Hi all

I am having a CZ 527 butchered as follows.

I will then mount a scope on it.

I have - at the moment ....

• Tasco 4-16 - slimmest and lightest and decent optics
  
• Nikon 4-16 - pretty heavy, fairly decent optics
  
• Meopta 3-9 - great optics, fairly heavy
  

What are your ideas?

I've got a Nikon Monarch 4-16x42 that I used on on a Tikka 270 WSM. The objective is bulky enough but the scope is not over heavy; nice clear optics and a BDC reticle that has good Internet backup.

I would be wary of using it on anything that might get bumped around as I think it lost zero with a moderate bump. Also, I don't like anything that needs constant parallax adjustment, as it tends to get forgotten just when you need it.

What are you going to be using the rifle for?

Well, it's comparatively heavy for a 527 - being the varmint model, so I'll probably get a bipod on it (if not a whole trailer mount as the Soviet ZU-23-2 - I joke, of course).

But it'll probably be used for calling foxes, taking the odd smaller animal and I can see use up to goat size .... probably longer range shooting.

I have a similar 527 (the model with the full stock) that has a 2-7X28 scope on it that is just perfect for walkabout all day.

Both in .223

I'd look at something up to 12x myself. That should do everything you need.

http://theopticzone.com/produc...ndplex-matte-120613/

That Windplex reticle is weird, Bakes - no range stadia, just lateral ones. Must be made for Wellington or the Western District

I'd use the Meopta, without a moment's hesitation. Great optics will trump merely "decent", and I'd rather have a really sharp image at 9x than one which is not as good, but larger.

For my own use, 9x seems more than enough for any distance I'me going to take a shot with a calibre like .223 too, but YMMV.

I have found that magnification over 9 is too hard to hold steady when off-hand shooting so anything above that on a carry rifle is wasted. If you are using a rest , bipod, shooting sticks , etc then the game changes and bigger magnification becomes more useable.

The reason my choice rides with one of these three is that's what I have on hand ...

Two of those were buys that looked too good to be true off Fleabay and the Meopta was after I handled one in my LGS.

I was thinking the Meopta - mainly because of the optics, so that's probably what I'll go with.

Thanks for your thoughts.

I'd go with whichever has the better low light optics.

what are you going to use for mounts.
bolt knob clearance can be an issue with a 527 depending on tube & eyepiece diameter.

DIP make some nice light Aluminium mounts for the 527 in 3 heights ( IIRC ) if needed.
I used the high mount with a Minox 4 -20 x50 on my 20VT.
( unfortunately no Oz stockist, ).