Just wondering how your CZ carbine in 7.62x39 is shooting for you. Are you pretty satisfied with the accuracy, etc? I've got another chance to pick one up and thought I'd see how you like yours now that you've had it a while. thanks, maxman

I can't tell you how Pecos's CZ 7.62X39mm is shooting for him, but I can show you how MINE is shooting for ME!



The top 3-shot group is with WW factory FMJ 123-grain ammo; the bottom one is with a handload of 31.5 grains of H335 and a Sierra PSP flat-base .308" dia. 150-grain bullet, V @ 10' = 2300 FPS!

wow - that's nice! Looks like you have a keeper there. So, it appears to shoot the .308" bullets pretty well out of its .310" bore? This is going to be the gun for my wife and daughter (and me if I can get the chance!). Size and weight are perfect, but I wanted to make sure they shoot well so these new shooters don't get frustrated.

Excellent velocity with these 150's also! thanks, maxman

I think these CZ's are superb little rifles. I don't think you will be disappointed. I have not slugged my bore, but have read somewhere that the CZ 7.62X39mm's have .311" grooves. I have had good accuracy with .308's in the CZ and even better shooting with Speer .311 180-grain roundnoses. Using 28.5 grains of H335 with these 180's, my CZ gives just at 2100 FPS MV. I get LESS velocity from this same load in the full-length SKS barrel. (Pointed 180-grain bullets are too long-they have to be seated deeper to work through the action, and therefore don't leave room for enough powder.)

MaxMan - Pretty good timing for your question. I just got back from quicky trip to N.M. to visit my son and we went out shooting one of our favorite prey......rocks. He took his .22/250 and I took the CZ 7.62.



First impression was the 7.62 sure isn't as fast as the .22/250.



Second impression was the 7.62 sure wasn't as flat as the .22/250.



Third impression was the CZ kicks about twice what the .22/250 does...but still nothing of consequence. Remember it's a LIGHT rifle.



Fourth impression was, it sort of reminded me of shooting a scoped 30/30. Velocity about same. Trajectory about same.



It does blow pretty fair chunks our of rocks at various ranges. I shot it at stuff out to about 250 yds. After you get the hang of it's trajectory, it's pretty easy to hit what you're aiming at.



As far as target accuracy, I've gotten about the same as ElD. It's plenty accurate out of the box.



I haven't shot any .308 bullets in mine. Been shooting mostly Wolf Hollow Points made in Russia. And I shot up a box of reloads with some Winchester 310 diameter 125gr SPs.



I shot one of the HP's into a dirt bank just to see what it would do. Penetrated about 5 inches which was about what I expected. What I did not expect was to find the Russian HP bullet mushroomed and probably still retaining 60% of it's mass. I expected it to tear itself to pieces.



What is my overall evaluation of it? Hmmmmmm.

Frankly, out in New Mexico you feel pretty UNDER gunned. Most of New Mexico is country that can present you with shots that will strain the barrel of the flattest shooting rifle. Obviously the 7.62x39 can't play this game well at all.



In the Texas Hill Country or east Texas woods, this long distance issue doesn't apply.



It's a fun gun to shoot, one you can shoot all day and not go home beaten and bloody. And with the various surplus ammo out there, you can shoot it mighty cheap. I think either the soft point or hollow points would perform fine on Texas White Tail.



The gun performed flawlessly. Never jammed. Set trigger is awesome. Firing it without using the set trigger, I swear I got two different pulls. Sometimes the regular pull was pretty crisp and nice. Other times, it felt "creepy" and about a pound heavier. Anyone else ever noticed this phenomenon on CZ regular trigger.



If I had to do it over again, would I buy this rifle? Hmmmmmmm. To tell you the truth I think I would buy the 6.5x55. Why? Because I'm a fickle bastard sometimes. And because I've never owned a 6.5x55. In fact, I've never owned the 6.5 caliber that I can remember. Somehow I skipped right over it and landed on .277.



Maybe it's just my mind set right now, but I think I'd like more speed and punch.



Would I recommend this rifle? Sure. It's great if you understand it's abilities. Where I think this rifle would be superb is as a first gun for a kid...or as the wife's rifle. I don't think it will ever hurt them but it will give them the feel and bang etc of shooting a high powered rifle. They can shoot it plenty and get good with it. Then I think they will be as able to bring home a deer as about anyone in the camp.



I hope my evaluation doesn't sound too bleak. Just my honest thoughts. It's still very early days with my 7.62x39 and the next time I go out playing with it, I may fall head over heels in love with it.



Let me know if you have any questions I missed.

I happen to agree with Pecos on what he said about this rifle. It is a good choice for shooting deer around here in PA or upstate NY, if you are a person who thinks .30/30 ballistics are acceptable for shooting deer up to maybe 150 yards. It certainly would NOT be my choice of a first or an only rifle. It is no match for a full-rifle caliber like a .270, 7X57, .308 pr .30/'06, by any stretch of the imagination!! I certainly would not choose one for hunting use in New Mexico, but I would not choose a M 94 Winchester in .30/30 nor a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington for use in N.M., either!

I did not buy mine as a hunting rifle, but as a fun gun that would shoot the 7.62X39mm round better than an SKS, and it is/does! If a Ruger No. 1A-type single-shot in 7.62X39mm had been on the rack the day I bought this CZ, I would have bought it instead.

Most Indians are fat today, ElD......but you're right......they aren't bow hunters.