My unique CZ 527 7.62X39mm and discussing the cartridge accuracy

lionking · Nov 30, 2019

Haven't shown this to you until now, was a impulse buy at a gun show in early 2017. Someone finished it with duracoat along with the mounted Trijicon Accupower scope.

Took it out today to test again, last time was mixed results, and even today cannot group less than 2 and change inches at hundred yards, rested with a scope. Today I only used brass case more quality ammo than typical steel cased. Steel case didn't group much worse, but it gets sticky in the chamber, this CZ doesn't cycle steel cased lacquer ammo too well.

Was a nice low wind day today, perfect for testing shot placement and accuracy. Now I'm not a expert shooter, of course skill or lack of skill comes into play but I'm not a novice either. Used proper sighting and breathing technique, along with trigger squeezing so it was "a surprise" when the rounds went off.

The scope while not the most powered, is eye friendly for me at 100 yds, and I used square targets today that seems easier for cross hair shooting than the typical SR-1 round bulls eye targets I normally use.

I tried Winchester, S&B, and Fiocchi ammo today, the Fiocchi I'm a fan of their handgun ammo but not of their rifle ammo, one shot of Fiocchi fired but is very under powered, my experience with Fiocchi 30-30 was under powered light loaded also, then after three attempts to fire Fiocchi the primer struck but failed to fire so I gave up on Fiocchi.

Between Winchester and S&B the best group was with S&B.

However my experience is 7.62x39mm just seems like a inherently inaccurate cartridge, which is part of thread purpose to debate such, maybe people who reload get better results I don't know, but I have a suspicion that the said CZ 527 in a different caliber would perform better more often, say .223 for example. I know the AK and AKA design isn't made for stellar accuracy, but I really don't see the 7.62x39mm cartridge shining in other designs also although I haven't tested it yet in a AR-15 design rifle.

My results see below, and feel free to express opinions and or show targets done with 7.62x39mm maybe I wrong about it's inherent inaccuracy , I like the cartridge for what it is in a AK or SKS , maybe it's a good short range hunting cartridge. But if I had to do it again for a CZ 527 or other bolt gun it wouldn't be in 7.62x39

troy fairweather · Nov 30, 2019

The 7.62x39 is the base case for some off the most accurate cartridges ever made. The cz are light some guys just can't shoot them well. I think your accuracy is fine. try some more ammo and see if it settleds in or clean it. I don't like being surprised when the gun fires. Even with the best rest made if you touch the gun it will move some. Better to time your shot.

lionking · Nov 30, 2019

troy fairweather said:
The 7.62x39 is the base case for some off the most accurate cartridges ever made. The cz are light some guys just can't shoot them well. I think your accuracy is fine. try some more ammo and see if it settleds in or clean it. I don't like being surprised when the gun fires. Even with the best rest made if you touch the gun it will move some. Better to time your shot.

What I haven't tried is soft point ammo yet and didn't have any Prvi to test. Lack of anticipation would probably be a better term than surprised, squeezing smooth lol. Hey I may be wrong about it's accuracy, I'm sure some will post targets proving me wrong, in the SKS/AK challenge above people shot better than me so I'm not the most experienced 7.62x39 shooter. Would like to get AR upper one day to see how the cartridge does in that.

mustanger98 · Nov 30, 2019

I've read some articles about bench accuracy vs good practical accuracy. That 2.25" group with the S&B ain't bad. In the field, you're looking at shooting offhand, slung up, or some other improvised rest. If you can bust clays (4.25" disk) at 100yds without the bench, I'd say call it good enough and don't stress out over it. I agree with Troy Fairweather... it's better to time your shot. Relax and enjoy.

troy fairweather · Nov 30, 2019

100 yards with sights, laying on a gravel bank. Tula 124 sp.

lionking · Nov 30, 2019

troy fairweather said:
100 yards with sights, laying on a gravel bank. Tula 124 sp.

Since I made this thread discussing the CZ but also the cartridge itself, just confirming that target was done with a CZ 527 with a scope? If was a CZ, any problems loading and ejecting the steel case?, because mine does get sticky with it.

troy fairweather · Nov 30, 2019

lionking said:
Since I made this thread discussing the CZ but also the cartridge itself, just confirming that target was done with a CZ 527 with a scope? If was a CZ, any problems loading and ejecting the steel case?, because mine does get sticky with it.

No scope from the 527 carbine. Factory sights. The cz are made for steel often they will shot better with steel case then brass.

James Fonteneaux · Nov 30, 2019

mustanger98 said:
I've read some articles about bench accuracy vs good practical accuracy. That 2.25" group with the S&B ain't bad. In the field, you're looking at shooting offhand, slung up, or some other improvised rest. If you can bust clays (4.25" disk) at 100yds without the bench, I'd say call it good enough and don't stress out over it. I agree with Troy Fairweather... it's better to time your shot. Relax and enjoy.

+1 on this. I have had a couple of SKS's and still have an AK and a x39 upper. I look at them as field guns, if you can put your bullets inside a softball at range, it will kill what needs to be killed. On the case ejection, most of the steel cases are coated. Maybe that's gunking up the works.

lionking · Nov 30, 2019

troy fairweather said:
No scope from the 527 carbine. Factory sights. The cz are made for steel often they will shot better with steel case then brass.

That is a phenomenal group using iron sights at 100 yards, your post alone proves I'm wrong and the cartridge does have the potential to be very accurate.

troy fairweather · Nov 30, 2019

Ya I reload every cartridge I shoot, but they shoot so good and $10 per 40 is hard to beat. One day I'll load some up. I should get a 1000 case to save some more $.

littlelefty · Nov 30, 2019

Not as good a group as Mr. Fairweather's but here is how my CZ 527 youth performs at 100 yards with a NECG aperture sight. Tulammo 124 gr hp. And yes, buying 1000 at a time is the way to go, especially with free shipping. btw, nice looking rifle and scope you got there, lionking.

Corn-Picker · Nov 30, 2019

The best out of my CZ527 is my hunting ammo, the 123 grain tsx by Double Tap, which is pricey at $45/box. The steel cased hollow point Tula shoots just about as well as the double tap (the steel cased Tula FMJ did not shoot well in mine). I never got small groups with mine either (1.5” at 100 yards was my best average). I didn’t have a scope on mine for very long, it wears a ghost ring and Patridge post. For me the 7.62x39 with iron sights is a 150 yard deer gun under ideal conditions, so I consider the accuracy “good enough.”

Archie · Nov 30, 2019

I have a CZ 527 in 7.62x39mm. Put me down as in favor. Tula sells a steel case 154 grain bullet loading which chronographs about 2150 fps out of my carbine. I think that should be better than 122-125 grain bullets. But I'm an old guy.

lionking · Nov 30, 2019

littlelefty said:
Not as good a group as Mr. Fairweather's but here is how my CZ 527 youth performs at 100 yards with a NECG aperture sight. Tulammo 124 gr hp. And yes, buying 1000 at a time is the way to go, especially with free shipping. btw, nice looking rifle and scope you got there, lionking.
View attachment 875057

Thanks it was a really good deal at that show so I got it, I must be the only one having issues shooting steel cased ammo in it. However next time I will try again, it was a long time ago I tried several brands of steel cased ammo in it, could be the gun just needs to be worked in more. I just assumed the rifle was made to tighter tolerances hence my issues with steel cased. I have a SIG 220 handgun that shoots flawless EXCEPT with steel cased ammo and even loading the mag is a chore with steel cased. These days I really don't even bother with steel cased ammo except in a AK or SKS or a Mosin.

someguy2800 · Nov 30, 2019

send it back, yours is broken

wolf 124 hp's

Handloads in pulled brass with literally no load development

Lucky Derby · Nov 30, 2019

I was busting gallon milk jugs filled with water at 125 yards last week. CZ527 Carbine 7.62x39 with a Trijicon 3-9x40. Some cheap TulAmmo. Accurate enough for me.

ApacheCoTodd · Nov 30, 2019

Damn fine gun to test x39 in taking the variations of surplus arms out of the equation.
Many years ago I bought a factory Colt 7.62x39 20 inch rifle and commenced to be quite pleasantly surprised by a variety of ammunitions which I had originally assumed was merely *OK* or slightly better.

Todd.

armoredman · Dec 1, 2019

Fond of mine.

Mine does well for me. My favorite load is a 129gr NOE cast bullet either hard lubed or powder coated with Accurate Arms 1680 powder. I didn't really find greater accuracy with steel cased ammo, but I didn't use very much of it over the years. "Hunting" load is a 123 gr SST, again over #1680. This is a very light and handy carbine, ring steel all day long from the standing at 150 yards with iron sights - drives some people nuts on the firing line

.

hq · Dec 1, 2019

lionking said:
However my experience is 7.62x39mm just seems like a inherently inaccurate cartridge, which is part of thread purpose to debate such

Get a couple of boxes of Lapua 123gr FMJ, sandbag or ransom rest the rifle properly and see what happens. Yes, something seems to have gone wrong here. S&B and Winchester should be capable of much better accuracy from a bolt gun. The caliber is not at fault and it's unlikely that ammo would be either, so it's either the gun, sights or the shooting conditions. It might be a good idea to look into these details to troubleshoot it.

Steve S. · Dec 1, 2019

In most cases (not all mind you, but most) reloading is the only major prescription for tuning (shrinking groups) a firearm (unless you add more cowbell). Firearms that do not like factory fodder will usually respond favorably to tuned ammo components.

My unique CZ 527 7.62X39mm and discussing the cartridge accuracy

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