CZ 527M Carbine 7.62x39 Bolt problem

[TreeOfWoe89]

Hey everyone,

I bought a CZ 527 Carbine recently; in many ways, a great rifle. Shoots well, very light, looks great. But I'm having a problem with the bolt. It extracts fine, but sometimes it's very hard to get back in if I don't get it right on its center line. It seems to be a bit loose when out, and if I put a little bit too much pressure on a side, it's a struggle to get it back in. Especially the first step of the bolt back in, it's very easy to have it grind in the receiver. I feel like it should be way smoother, and usually it is, but when I don't find that sweet spot, it's very hard to get it back in. If only it worked that smoothly as when I get the sweet spot - feels fantastic and extremely smooth; with a scope, it's even harder to get it back in on its centerline, and I found I had to use my thumb to help it back in...I suspect something must be wrong for a rifle that cost this much; hell, my 1938 Mosin Nagant doesn't have this problem and its bolt goes back in very smoothly. Should I send the rifle to CZ?

[armoredman]

This is something I have heard of before and it's not something I have dealt with much - mine did that a little bit when I first got it, but after shooting for sometime the parts seemed to wear in and I have no issue cycling the bolt. If you want, call CZ-USA Monday morning and ask them.

[jkingrph]

I have 527 prestige, which has "better" wood, higher polish blue and a jeweled bolt, which is supposed to be smoother, "not".  I had the same problem when new.  I also have a 550 Safari, which had the same problem.   I took the  striker portion out, so I just had the bolt body and handle, applied a little flitz metal polish to the bolt body and cycled a bit, cleaned then cycled it several hundred times and it smoothed up quite a bit.  If I put pressure to any side or up/down I can make it feel to bind.   

My older Winchester M 70, and my Swedish Mausers have a third lug on the side of the bolt that prevents sideways movement and prevents binding,  I wish CZ did this but suspect in makes a bolt more costly to produce.

[katonahjohn2]

I have a 527 in 7.62 X 39.  After more than 1,000 rounds, I still push the bolt forward with my thumb, and use my fingers to rotate the handle.  Just pushing forward with the handle causes the bolt to cock/be slightly crooked.  But then the bolt is not designed to be gentle with.  I don't think it is ever going to be as 'smooth' as some of my old rifles of various makes and calipers. 

[cz75BDShooter]

My workaround: push in the bolt using the meaty part of your palm - the portion below the thumb - rather than using thumb/index finger.

[Diamond Jim]

Me too, 527 Varmint in .223 circa 2013. Told it's not an issue. It is. My CZ .22LR doesn't have any problems, my CZ in .270Win doesn't have any problems. I also own a 1940's built SMLE .303 Brit that is as smooth as cats poo and that didn't cost anywhere near the $1670 Aussie Dollars that the CZ527 did some years ago. The SMLE is sometimes hailed as the slickest bolt action combat rifle in history and I have no reason to doubt that claim. While I could cite many examples of rifles I've used without the problem, that doesn't say anything about the one I've encountered that does. The fact remains that I've never encountered this problem with any other firearm I've come across in my 55+ years.
What seems to be a common response when this issue is raised is that CZ builds quality rifles to a certain price point so buyers can't expect the same level of finish etc as, for example, Anschutz, Sako etc. Well that is rubbish. CZ builds quality firearms - that's why I own three (I know many others would own many, many more but that isn't a realistic option in my jurisdiction). Firearms are supposed to work as intended. We shouldn't have to put up with nursing our bolt into battery using our thumb to guide it so it is perfectly centered every time. We shouldn't have to figure out a "workaround". Can you imagine if that was required on the hunt of a lifetime, or when being charged down by dangerous game intent on doing you injury or, god forbid, in battle when your life depended on your rifle functioning as intended.
My 527 is a supremely accurate rifle. I wouldn't sell it (well maybe I'd exchange it for one that didn't bind up) and would happily buy another CZ if I was in the market - but I would carefully check the action before I signed on the dotted line.