My CZ527 har arrived today!

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Finally, after a long wait, I could pick up my «new» gun at the post office today. The previous (and only) owner, an elderly gentleman, bought it 15 years ago, with a box of 20 cartridges. He still had a few cartridges left . For practical purposes, a new rifle- from a time capsule.

It’s a CZ527 in .222rem. I have, for a long time, wanted the triple deuce; this will be my first adventure with this cartridge. And I love the idea of a «mini action». This is a walnut/steel rifle. The action feels a bit «raw», but I’ll break it in, no worries!

It has a nice, direct trigger that is clean, crisp and a tad to heavy. I think the barrel is a 1:14 ROT, but I’m not actually sure. The scope is a Leupold European 3-9x40, in original CZ rings. What makes it «european» is the 30mm tube, and German #4 reticle (which is a good one). The mounts are pretty high, but that’s maybe needed for bolt clearance.

This model has the «bavarian hump» stock, that is adapted mostly to open sights. I’d rather have the «american»

I’ll start out by shooting it just the way it is, with a variety of cast bullets.

A few modifications will follow
- trigger tuning; it needs to be lightened just a little (not much)
- bedding. I just can’t have a wooden stock without proper bedding, sorry.
- recoil pad, to increase LOP. It is an inch to short (I’m 6’6)
- I’ll probably shorten the barrel about 5in, thread it and mount a supressor.
- maybe install some sort of comb raiser. Better cheek weld would be nice.

This will be fun!34473DED-9B59-4D44-BB99-6AB94A48FCAA.jpegE1E16375-4666-4E5D-96D0-BFCE62C3DC86.jpeg48139C79-F866-406C-B110-1F62AE9E67D8.jpegF1B81964-D982-4560-9400-DC4D5B4B1E24.jpeg
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
I am currently in the market for another triple deuce. Had a Savage 340 I bought for the wood (restocked). But the scope setup and the bbl wasn't very good, so sent it down the road. I did keep all the brass/ammo/reloads/dies. Been kinda shocked what the old rifles are going for. Mostly Rem 722s, few 788s and few 700s. I have found a Win - which I would really like. Just looking for a decent one I am willing to foot the cash for.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
Keep the barrel .
I have an old 340 Savage the NOE 225-55 (now 62 I think ) @62 gr gets right into the heart of 62 gr jacketed data . I can't say for sure but I don't think 2600 fps would be possible at 16" the other 8" make it happen . 19.0 H322 . Shoots inside an inch 5 at a time even when I don't . I kind of like that German #4 .
 

david s

Well-Known Member
I'm a fan of the little 527 CZ rifles. Most of my Varmint rifle are currently CZ's. The only Remington, Ruger or Winchester Varmint guns still here are a couple of Remington's (223 and 220 Swift) and a pre 64 Winchester 220 Swift that's currently a 22-250. Just this past Christmas a post 64 model 70 Varmint in 222 Remington found a new home with a friend who liked it. My two 527's in 222 Remington are a Full Stock and one of the Varmint barreled ones that came up north out of Mexico a few years ago. I don't care for set triggers and with CZ's you can adjust the trigger to a single stage trigger by following the instructions CZ offers on it's web page and in the catalog. If you replace the heavier CZ trigger spring with a .4 tenth (center of the three in photo) of an inch piece out of a Bic Lighter it becomes a really good single stage trigger. I have one of the Lux rifles similar to yours in 223 that has both the CZ markings as well as Brno markings. The hog back stocks aren't a problem for me. The other useful modification is if you hand carry your rifles then converting the trigger gaurd and magazine to three round.
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Ian

Notorious member
It's difficult to find truly low 30mm rings. Might see if DNZ has a low one-piece mount/ring unit that will fit, that's about the lowest system there is due to the design. I think the bolt will clear a lower mount looking at the photos but you have the rifle in-hand.
 

Dimner

Named Man
I have a cz527 full stock in 223. Shoots great. 3/4" at 100 is normal and if I am firing on all cylinders sometimes around 1/2". This is using Hornady #2266 55gr SP bulk bullets and moderate dose of H4895. About 2950fps. No need to go faster in my opinion.

I'm a goof and decided to make 3 loads for the rifle that I can shoot all using the same bullet and no adjustments to the scope

All using 55gr sp
The full power H4895 load ~2950fps
22 Mag type load with Blue dot ~2050fps
22LR type load with trailboss ~1150fps

All shoot moa or better. Such a great platform, the 527 is.

And yes the bolt gets much smoother. So smooth, that when I am at the bench, I can cycle the bolt and catch the ejected case with the same hand.
 

david s

Well-Known Member
A lot (I'll even go so far as to say most) 527 owners seem to like the set feature. When you can have a trigger at a pound or less what's not to like. My using these for a days shooting of 200 or more rounds they just became an annoyance to continually set it. The ability to adjust the trigger and swap a spring ending up with a trigger that has no take up or over travel and isn't much heavier than the set trigger has it's advantages. The CZ trigger set up as a single stage with out the spring changed will be around two and a half pounds. With the spring changed under two pounds. Mine get cranked up to two pounds even unless it's a cold weather coyote rifle (223 CZ American) then 4 pounds. My fingers lose some touch when cold.
 

david s

Well-Known Member
On the right side of the forward receiver ring should be a two digit number code. This is the year your rifle was made, 95 equals 1995, 05 would be 2005 and 15 being 2015 ect.. CZ changed the twist rate for the 223 Remington from a 1-12 to a 1-9 in 2014. The 1-9 barrels seem to all be marked 1-9 below the barrels chamber listing. I think but don't actually know that the 222 Remington was always a 1-12 till CZ recently stopped importing this caliber. Also around 2014 (when ever the old parts ran out) they modified the bolt handles to a lower profile. This gives about 1/8" of additional bolt/scope clearance. And finally there are a couple of companies (DIP Products being one) that offer scope rails that allow Weaver type scope rings. I dont have any experience with these rails or 30 mm scopes so cant offer any opinions on lowering your scope. Also I've swapped pads on 5 CZ rifles three Full Stocks (shorter) and two 452 rimfires a Lux and Full Stock (longer), the pads have been both screwed and bonded with a type of contact (I think) cement. They dont just come off if you remove the screws.
 
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Matt

Active Member
Very nice CZ! The .222 is one of the nicest small bore cartridges around. Quiet, easy on brass, nice long neck. I have an early Remington M722 that hovers around 1/2 minute with jacketed but is a solid 3.5 moa with cast! I had a Sako L461 in .222 but sent it down to A&M and it’s now a .17 Javelina. Regretted the rebarrel ever since. 20+ years ago I found a BSA Hunter in .222 set up for a long tube externally adjustable scope. I used it for a while with a Lyman Jr Targetspot. Nice 3/4” rifle but I really bought it to rebarrel to .223. Beautiful little true Mauser action. Put it away and got distracted. Thankfully I never re-barreled or re-chambered it! Pulled it out this spring and wanted to replace the target spot because its dim and has a tiny dot. BSA dovetail rings are expensive and kinda rare. I did some measuring and realized two CZ front rings should fit my dovetails. Luckily I found two sets of CZ dovetail rings at the White Elephant going out of business sale during the last week and two sets cost me about $30. The two front rings were perfect and I could mount an early Weaver K6. It’s been fun trying cast with it. Uses little lead and powder and any small primer works. I’m getting an inch at 50 yards but still trying to get it smaller. My BSA with old and new scopes. It could use a lace on cheek riser too. Funny how the European makers have made the fine .222 length actions over the years. D6BAC8D4-617A-4991-8AB9-13C1C5FACAED.jpegE6393793-1A65-411D-97B2-703FC1B1B8C3.jpeg
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Thank you guys, for all input, advice and comments!
The rifle is incredibly compact and nimble. It feels like I’m holding a rimfire.

I really like the 3-shot magazine, @david s . I don’t like anything protruding under the balance point of the rifle. But for now, this will be a recreational cast bullet target rifle- then, it doesn’t matter much.

A CZ527 in 7,62x39 (or 6,5 grendel) would be a powerhouse in a very compact format, @Brad. My gunsmith (former competitive BR shooter on the national team) has a .308x39 reamer. That is, a «7,62x39» reamer designed for .308 barrels. He reports great accuracy potential. I’m sorely tempted to try this cartridge at some point.

It surprises me a bit there are so few mini actions on the market. If there was a «Tikka T2x», built around the .223- size cartridges, I think it would be quite popular.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
The Deuce is a GREAT cartridge. It is almost impossible to find a new rifle so chambered any more; the CZ-527 in 222 Rem disappeared about 2 years ago from their catalog. I think Remington even stopped it recently, except in the 40-X series/Custom Shop offerings. Now--who knows what will become of RemLin?

My CZ 527 is in 22 Hornet, I think it landed c. 2015. TACKDRIVER. Love it. It went along today with sighted-in 30 grain Barnes rat-whackers. Alas, the only jacks sighted were well inside Joshua Tree NP, which would be poor form in extremis to try shooting. Oh well, it was nice to escape from the house anyway.
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
The .22 Hornet is another nice cartridge, that fills a niche less crowded than most other regions in the spectrum of available rifle cartridges. I’ve never owned one, but would sure like one...

The .222rem was very popular in Norway in the ‘70-80s. The population of the diminutive roe deer (30-50ibs) was increasing, and many hunters wanted a light weight, friendly little rifle. Nowadays, .223 fills this role. Very few new rifles in 222rem are sold. The availability of cheap factory ammo for the .223 is, of course, the main reason for this.

The decreased demand for .222 rifles have some positive effects, though, for those who appreciate this fine cartridge. Many nice second-hand rifles are sold at a very reasonable price (like mine).
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
The 222 is a fine cartridge but it has almost been killed off by the .223 Rem / 5.56 NATO.
It's a shame because the triple deuce has a lot to offer. They are capable of some incredible accuracy and they don't suffer the rapid throat erosion of the larger cartridges in that class.
The benchrest crowd moved to the 6mm PPC but you will still find old 222 rifles hanging on the wall in farm houses. Those farms will have very few groundhogs !

As for CZ rifles, The quality to cost ratio of a CZ rifle is very high. You would be hard pressed to find a better rifle for the money.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
From the OP - "....... German #4 reticle (which is a good one) "

I would submit that the German #4 reticle isn't merely a "good one" but maybe the Best One !
The #1 which has a heavy vertical post that ends in a point, ties for first place in my rankings of hunting reticles.
 
Interesting read, thought about all the deuces I've had. First was a Remington Varmint special, then a little Sako Rhimakki,then a 788, then a Hart barreled 40X. They all went down the road. Was cruising on Gunbroker last year and found a NIB Cooper Model 51, so I guess I've come full circle back to the 222.
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