CZ 527 7.62x39 vs TC Contender 7-30 Waters

CZ now chambers the 527 American in 7.62x39, but I'm not sure they've shown up here yet. Depending upon how big a rush you're in, that might be another option. I had a Carbine and liked it okay but I like the American much more. The American is not what I'd call a big gun at all. Here they are with the same scope so you can see the relative scale of the guns.

 

Oh boy...

A full sized 527 in 7.62x39 ....

Must. Resist...

 

I already have a 527 American so I know the rifle well. I'll keep my eye out for the 7.62 in the American model.

 

Sweet looking rifle, sir.

 

I6turbo

Both are great looking rifles though I would still probably go with the Carbine version if I were going to get one.

 

Yeah, those 7.62 Americans are not on the market yet. I put one on backorder just in case they hit the market soon. I like the American style better than the Carbine.

 

If you were intending to hand load for the Contender anyhow, the CZ likes hand loads too...



This target from load testing last night with 123 gr. SST. At 100 yards, the little carbine can be as accurate as my CZ 550 in 6.5x55. The Lapua 7.62x39 FMJ I emptied to get my reloading brass only holds 1".


This was the cheap Berry's plated bullet... And yes, probably faster than the 1900 fps that Berry recommends. Have not chronoed the loads yet.

 

On a cartridge basis, it's not even a contest. The 30-30's sissy Russian cousin vs a much more capable and ballistically efficient cartridge. No brainer: 7-30 Waters

The rifles muddle the picture. That CZ is a great little rifle.

 

I have a 14" Contender 7mm International Rimmed barrel, essentially identical to the 7-30 Waters, that I shot unlimited IHMSA Silhouette with back in the day.

Easy to form cases, easy to get good loads, pleasant to shoot, effective on the 200 meter rams

I have first generation Contender frames that have the adjustable trigger. Compared to the Encore trigger, they are much better and I understand the current generation Contenders have a similar trigger as the Encore. I'm reluctant to try a current generation Contender in part because of the trigger.

A 7-30 Waters would be a dandy carbine.

If I had a nice bolt rifle in 7.62x39, the lure of cheap surplus ammunition would not be of interest. I'd only shoot good hand loads in the rifle. Now, I like to reload, but not everyone does.

 

Contender carbine in .35 rem was fun. Killed deer dead.
Contenders can be quirky, non easy open vs easy open vs G2...........plus diff bbls needing locking bolts fitted.
Yeah yeah, I hear folks say that they never needed to fit any.
Lucky you.
I've owned 6 frames and maybe 20 bbls, and some did NOT work together.

Grew up shooting IHMSA so have a soft spot for the TC (easy open old frames).
Every once in a blue moon my .35 would go "clink" with the hammer fall and not "BOOM".
Never happened while hunting.

But once in a great while was enough to do the Spock eyebrow.

I also don't like a break open rifle...............for whatever reason. And older and more cranky that ate on me.

So all my Contender stuff went bye bye.

If I want a single shot rifle, my choice is Ruger #1.
I got one to rebarrel to .35 rem................but it shoots good and kills deer, so I gotta find another one to redo

Contender/Encore stuff is neat, but I don't swap barrels (even though I bought some rigs used with multiple).
At one point I had two frames set up as rifles, and one as handgun.

I don't even change bbls on 1100/870...................just buy another gun.

IMHO TC prices are high enough now.........they kinda killed the interchangeable bbl advantage.
Personally I am no fan of kits..............more guns sounds better than more barrels.

Some folks like kits, saw a Dan Wesson .357 pistol pac sell recently for surprising price.

 

They made Ruger #1 in 7.62x39

 

This. I have one swap-bbl gun (not a Contender)...it's only ever seen one bbl, and until it's shot out it's only likely to see that one (at which time I might swap to a different chambering, but that too will likely be it's one and only).

As much as I like the No. 1, I have to ask why? I just don't see the appeal in a falling block in a small cartridge. That said, I'm as biassed as they come with regards to a boomer...I like em', even when I freely admit that there's many a good choice that's non-magnum...[strike]sometimes[/strike] often better (particularly for someone less experienced and/or recoil tolerant). [shrugs]

P.S.: I'll take mine in .450-400NE. Should go nicely with my 1885 in .458AmEx (based upon the .45-120 case, with just a bit more than average powder to bring that 465gr solid up to a respectible 2200fps)

 

Well I ended up getting the CZ 527. I just got it this week and put the scope on today and I will have to say that I am VERY happy. That's not to say that I wasn't initially on the fence about it though. I thought the stock was just plain old muddy brown and wasn't even fully certain that it was even walnut like it's supposed to be. I took a gamble and rubbed the whole stock with some Minwax Antique Oil Finish. I rubbed it into the wood really good and then wiped away the excess with a clean cloth and kind of buff/wiped it down afterward. Man what a difference that made! There was all kinds of grain that came out in the wood that was not present before that. I put the Burris medium rings on it and little Sightron scope and it's super cool now! Unique looking little gun and very handy feeling and shouldering. I put a nice leather sling on it and now it fully looks the part of a classic hunting rifle. Looking forward to shoot it and getting it sighted in soon. This is my second CZ 527 now.

 

Congrats on the new rifle, Olympus!