictable in groupings. Also the DIRTIEST ammo I have ever used for any weapon. I thought my barrel would NEVER come clean! Evry time I sent a solvent patch down the barrel I got black gunk for about an hour straight.

 

[rangerruck]

it is weird, but I have heard that the cz repair guys, 1 or 2 of them, that are stateside, are reee hee-healy cantankorous cranks, who don't think us americans know " vhat vee erre tokink aobot" when it comes to accusing them, of making something that came out substandard. the bolt bind is nothing unusual though, I got into the habit, of as I grabbed the bolt handle, put my thumb on the rear of the bolt, just to give it a starting push, then away it went.

 

[chris in va]

That would explain a few things.

 

[MD_Willington]

I'd love a 527 in both .223 and 7.62x39... but can swing the $$$ right now.

 

[greyling22]

I've got the mini-mauser, not a bad piece, but like the CZ, I'm having a devil of a time finding a scope/ring combo that does not interfere with the cycling of the action. Bolt hits the rear bell on the side, even with extra high rings.

 

[ArmedBear]

If CZ made a 527 Carbine with a forward scope mount (they can keep the irons for all I care), I'd have bought one already.

 

[rbernie]

Dunno why y'all show no love for the Ruger.

No, it's not quite as light as the CZ. But the extra weight isn't all that noticable when carrying it afield (at least for me, and I hunt on foot instead of in a stand), and I think that it helps the rifle in offhand shooting. I have found that the Ruger is also a great gun for recoil-sensitive folk to take deer hunting.

Mine has proven reasonably accurate - it shoots my standard handloads (shared between multiple 7.62x39 rifles and optimized for none) into 1.5" five shots @ 100 yard groups regularly.

I use the Ruger low rings, and I have a nice 2x-7x/32 scope on it with no bolt clearance issues.

I have more diminutive rifles that I can use, but I actually find that I prefer something a little more substantive than the miniMauser or CZ. The Ruger fits me well, and does a fine job.

 

[HankC]

CZ, Ruger, Mini-Mauser, they are all over-priced for cheap steel case ammo. While no more cheap Norinco bolt guns and SKS is getting expensive, someone should offer aftermarket Savage barrels in 7.62x39.

 

[ArmedBear]

CZ, Ruger, Mini-Mauser, they are all over-priced for cheap steel case ammo.

Right. That's why cheap box ammo isn't on my list of reasons to, or not to. If I get a regular short-action bolt gun, I'll handload 7mm-08 for it. If I were to get a mini-mauser like the CZ, I'd handload 7.62x39 for it. It's a lightweight hunting gun, to me, not a replacement for an SKS.

 

[R.W.Dale]

If CZ made a 527 Carbine with a forward scope mount (they can keep the irons for all I care), I'd have bought one already.

I keep telling you guys buy a set of burris medium zee rings and use those to mount a vintage low pro redifeld scope. This config will clear the bolt handle and look darn good doing it.

someone should offer aftermarket Savage barrels in 7.62x39.

OUR MAILING ADDRESS:
Shilen Rifles, Inc.
P.O. Box 1300 Ennis, Texas, USA 75120
Phone - 1.972.875.5318

do like I did and call em.

CZ, Ruger, Mini-Mauser, they are all over-priced for cheap steel case ammo.

Are there any NEW firearms so chambered that are cheaper than the boltactions mentioned. Honestly this reasoning makes NO sense to me at all, If I can get cheap practice ammo and shoot highly accurate handloads I call that a win win

 

[ArmedBear]

I keep telling you guys buy a set of burris medium zee rings and use those to mount a vintage low pro redifeld scope. This config will clear the bolt handle and look darn good doing it.

I don't want a scope that clears the bolt handle of the 527. I want a forward scope mount. I have no real use for 7.62x39mm in a "do-everything" gun here in Idaho.

The IER scope is a great setup out to 200 yards, where the power of the scope becomes a limiting factor. Points like a shotgun, both eyes open, while offering better and quicker aim than irons. 200 yards is also a good match for 7.62x39mm.

 

[R.W.Dale]

The IER scope is a great setup out to 200 yards, where the power of the scope becomes a limiting factor. Points like a shotgun, both eyes open, while offering better and quicker aim than irons. 200 yards is also a good match for 7.62x39mm.

Forward mounted scopes are something I just don't get, But maybe that's because I shoot with both eyes open anyhow

 

[ArmedBear]

Do you shoot shotguns?

There's something about a gun that comes to your shoulder and when it gets there, you're already looking right at the target in the middle of the crosshairs.

An IER scope set up right, on a gun that fits right, works like that -- like a shotgun bead.

That's not to say that you can't do that with a regular scope, and I also don't close either eye when I shoot. The IER scope just does it better.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Do you shoot shotguns?

There's something about a gun that comes to your shoulder and when it gets there, you're already looking right at the target in the middle of the crosshairs.

An IER scope set up right, on a gun that fits right, works like that -- like a shotgun bead.

That's not to say that you can't do that with a regular scope, and I also don't close either eye when I shoot. The IER scope just does it better.

I think it just comes from the lower magnification and not so much where the scope is mounted, I have had forward mounted scopes on rifles and I just simply haven't noted this phenomena over a conventionally mounted scope with ample eye relief on a low magnification setting

 

[HankC]

Quote:
someone should offer aftermarket Savage barrels in 7.62x39.

OUR MAILING ADDRESS:
Shilen Rifles, Inc.
P.O. Box 1300 Ennis, Texas, USA 75120
Phone - 1.972.875.5318

do like I did and call em.

I know but they are expensive. I hope someone would offer sub $200 barrels something like Midway A&B barrel or Numrich 7.62x39 barrel for small ring mausers for only $110.

 

[LC '92]

Heres the one I shoot. Its an AIA M10. Uses AK double stack mags and shoots steel cased Monarch and Wolf junk very nicely. Thats why I bought it. I like the cheap ammo and not having to pick up cases.

The M10 is a little costy and its not made anymore. Nice gun if you can find one.

It's going to be my primary deer & hog weapon this year. I'll probably put the scope back on for deer season. To me it has all the power of a .30-30 but with negligible ammo costs.

So, we have a precision accuracy platform, shooting .30-30 class cartridges, and ammo cost of about $0.35 per round. In my book, thats a very effective year round hunting package.

 

[greyling22]

krochus, my 2x7x32 widefield redfield tube separated at the adjustment turrets and since redfield has been bought and sold a few times they won't honor their "lifetime" warranty. dirtbags. last redfield I ever buy.

 

[model of 1905]

what kind of accuracy do you get at 100 yards? I've never gotten anything better than 4" groups out of my 7.62x39 AK's while at the same time getting as small as 2" groups from 5.56 and 5.45 rifles of the same design. I've always blamed the 7.62x39 for this.

4" groups are more than sufficient for SD or varmint (2 or 4 legged) hunting.

BTW, don't blame the ammo.