Does anyone have this rifle?

I am going to purchase a CZ 527 based on the performance of a 452 Lux that I had in 22 mag. The 452 would put 5 inch groups inside a dime at 50yds and inside a nickel at 100.

I can't decide on the regular American model or the varmint model. Does anyone have either or both? What kind of accuracy are you getting out of the regular American model? I am looking for the same performance out of the 527 and may even be in the market for a 550 in 6.5x55 if the 527 performs well.

I do not have the .223 but I have one in Hornet and one in .221 Fireball.

Love them both, but I have to say I use the Hornet about 75 percent of the time.

Ihave all three american, hogback full stock and varment synthetic I cut the front end off the manlicher style but left it alone other than that they are all different but all good for off the bench or from a stand I like the varm best for obvious reasons. I thought I would not like the full stock funky shape but it is great for stalking. the american is just a lighter slimer version of the varm but without the fantastic palm swell. if you dont have to cary it far get the varm synth if you might stalk with it but mostly stand hunt get the american. by the way the varm also has a heavy barell so I cut 4 inches off the muzzle and threaded it makes it more handy and no real loss in velocity it is also a 1in9 twist so better for heavy bullets or sub sonic loads. than the other two.

mine shoots like a champ. the bluing on the magazine is a bit skimpy on my example, but it points and shoots very well. 250 yard prone shots with a sling on groundhogs are just about the norm. pretty amazing for that light of a rifle. mine is an older model before the price increase. i assume it is an american, but i lost the box.

the dealer let me look at the test targets of about five rifles he had in stock and that is why i picked out mine. had a better test group that his varmint model. the barrel is very well done. no copper fouling. heck of a rifle. would like to have one in 221 fireball, but I am going to start working up 30-40 krag loads for a ross rifle i just picked up last week.

I have an American, it's a lot of rifle for the money. mine is accurate, I had problems initially as the front "pillar" (a rolled steel tube) was not in place from the factory. gave me fits until I noticed it wasn't there. CZ in the US sent me the pillar, but it was too long, etc.

anyway, got that sorted out, and it's a winner; I plan to put it in a synthetic stock some time soon.

BTW, the wood is usually very pretty under that goop CZ puts on the stocks, a simple refinish is usually rewarding, from what I've read.

James Calhoon makes a single shot steel follower that replaces the magazine if you want one, and he has bolt handles that offer more scope clearance. the handle can be removed when the bolt is stripped.

I'd like a .221, but I already have that in a rem 700; but I can hold out until CZ sees fit to offer the 527 in .17 Mach3

We've got the Carbine version and it's a keeper, accurate, reliable and just plain fun to shoot.

My wife gets first dibs on deer hunting with it this season.

I have a 452 Classic American in 22 LR, a 222 in 527 American and a 6.5X55 SE in American, I used to have a 452 22 WMR in American, I think it is safe to say I quite like them. I have never had one that was not accurate, the fit and finish has always been good for the money, and they all have had nice wood. I do not think you will be disappointed if you get one.

Hope this helps,

John

quote:

BTW, the wood is usually very pretty under that goop CZ puts on the stocks, a simple refinish is usually rewarding, from what I've read.

Ain't it the truth! They use a kind of opaque finish that obscures the wood -- they could increase their sales significantly with a clearer finish.

I have worked with a friend's CZ American .223. By far the best thing about it is the single set trigger -- the cat's whiskers! It's accuracy is above average.

The down side is the backwards safety. I believe that shooters should boycott them until they FIX it (which will eventually occur as a result of a lawsuit, anyway.) Why would a manufacturer make the safety's operation exactly the opposite from virtually every other gun ever made? Rediculous.

The other shortcoming is the very thick bolt root which forces the scope mounting to be much higher than desirable. This would be an easy fix, which CZ should also attend to.

quote:

a 222 in 527 American and a 6.5X55 SE in American

oh, man- that's a nice line-up. I'd love either.

I would prefer the varmint weight rifle but it is not offered in .22 Hornet and the Hornet is what I wanted. I got the American. So far it is pretty accurate.

For the last 11 or 12 years I've been addicted to sub-.22 caliber wildcats, the CZ 527 platform is an outstanding cost effective platform to work with. I have 7 or 8 of em. In those I have 3 stock rifles. With the exception of bedding, a re-crown on one and trigger jobs on 2 452's. All are accurate way beyond their price tags.
One of the stock rifles is a .223 in the Varmint Laminate version. With it's favorite load of Benchmark and a 40 grain V-Max it it a solidly sub half inch rifle (it's the one that's been re-crowned as well as bedded and I slicked the trigger myself). As much as I love em I gotta say CZ's bedding is kinda pathetic, like a couple small pieces of chewed gum in each corner of the recoil lug channel. Fortunately a lot of em shoot fine as is and if they do need bedded it's duck soup.
The question gets asked frequently which model is most accurate? My thought being around mine and with a buddy having about the same number is that in a vise I believe they would all shoot equally well. As I don't hunt with a vice I do know that for me at least the Varmint Kevlar model stocked by HS Precision is the "Easiest" to shoot accurately. Light enough to carry, flat fore-end sets a bag real well, comes with an aluminum bedding block to aid stock/action rigidity.
I bought an American to build a .17 Ackley Hornet out of and it was scary accurate, still is . I too wish they made the Hornet in the HS stocked version, I'd own the first one I saw.
My buddy bought the wood stocked Varmint in .204 and it shot pretty decent, he stepped up a bought the HS Kevlar stock and just dropped it in and his groups shrank over a quarter inch. More accurate or easier to shoot well? Don't know for sure but it worked. Went from 3/4ish inch 5 shot groups to solidly under a half inch.
Whatever ya get I bet ya like it! I won the wood lottery on three of em and as mentioned some scandalous wood does indeed sneak through from time to time.
Keep us posted.

I have a CZ527 American in .223 and it is a shooter sub .5MOA. CZ's are great value for the money and I haven't heard any complaints on accuracy.

I have a 527 American in .223 as well. It's a wonderfully accurate rifle with Hodgdon Varget and 50 grain V-maxes, and is my favorite coyote hunting rifle because of its size, weight, and pointability. You even get used to that ass-backwards safety after a while. I don't think you'd go wrong with a CZ.

I have one in .223. floated the barrel and it's a champ. I got mine in 1997, b4 CZ-USA had a website.

Rich

I have the 527 American in .223 and it is a shooter, after some work. Mine had a cracked stock, and rahter than send me a new stock, I had to send the entire rifle to CZ.

I wanted them just to send me a new stock if I sent them the split one. Nope - they had to have the whole rifle so they "bed it." When I got the rifle back, (and they did not reimburse me for shipping it to them, either!) it was not free-floated or bedded in any way shape or form. In fact, the barrel channel was rough, as if it had been rasped only. The checkering was terrible - much worse than the stock I had originally. I got no responses to emails, phone messages ("Mike" was always off the floor when I called) or letters. I finally gave up, sanded the barrel channel and bedded the rifle to free float the barrel myself.

Other than that, I like the rifle. I won't buy another one, though, because of the lack of service.

Been watching this thread for a while and wasn't going to be the only one with a negative post.

When the 527 American in .222 arrived The bolt was difficult to slide and the extracter was gauling badly. Hours off stoneing on sharp edges , burrs and extractor finally solved that problem.

The feeding problem was taken care of with some clip bending and stoneing.

The lack of MOA was finally solved after about 1000 rounds were put down the barrel.

As stated before it makes a good walk around rifle.

Some head shooters and some 55gr.bullet deer slayers would find it to be the cats nuts! roger

Had 1 traded it off. I did not like: 1. Rough feeding from the magazine, 2. Clip position makes hard to carry 3. Bolt handle is so high you have to use high rings, 4. the safety works backwards. Mine was a very accurate rifle.

CDN has Abolt short-short actioned 223's for $449, you might want to try 1.

I really like my 527 Lux in 223.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
Some head shooters and some 55gr.bullet deer slayers would find it to be the cats nuts! roger

I prefer the 601 with the old style safety for my big game head shots. New ones the safety works backwards.

I have CZ 527's in 222 and 223, both the American models.
Both shoot three shots into 3/8" groups at 100 yards.
My 223 is the Prestige model with excellent Walnut.

Don

Mine shoots well enough,but the barrel needs to be cleaned every 20 rounds or so or accuracy drops off.

quote:

I prefer the 601 with the old style safety for my big game head shots. New ones the safety works backwards.

On the new ones, is it back to fire?

Thanks,

LWD

I have a varmint and a cabine in 223, both are great shooters and super slick actions. if you want a 223, its hard to do any better

On the 600 series rifles it is forward to safe and lock the bolt. Back to fire. On the 550 I have seen it is the other ("normal" to us that grew up on the 303 Lee Enfield) way. Forward to fire, back to put safety on.

or that reason whilst I have two 600 series rifles I will NOT be getting a 550. If I do, I'll get rid of the two 600 series.

As long as they some CZ work one way and the other it is an accident waiting to happen if you have one of each. Like carrying 20 bore cartridges in the pocket when walking out with your 12 bore.