CZ 527 7.62x39 vs TC Contender 7-30 Waters

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Olympus

Olympus

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Got an itch to scratch and these two guns have been on my "want" list for a long time. They are both essentially the same price. They are both really neat guns and reasonably unique, with the 7-30 being a bit more unique. I'm a reloader so neither cartridge will present a problem or be more beneficial than the other. Both calibers seem to be about a 200 yard caliber, which works well for my type of woods hunting. Both are compact, handy rifles which I really like. Any thoughts on these two guns and calibers?
 
All I know if the CZ carbine, and I love mine, sweet, fun and handy. The bolt does seem to need a wear in period, kinda gritty at first, but smooths out fast into pure butter. I like a repeater better than a single shot, but that is, of course, personal preference.
 
Glad I'm not faced with the choice between them, that would be tough! I have the 527 and it is a brilliant little rifle! 7.62x39 is great for cheap plinking and handloading gets some very impressive performance out of it. Same with the 7-30 waters! I personally think contenders or encores are a little overpriced, but that's about the only reason I don't have one. A contender carbine in 7-30 would be the ideal deer setup in thick stuff where a second shot isn't immediately necessary. Both choices are awesome for the task, good luck deciding, or just get both!
 
Personally, I would go with the CZ. But I'm biased because I have one and love it. Ammunition wise, you have a lot of options with either cartridge if you reload. I see a slight edge given to the CZ due to the option of cheap steel cased plinking ammo, which my CZ shoots pretty well.
 
I already own a 527 American in 22 Hornet so I know the perks of the CZ. Beautiful wood and a sweet little trigger. So the 7.62 has always been on my want list. No question it's a great rifle.

The Contender is another animal. I've owned an Encore in the past and had several barrels for it and it never disappointed. But 7-30 Waters is such a neat caliber and the Contender is pretty much the only factory gun being chambered in that caliber. I like the idea of keeping that caliber alive. Who knows when TC could drop that chambering. And brass should be very easy to make from 30-30 brass so it should be around for a long time even if the guns are not.
 
I have a 14" 7-30 contender and really like it as a pistol. I also really wanna get a carbine barrel for it.

Balisticly i think the 7-30 has a slight advantage, loaded within the contenders saftey limits im getting 2400 and change with a 120bst. While not a super high performance cartridge id think 2650-2700should be doable out of the contender carbs 21" barrel.
There are more options for 7mm bullets than .311s, but there are enough that unless you really like to tinker you should find what your looking for.

Firearm wise it's really about feel for me, as a single round is usually enough when hunting.
Youve got a good idea how both guns will handle already (Basically as the Encore is just a reinforced Contender to a great extent), so honestly I'd probably suggest going with what ever you think is more interesting.
 
Olympus said:
Both calibers seem to be about a 200 yard caliber, which works well for my type of woods hunting. Both are compact, handy rifles which I really like. Any thoughts on these two guns and calibers?
Click to expand...
The 7-30 Waters is quite capable of twice that distance. AFAIK it still holds the long range pistol record, 1.5" x 3.5" @ 500yds.:eek:
It doesn't seem like it would be worse out of a carbine.
 
I think the factory TC barrel is actually 23" if I recall.
 
even better! I thought the standard contender carbines were 21s, always wondered at that wierd number, but never looked into it.

Also with the already short oal i think the longer barrel would actually be nice.
 
I'd love to own a bolt action 7-30 Waters someday, but alas they don't really exist...

Of the two, I'd get the CZ. After owning a bolt action 7.62x39 for over a year now I can't imagine not owning one. Just too affordable, fun and effective...
 
Just a note, my interwebs research has suggested 375win cases seem to be the best for forming the 7-30 as they are tougher than the 38-55 and 30-30. All of mine tho are formed 3030 or actual 7-30 cases.

I actually agree that the TCs arnt as smoothly finished as the CZ, but they do offer alot of adaptability.
Cant go from x39 to 45-70 or .22lr in 5 mins with the 527. Or rifle to pistol and back.
 
T/C Contender here,tackdiver to 150 yards. That's the farthest Ive zeroed it. Make my brass from 30-30 fireforming loads. Going to have Hart barrels make a 30-30 barrels for my Encore.:evil:
 
I love mausers, even the wee little ones like the 527. I wouldn't mind having a 527 in 7.62x39mm myself, and honestly the only reason I haven't already purchased one is the lack of a full-stocked (FS) version.

While the 7-30Waters is a definite improvement over the venerable old .30-30Win., it's still nothing particularly special and honestly loses all of its luster when you're putting it into a break-action single shot that is perfectly capable of chambering more formidable cartridges like the 7mm-08Rem. That said, I really can't see myself owning any break action long-gun as long as I can get my hands on a more refined single shot like a falling or rolling block. To each their own I suppose...
 
If you don't have a Contender and a bazillion barrels for it, in both rifle and pistol configuration and just want to add another, get the CZ or be prepared for the addiction to set in.

I have found some of my contender configurations to be amazingly accurate as bench shooters despite how much more you have to move them shot to shot vs a bolt gun to load them.
 
Another vote for the CZ 527 mainly because I would love to have a bolt action in that caliber and I literally have a ton of factory ammo to run through it.
 
Howa just came out with a mini mauser design for the 7.62x39. It uses a 311 barrel
 
stolivar said:
Howa just came out with a mini mauser design for the 7.62x39. It uses a 311 barrel
Click to expand...
It's a neat little rifle, but it's not really a mauser (though most every bolt gun is based off of one in some respect) as it's not a CRF design, but rather push feed like most bolt guns.

As far as .311 barrels, I would personally rather have a .308, thus allowing you to handload with bullets that have superior ballistics, but that's likely not most folks goal with the 7.62x39mm.
 
I love the CZ. Have two of them in different calibers with one being 7.62x39. Its weakness is the stock. Its so nice you don't want to take it out for fear of getting a scratch on it.
 
I'm telling you, I really like both guns and this a hard choice to have to make. The CZ also comes with factory rings so that put it's about $50 cheaper than the Contender. I really want to get the 7-30 Waters, but I also really want to see what all the hype is with the CZ 7.62.

I don't shoot AKs, so I don't have any bulk ammo laying around to shoot in the CZ. And I don't have a lot of time for just "fun" shooting so I doubt I would ever shoot the CZ for fun very often. No more than I would the 7-30 Waters. This is a really hard decision.
 
Take a sheet of paper, cut into 20 equal sized pieces. Label half "CZ", and the other half "TC". Jumble up in a hat. Ask spouse/child/co worker to reach in and blindly pull out a piece. Problem solved.
 
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