CZ 527 .223 questions

[Sabrekiller]

I have the 527 in .223 and absolutely love the gun.  I bought it used at a gun shop many years ago.  I hand-load and it loves the 50 gr. Nosler BT and, like several others I've seen on here, it is extremely accurate. 

I do have some issues and maybe you folks can help me with it.  I want to load the 50 gr. Barnes TSX for hunting.  Has anyone found a good load for that pill? I think my twist is 1:12 but not sure. How can I find out?

Also, with the magazine full, the first round is very difficult to put into the chamber.  With only 4 rounds in the mag its not difficult at all.

The real drawback for me is the scope height due to the bolt rise when opening.  I like a solid cheek weld and seem to have to keep my head up a little to see through the scope.  Do they make a bolt with a shorter throw?

Thanks!

[Diamond Jim]

I can't help with the magazine/feeding issue but maybe with the others.
To find the twist, with a brush or patch on your cleaning rod engaged in the rifling (not in the chamber) put a mark (tape or similar) on the rod and measure the distance (to the nearest inch) you have to push it until the rod does one complete rotation. 12 inches means 1 in 12, 9 inches means 1 in 9 - simple.
As far as the bolt, newer 527s have a "scooped" bolt handle that gives better clearance for the scope. It might be a simple replacement if you can get one from CZ.
Jim

[bluzman]

1) Try loading that first round by pushing on the back of the bolt rather than pushing the bolt handle.
2) If you acquired your 527 "many years ago" it's almost certain to have 1:12 twist - 527s with 1:9 twist are a pretty recent thing IIRC.
3) To get a better cheek weld, you might consider something like this.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0084GS47S/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=SYKA2GFD8KYU&coliid=I70EJDO0W5PBX&th=1

[Sabrekiller]

I emailed the company and they said since my rifle was made in 2005 it has a 1:12 twist rate.  They have replacement bolts that are supposedly drop in, but they recommend gunsmith installation in case of minor fitting issues.  I think I'll order one as well as some lower rings.  The magazine issue they said could be because it's new.  They suggested loading and unloading it 20-30 times to loosen it up.  Well, the gun is 11 years old and I've put plenty of ammo through it to loosen it up already.  I'll keep working on that.

Haven't received much feedback on another forum about the Barnes TSX other than I may not be able to seat the bullet close enough to the lands to get any accuracy out of them.  The magazine will limit my overall length.  i may just stick with the Nosler BT.  I killed a Barbado sheep with it at 104 yards.  Dropped straight down and never moved on a quartering towards me shot. 

[painter]

Missed this as i was out of town over the weekend.

CZ offers a new style bolt handle for much less money than a bolt... http://shop.cz-usa.com/ProductDetail/40110_Bolt-Handle-527-New-Style

[Diamond Jim]

Yes, the push on the back of the bolt is a well-known fix, but it shouldn't be. It's an issue that CZ should address.

[dehacked]

You could also try and store the mag with 5 rounds for a while.

[bluzman]

Yes, the push on the back of the bolt is a well-known fix, but it shouldn't be. It's an issue that CZ should address.

And it's an issue that's been around for a long time.

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-684893.html&s=f49c82bc704733af4cffd390f0b55927&

[Diamond Jim]

Yes, the push on the back of the bolt is a well-known fix, but it shouldn't be. It's an issue that CZ should address.

And it's an issue that's been around for a long time.

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-684893.html&s=f49c82bc704733af4cffd390f0b55927&

Which makes it even more disappointing that CZ hasn't addressed it. It is the only thing I'm not happy about my CZ rifles - 452, 527, 550 - and it only happens with the 527. In a paddock, late at night, in the cold, in the heat of the moment  we shouldn't have to "baby" our rifles. They should just work the way they are meant to.

[painter]

My 527 in .223 feeds fine.

[Diamond Jim]

My 527 in .223 feeds fine.

Hey, it's great that you don't have this issue. Unfortunately many others do. In my opinion, it's less of a magazine issue and rather the (well lubricated and extensively worked) bolt galling in the receiver when off-axis force is applied via the bolt handle. Hence the issue goes away with a push along the bolt axis with the thumb on the back of the bolt. In any case, it is sufficiently well-reported that CZ should have looked into it and should offer a permanent fix to those who weren't so lucky. Maybe they use the "thumb push" technique in their test firing. Who knows?
I think all my CZ rifles are fantastic, well-made, superbly accurate and good value...just one valid issue with one rifle that is shared by many other CZ owners. Not bagging the brand - I'm a fan. That's why I kept buying them and would do so again. Doesn't mean they can't and shouldn't be improved.

[armoredman]

That's interesting, never heard of it, sorry. I never had that issue with my 527M, either, but mine has had some work done on it here and there.

[painter]

My 527 in .223 feeds fine.

Hey, it's great that you don't have this issue. Unfortunately many others do. In my opinion, it's less of a magazine issue and rather the (well lubricated and extensively worked) bolt galling in the receiver when off-axis force is applied via the bolt handle. Hence the issue goes away with a push along the bolt axis with the thumb on the back of the bolt. In any case, it is sufficiently well-reported that CZ should have looked into it and should offer a permanent fix to those who weren't so lucky. Maybe they use the "thumb push" technique in their test firing. Who knows?
I think all my CZ rifles are fantastic, well-made, superbly accurate and good value...just one valid issue with one rifle that is shared by many other CZ owners. Not bagging the brand - I'm a fan. That's why I kept buying them and would do so again. Doesn't mean they can't and shouldn't be improved.

...and not to make light of your problem, but if it happened to every rifle it would need to be addressed at the manufacturing level rather than as a warranty issue. I'd wager that there are fewer rifles that have the issue than those that do. We both know that in this day of the internet a product with an issue, regardless of severity, gets much more reporting than all the  examples of that same product that are flawless.

Did you or the 'many' others contact CZ and send the rifle in for repair?

[Diamond Jim]

I live in Australia in the most isolated capital city on Earth. We don't have a "CZ-Australia" analogous to "CZ-USA" that fixes everything for free and replaces rifles at the drop of a hat. Here, CZ is distributed by Winchester and, frankly, we do not enjoy the level of service in many areas that seems to be the norm in some other countries. Shipping the rifle back to the distributor in another state 2,000 miles on the other side of the country for warranty work would be a nightmare so that means I either live with the issue or try to find a solution myself before resorting to that course of action or engaging a qualified gunsmith (if one could even be located) and then having to fix his botched job.
That said, it is an issue that seems to improve slowly with use but it would be much easier if the issue was addressed before the rifle left the factory. It is a common enough problem that it will show up if you do a search online.
Jim

[painter]

Jim,

I understand it will show up online. I've seen it myself. That was my point regarding bad news always travels far and wide on the internet. Just because it shows up doesn't necessarily mean it's a common problem. Sorry that Winchester doesn't support it's customers like CZ-USA does, but if you never tried, you really can't blame CZ. If I had to send a firearm to CZ it would travel close to the same distance. Surely there is a process in your country for returning a firearm to the distributor for repair. From what I hear our Canadian neighbors have less than satisfactory importer support also.

Let's face it, it's a mass produced firearm built to a price, and any time that scenario occurs, occaisionally, bad examples leave the factory. I have more than one CZ, and all were bought used. Other than a 452 FS in 22lr that ejects inconsistently, I have no issues with any of them and consider the brand a good value.

I hope you get your issue resolved.