Scope for CZ 527

[Lucky Derby]

I recently picked up a used (like new) CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62x39. it has a very nice Trijicon 3-9x40 with illuminated reticle. It seems like too much scope for the rifle. I paid less for the whole package than either the rifle or scope should have cost alone. I'm thinking a smaller, lighter fixed 4x might be the way to go on this little rifle. Mostly just a fun range rifle and camp gun. Any suggestions for a more appropriate scope?
Of course once I do this, I'll have to find the right rifle to pair with the Trijicon. It never ends.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I have a 3-9x40 on mine, and like you, I've found it's a little too big for what I want.

Haven't bought anything to replace it yet, but I've been salivating over this one. Weighs half of what most 3-9s do and the eyepiece is a hair slimmer than most scopes - which IME, I can use all the bolt clearance I can get on the CZ. Fixed 2.5x is a little less zoom than I'd like (I think a straight-four would be perfect), but the plus-sides are tempting.

https://www.leupold.com/scopes/rimfire-scopes/fx-ii-ultralight-2-5x20mm

 

[armoredman]

Best thing I ever did with my 527M was change the rear sight to a Marbles adjustable, silver soldered on a base by a gunsmith buddy of mine. Then he made a new stock so it could be what called a "camp" rifle with spare mag in the stock. I tried a few scopes and the one I wanted...I could never get, the Redfield Revolution 2-7 when made by Leupold. Most scopes were either too big, or two small. So I went irons only.

 

[Lucky Derby]

Armored man, that is a great looking rifle.

 

[JohnB-40]

I have a Leupold 1-4x20 on mine,mounted on Leupold rings. Nice scope,doesn't overwhelm the small carbine.

 

[LoonWulf]

I've gotta Burris timberline 4.5-14x3...2? on mine. besides being a little critical on head position at 14 and having an oddly long eye relief I think it looks good and let's me get all the range out of my 6.5 Grendel.

For a x39 chambered 527, I think I'd go with a Leupold 2-7x33 Vx-F....of which i have one sitting on the shelf. light, compact, and plenty of clarity and magnification for anything the X39 can do.

 

[troy fairweather]

I've gotta Burris timberline 4.5-14x3...2? on mine. besides being a little critical on head position at 14 and having an oddly long eye relief I think it looks good and let's me get all the range out of my 6.5 Grendel.

For a x39 chambered 527, I think I'd go with a Leupold 2-7x33 Vx-F....of which i have one sitting on the shelf. light, compact, and plenty of clarity and magnification for anything the X39 can do.

one was going to say the Burris but he wanted lower power. Didint they make the timberline in 3-9. And ya the leupold 2-7 or the 1-4 would be my pick, maybe even that Bushnell you had.

 

[LoonWulf]

one was going to say the Burris but he wanted lower power. Didint they make the timberline in 3-9. And ya the leupold 2-7 or the 1-4 would be my pick, maybe even that Bushnell you had.

yeah they called it the "compact magnum" or something like that, what ever the model was before the timberline. you can still find them on eBay.
I agree the Bushnell legend ultrahd in 1.5(or 1.75 can't remember)-6x32 would be a good choice.
Again can find them on eBay.

 

[armoredman]

Armored man, that is a great looking rifle.

Thank you - the gunsmith who made the stock is a genius.

 

[high country]

I have a Burris Fullfield E1 4.5-14x on my CZ 527 American and really like it, but it would likely be too big for a carbine (as you have discovered). I have a vortex crossfire 2-7x on a lightweight Howa mini in 7.62x39, and it seems like a perfect size and power for that rifle, and I would expect it would also do very well on a CZ carbine.

But, the Fullfield is so much better than the crossfire in essentially every way that it has me thinking about moving up to something nicer on the 7.62x39. Even if I did that, I would stay with that same power because the magnification is a good match to the cartridge, and the size and weight of the scope is good match for that type of rifle. I haven't found one to handle, but I am guessing that the Fullfield E1 in 2-7x would be a great option. Since it is a pretty standard power range, there are a ton of nice options from vortex, leupold, etc. that would fill your needs nicely.

 

[Olympus]

A 1-4x or a 1-6x low power variable optic would be a good choice on that rifle. But honestly, I'd stick with a 3-9x. Unless you're taking fast moving shots, the 3x setting on a 3-9x doesn't really sacrifice much.

 

[troy fairweather]

A 3-9x40 kinda kills the nice handling, it still feels good but looks like when you put a big target scope on a deer rifle.

 

[littlelefty]

are you intent on a scope? I put a NECG ghost ring N-104 on mine and like it very much. keeps the rifle lightt(er) and handy. here' a not-very-good pic.

 

[IlikeSA]

I agree with the above poster with putting a LPVO on it. A to large, to heavy scope cancels out the benefit of a light, handy carbine. There are some scopes built for 300 blackout and AK47s that may be almost nearly set up with the different yardage shot already pre-marked. One I am looking at for an AR15 is by Primary Arms. Here's a link:

https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-1-6x24mm-sfp-scope-w-acss-300blk-7-62x39-reticle

 

[Lucky Derby]

A 1-4x or a 1-6x low power variable optic would be a good choice on that rifle. But honestly, I'd stick with a 3-9x. Unless you're taking fast moving shots, the 3x setting on a 3-9x doesn't really sacrifice much.

It's not the magnification, it's the size and weight. Once that much is added, I might as well have a Remington 700 in .308

 

[Lucky Derby]

are you intent on a scope? I put a NECG ghost ring N-104 on mine and like it very much. keeps the rifle lightt(er) and handy. here' a not-very-good pic.

A year or two ago I would have gone that route. However after cataract surgery last spring, I can no longer focus on the front sight of a long gun. It just becomes a blur. Handguns I still do fine with, but not rifles.

 

[JohnB-40]

I'm rowing in the other direction to you Lucky Derby....I can't see the front sight without looking through an aperture.
I would wait until Midway or Brownells has a good discount going and buy yourself one of the Leupold VX-Freedom 1-4x20 scopes. Fine quality,made in Oregon and 3 different reticles to choose from. It is like these scope's size,weight and magnification were made for the 527 carbines. The Leupold rings are pricey,but they give ample room to work the bolt and are a finely made piece of kit.

 

[Olympus]

It's not the magnification, it's the size and weight. Once that much is added, I might as well have a Remington 700 in .308

I think if you start comparing, you'll see there's not nearly as much difference between a 1-4x or a 3-9x, especially in weight. You can find 1-4x optics that weigh more than 3-9x actually. The only difference is a slight length difference.

 

[cdb1]

You can find 1-4x optics that weigh more than 3-9x actually.

True.

 

[LoonWulf]

quite a few in fact.....actually pretty much ALL the common ones now. Leupy is really the only one making light 1-4s?

 

[Olympus]

Yep, we've pretty much debunked that line of reasoning.

 

[Bill460]

This is my CZ-527 in .223. It has a Leupold VX-II 2-7X in CZ steel rings. So far it's been a good combination. I would not feel this gun would be over glassed with a 3-9X. The trend today is for higher magnification. I remember when a 3-9X was considered to be about the highest you would dare go on a sporting rifle. Now we have 6-18X, and even 6-24X.

 

[Koroner]

Lucky, I have just the right rifle for that Trijicon. Send it to me and I'll give you a high end 4 power.

I love my CZ 527 (5.56mm). I have a Zeiss on it. Too bad yours is in a calibre that shoots like a rainbow.

 

[303 hunter]

My cousin has the same rifle with a Burris Fullfield II 2-7 installed. I have the same scope on one of my x39 AR’s, and it works great.