In all fairness I bought mine at a really good price when they first entered the country, but I like my CZ 527M. Superb trigger, decent iron sights, really comfortable synthetic stock. The only thing missing from some of the other options is the ability to load from the top... it's a big inconvenience in my opinion, especially if you plan to use it as a bush gun. But man, that trigger... once you try it out you'll never be able to go back.
7.62x39 bolt actions
- Thread starter GingerBear
- Start date
fishslinger
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern ontario
I’d recommend the CZ, I recently picked one up off the ee and am really impressed. First time I shot it my jaw dropped at how accurate it shot Surplus ammo. Mao at 100 yards no problem. The set trigger will spoil you.
I have a Zastava I bought here from a CGN'r. Works fine for me. I also have a Baikal single shot. I made a straight pull bolt action out of a beat up Chinese military SKS simply by using an appropriate Allen screw to plug the hole from the barrel to the gas piston. That's my "build". $200 rifle, 50 cent screw. 
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I have a Zastava I bought here from a CGN'r. Works fine for me. I also have a Baikal single shot. I made a straight pull bolt action out of a beat up Chinese military SKS simply by using an appropriate Allen screw to plug the hole from the barrel to the gas piston. That's my "build". $200 rifle, 50 cent screw.
That's the way I like to roll as well. It's fun to do up non-auto tweeks on semi's and it pays off well for lots of folks that appreciate the benefits.
As for a bolt rifle in 7.62x39, I had a Davidson's exclusive Ruger M77 Mk II stainless/synthetic that I bought new back in the early 80's that shot superbly at the ranges I used 'er at. The Douglas barrel on the wee beasty was a .308 bore and she shot the American Eagle ammo just dandy. Used that rifle for over 20 yrs. without a hiccup.
I have had many bolt action 7.62X39 rifles and carbines... a couple CZ's, but mostly Ruger M77 MKII's in various configurations, a couple Compacts, a couple Ultralights and several Stainless Canoe Paddle 22" rifles... I have a beauty right now, M77 MKII Canoe Paddle with wood inserts, stainless 22", close to new condition in the original box... very nice rifle... such a versatile little round for light game & fun cheap shooting.
The old Bush Ranger rifles were worth the money...but, of course, they weren't much money. I had one that was quite accurate (2MOA) and 100% reliable.
The CZ is probably the nicest and best-shooting rifle for the x39 right now, but not cheap; I had one for awhile and loved it, but just didn't like shooting surplus crap out of it...and, sorry, but to me that's the only reason to have any gun in x39. I tried reloading this cartridge for accuracy, but just didn't see the point.
One that hasn't been mentioned is the Savage Scout. I have one now, it's my only bolt gun in this chambering at the moment, and it's a keeper. Cheap to buy (used on the EE), cheap to shoot, and a great understudy for a "serious" scout rifle if you are into those. If you aren't, screw on a set of Weaver bases for ten bucks or so and slap on a standard scope, or use the standard-equipment iron sights, which include a very useable rear aperture that lets you shoot as well as a low-power scope within the range of the cartridge.
I had one that was quite accurate (2MOA) and 100% reliable.The CZ is probably the nicest and best-shooting rifle for the x39 right now, but not cheap; I had one for awhile and loved it, but just didn't like shooting surplus crap out of it...and, sorry, but to me that's the only reason to have any gun in x39. I tried reloading this cartridge for accuracy, but just didn't see the point.
One that hasn't been mentioned is the Savage Scout. I have one now, it's my only bolt gun in this chambering at the moment, and it's a keeper. Cheap to buy (used on the EE), cheap to shoot, and a great understudy for a "serious" scout rifle if you are into those. If you aren't, screw on a set of Weaver bases for ten bucks or so and slap on a standard scope, or use the standard-equipment iron sights, which include a very useable rear aperture that lets you shoot as well as a low-power scope within the range of the cartridge.
Forty4Forty
Regular
- Location
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
One item to consider, the bolt actions don't like laqured ammo, mine the cases stick like they glued in.
Yeah, they are nice!
Changed out the paddle stock for a regular factory synthetic:
Have a Boyd's classic pepper laminate for it too. Just haven't gotten around to putting 'er in it yet.
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leveractionjunkie
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
That Ruger is a rifle I’d like to add to my collection. Very nice rugged and handy.
I'm the second owner & have had it several years. Original owner had the Williams iron sites put on it.
I would've preferred a clean barrel with no sites. But, can't complain too much, I got a smokin' deal on it.
To my knowledge there is no stainless barrel band on this model.
And no, it's not for sale.
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NAA.
Yeah, they are nice!
View attachment 250370
Changed out the paddle stock for a regular factory synthetic:
View attachment 250372
Yup, same one that I have... they are a sweet unit... I dropped mine into a modern synthetic also and stored away the canoe paddle stock... this one is unmolested in the original box.
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r34skyline
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The old Bush Ranger rifles were worth the money...but, of course, they weren't much money.
The CZ is probably the nicest and best-shooting rifle for the x39 right now, but not cheap; I had one for awhile and loved it, but just didn't like shooting surplus crap out of it...and, sorry, but to me that's the only reason to have any gun in x39. I tried reloading this cartridge for accuracy, but just didn't see the point.
One that hasn't been mentioned is the Savage Scout. I have one now, it's my only bolt gun in this chambering at the moment, and it's a keeper. Cheap to buy (used on the EE), cheap to shoot, and a great understudy for a "serious" scout rifle if you are into those. If you aren't, screw on a set of Weaver bases for ten bucks or so and slap on a standard scope, or use the standard-equipment iron sights, which include a very useable rear aperture that lets you shoot as well as a low-power scope within the range of the cartridge.
It's $800 on tenda right now, occassionally some show up for 700 on the ee, what do you mean not cheap? It's less than a grand man!
Hah! That is a good price, and those guns are well worth it; but when you can find Savages, Zastavas, Norcs, etc for much less, that's still relatively expensive.
To me, the point of this chambering, and the guns that use it, is inexpensive casual fun. If you love carefully reloading this stuff to get maximum accuracy, have at it! The CZ is your gun, no question. But I have other guns/chamberings for that; for me, .30Russian ammo is for cheap fun practice, where you just sweep up the empties and throw 'em away. I've had a CZ and a couple of Mini30's in the past that I fed "good" ammo, and crawled around picking up the brass to reload...and lemme tell ya, I'm done with that. From now on, the only way a coyote is getting smoked by a .30Russian round fired by me is if the dog is dumb enough to walk right in front of my gongs while I'm making noise.
