Which action for ultralight bolt action Grendel: CZ or Mini Mauser?

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atek3

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Most 6.5 Grendel bolt guns have used either a Mini Mauser or CZ 527 Carbine as the base. I'd like to have an ultralight repeater in 6.5 Grendel (mostly for deer). J&G has Zastava Mini Mausers in 7.62x39 ($400) and CZ has the 527 Carbine in 7.62x39 ($660). Both will create a serviceable rifle. The CZ has the advantage of an off-the-shelf available barrel from Competition Shooting Sports for $325. The Zastava would need a custom tube (probably ~$600). I’d after a stock lighter than factory. Does anyone make an ultralight carbon fiber or fiberglass stock for either rifle? If not, I’d have to get the stock inletted and the action bedded. Regarding trigger, most people leave the CZ trigger stock. The Zastava can probably accept a Timney, which is a plus. I like the detachable magazine on the CZ, but that would make a custom stock trickier than the blind mag on the Zastava.

Since I’m targeting as low a weight as possible, the scope will probably either be a fixed low power or a 1-4x variable.

Anything else I’m missing?

Thanks,
atek3
 
I didn't realize someone made a 6.5 Grendel barrel for the 527 series, that is pretty nifty. I agree with Viking, I think I would stick with the 527 for that build. I had a Rem 799 (mini mauser) in 7.62x39, and it was ok, but the CZs are nicer. Since this looks like it is going to be kind of a pricey project, you might as well use the better receiver to start off with. The manufacturer's website says the 6.5 barrel fits the factory contours of the 527 stock, maybe you could keep the stock and skeletonize it like Savage's lightweight hunter instead of trying to find another possibly custom composite stock.
 
Frankly CZ rifles are the undiscovered gems of bolt guns. Any of them, really, but especially the .22 guns and the 527 carbines in .223 and 7.62 x 39.
 
The advantage of going for a custom barrel is I can go for a Shilen Featherweight contour which could shave at least half a pound.

Since this is going to be a deer rifle and not a varmint rifle, I'm not really concerned about maintaining point of impact for a 10 shot string.

If the mini-mauser action is sloppier than the CZ, I could have it blueprinted, but that would make the mini-mauser more expensive than the CZ.

Thanks,
atek3
 
How important is being a repeater to you?

For pure lightweight and compact NOTHING beats a TC contender or encore with the right stock.

In reality though with the right parts you could build a poly lower AR for the round more cheaply and lighter than you could a bolt action
 
I agree T/C's are cool, but honestly the repeater thing is big. I just like working turnbolts, I'm crazy that way :)

Custom Reloading Tools makes a replacement CZ bolt handle, which is pretty much a must if you intend to use a scope... OTOH apparently CZ-USA will bend your existing bolt handle for $18+shipping.

atek3
 
this guy was going to build a cz into a 30AR but the magazine part of the action was too narrow. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=13305/GunTechdetail/Building-a-Switch-Barrel-Mini-Mauser

I have a mini mauser, and I've worked it over pretty well. It has a nice adjustable trigger, mine has wonderful blueing, and it is very accurate. The bolt is hard to close because the firing pin spring is too strong and the faux-full-length extractor gizmo is clamped on the bolt too tight, the bolt handle is super floppy in the action. And it's not an issue of needing to be blueprinted, it's an issue of "nothing is touching the rails but the locking lugs and the goofy fake extractor bit. I believe bell and carlson still makes the carbalite stock for it. All that to say, get the cz. Having one and having handled the other, cz is clearly a better action. Also, I had serious problems getting the bolt handle to place nice with the scope.

I've attached picture of the mini-mauser bolt. Mine is left handed and I've flattened the knob and bent the handle further down to help clear the scope. I still have to use high rings.
 

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Also considering re doing my 527M/CSR into 6.5 Grendel, give me some long range reach that the rainbow trajectory of the 7.62x39mm round just doesn't get. Also happen to have a gunsmith buddy who said he'd love to set/headspace the barrel. Just curious - what REAL benefits does the round offer, besides more expensive everything for reloading?
 
Meaning the only purpose you see for either 6.5 Grendel and 300 Blackout is they are not 5.56mm and still run in an AR style rifle, but offer no significant advantage in any way over the 5.56mm round?
 
6.5 Grendel is interesting and legal for deer in some places the 5.56 isn't. It is a pretty cool round

..but in a bolt gun why not go 6.5 Creedmor or. 260 Remington.

In a bolt gun .300 Savage or .308 over. 300 blackout. You can get subsonic ammo for the. 308 or load it yourself.
 
I have the CZ 527 rifle in .223 with set trigger. The trigger is awesome, 14 ozs pull weight consistently. And there are aftermarket stocks available. A very nice action. Dedicated scope rings though.
 
Atek3;

I've owned both, the Zastava is gone, and the CZ is a keeper. The Zastava rear bridge is so short it does not adequately support the bolt. Or at least mine didn't and I'm not going to buy a couple more just to see if the one I had was an anomaly. Because the bolt wasn't adequately supported, cycling the bolt forward and engaging another cartridge in the magazine was always an adventure, and one I didn't want to repeatedly have. Sometimes the bolt would ride over the cartridge in the magazine. Sometimes it would start to push the new round forward but then force the base of the cartridge down & the tip up to the point it would not cleanly enter the chamber. Sometimes it worked the way it's supposed to.

After investigation, I determined that if the bolt handle was pressured down to any degree (down as in toward the grip and trigger area, didn't matter too much how the rifle was positioned regarding gravity) the problems arose.

I wanted to keep the gun for a couple of reasons: A - it had a beautiful stock, great wood. B - it was a left-hand bolt & I had a helluva time getting the one I had. Oh, and it was a Charles Daly, which is neither here nor there, it was made by Zastava. However, once I ran across the CZ527, and found out I could get one with the bolt on the proper side of the action - for me, I was willing to pay the extra to put an end to the frustration.

900F
 
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I wish I would have taken pictures of the finished rifle. The owner was almost pacing the floor waiting for me to finish it!
 
Because the bolt wasn't adequately supported, cycling the bolt forward and engaging another cartridge in the magazine was always an adventure, and one I didn't want to repeatedly have.

Mine had the same problem, although it mostly manifested itself in the bolt binding with great regularity. That is one of my pet peeves, I cannot stand a bolt action rifle that binds when you are working the action quickly... My Ruger GSR didn't bind nearly as bad as the 799, but it was still enough that it drove me nuts and wound up having to go live elsewhere.
 
I spoke with Wayne York, Mark Gordon, and Jim Brockman.

Wayne was very friendly and responsive, he builds ultralight grendels for about $2400. Will likely go with him. Pretty much a Semi-custom rifle.

Jim Brockman prefers building grendels on a CZ action. Sounded like he would lighten the factory stock, install a new bbl, and convert the scope base to weaver.

Mark Gordon also builds grendels on a CZ action but he's very busy, so he'd only build the rifle if I shipped him a barrel blank, action, and stock.

atek3
 
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