7.62x39 or .223?

[Old Griz]

My wife was feeling guilty because I spent so much $$$ on her for her 50th birthday. She said she could never surprise me with anything because she doesn't know anything about guns (except Glocks). So I made a list for her that goes from a .22 automatic to a .45-70 Cowboy and several things in between. (We'll see just how guilty she REALLY feels!) Today I looked at a cute little fun gun, the CZ 527 Carbine, and thought I might just add that to the list. It's a nice little bolt gun, with a hammer forged barrel, and it comes in .223 and 7.62x39. My dealer has both. This would be a great gun to have on hand because my relatives always want to come shoot my guns, but they also shoot up my ammo, too. (They don't clean either. Good thing they only come once a year!) Both calibers are cheap (esp. Wolf), but I would like some feedback on which caliber to get. I've got deer guns, and I've got a prarie dog gun in .223 already, so this is gonna be a plinker. Might use it on coyotes, too. So what do ya think? .223? or 7.62x39?

(I'm still saving up for that Ruger #1. Nothing would make her feel THAT guilty!)

[Buford]

Old Griz - I have a CZ in 7.62X39 and it is fun toy to play with.  It is handy, light, portable, good looking, accurate.  I am sure she will enjoy it. I have found that ends up going with me more and more in the pickup when I head for the hills.

[Cabin4]

I have friend that owns one in 223. It is very accurate and fun to shoot.

In 7.62 x 39, it would not only make a good plinker, but also a very good brush gun for deer and hogs.

[chk]

My financial advisor is glad CZ doesn't make a 527 Manlicher in 7.62x39.

[.323]

Hello, just finished helping on quite an extensive test of the CZ Brush Gun 7.62x39. Found under 1" for 3 shots at 100 yard for Federal soft points. The wolf was about 1.25- 2.5 inch. Using a 4x scope with a No.1 German reticle this rifle shoots and handles as well at 100 yards as ANY  have used. Clay Pigeons  hung on a backboard  dont last long offhand. We worked up a 150 gr load a little better than a 30-30 with carbine length barrel would work well for deer this side of 200 yard. A load with cast bullets mocking a 32-20  ( 1/2 group at 60 yrd) for head shooting squirrels. Really versatile and handy with a warne quick detach mount. Feeds a little rough and hard until broke in and the safety is backward until you get used to it. Lots of variation in the figure of the wood, look around and you can find one that will is as pretty as about any rifle you could buy for no additional money. You will enjoy this rifle as will any youths or women because of NO recoil and just how nice it holds.

[His lordship.]

Old Griz,

You just hit on a subject that I recently had to think about.  I just bought a new CZ 527 in .223 yesterday.  Now I just have to wait until the scope arrives in the mail...I hate to wait! :wink:

A few months ago I had to weigh the concept of adding another AK-47 in something other than the usual 7.62 X 39, perhaps .223.  In the Shotgun News the cost of a case of the Russian ammo was $20.00 less for the .30 caliber than the .223.  There are also combat reports coming in of the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq where the enemy combatants have been taking multiple hits with the .223 and still being able to run and stay on their feet for awhile.

I bought a .223 as I wanted a flat shooting cartridge for distance hits on varmints.  And some of the ranchers in South Dakota are afraid of the larger calibers as their cattle are around the area when they have hunters come out to shoot at prairie dogs  The .223 in your case would have less recoil, put less lead into your backstop, but would cost alittle more.  The 7.62 X 39 would be somewhat cheaper, and could be used on deer if you wanted in most places.  With you already having a .223 calibered gun, another in the same bullet diameter would reduce the logistics of having another caliber in boxes to take up space.  On the other hand, the 7.62 X 39 probably will kick more and your relatives might tire faster and want to do something else.

I hope this helps. :-)

[Old Griz]

Thanks Chris. You're right, if I got the .223 I wouldn't have to get another caliber of ammo, but the ammo I use on varmints isn't the cheap stuff I use for plinking. Therefore, I'd still be ordering something different. I'm leaning toward the 7.62 just because I DON'T have anything in that caliber yet. As for deer, etc., I have enough real guns (6.5x55, .308, .30-30, .45-70, .44 mag.) to handle that. I was hoping to find out from guys who might have them both how they compare. How one is better than the other at certain things, their range, limitations, etc. You brought up some very good points and I thank you very much.

[Mikey]

Griz:  For what you are looking for and asking your caliber to do I would opt for the 7.62.  However, I would avoid Wolfe ammo as it is dirty and the laquer coating seems to foul bolts and single shots.  S&B makes great ammo in that caliber even though it is steel cased and laquered.  I've never heard a complaint about their fodder.

If you reload you can bump up the 7.62 to 150 grain loads at about the same velocity as the 30-30.  I would think that might be a win-win situation for you.  Good luck.  Mikey.