Thinking on a CZ 527

[colonelhogan44]

I'm thinking I'll get it in 223 (Although 7.62x39 sounds pretty cool too...), but torn between the different models.

I'm thinking it will be used for general plinking, target shooting and a lot of casual varmint hunting. I'm wanting opinions on the 24 inch barrel Lux, the 22 inch barrel american, and the carbine. I'll definitely want to put optics on it.

Ready set, go!

 

[CB900F]

Colonel;

The American is the model that's designed to have optics on it. It has the straight comb buttstock, no iron sights, and comes with a set of 1" rings. The carbine is the same basic design, but has an 18.5" barrel vs the 22" barrel of the American. The Euro style hogback buttstock of the Lux, which does have irons, is designed to properly align your eye with those sights. Putting glass on one can be a bit of an adventure. Since you've stated that target/varmint use is going to figure in heavily, go for a gun you can put some serious glass on.

Do realize that the slim barrel shouldn't be subjected to rapid fire for any length of time. Accuracy, and eventually barrel life, will suffer.

900F

 

[colonelhogan44]

I do realize that. My type of "varminting" usually results in a couple of shots per minute, tops. Usually I walk about for 10 minutes for every 2 shots I take, so the barrel should never get hot.

Part of me wants to get a carbine in 7.62x39, but I've been wanting a 223 bolt gun for way too long.

 

[MIL-DOT]

I couldn't decide between the .223 and the x39, but Buds was sold out of the x39 at the time, so I "decided" on the .223 . But, I have no regrets, it's a great rifle and the .223 is a flatter shooting cartridge, which is a plus,IMO.
Another plus for the .223 is that CZ says they're ok to fire 5.56 ammo, which is handy.
My rifle is a few years old, and has the 1:12 twist, but I'm reading that the newer ones have a faster twist, allowing the use of the heavier and better quality .223 hunting rounds, which I would have prefered if they'd offered that option back then (in fact, I probably wouldn't have been so closely considering the x39, if at all).
Also, though I planned on scoping it, I still went with the carbine with the iron sights. I prefered to have the versatility, and not be bound to a scope if I didn't want it, or it broke or something. My irons came dead-nuts accurate right out of the box, and that's the version I'd recommend.

 

[CB900F]

Colonel;

I had forgotten that CZ has indeed started production of 1:9 barrels for the 527. Mine is a 1:12 and that's exactly what I wanted when I got it. I'll have to go find out if both twists are still offered, or it's now 1:9 only. And yes, it's perfectly alright to use NATO spec ammo in the CZ. My personal opinion is that if you want heavier bullets, go to a bigger bore. For varminting, up through coyote, a 50 grain bullet does quite nicely. In fact, it may be possible to pick up a 1:12 gun for less money now, either used or maybe even NIB.

I have guns for deer, and they aren't .223. I'm glad that hunting wasn't on your list. It can be done, but there's much better tools for the job.

900F

 

[colonelhogan44]

Well, I have many other larger bore rifles, and a Tikka T3 lite in 30-06 for hunting.

I want a light walkabout/general purpose bolt rifle that shoots tacks.

 

[CB900F]

Colonel;

Do you handload?

900F

 

[Corn-Picker]

If I were going to get one, it would be the 7.62x39 youth carbine; just over 36" and 5.6 pounds. I would leave it with open sights to keep it ultra light and handy, it would make a great 150 yard deer rifle.

 

[Hook67]

For what it's worth, I have a 7.62X39 Carbine and love it. It shoots dang near every 308 and 310 jacketed bullet I've tried (and I have tried 8-10 different ones) at or near MOA. It also shoots heavy cast bullets under 2 MOA. It is short, light and is a perfect walkabout rifle!

Oh yes, I loaded some 150 gr Winchester FP 30-30 bullets for a friend with an identical carbine. It is his son's first deer rifle. I think he has about a half dozen kills with it so far....

 

[Koveras]

I have CZ 527 Carbines in both .223 and 7.62x39 and they are both sweet little shooters. But there are a few things you should be aware of:

1) The CZ 527 has a high bolt rise, so you will either have to use high rings or a scope with a small ocular bell to clear the bolt.

2) The iron sights are very useable, but the rear sight is drift adjustable for windage only. The front sight insert is swapped out for elevation.

3) A lot (most?) of the CZ 527 7.62x39 rifles don't like military surplus ammo because the primer is too hard. There are a lot of misfires, requiring one or two extra strikes to fire. This is not a problem with handloads or hunting ammo.

4) The action is a true Mauser style that works best when stripping rounds from the magazine. If you drop a round into the ejection port and close the bolt, you will have a round jammed into the chamber and the extractor on the wrong side of the rim.

Keep in mind that both of my rifles are older and CZ may have changed things in recent years. My .223 has a 1 in 9 twist, at the time I got it only the varmint models had a 1 in 12.

Hope this helps!

 

[colonelhogan44]

Colonel;

Do you handload?

900F

Yessir, and cast.

I have a .357 Magnum Rossi that is my go-to open sights walkabout/deer/etc gun for up to ~150 yards. Handloaded with 180 grain cast bullets makes it a formidable cartridge.

I guess I'm looking for something for those 200 yard shots on ground (pest) squirrels and such.

 

[ROAshooter]

the cz 527 carbine with the 1/9 twist has also a modified (by CZ) bolt for better scope clearance........and Cz will recontour exsisting bolts for a very modest fee.....and both of my CZ 527s.....a carbine with 1/9 and a Full Stock 1/12...will close the bolt on a round dropped ontop of the mag....the extractor has a beveled leading edge to allow this....

 

[200Apples]

.
Between the two of us, my son and I have both chamberings in the 527 Carbine. I have had the X 39 for five years, he just got his .223 two months ago and can't keep his hands off of it. They're incredible little rifles.

I've no AR-platform in the collection so I've not pulled the trigger on a lot of .223/5.56 A man I admire called them "poodle shooters"... but I can now say that I have a new respect for 5.56 and the way it gets downrange, after shooting it from this CZ.

You should be very happy with this setup!

 

[fireman 9731]

I love my carbine in x39. No problems with light strikes and it loves cheap steel cased ammo. Its a dream to carry in the woods.

 

[DPris]

Had .223 & 7.62x39 here last Fall.
Both excellent & handy little guns.

Bolt rise was not a problem at all with CZ rings, they're high enough to clear.
If you use non-CZ rings, it CAN be an issue to watch.

The CZ Mauser-based boltguns are modified to allow single-round direct-chamber feeding.
That is not an issue in current rifles.

Denis

 

[colonelhogan44]

So are you saying you're more fond of the 223 over the x39 after shooting it?

I've never owned a 223, and am not too crazy about semi-autos either.

 

[CB900F]

Colonel;

The reason I asked about handloading is that some of the 527's can give pretty spectacular accuracy when fed the right load. Well under MOA. It's amazing for a light barreled walking varminter type gun. I don't have enough feedback on the 1:9 guns to say if that holds true with them.

900F

 

[DPris]

Survivalist Papers: Surviving With CZ.
Amazon Kindle eBook.

In case you might be interested, includes the 1/12 twist .223 527 with scope & the 7.62x39 527 Carbine with irons.
Denis

 

[Koveras]

Oops on my earlier post. I checked my .223 when I got home from work and it is a 1 in 12, not a 1 in 9. Oh well, my memory falters as my hair grays.

 

[fireman 9731]

Here is my CZ 527 carbine shooting cheap TulAmmo 122 grain fmj at 100 yards with a 2.5x scope.

It doesn't get much better than that.

 

[colonelhogan44]

That is pretty good!

 

[DPris]

Best I could get on a 3-shot 100-yard group using Win 120-grain Defender & iron sights was 1 5/8 inches through a 527 Carbine here.
Denis

 

[fireman 9731]

Thats pretty good for irons! I have really wanted to try some brass cased Yugo surplus. I'm sure it would shoot very well, just have to clean it afterwards.

I have tried some Winchester before and it was horrible. Usually domestic 7.62x39 is known for poor performance. I do have a box of Hornady SST that I am waiting to try too.

 

[colonelhogan44]

I have read that the Hornady stuff shoots the lights out in 7.62x39.

 

[js8588]

Just put a x39 carbine on layaway (after paying off a 452 Ultra Lux). A 527 Lux in 223 is in my future as well.