CZ 527 Carbine, 7.62 X 39 Bolt Action......

[canoeguy]

I had a CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62 X 39 caliber a few years ago, wound up trading it for something else, can't even remember what I got for it. Got an itch to get another 7.62 X 39 bolt action carbine, specifically a Ruger American Ranch, but they are made of Unobtainian now! None to be had in 7.62 X 39 caliber at retail shops. I don't know what is driving the demand for 7.62 X 39 bolt action rifles, maybe the fear of upcoming legislation, but they are scarce as hens teeth.

So, when I saw a used CZ 527 in 7.62 X 39 caliber at a pawn shop recently, priced at $650, I jumped at the chance to buy it. This one is the "Suppressor Ready" American version, no iron sights, but came with a Redfield "Revelation" 4 X 12 scope, mounted, with two magazines. Has a flash suppressor to occupy the suppressor threads at the muzzle. Came with butt stock ammo carrier and sling. With scope and sling, the rifle weighs a little over six pounds, weighed on my postal scale. Claimed weight on the CZ web site is 5.5 pounds.....

I fine tuned the scope position to my liking, took it out back and ran some rounds through it. This rifle loves cheap steel case Tula FMJ, shooting it shockingly accurate out to 200 yards. Shooting from the prone position, rifle rested on my range bag, I was hitting a 4" spray painted circle on my steel targets with regularity.

4" circles spray painted on 13" diameter steel targets, shot from the prone position at 200 yards:

Five shots, 200 yards, prone position. Same 4" circle spray painted, call it a 5" group with one flyer:

Having a rifle that likes cheap 7.62 X 39 ammo is nice, even in todays crazy ammo market I've had little trouble finding it at Rural King and other nearby gun shops. The other day I was able to find and buy 400 rounds in stock at .22 cents per round.

 

[Telecaster]

Sweet! I always wanted one of those. They just exude quality.

 

[44specialfan]

Nice rifle and a great setup for your part of the country. Thanks for sharing.

 

[diyj98]

Nice rifle. I'd much rather have that one than the Ruger American.

 

[cracker57]

I have a 527 in 204 most accurate rifle I have ever owned, over 3000 rounds and still as accurate as it was after 300 rounds. it has never seen a brush, I have cleaned this with foam bore cleaner, any brand I can find and patches pulled thru with the ottis cleaning kit.
If I do my part at 100 they all go thru the same hole, it gets a little bigger but still one hole.

 

[SVT28]

Great rifle OP! I already have a Mini 30 (and lots of mags) so I couldn't pass up a discounted floor model Ruger American Ranch at Bass Pro a couple months ago. Topped it with Leupold rings and a 2.5x Fixed Leupold Scout scope. Without the bipod, it's less than 6 pounds. Not a single misfire in the first 500 rounds of all sorts of ammo, Barnaul/Golden Tiger/ PPU/Geco/Hornady Black. Lights out accurate. 7.62x39 is still cheapish centerfire rifle ammo and for me, is pleasant to shoot.

SVT28

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[dmthomp32]

The 527's are some of the best handling, accurate and pretty bolt actions you can find. While my experience has only been with the 7.62x39 variant, it is a blast to shoot. The set triggers are crazy light and the iron sights (from my examples) were very good. I think a 2-7x scope is ideal and plays well with the bolt throw. Here is one of my past rifles (had two) with a little 2.5x scope on it, very handy for inside 100 yards.

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[Rodan]

I have a 527 in 7.62x39... I added an XS scout mount and intermediate eye relief 2-7x scope. It's a wonderful little scout, lightweight, and loves cheap steel case ammo.

I still need to pick up a New England Custom rear sight, and a couple more mags.

 

[ars1876]

You will never go wrong with a CZ . I really like Rodan's & dmthomp32's set ups . Gives me a plan for a new project.

 

[Exmilcop]

I have the Howa 1500 mini action in the same caliber. It's my go-to deer rifle where I have 80 yd. or under line of sight. It's dead nuts accurate with my handloads and drops deer very nicely.

 

[sandog]

canoeguy, congrats on the new carbine.
If your CZ shoots well with Tula, it will shoot awesome with better ammo.
And every 7.62 x 39 ammo I've tried is better than Tula.

Nowadays you might have to shoot what you can get, we don't have the choices that we had a year, or even 8 months ago.
But try to get ahold of some Silver Bear. It is by far the most consistent shooting x39 I've used.

If my Mini-30s or x39 AR will group Silver Bear like this, your bolt gun should do nickel size groups with them.
My next favorite would be Red Army Standard/Golden Tiger. Same ammo made in the same plant, just different packaging.

I have several Mini-30s, so if I got a bolt carbine in x39 it would make sense to get the Ruger and have magazine compatibility.
But I do love the CZs, my 452 in .17HMR is my favorite gopher duster.

 

[Fishinfool]

Nice find. I had considered one, but never figured they would be that accurate with the cheap Russian ammo that is commonly available in this caliber. Glad to see they are shooters, as most CZ bolt actions are.

I like the 527, and do own one in .204 Ruger, with the single set trigger, and it is a tack driver.

Larry

 

[ColbyBruce]

CZ used to be a well kept secret, I don’t know who let the word out but the prices have gone way up.

The American model (third down) is gone and was replaced by a HS Precision stocked Varmint. I gave the .222 leaning against the tree to my brother.

 

[Pisgah]

My 527 shoots shockingly well with even the cheapest ammo, not really a great surprise in that CZ cuts these chambers specifically for the steel-cased Euro loads. My deer load is the brass-cased S&B 123 gr. softpoint, and 3-shot, 100 yd. groups commonly go under 1". Tula, Silver Bear, etc., shoot right on the heels of that load with 1.25 to 1.5" groups being the norm.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I've got CZ rifles 452s in .22lr and .22mag, a 453 varmint in .17hmr and both 527 Americans and FS in .223/5.56.....not a bad shooter in the bunch.

My favorite are the FS/mannlichers.

Saw a 527 7.62x39 Carbine on consignment late last year for $700 ..... thought hard but passed as I didn't want another caliber.... and at $40/mag... it would be a $900 gun

 

[dmthomp32]

You will never go wrong with a CZ . I really like Rodan's & dmthomp32's set ups . Gives me a plan for a new project.

I like Rodan's setup as well. I've always thought these would serve well in a scout rifle role. Didn't know that forward rails were offered for these rifles! That with a red dot and back up peep sights might.be the perfect brush gun!

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[Rodan]

Be warned, it's not a bolt on solution. The XS rail is a permanent mount using Acraglas, and required a bit of grinding on the barrel to fit.

When I built the gun, there was nothing available for the Ruger Americans (though it looks like there is now), and this was the only scout solution I could come up with for reasonable $$$.

I previously tried a Ruger Gunsite Scout rifle, but it was a tank by comparison.

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

It looks like money well spent to me!

Just sayin.

 

[CH4]

There’s two at one local shops, a 7.62x39 and 6.5 Grendel. Appear well made. I was kinda thinking about the grabbing the Grendel, but there’s a CDNN special 1 of 300 Winchester 1873 trapper in 45 Colt with maple stock that has my attention. Maybe bringing her home tomorrow.

 

[dsf]

I've always thought CZ made the guns Bill Ruger would have if the company hadn't decided to go cheap in so many ways. I like my Rugers alot but way to much economizing.

I've had CZ rifles for years and bought a 527 in 7.62 so I could shoot all day, not care about picking up brass or reloading. But as it turned out the rifle was so accurate I added the cartridge to my reloading inventory. Great to have the option of shooting cheap stuff or good reloads.