CZ527 precision gunsmith recommendations?

[hm2 clark]

Let me recommend Jim Brockman of Brockman rifles. My 527 from there shot <.5moa. It came prettty fast to. Maybe I'll try Origunsmith when I have it rebarreled and restocked. I am glad to see you are finally made up your mind. Its a near perfect hunting rifle.

[LRRPF52]

Years back I met Randy and his surviving family at SOF. I'd use a soup ladle to whittle a stock out of saltwater driftwood before I'd give a cent to HS.

[bwaites]

Years back I met Randy and his surviving family at SOF. I'd use a soup ladle to whittle a stock out of saltwater driftwood before I'd give a cent to HS.

This makes my all time Top Ten internet statements!

[Nukes]

Always glad for the graces of levity!

Let me recommend Jim Brockman of Brockman rifles. My 527 from there shot <.5moa. It came prettty fast to. Maybe I'll try Origunsmith when I have it rebarreled and restocked....

http://brockmansrifles.com

That was easy. I'll give him a call and, based on LRRPF52's endorsement, I'll give the CZ custom shop another call.

What barrel did you select? Did he do any trigger work? Have you changed the stock at all?

Any other recommendations for a smith?

...I am glad to see you are finally made up your mind. Its a near perfect hunting rifle.

Since these gifts to children are heirlooms that can shape lifelong interests, much love and thought go into their selection.

Until we settle on a smith, I figure he can shoot it with some Lapua 7.62x39 123gn FMJ and see if he can match the ½ moa that some report.

[Drifter]

I think I've decided against converting my CZ to a Grendel. I've come to appreciate it as is...



Target shown is a 3-shot group fired from 100 yards using Hornady 123gr SST factory ammo. (Scope is a fixed 2.5x.)




I view it as a domestic safari rifle. Good for hunting whitetails with the scope, and the QD rings allow easy access to iron sights for black bear hunting with the aid of hounds (where shots tend to be up close and personal). The deer and bear seasons overlap here, and controlled-round-feed is certainly desirable in some situations. Total package weight as shown is ~6.6 lbs.



In some areas that I hunt, shot opportunities are limited to ~150 yards or less, so the long-range benefits of a Grendel conversion wouldn't always be realized, and the perceived close-range benefits of the larger .30-caliber bore would be permanently lost. I have other Grendels that are plenty capable of other applications, so I'll enjoy the Carbine in 7.62x39 for now.

[BjornF16]

Drifter...what was done (if anything) to accurize? Does it have pillars, glass bedding, etc?

[Nukes]

Like yours, the specimen I bought has very pleasing wood figuring. What we do with the stock depends on the cheek weld with final scope setup.

Any problem shooting the steel case ammo? I've seen some online reports of difficult extraction, so I went with the Lapua brass-cased ammo.

I'd like to give him more magnification than the 1.1-8x24 on our AR without adding another 2+ pounds in weight to the rifle. I am leaning towards the mrad Vortex PST 2.5-10x32 at 18.7 oz., but the 4-16x50 only adds 22.3 oz.

Whose QD rings are those?

[Drifter]

Drifter...what was done (if anything) to accurize? Does it have pillars, glass bedding, etc?

Nothing at all. And I have no idea if my results are typical or not.

The rifle doesn't seem overly temperamental regarding ammo, but its best accuracy so far has been with the SST ammo.

Like yours, the specimen I bought has very pleasing wood figuring. What we do with the stock depends on the cheek weld with final scope setup.

Any problem shooting the steel case ammo? I've seen some online reports of difficult extraction, so I went with the Lapua brass-cased ammo.

I'd like to give him more magnification than the 1.1-8x24 on our AR without adding another 2+ pounds in weight to the rifle. I am leaning towards the mrad Vortex PST 2.5-10x32 at 18.7 oz., but the 4-16x50 only adds 22.3 oz.

Whose QD rings are those?

I think my rings are Warne mediums. Along with the small ocular of the Leupold Ultralight scope, and also the unobtrusive Alumina scope cap, the rings allow for a reasonable cheekweld and sufficient bolt handle clearance.



Though I often prefer tactical-style FFP mil/mil scopes, I would probably consider the Leupold 3-9x Ultralight with EFR (Extended Focus Range) and CDS (Custom Dial System) on a CZ-Grendel conversion (especially if using the factory wood stock), as I believe it would work fine with the same Warne medium rings. With its 1" tube, 11.3" length, and 11-ounce weight, it would also look and feel right at home on this little gem of a rifle, while still being capable of long-range precision.

Link: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/674204/...icle-matte

As for steel-cased ammo, no problems at all, and accuracy has been reasonably good with the cheap stuff.

And FWIW, I was leaning towards Mark Gordon of Short Action Customs for my planned conversion.

http://shortactioncustoms.com/

[BjornF16]

Nothing at all. And I have no idea if my results are typical or not.

Did it come with pillars from factory?

[Drifter]

Did it come with pillars from factory?

It's been a while since I've had it apart and I honestly don't remember. I purchased it new shortly after its arrival at a local gun shop in August 2012, so it's a reasonably "fresh" rifle I think.

[Nukes]

Nothing at all. And I have no idea if my results are typical or not.

The rifle doesn't seem overly temperamental regarding ammo, but its best accuracy so far has been with the SST ammo.




I think my rings are Warne mediums. Along with the small ocular of the Leupold Ultralight scope, and also the unobtrusive Alumina scope cap, the rings allow for a reasonable cheekweld and sufficient bolt handle clearance.



Though I often prefer tactical-style FFP mil/mil scopes, I would probably consider the Leupold 3-9x Ultralight with EFR (Extended Focus Range) and CDS (Custom Dial System) on a CZ-Grendel conversion (especially if using the factory wood stock), as I believe it would work fine with the same Warne medium rings. With its 1" tube, 11.3" length, and 11-ounce weight, it would also look and feel right at home on this little gem of a rifle, while still being capable of long-range precision.

Link: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/674204/...icle-matte

As for steel-cased ammo, no problems at all, and accuracy has been reasonably good with the cheap stuff.

And FWIW, I was leaning towards Mark Gordon of Short Action Customs for my planned conversion.

http://shortactioncustoms.com/

Thanks. That bolt handle picture is one of those worth "a thousand words." I already bought the CZ factory rings. Since the kids have been working out on mil/mil FFP scopes already, I'd like to stick with that format. Judging from that photo, I doubt that the 2.5-10 and 4-14 Vortex PST oculars (almost 6mm larger diameter ocular housing than the VX2 Ultralight Leupy) can clear that bolt handle with those QD mounts. I am told that the factory CZ mounts are a bit higher. If not, I know a welcome home for the Vortex on a Rem 700 now wearing an older Duplex Leupy.

Mark Gordon of Short Action Customs did two ARs for us (our Grendel and a sister rifle in .223) and they are as fine examples of craftsmanship as I have seen. I was also going to have Mark spin up a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel for our SRS, but instead one of our shooting buddies deeply discounted us a conversion he built off a Benchmark blank (and first he let me try it out, 3 shots 0.130" at 100 yds).

Mark is also a fine gentleman who went "above and beyond" in putting our rifles together in the midst of last winter's panic. Between us we scoured the market, acquired the components we selected, and he built these gems from order to delivery in about 4 months.

He was the first I asked about the conversion. He said he did not have much CZ experience and had done no 527-to-Grendel conversions, but was willing to take it on. Mark had an on-site customer when I called yesterday, so I'll call him next week.

Since you mention that the steel case ammo shoots adequately, I'll pass this on to you from an email promotion I received today—not as good quality as the Hornady, but.... 1,000 rd case of Wolf 123gn HP or FMJ for $229:
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?i...e-17870265

[hm2 clark]

The hardest part about converting my 527 to a Grendel was giving up my good 7.62x39 barrel; it shot just under an inch with most any cheap ammo. My next barrel will probably be fluted to keep up with the ultra light theme that the micro action has. I cant imagine a better trigger then the single set triggers my CZ has. As for rings, they are a dilema, with CZ rings being the higest and most bulky I've found. I have gone with lower rings MATCHED with a 4 inch or better eye relief scopet to fix the problem with the scope rear bell. The stock that came with my factory 527 was not as nice as some, so I finished a Boyds unfinisded stock and hollowed out the butstock (under the recoil pad) to lighten it and of course I bedded it. If I was building a rifle for a child, I would probably put one of the tough aftemarket finishes on it.... Hope all that helps.

[Nukes]

Yes indeed, that does help. Thank you.

This specimen has the best trigger of the three CZ527's I have tried. The single set trigger is fine, but the regular pull could use some help.

[Nukes]

Good news! Mark Gordon of Short Action Customs is up for the conversion, so we will let the kids play with it as a 7.62x39 for a bit and then send it off to Mark.

[Drifter]

Excellent !


On another note, there's a new style bolt handle available from CZ that might help with scope clearance:

http://shop.cz-usa.com/P-40110/Bolt-Hand...Style.aspx

[Nukes]

Good tip! Snagged one. Thank you.

I also snagged the new style Kevlar Varmint stock.

[Hooz]

Looks like I'm a little late to the party, but I'll chime in anyway. I have 3 CZ 527s in various calibers. The two "customs" I've had done were done by McGowen. They made the barrels to my specs and worked over the actions for me. Both are shooters.

In my research I found McGowen, Short Action Customs and Pac-nor are the three "big names" who will work on the little Mausers. Everyone else seems reluctant to touch them.

As for bolt handles... Custom Reloading Tools makes one that works with scopes with larger objective bells. James Calhoon will modify your bolt handle to work as well.

Bell and Carlson makes the current varmint "Kevlar" stock, but they don't sell to the public (only through CZ). As has been mentioned, HS Precision made the original varmint kevlar stock for CZ, and they still sell it... If you're willing to give them your money.

[Drifter]

I also snagged the new style Kevlar Varmint stock.

I bet someone might pay a pretty penny for a well-figured wood Carbine take-off stock. If so, it would help offset some of the conversion cost. (Many buyers of wood stocks like to see exactly what they're buying, and will pay a high price for attractive wood versus rolling the dice on a purchase.)

[hm2 clark]

If you ever get that kevlar stock on the carbine, pleas post a picture.

[Nukes]

Certainly.