.223 Rifle What To Buy

"Do the scopes set kind of high on CZs? Some of the pictures I've seen for some reason look higher than most."


Paperpuncher,

Yes!

The main reason is the shape of the CZ's bolt and what it takes to clear the rear bell of the scope.

It's about the only complaint I have with my CZ 527 American.

Best regards

Three 44s
 
Have a Weatherby Vanguard in .223, easily shoots under an inch at 100 with good ammunition.
Last week worked with a CZ 527 American, runs about 1 3/4-inches at 100 yards with three different loads.

Vanguard's priced well, CZ has the set trigger & real wood (which looks fine on the one here).
Denis
 
Three44s I thought I had read before about the bolt being the problem.

I knew a couple people would say CZ, but wasn't expecting this many. Sounds like quite a few people would take a CZ over most price point guns.
 
I went through the same decision process over a year ago. I picked the CZ 527 Varmint. At that time it was the only CZ with the 1:9 twist. My understanding is that all of the new models are now 1:9 twist.

I will post some images of when we first shot it and sighted it in. Note that we shot 35 grain up to 75 grain. It shot it all basically the same, I don't even recall a point of impact shift worth mentioning.

It is also a 5.56 NATO rifle, not just .223 Remington. I verified this by contacting CZ personally.

75 Grain

75grain.png
 
Paper_Puncher

I have a CZ 527 Varmint with 1:9 twist with a 36X Sightron scope mounted on Burris Signature ZEE medium rings.

I switched from the CZ rings that came with mine (they don't anymore).

The scope has a 42mm front optic and the front objective (with adjustable AO) just clears the barrel enough to mount a front lens cap.

I have no problem with getting behind the scope and getting a very repeatable cheek weld. My CZ shoots terrific - one of the best shooting rifles that I have.
The average of all the hand loads that I have shot is under 0.485 inches and that is for 1700 + groups.
The best 25 loads average under 0.265 for 95 measured groups.

Mine seems to shoot 52 grain SMK # 1410 boat tail, 52 grain Berger Flat base # 22408 and 53 grain SMK # 1400 flat base the best. It also shoots Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tips really well.

I've shot bullets as heavy as 75 grains and they still grouped under 0.7 inches at 100 yards, but it likes the lighter bullets the best.
 
My Vanguard's the most accurate rifle I currently own, its best has been a half-inch with factory Hornady loads, have not had time to work up my own.

That said, I do prefer wood.
The thing with CZ is that the company has, in several models, held the line on encroaching plastic stocks, MIM parts, and overall quality decline in general that cheapen some other brands. Their rifles continue to offer very good value, and at decent price levels, if you like traditional materials & proven designs.

Currently doing a 9-gun CZ project, 7 of which are rifles.
The 527 .223 has a Burris Predator Quest scope on it, in CZ rings.
With the sporter-weight barrel, its best 3 shots at 100 yards was 1 9/16 inches off the bench, with two different loads.

That's not too bad with a sporter, the gun is trim, light & handy, well-built, and the set trigger is a nice bonus feature, especially for paper punching.
A varmint version should do a little better, I'd think.

Even CZ's plastic is well done, I was surprised to see the suppressor-ready poly-stocked 455 .22LR out-shoot the 527 .223 at 100 yards.
Both with & without suppressor attached.

Of the 7 rifles here, the only one that I'm not all that enthusiastic about so far (have not shot it yet, planning to take it to the range today) is the new 557. Nothing wrong with it, just a push-feed action that's replacing the older 550 Mauser actions.
One of the attractions of the CZ centerfires for me has been & remains that Mauser controlled round feed.

Anyway- point being that the CZs are good buys, and unlike some other companies, they'll even sell you spare parts like firing pins & extractors.

I'm no blind fan boy of any one company, I choose the best from several to fit specific needs & niches.
Of the 9 CZs I'm working with on this project, the two 75 9mms were bought after working with them on previous projects (as excellent no-plastic-framed examples of a quality-made defensive handgun), the 455 FS .22 LR was another test sample I bought a year or two back after trying it out, the 550 FS in .30-06 I'm keeping from this go-round, along with the poly-stocked 455 suppressed .22LR.

The little 527 in .223 is a sweetheart & I'm trying to talk myself into letting it go back when I'm done with the project.
Figured I'd end up buying at least a couple of the test samples, but can't keep 'em all.
Still undecided, but looking through the vault for something to sell to finance this one.

The 527 carbine in 7.62x39's also very tempting, but..... :)
Denis
 
Guys thanks for the input and pictures.



Dpris aren't some of the Vanguards wood stocks? I was looking at the Vanguard Series 2 Sporter. Looks like it has a walnut stock. How would you compare quality between the CZ and Weatherby? The set trigger does seem like a nice feature.
 
I have a vintage Remington 700 & a CZ bolt action, & the vintage Remington varmint barrel has tons better wood, & is one of my favorite rifles ( though there is nothing wrong with the CZ )

so, unless you are looking for new only, if you can find a 70's 700 BDL, I highly recommend it...

otherwise the CZ, or the Weatherby, or a Browning Medallion would be my 1st choices, with the Browning being my 1st choice, Weatherby 2nd, & CZ 3rd

Medallions...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=452759464

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=452670829

was going to put up a couple links from the Weatherbys, but all I could find were synthetic...

CZ's...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=452330386

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=452334252

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=452658672
 
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There are Vanguards with wood, mine is a coyote gun & as a Series 2 the poly stock offered light weight with excellent accuracy.

The Weatherby/Howa actions are an underrated value, very well done push-feeds, and can be very accurate.

The CZs offer "old world" craftsmanship, by & large, and I do like the controlled round feed. Others don't care about push vs CR, so it may not be an issue for you, especially on paper or other things that don't try to eat you. :)

The Japanese Vanguards are great rifles.
The Czech CZs are great rifles.

Both often overlooked, neither should be.
Denis
 
The OP did not mention 5.56 NATO, but I would like to reemphasize that the CZ is 5.56 NATO. I know it has been a topic discussed many times, but there is a difference between the rounds. I explain it to my friends as the 5.56 is like .223 +P, it is hotter. I have heard it said that the Tikka is also 5.56 NATO, but I have not verified that.
 
Aren't the Browning rifles in .223 all 1:12 twist. That is important.

I am a die hard FN fan and love my Browning rifles. So don't take this wrong, but my cousin bought the Browning while I was still researching my purchase. He didn't pay attention to the twist rate. He was sighting it in and couldn't get on paper and pulled the target in to something like 40 yards. When he finally hit the paper it was a key hole, the bullet went through sideways. I know the bullet was over 60 grains, but I don't recall for certain what it was, but I think it was 62. He realized he had bought the wrong rifle for his ammo supply, not the rifle's fault. He traded it off.

That is why I tested the 1:9 twist CZ with 35 grain up to 75 grain.
 
SirGilligan brings up an important point. I think that .223 has got to be the world's worst for needing to match your rifle's twist rate with the ammo you intend to use.
 
I tried only one heavier bullet in the CZ .223 here, Black Hills' 68-grain Heavy Match. The other three were 64, 60, and 50 by other makers.

It did not like the usually-good BH load at all.

They vary.

The CZ will accommodate both .223 and 5.56, and it's not a matter of the 5.56 being "hotter", just slightly different in dimension as a cartridge.
Denis
 
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Incidentally, in case anybody was interested (despite it being off-topic), that 557's best three-shot group at 100 yards, iron sights, was 1 1/4 inches with one 150-grain load.

The CZs can shoot.
Denis
 
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