Scoping the CZ-527 Varmint .223 - Specific suggestions?

[TEC]

A new puppy seems to demand my attention and has curtailed the time I spend cruising the web these days. Probably also a "lazy" factor involved, too.

This rifle will be used primarily at 100 yards with only occasional use at 200-300 yards, but I would like to be able to see my hits without a spotting scope (18X-24X probably). A mil dot reticle with side-wheel AO facilitates my shooting style, but I am not sure how necessary AO is at 100 yards plus. Most of my target shooting has been done with air rifles at 10M to 50yds with either high end diopter sights or 3X-12X scopes, but I definitely want this rifle scoped

Please help with specific suggestions for 1) rings and 2) rifle scopes. I am looking in the $350 range with max for the scope and mounts at no more than $500 for this rifle. If you have the link, that would be much appreciated too.

My first need is a good set of 1" rings so that I can mount one of the scopes I have, probably a Bushnell Trophy 4-12X 40 mm AO pending purchase of better glass.

The puppy is barking and I am almost late for work . . .

Thanks

 

[Fat_46]

Mine wears a Nikon Buckmaster 6x18 side focus. About $250 plus mount and rings.

Its held up to thousands of rounds so far.

As for rings I put Burris on mine. Midwayusa has a whole section on 527 rings.

 

[dubbleA]

My 527's wear Swarovski and Nikon Monarch's so I cant help you there. Just be aware that with the design of the bolt, there can be problems with scope clearance on the ocular bell of the scope with lower height rings.

 

[NELSONs02]

I'll second the Nikon Buckmasters with the side focus, pretty good for the money.

 

[stubbicatt]

Like DubbleA said, you first need to address the bolt handle. It is way too thick at the base to properly clear a scope ocular lens bell. I had mine recontoured by the excellent folks at Hickman Rifles in Colorado Springs. The price was surprisingly low, and they reblued the bolt. When I got it back, it matched the factory finish perfectly.

Then you can actually use medium height rings which makes the rifle much more ergonomic. Without modifying the bolt handle, you will almost certainly have to resort to "high" rings, which are not as much fun to use, and introduce sighting errors which can make shooting for group a frustrating experience.

I realize it is not exactly what you said you wanted with a high magnification factor, but I really like my IOR 6x scope with the MP9 reticle and finger adjustable knobs. I can still get really tight groups with it, and it is about as much magnification as I can hold on a rifle for use in the field. The glass is as clear as you can find.

YMMV.

 

[rangerruck]

get factory cz, hi mounts/rings. this will clear up the bolt handle prob, they are made of solid cut bar steel, both rings/mounts from the same bar stock, and there is a female notch in the rear bridge of the receiver, and mates to a male nub in one of the mounts.

 

[tjj]

My son has the CZ 527 in .223. I first tried the Burris Timberline (read cheapline) and it just didn't seem to track accurately. It seemed to hold zero Ok once adjusted but cranking up or down for range changes went all over the map or not move at all.

I replaced it with a Buckmaster 6-18 SF and it was a pleasure to use. You make an adjustment and it shot accordingly. I have the same scope on two of my .17HMR's and works great on those too. I highly recommend them.

 

[lipadj46]

For rings I go with these:

http://www.swfa.com/c-2056-weaver-grand-slam-rings.aspx

or these:

http://www.swfa.com/c-2309-weaver-six-hole-tactical-rings.aspx

They are dirt cheap and available at Walmart and they work, for best result get the purple locktite from harbor freight.

For a scope here is a good monarch for cheap:

http://www.swfa.com/pc-9244-2119-nikon-3-9x40-team-primos-riflescope.aspx

You can get the rings and scope for under $275 shipped and not have to worry about upgrading unless you need more than 9x.

 

[benzy2]

Don't, I repeat DON'T, buy the rings lipadj46 mentioned. The 527 doesn't use a Weaver rail, it uses a larger dovetail. You need to buy CZ 527 specific rings. Leupold makes some which are what I bought. They are decent though I don't know if they are any better or worse than CZ made rings. I know Warne makes rings specific for the 527 that people like.

As for the scope I have 6-18 Nikon Buckmaster on mine. Pretty nice scope for the money. It tracks well and is repeatable. Very solid adjustments as well. I really like that scope for the money. It may not match some top end scopes but for my uses it works very well. I'm not sure if there is a mildot option or not though.

 

[ar10]

I'd stick with the CZ hi/mount rings. The rear ring has a notch that keeps the scope anchored pretty solid. My experience with the weaver was it kept slipping back. I can't answer for the .223 but with the 7.62x39 the rings kept moving back. It wasn't much but enough to screw up my shots.

 

[EAJ]

deleted

 

[EAJ]

OE 1” CZ medium (.555") rings were included with my CZ 527 .223 Cal. Varmint Kevlar Rifle, which has a 16mm receiver dovetail. I shoot mainly off the bench at 100-200yds and use a Weaver 6-20x40mm AO Grand Slam Riflescope, Fine Crosshair/Dot. Bolt clearance is adequate with their rings however I do prefer to use a spotting scope beyond 100 yards.

 

[TEC]

OK -- I went with the Leupold's in 30 mm, high, and will temporarily mount a Leapers 3-12X 44 w/ side-wheel because I have on hand I am not using at present.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/leapers...ize-range-estimating-mil-dot-illuminated.html

This should get me through the break in / barrel burnishing phase. I suspect I will have to add a pad to the stock and maybe space out the recoil pad. Then I will go from there. Thanks all for the comments.

 

[CH47gunner]

Oops, too late. TEC - you already made your move.

Here's my CZ527 .223 Varmint rig. Mounted a Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x40SF w/ target dot reticle, using Warne Maxima high 16mm rings. This set-up worked extremely well @ 100-200 yds but, at 300 yds. I had difficulty seeing the hits.
So, I replaced the Nikon with a Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24x40AO. Works much better at 300 yds but, I do miss the side focus option.
Any way you go, you're gonna like the rifle!
Here are pics of the CZ set up with both scopes.

Bruce

CZ527 .223 Varmint w/ Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x40SF & Warne Maxima rings.



CZ527 .223 Varmint w/ Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24x40AO & Warne Maxima rings.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

You figure $50 for good rings/shipping, so $300 for the scope, give or take. Hmmm, best high-magnif target scope for a .223 under $300?

I'd go with one of these:

Mueller Eradicator
http://www.swfa.com/pc-10579-1508-mueller-85-25x50-eraticator-riflescope.aspx

or

Super Sniper
http://www.swfa.com/pc-4307-2760-swfa-ss-20x42-tactical-riflescope.aspx

or

Swift Premier
http://www.swfa.com/pc-8477-380-swift-6-18x44-premier-rifle-scope.aspx

or

Nikon Buckmaster
http://www.swfa.com/pc-1885-220-nikon-45-14x40-buckmaster-riflescope.aspx

or

Weaver Classic V
http://www.swfa.com/pc-2330-256-weaver-4-16x42-classic-v-rifle-scope.aspx

or

Millett Buck Gold
http://www.swfa.com/pc-10701-1526-millett-6-25x56-buck-gold-30mm-riflescope.aspx

or finally,

Vortex Crossfire
http://www.swfa.com/pc-15191-2213-vortex-6-24x50-crossfire-30mm-rifle-scope.aspx

Those last two are pretty suspect in my book, however.


I think it's hard to beat the Nikon Buckmaster in that list. The Super Sniper would probably please as well. The Swift Premier and Weaver V are proven scopes as well, and Eradicator gets good reviews. I had one, and it's pretty good for the money overall, but eye relief is poor - however, you can get away with that on a rifle like .223 - not much recoil


If you could up your budget by $25 or so, then I'd say the Falcon Menace could probably hang with the Buckmaster optically, and has some really nice features like FFP reticle:

http://opticswarehouse.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=falcon_menace_414x44ffp


The Elite 4200, though an excellent scope, does not make budget for the kind of magnfication you want/need.

Note: I use Warne Maxima exclusively on CZ centerfires.

No, you don't need AO / PA shooting at those distances. However, it doesn't hurt, and most of the scopes with the magnification and features you want are going to come with it. Under 40 or 50 yard shots, it could help enough to make a difference (short range hunting & varminting).

 

[rangerruck]

I want you to take a close look at those pics, all very good by the way. the bolt handle is literally going right into the rear optic bell. Also you will notice, that even theses scopes ar no bigger than 42mm, in the front objective, with medium height cz or leupy mounts, they are barely clearing the bbl. If you are going to use a 42mm or bigger scope, you MUST GET HIGH MOUNTS.
I don't know if the leupy's come with the male notch in the mount, that specifically allows it to fit, in the female notch of the rear of the receiver, but if they do not have this, then I would deff get CZ mounts/rings.

 

[benzy2]

The Leupold rings do have the notch.

 

[TEC]

Yes, it looked like I was going to go with high mounts and the Leupold's were available in 30mm, which I will need for my starter scope. Perhaps I will look into modifying the stock and adding an adjustable cheek piece. It looks like the SuperSniper may be a 30 in tube. Anyone know?

 

[Maverick223]

I agree with 1858's suggestions, well at least the Nikon and the Weaver. The rest are alright, or I don't have experience with them. If you really want external adjustments the SS (or Bushnell 3200 fixed 10x) is okay, but the Nikon has better glass IMO. Here is a comparable scope in Bushnell and Sightron that will just squeak in at about $320/350 http://www.swfa.com/pc-969-184-bushnell-5-15x40-elite-3200-rifle-scope.aspx & http://www.swfa.com/pc-10605-1514-sightron-4-16x42-sii-riflescope.aspx to add to the list.

EDIT to add: All SS scopes are 30mm. Note that they are NOT adjustable and the high-end magnification models are a bit dark and have a small field of view.