I just posted the following to
NPR's thread about the CZ 527 rifle. Forgive the repetition here:
I have now got the rifle test fired and zeroed. It was pretty close after lapping the rings and boresighting - the first three shots of Sellier & Bellot 7.62x39 FMJ made a nice group about two inches right and two inches down at 50 yards, so only a few clicks on the scope were necessary to get it centred for windage and about an inch high on elevation - the next three shots (using the set trigger) made a clover-leaf pattern. The indexable adjustment turrets on the Vortex Viper scope are a really nice touch - you can null the turret scales for the sighting load, so any clicks thereafter are deviations from the tested zero, to which it's easy to return.
I took the rifle to the woods (it's roebuck season until the end of May). The rifle is light and handy. Easy to carry, and short enough it's not awkward for getting in and out of vehicles. The Vortex Viper 2-7x32 scope is good for daytime use, but the objective does not have enough light gathering power for good performance at dawn and dusk (my Minox 3-9x40 beats it hands down - but that is admittedly a bigger and much more expensive scope). I didn't have an opportunity to test ballistic performance on a game animal, but I suspect it will be perfectly adequate with the available S&B softpoint bullets at reasonable (woods) distances.
Verdict - I have a nice, handy, light and reasonably accurate setup for short to medium range daytime hunting. I am pleased.
CombatController wrote:Good one. I like the Vortex. I borrowed Dennis for a short time.
In Scotland Doc Russia and I have discovered the deer are hard to see and the light is always dim and foggy. Unless you can't see any deer and then it's beautiful and clear. Also, we've been taking them out to 300 meters so with a 165 grain round zeroed at 200 you have an inch either way.
Long story short, look at used even higher end optics for your next one. Good bargains can be had and the glass is amazing. Plus every warranty is honored as far as I can tell.
Haha. In Scotland, if you can see the mountains, that's a sign it's about to rain. if you can't see the mountains, it's raining.
Where we go stalking, I've never had to take a long shot at the deer (certainly not more than 150 metres), so seeing them to shoot them is not such a problem. Finding the deer against the landscape can be another matter - they just blend right in. Good binoculars are a must.
After testing it this week, I'm actually considering taking the CZ 527 / Vortex Viper rig to Scotland with me next time - a light rifle is what I want for walking up and down the hills...
