Nice. Very usefull. And appreciated that you took the time to document.
Mini Review of CZ527 Carbine in .223 (Pic Heavy)
10
Here you go:
First it was very hot!
I tried three different loads today, the Speer 70 Grain handload, a 55 Grain V-Max handload, and some American Eagle 55 Grain AR223 ammo. I placed the targets at 50 yards and used the factory iron sights from prone, no sling. The target squares are about three inches.
First the Speer:
These shot the best out my rifle. I use these quite a bit in my Ruger M-77 MKII with a 1/12 twist so I was hopeful they would shoot well in the CZ and they did. I have used these bullets on deer and pigs with great results, so I was very pleased to see them shoot well in this rifle. If you check out the reviews of these on the Midway site you will see similar reviews. This is a real sleeper bullet in the .223.
Next was my V-Max load. These usually shoot the best out of my .223's.
I have to admit by this point the heat was affecting my mental acuity. Sweat was dripping into my eyes and the heat was becoming oppressive. I still feel I put forth and pretty good effort, but it was more difficult to concentrate and focus on the target. I was hoping to try a similar load topped with Sierra Game kings, but of course forgot them at home. I would like to shoot these again to confirm actual group size.
Finally the AR223.
I have not had good luck with this ammo in other rifles, so my hopes were not too high with this stuff. I was also done at this point. I had spent about an hour shooting with no shade. I simply shot this for comparison.
Pics of the rifle:
And the desert for perspective:
Final thoughts:
I am very pleased with the rifle so far. The trigger cleaned up nicely. I like the factory sights, but I am going to put on a NECG ghost ring very soon. I hope this will help tighten things up a bit. The rifle functioned 100% and ejected all cases about three feet and to the rear. They all clustered nicely into a small pile about ten inches in diameter. The heat was brutal. After about 25 rounds the barrel was too hot to touch. This did not seem to effect accuracy though as all groups stayed about the same. Overall I shot about 120 rounds. I was concerned that the 70 grain bullets would not stay stabilized over distance, so I shot at a rock at about 185 yards and hit it every time. Then I fired on a small boulder at about 265 yards and was able to hit it pretty regularly, so I think I am good to go. I will shoot it on paper when things cool down to confirm my findings.
I hope others find this information helpful.
Cordially,
Matt
First it was very hot!
I tried three different loads today, the Speer 70 Grain handload, a 55 Grain V-Max handload, and some American Eagle 55 Grain AR223 ammo. I placed the targets at 50 yards and used the factory iron sights from prone, no sling. The target squares are about three inches.
First the Speer:
These shot the best out my rifle. I use these quite a bit in my Ruger M-77 MKII with a 1/12 twist so I was hopeful they would shoot well in the CZ and they did. I have used these bullets on deer and pigs with great results, so I was very pleased to see them shoot well in this rifle. If you check out the reviews of these on the Midway site you will see similar reviews. This is a real sleeper bullet in the .223.
Next was my V-Max load. These usually shoot the best out of my .223's.
I have to admit by this point the heat was affecting my mental acuity. Sweat was dripping into my eyes and the heat was becoming oppressive. I still feel I put forth and pretty good effort, but it was more difficult to concentrate and focus on the target. I was hoping to try a similar load topped with Sierra Game kings, but of course forgot them at home. I would like to shoot these again to confirm actual group size.
Finally the AR223.
I have not had good luck with this ammo in other rifles, so my hopes were not too high with this stuff. I was also done at this point. I had spent about an hour shooting with no shade. I simply shot this for comparison.
Pics of the rifle:
And the desert for perspective:
Final thoughts:
I am very pleased with the rifle so far. The trigger cleaned up nicely. I like the factory sights, but I am going to put on a NECG ghost ring very soon. I hope this will help tighten things up a bit. The rifle functioned 100% and ejected all cases about three feet and to the rear. They all clustered nicely into a small pile about ten inches in diameter. The heat was brutal. After about 25 rounds the barrel was too hot to touch. This did not seem to effect accuracy though as all groups stayed about the same. Overall I shot about 120 rounds. I was concerned that the 70 grain bullets would not stay stabilized over distance, so I shot at a rock at about 185 yards and hit it every time. Then I fired on a small boulder at about 265 yards and was able to hit it pretty regularly, so I think I am good to go. I will shoot it on paper when things cool down to confirm my findings.
I hope others find this information helpful.
Cordially,
Matt
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
The .223 with a 20 inch barrel was designed for lighter rounds it did a great job at what it was designed for short to mid range stopping a threat.
When the short 16 inch barrels came around the 1 in 12 did not cut it so they went to the 1 in7 but that required a heavier round .
Most of my shooting with 223 and 5.56 are with AR but I do own a Ruger 77 chamber for .223 it is an easy 400 meter shooter.
Yesterday was an up planned day of shooting. One son and I started out just to zero some new AR sights then Daughter ,wife nephew we burnt up a lot of 5.56,9mm,38 and some 380's.
This is a standard correct .223/5.56 AR zero target the 300 meter is what the target size would be a 300 meters. The 300 meter target size was shot at 6 times at 100 meters.
Ammo was M855 5.56 62 gr aka green tip lake city. AR 16 inch 1 in 7
![Font Rectangle Style Line Material property]()
This Ar has make many 600 meter shot using that ammo. To get the most out of a .223/5.56 understanding the round is very important.
Having many years experience with them I would take 5.56 AR over 7.62X39 in any case The only time the 7.62X39 excels is up close
This is a full size qualification target at 300 meters rapid fire
![Font Grass Terrestrial plant Circle Symmetry]()
When the short 16 inch barrels came around the 1 in 12 did not cut it so they went to the 1 in7 but that required a heavier round .
Most of my shooting with 223 and 5.56 are with AR but I do own a Ruger 77 chamber for .223 it is an easy 400 meter shooter.
Yesterday was an up planned day of shooting. One son and I started out just to zero some new AR sights then Daughter ,wife nephew we burnt up a lot of 5.56,9mm,38 and some 380's.
This is a standard correct .223/5.56 AR zero target the 300 meter is what the target size would be a 300 meters. The 300 meter target size was shot at 6 times at 100 meters.
Ammo was M855 5.56 62 gr aka green tip lake city. AR 16 inch 1 in 7
This Ar has make many 600 meter shot using that ammo. To get the most out of a .223/5.56 understanding the round is very important.
Having many years experience with them I would take 5.56 AR over 7.62X39 in any case The only time the 7.62X39 excels is up close
This is a full size qualification target at 300 meters rapid fire
Attachments
I appreciate the post as well, I rarely find someone that fires open sights on a high performance round like the .223, I guess it is handy to be able to practice with iron sights but I am not sure why you choose them over using a scope. My experience with CZ's is they are very accurate so I am guessing the poor performance you showed was a combination of the heat and your ability to shoot iron sights.
Poor performance, yes your "3 inch square" shows a 50 yard group of about 2.5 inches or 5 MOA, ANY shooter would be seriously disappointed with those patterns. Hell my AK-47 will do 3 inch groups at 100 yards all day long rapid fire, I admit your heat index is off the charts but I suggest you try your CZ under different conditions and get back to us.
Here is my input
First to test the accuracy of a gun use a bench rest, this doesn't highlight your natural shooting ability but it will show the guns accuracy instead of human error with sweat in your eyes.
Second do the test at more reasonable temperatures where the bullets are likely to be used, and allow the barrel to cool between your strings as it will skew the results. To shoot batch A with a cold barrel and Batch C with a "too hot to touch" barrel is not a good test of ammo lots.
Third. Use a scope. Even if you plan on shooting the gun with iron sights to do #1 and #2 WITH a scope. Once you get the load the gun shoots best, go back to iron sights and then hone your skills since you know the load is accurate in the rifle.
D. OMG get a real shooting target, one of my favorite movie lines is AIM SMALL, SHOOT SMALL and it is true. To get the best pattern on a rifle you need to aim at a SPOT not a 3" x 3" box at 50 yards. I realize you are only shooting 50 yards but the smaller the target the more accurate your patterns will be.
E. For open sight shooting shoot at 25 yards not 50 as a dead on hit at 25 will be about dead on hit at 100. This also makes your open sight shots more accurate with half the distance and less shooter induced wobble.
I seem to be harsh today, it is my intention to teach rather than mock but your patterns with the CZ are disturbing.
Here are my AR-15 patterns at 50 yards, yes they are scoped, off shooting sticks in the sitting position. Each square is 1 inch.
![Handwriting Triangle Font Rectangle Material property]()
I hope I don't have to mention that these were "test" loads so the point of impact isn't really realavent as the scope isn't sighted in for that particular bullet, it is the pattern I am looking for. My actual sighted in load is a hand load, I was testing factory loads and potential hand loads in this string.
Poor performance, yes your "3 inch square" shows a 50 yard group of about 2.5 inches or 5 MOA, ANY shooter would be seriously disappointed with those patterns. Hell my AK-47 will do 3 inch groups at 100 yards all day long rapid fire, I admit your heat index is off the charts but I suggest you try your CZ under different conditions and get back to us.
Here is my input
First to test the accuracy of a gun use a bench rest, this doesn't highlight your natural shooting ability but it will show the guns accuracy instead of human error with sweat in your eyes.
Second do the test at more reasonable temperatures where the bullets are likely to be used, and allow the barrel to cool between your strings as it will skew the results. To shoot batch A with a cold barrel and Batch C with a "too hot to touch" barrel is not a good test of ammo lots.
Third. Use a scope. Even if you plan on shooting the gun with iron sights to do #1 and #2 WITH a scope. Once you get the load the gun shoots best, go back to iron sights and then hone your skills since you know the load is accurate in the rifle.
D. OMG get a real shooting target, one of my favorite movie lines is AIM SMALL, SHOOT SMALL and it is true. To get the best pattern on a rifle you need to aim at a SPOT not a 3" x 3" box at 50 yards. I realize you are only shooting 50 yards but the smaller the target the more accurate your patterns will be.
E. For open sight shooting shoot at 25 yards not 50 as a dead on hit at 25 will be about dead on hit at 100. This also makes your open sight shots more accurate with half the distance and less shooter induced wobble.
I seem to be harsh today, it is my intention to teach rather than mock but your patterns with the CZ are disturbing.
Here are my AR-15 patterns at 50 yards, yes they are scoped, off shooting sticks in the sitting position. Each square is 1 inch.
I hope I don't have to mention that these were "test" loads so the point of impact isn't really realavent as the scope isn't sighted in for that particular bullet, it is the pattern I am looking for. My actual sighted in load is a hand load, I was testing factory loads and potential hand loads in this string.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
