canoeguy
US Veteran
Bought a CZ 527 carbine in 7.62x39 caliber about a year ago, and have been experimenting with some handloads, and casting bullets for it. It shoots Federal American Eagle brass case FMJ into about 1.5 inches at 100 yards, I have come close to duplicating that with cast lead.
Cast up some 155 grain spire point bullets from a Lee mold, about 80% wheel weights and 20% linotype, lubed and sized them/installed a gas check with a Lyman sizer. Loaded them with 19.5 grains 4198 to get an advertised 1900 feet per second. They shoot almost as well as the Federal factory ammo, 1.75 inches at 100 yards from a bipod rest:
Scope is a Redfield 2X8 compact variable.
This is the best results I have come up with to date with any .30 caliber cast lead bullets. They should also give more stopping power than factory ammo, factory 7.62X39 has 122 grain bullets at about 2000 FPS, these are heavier at 155 grains at 1900 FPS, and cost very little to assemble. Also, no leading, bore is squeaky clean after shooting 30 rounds of these cast lead bullets.
There is a lot to love about this CZ carbine! Light weight, smooth operation, Mauser type action, set trigger, detachable magazine, beautiful looks. I have two spare magazines and a Czech CZ52 spare magazine pouch (from the 1950's) to tote them around in.
Haven't tried this rifle/ammo combination on any game yet, but should be deadly on deer. I know 20 ounce water bottles are doomed when I see them at 100 yards....
If you don't have a CZ 527 rifle, get one! They come in .223 caliber as well.
Cast up some 155 grain spire point bullets from a Lee mold, about 80% wheel weights and 20% linotype, lubed and sized them/installed a gas check with a Lyman sizer. Loaded them with 19.5 grains 4198 to get an advertised 1900 feet per second. They shoot almost as well as the Federal factory ammo, 1.75 inches at 100 yards from a bipod rest:
Scope is a Redfield 2X8 compact variable.
This is the best results I have come up with to date with any .30 caliber cast lead bullets. They should also give more stopping power than factory ammo, factory 7.62X39 has 122 grain bullets at about 2000 FPS, these are heavier at 155 grains at 1900 FPS, and cost very little to assemble. Also, no leading, bore is squeaky clean after shooting 30 rounds of these cast lead bullets.
There is a lot to love about this CZ carbine! Light weight, smooth operation, Mauser type action, set trigger, detachable magazine, beautiful looks. I have two spare magazines and a Czech CZ52 spare magazine pouch (from the 1950's) to tote them around in.
Haven't tried this rifle/ammo combination on any game yet, but should be deadly on deer. I know 20 ounce water bottles are doomed when I see them at 100 yards....
If you don't have a CZ 527 rifle, get one! They come in .223 caliber as well.
