I shot my mouth off so much about this rifle that I had to follow up and do it. Got my first CZ today, the 527 Carbine in 7.62x39.

It was just love at first sight when I saw this gun last week. Not so much THE gun. Not so much the caliber. It was just the CZ quality and attention to detail I fell in love with.

They remind me of the way guns used to be built. And I like companies that give you a test target with the gun...even if some flunky punched the holes with a ball point pen...it still makes me feel good. Makes me think someone at the factory at least wanted to know if the gun would fire.

I've known a few American guns that blew up right off the shelf because the damn cylinders were drilled out of alignment. And my LAST Ruger practically blew the first shot with FACTORY AMMO. (Again right out of the box) By the way, Ruger doesn't give you a test target I notice. I have my suspicions why.

Oh yes, my test target was 1 1/4" at 100 yds with IRON sights. I'll be ecstatic if I can do that good.

Anyway, this is just a little rifle to entertain an old fool in his dotage. You won't bump into me in Africa with it or packing it up a slope in Alaska after the big bears.

If I get ambitious, I'll take a deer with it this year. If not, I just play with it on targets and busting rocks as far as I can hit them with it.

Fun is what guns are about, isn't it?

Here's my new baby. 6lbs. 18" barrel. My stock is a little more honey colored.

My first CZ was a 452 in .22 LR, my second was a CZ 75 in 40 S&W, my third was CZ 83 in .32 ACP and my latest, last month, is a 550 Magnum in .416 Rigby. I can't find fault with a single one of them and, quite the contrary, I can only thing of advantages to them when compared to just about anything destined to the same use. You've made a good choice.

Pecos, I can't help it either. I've got two of those that I rebarreled to 6 mm and 6.5 PPC, a standard 527 in 222 and John Ricks is finishing up a 450 Dakota on a CZ 550 mag action for me. Mexican Mauser actions and CZ rifles are keeping me from retiring. Great rifles.

After shooting my father-in �laws CZ 550 FS in 9.3x62 I was sold on the brand. I picked my 550 safari mag, in .375 H&H on Sunday and I am in love!!! I have to take my hat off to the Czechs, they make a great gun for the $. (a little rough in spaces, but like a good woman you work with her and smooth out the rough spots� you have a partner for life! )

Pecos, I�m proud of you for stepping up to the 7.62x39 whether it�s the best gun for deer or not they are fun and cheep to shoot.

Shucks, JBab, we don't NEED any of it. I couldn't give you one good reason why I got this thing.

But it's what men do. We climb mountains for no other reason than because they are there and we want to see what's on the other side.

Personally I'd like to have one in the 6.5x55. That's one of the calibers I've never fired. And I haven't know many people personally who had one. But ALL of the folks I knew who did have one adored it. Described it as very accurate and very pleasant to shoot. And our friends in the Scandanavian countries have more than proven its prowess for taking all sorts of game. But you know your hunting needs more than me.

Let us know what you pick. I'll try to do a bit of shooting with my Model 527 in the next few days and report how it acts. If they shoot as good as they look and feel, I think I'll be happy.

Haupt, I did a little reading on their (CZ) website and they employ 2,000 people building their rifles and pistols. I have a feeling that's more than Ruger, Winchester and Remington combined. So I think CZ is mighty serious about building guns and making a name for themselves.

I hate to say it, but I think they've gotten us beat. I LOVE that FS model. Hope I can resist ever buying one. It's past time for our gun manufacturers to get off their lazy asses and produce some quality like they used to. Of course the truth is our gun manufacturers are so afraid of trial lawyers that it's a wonder we have a gun industry left.

Pecos,
You said it we are very lucky to have a gun industry left.

I am however very glad �we� the USA won the cold war so that we can buy such a fine weapon. God Bless Capitalism!

Pecos:

I hope you enjoy your new rifle..it looks great..I recently purchased a couple of the bigger caliber CZ's and have beem impressed with the rifles...given the pricing. I also purchased one of CZ's fancy American stocks, it is the best looking stock I ever purchased...amazing figure..color, etc

The rifles (at least the bigger caliber)based on what I have read here on this site and my own observation..can be dressed up very nicely. I wished they had installed a barrel band swivel instead of a swivel in the stock..That could have been provided for at the factory very reasonable..now I it looks like I am going to have to spend about $200 (considering the barrel will have to be reblued) to get that done..otherwise I have really like what CZ has done with these rifles.

PC..I think I fall into the CZ addict catagory...As I am planning on purchasing the other two big bores I do not have! I hope they come out with a 404 Jeffery, I will definately purchase one of those, when and if they are produced....JJS

jjs - You mention their stocks.... I've noticed the wood they use seems different than American Walnut. The CZ wood, i.e. the "Turkish Walnut" seems closer or tighter grained to me and it just seems to have more figure than our woods. All of which equals nicer stock wood.



Yes, they could add a few more bells and whistles to their African guns and still produce a deal for real. I get the impression CZ will listen if their customers talk. I would urge you and others to email them your ideas and requests. I don't think they'll blow you off. I emailed some questions to them and got an answer in a few hours.



CZ does warranty their stocks, so maybe if I had one of these heavy rifles I would shoot the hell out of it and if it broke, let CZ replace it. If it didn't break, I'd live happily ever after. Just a thought.

Pecos,

welcome to the sick depraved world of the cz addicts

I feel like I've joined a "Cult."

I think the CZ stock thing is pretty much the luck of the draw unless you specify one of the fancier grades. I looked at another 527 carbine when I got mine and it was pretty plain compared to mine.
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Bob that's good to hear they are expanding their cartridge selection. I wish they would add a lot of them to the Carbine. It is just such a little switch. A guy could pack it off hunting and never know he was carrying a gun.

I made the mistake of just showing mine to my boss and now he's salivating. He really digs the set trigger.

Show and tell day at the law office.

There's a thread on the small bore forum "6.5 Grendel in the 527" started by LoudnBoomer. Those guys say Alexander Arms, who standardized the 6.5 PPC and called it the Grendel, have made a deal with Lothar Walter to supply bbls so they can build some 527s in 6.5 Grindel. Should be a go getter for Texas whitetails with the GS Custom 110 gr.

Pecos, Right about the email. They answer promptly. I asked them about a 527 carbine in Rem 6.8 SPC and they answered they were going to do it next year. Regarding the stocks, The 527 in 222 that I bought has lovely wood. Its a standard 527 but seems like they sometimes put really nice wood on even the standard models.

I agree. Sounds like a cartridge made for this little rifle.

Pecos:

I think you are correct about the Turkish Walnut vs American..however, the stock styles are different.. The fancy American stock I purchased is just amazing and I am very happy with it. When I purchase the 375 and 416, I think I am going to go with the "hog back" stock/Turkish Walnut style.

Yes, I e-mailed them yesterday to provide feedback!

I think the warrenty is two years...

Good luck...JJS

Wstrnhntr, When I first got it out of the shop my son worked up some loads using 120 gr bullets and it shot less than an inch but around 2600 fps. Then Alexander Arms came out with the Grendel which has the shoulder a little more forward than the 6.5 PPC so I sent it to their guy and had it reamed to the Grendel. My son just got it back and he has the 110 gr .264 GS Custom bullets so load work is about to begin. I'm hoping for between 2700 and 2800 fps. It has a 20" bbl and is just a little over 40" overall and just under 6 lbs. Handy little rifle.

You're a brave man, Bob. If I had a rifle that shot that good right out of the box, I think I'd have left it alone and lived happily ever after.

I hope your's stays as good as it was.

So do I Pecos, but it didn't shoot that good out of the box. When I rebbled it I had the actiion bedded, bbl floated, and trigger worked. I came to Colombia before I got to shoot it but I shot the 6mm PPC some and it was the same. Both are so light and handy that I look forward to following grandkids around the pastuer.

jjs,

I to will get there new calibers I really want the .450 Rigby and .505 Gibbs. I am currrently paying off a cz 550 safari in .300 win mag....a .300 winnie with a magnum action for $999.00AUS I just could not resist. I may re-chamber to .300 RUM to make use of that huge action.

I HAVE SEVERAL CZS RIFLES AND A CZ75 PISTOL I USE THE RIFLES DAILY BECAUSE IM A PH I NEVER EXPERIMENT A FAILURE CUSTOMS MAUSRS ARE THE SAME BUT THE BARREL OF BRNOS IS EXCELLENT I HAVE A 22,A308 ,A375 AND A 458LOTT.HERE IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR RIFLES MAUSERS AND BRNOS THEN REMINGTON.JUAN ALWAYS USE CLAW EXTRACTOR FOR DANGEROUS GAME YOU CAN SEE MY TROPHYS AND RIFLES AT www.HUNTINGINARGENTINA.COM.AR

Nice going Pecos! I've been handling the same carbine at a local shop here 3 days in a row. I just can't get over how nicely they are put together for the price. I even like the caliber! I've been looking at several options for a 7.62x39 for the kids to start off with deer hunting, and I'm not real thrilled about the military autos I've seen. This rifle is about as perfect for them as anything I could dream up, plus they can practice with cheap imported ball ammo. What's not to like about this setup?? maxman

HMmmmmmmmm........................yes me too.
I have been dreaming about a CZ in 9.3x62 for moose hunting would be a real dandy rifle for that purpose. But............then I have 2 .338 rifles, both excellent performers. Would not make a lot of sense would it now.
Well may be I will do it anyway. Don't know yet.
Too bad there is such a difference between what we want and what we need uh??On the other hand there is no end to it. Where does it stop. New rifle, triggerjob, barrel floating job, may be glas bedding, new die-set. new brass, new powdermore bullets, getting rid of the .338 stuff at a healthy loss. More Canadian Government registration forms.
Needs some thought.

How does the 7.62x39mm compare to the 30-30 balistics wise?

Regrads,

Peter

That's a fine looking website, Juan!

Ive not had much good to say about nearly any of todays factory rifles, but from what Ive seen of the CZ's they seem to be like Pecos said, similar to the way guns used to be made when quality actually existed. Thats saying something. Id much rather have a well built action and a good piece of wood that wasnt finished real well than a pretty piece of shit. Pretty is the easy part..



Nice little popper there dude! Lets see some targets!!

I spoke with someone at CZ yesterday to follow-up on something... While I had the fellow on the line I asked about the new calibers, again, and was advised that it looks like the 505 is moving forward, although not compeletly finalized. If they bring it out production would be in the first half of 2005. I asked about the 404 Jeffery and was advised that they may do something next year...I put my vote in for that! I forgot to ask about the 450, sorry PC.

I shot my 458 Lott today...shot the 458 win. mag last Sunday...wanted to shoot them before sending them to Gunsmith to do some work...at least on the 458 Lott to start. After reading what folks had to say about the recoil of the Lott, I was expecting much more recoil than the win mag. Although you can definately tell the difference between the win mag. and the Lott ...It was not the big a difference, at least for me...I may be less sensitive to recoil than others...I think if you can handle the win mag you can handle the Lott....JJS

Max, sorry to say I haven't shot mine yet but will remedy that ASAP. But I've shot enough of similar rifles to know this round should be excellent training rifle for a boy. (or girl) This round will seem like a cannon to a youngster just starting out but it will never punish them with recoil and teach them bad habits. I think it will be perfect for transitioning a kid from .22s to high powered rifles. It should do a good job of teaching them about both hunting big game AND being responsible for a high powered weapon.

The trigger mechanism is the only thing that should need some attention for a new hunter. My set trigger is, frankly, TOO LIGHT for hunting even for experienced shooter. The good news is the CZ trigger can be easily adjusted up or down and you can crank the set trigger up where it's not such a hairy thing for a kid...or just instruct them not to use it at all until they get used to things.

Other than this issue, it's a super rifle. Scope rings will cost you extra most likely.

I was playing with my rifle this morning before work. Just wanted to see how it fed ammo. The answer was smooth as glass. The way the single stack magazine locks in and lines up with the chamber, PLUS the CRF action, I can't imagine what a guy would have to do to make this action jam. I haven't tried it with empty cases but I suspect it will feed them as well as a loaded round.

It's been awhile since I had a rifle I'm looking forward to playing with as eagerly as I am this one.
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Pete - Yes, I would think of it ballistically like a 30/30 with 150 gr bullets. For deer hunting, I would think of this 7.62x39 as a 150-200 yard gun.

I'm going to start with a 4x scope I have on mine and where I'm most likely to hunt deer this year it's brushy enough that 100 yd shot is PROBABLY as far as I'll encounter unless I stake out a couple of other areas. Then I would take my 243 or 270.

I will give a few comments and maybe have a question or to. I wanted a varmiter that weighted 8#'s or less I wasn't so much concerned about the barrel length but mainly weight. I wanted something with a heavier barrel. I looked at pretty much all there was out there and kept coming back to CZ. mine has a 24" barrel with a HS precision stock that fits great and the rig weights 7.5#'s you just flat out get more gun for the money. I must say I am very impressed with the little rifle, it has one of the smoothest actions I have felt on any rifle. It does have a couple features I don't care for mainly the backward saftey and it seems like the scopes on these usually end up mounted quite high off the bore. But I will say if this gun turns out to shoot as good as I think it will. I will buy no other bolt guns unless they are CZ. I am really impressed that much inspite of the few things I don't like



My question is, If you want a short action caliber like a 308, I know these come in the 550 model and the 308 has a clip, but is this action different than the regular long action

The CZ 550 American has been whispering sweet nothings in my ear too! Just can't decide what caliber, I already have a 270 on a FN 98, and 2 30-06's as well. So, it's either going to have to be a 9.3x62, or a 7x57. The 7x57 is so close to the 270 that it wouldn't really make sense, and I have a 338, but the 9.3x62 would kick less, so what's a fool to do? Don't really need a 6.5x55...

"" It was just the CZ quality and attention to detail I fell in love with.

They remind me of the way guns used to be built.""

Double Ditto!!!!!!!!!! My .222 527 American reeeeks quality and after the first 200 shots it's a love afair. roger