CZ527 Carbine first impressions

The 7.62x39 should be .310 so it was of no consequence IMO to run .311 handloads through it. I've had .308 diameter bullets shoot acceptable from an SKS...I wouldn't try .312's...Harold
 
The 7.62x39 should be .310 so it was of no consequence IMO to run .311 handloads through it. I've had .308 diameter bullets shoot acceptable from an SKS...I wouldn't try .312's...Harold

My main concern was using surplus ammo without causing undue wear and tear on the barrel.
 
I Picked one up for my girlfriend several years ago, with a cheap Bushnell Banner scope and PRVI factory rounds I was bench shooting through a dime at 100 yards.
 
I have a 527 Carbine in .223 now, and have had two others in 7.62x39. Great little rifles, light and handy, extremely accurate. I haven't had a problem with any of them suffering from sticky or binding bolts. Unfortunately, all three of these latest generation Carbines have triggers that simply don't compare to the older ZKW465's, which I owned in .223 and .22Hornet. I don't adjust them to be extremely light because I tend to use them in extreme cold weather for coyote hunting, so the trigger is usually adjusted at no less than a pound in the set position, which translates to several pounds unset. I'm not impressed with the grittiness and lack of smoothness in the trigger pull when adjusted this way. They're still very shootable, but not nearly as smooth and crisp as I expect from a set trigger. Those who praise this trigger should try the double-set trigger on an old Brno, Steyr or a single-set Merkel...that's the way they are supposed to feel! Crisp as a snapping icicle, imperceptible overtravel, and absolutely consistent from one pull to the next.
 
Ladies and Gents, Ive owned a few of these, one I keep in original form with a Leupold Vari x 3 illuminated 1.5 to 5 x 20 screw cut no irons and I use a Brugger and Thommet sound moderator because of our neighbours and its taken Roe and Fallow. I feed it 27.5 grains of N133 under Sierra 125 grain game kings to keep it deer legal here in the UK. I converted one to 6.5 Grendel for a mate and we have just returned from Scotland stalking Red Hinds and Roe Does
This is the Grendel version with a cheek piece from a No4T to help with positioning!
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Thanks, I'll try and put up some footage of us playing with it when I get up tomorrow, last day at work so am off to the pub for a few hours before the train home!
Merry Christmas
 
I have a 527 Carbine in .223 now, and have had two others in 7.62x39. Great little rifles, light and handy, extremely accurate. I haven't had a problem with any of them suffering from sticky or binding bolts. Unfortunately, all three of these latest generation Carbines have triggers that simply don't compare to the older ZKW465's, which I owned in .223 and .22Hornet. I don't adjust them to be extremely light because I tend to use them in extreme cold weather for coyote hunting, so the trigger is usually adjusted at no less than a pound in the set position, which translates to several pounds unset. I'm not impressed with the grittiness and lack of smoothness in the trigger pull when adjusted this way. They're still very shootable, but not nearly as smooth and crisp as I expect from a set trigger. Those who praise this trigger should try the double-set trigger on an old Brno, Steyr or a single-set Merkel...that's the way they are supposed to feel! Crisp as a snapping icicle, imperceptible overtravel, and absolutely consistent from one pull to the next.

While I appreciate a good trigger, I dislike set triggers in general, and double set triggers in particular; despite admiring the appearance of the old Brno Fox and 21H. Buffalo Newton Rifles probably had the best designed set triggers, the front trigger was the set, and was curved opposite to the live trigger, so your trigger finger just pushed it forward to the set position, and no change of grip was required. Some Newton rifles did have conventional double set triggers. To my way of thinking the trigger should be manageable from shot to shot without any change in weight or feel; a snap shot or a precision shot should feel exactly the same, and should never require you to adjust your shooting grip. A trigger must be light enough, but a trigger that goes before you can feel your finger's contact is no more desirable in practical shooting than one so heavy that it induces tremor. The 527's trigger can be adjusted to a light weight break, that is entirely suitable for practical shooting, by simply adjusting out the set feature when you set up the trigger. It will not be gritty, and it can be adjusted to be free of creep and over-travel.

Of course that's just me, and lots of fellas seem to do well with their set trigger rifles.
 
Well. a lot of shooters who get a set-triggered gun seem to insist on adjusting it to go off with an ounce or two of pressure when set. They seem to forget that these aren't Olympic free rifles; we're still talking about hunting/practical guns. I completely agree that the ability to feel the trigger without tripping it is essential, and in fact I want to do be able to do so while wearing light gloves.

But I do like set-triggers, and especially double-sets. The "reverse-front-set" trigger you describe sounds like the perfect answer, but even a typical double-set works well for me for hunting. I don't do much snap-shooting at game, but I want the un-set trigger to be smooth and crisp and to pull at maybe 3 pounds in case I need to take such a shot. For any supported, rested shot...which means almost all shots for me...the set-trigger adjusted at about a pound is perfect. I don't care for the single-sets that require me to pinch the trigger and the front of the trigger guard between thumb and forefinger to set them.

I may have been unfair to describe the 527 Carbine trigger as "gritty"...that's way too strong a term for it. It simply isn't as pleasant for me to use as the older CZ/Brno triggers, but I haven't had nearly as much time with it as I had with them. In my case, familiarity breeds contentment, not contempt. :) But I even like two-stage triggers!

Set-trigger only at the range? Interesting...obvious idea...I've never even thought of that! I like the set-trigger concept too much not to use it in the field.
 
I don't shoot anything wearing gloves as I like to feel the trigger with skin.The set trigger is nice to engage as a deer is approaching,then pick an opening in the trees and nighty night.I have a lovely BRNO 21 in 7x57 that has the double set triggers.......so boringly accurate I rarely shoot paper with it anymore........one ragged hole.......Harold
 
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