CZ 527 in 7tcu.

[pastorp]

I need a very low recoiling deer rifle. I'm thinking about buying a CZ in 223 and having it rebarreled to 7 TCU. I like a slightly weight forward feel so probably use a slightly heavier contour barrel than factory. I'll buy the lux model rifle from CZ.
No sights except a scope. Probably a 6x. And cut the barrel at 22".

What you think? 

[Dave in WV]

It's all about what you want but there are less expensive options. Would a barrel rebore cost less? There are Ruger Hawkeye stainless ultralights on Gun Broker in 7mm-08 and you can load youth loads.

[jimster]

I am impressed with CZ rifles, so if you have the $ and want to rebarrel it another caliber, I say go for it. The only experience I have with 7mm TCU is shooting a TC handgun in that caliber many years ago...impressed with that as well.  I bet it works great in a rifle. I haven't seem a 7mm TCU in years....don't hear about it much.

[anweis]

Go for it. I did not, because i did not like the external box magazine. Plus, i already have a 6mm Remington on a Win Featherweight, which i load to my liking. If i were to do it, i would go with 6.5tcu, because you could shoot 120-123 grainers faster, and they also have significantly better ballistic coefficient (think flatter shooting) and sectional density (think more penetration). As far as deer, they will not know the difference between 6.5 and 7, as long as you shoot at reasonable distance. 
You could also get the 7.62x39 carbine and turn it into a 6.5 Grendel.

[drdougrx]

An interesting idea and I expect you'll want to keep the bolt as is.  Why not just get a 243?  or, if you want custom without the recoil, how about rechambering to 6.8...would need a bit of bolt work though.  Also, I think 22" for barrel would be great.  Please let us know what you decide.
 
BTW...it would probably be less expensive to have it rebored and rechambered rather than rebarreled.

[anweis]

Actually, the most practical and least expensive approach would be to get a regular rifle chamberd in a reasonable caliber (.243, .250, .260, etc) and handload reduced power or youth loads (with H4895 or A5744).
A full power load in .243 with 100 grain bullets at 2,900 fps has about 10-12 lbs of recoil. The same cartridge loaded with 80 grain bullets at 2,600 would recoil like a .22 Magnum and would still kill deer very well, probably better than the smaller rounds mentioned in other posts.

[Nobade]

Even better, just get a CZ 527 Carbine in 7.62X39. That's what I did and have been very happy with it for going on 10 years now. I shoot nothing but cast bullets in it, and it is good from 115gr. up to 245 gr. and power levels from a normal 32-20 up to full 30-30 level. Great little rifles!

The 7mm TC-U idea would be a good one other than cartridge length is limited by the magazine. Loaded that short to fit in the mag you really give up a lot of case capacity. The 6.5mm version is even worse for that. Any more if I do another bolt gun in a TC-U caliber it's going to have the bottom metal to use the AICS .223 mags which will allow you to use a 3.00 inch cartridge.

[pastorp]

Several have mentioned a rebore rather than rebarrel and I agree it would be cheeper. But how do I get the weight forward balance I like with that ? Or get rid of those horable  sights on a CZ?

I already load for the 7tcu. And have loaded amo for it otherwise the 7.62x39 suggestion is probably the way I would go. 

Regards,

[bcraig]

Hi, it is not muzzle heavy but I have the CZ 527 Carbine in 223.
So far one deer ,one Federal premium 60 grain partition,150 pound doe,150 yard shot.
Deer ran 30 steps or so.
I got a thread under smallbore along with some pics of damage to deer.
Sweet rifle with single set trigger.
Craig

[Freezer]

I have a Remington model 7 chambered in 7 TCU. It's a great 200 yard deer/pig gun. No recoil and very quiet. I propell a 140 gr bullet at 2400 fps. It's very efficent and with a 20 in barrel and fast handling. Mine wears a 2x7 Leupold and weights about 5.5 lbs with a kevlar stock. The best thing about this rifle/cartridge combo is you can have a light rifle and no recoil. You won't regret it. With a 22 in barrel you may get a little more speed but I doubt it. 7mm gives a nice veriety of bullet weights but 140 seems right in my rifle, it can shoot one ragged three shot hole at 100yards.

[streak]

Veral Smith had a 7TCU in a TC Contender carbine that he used cast bullets for elk hunting! So seems like a great little round for a rifle setup! I have a 7TCU in a 10" Contender barrel setup for " sillywet" shooting.

[RevJim]

 I've had several 527s through the years, all were very accurate. I used one in .221 Fireball and 50gr XLC for a shoat, it worked fine. I liked the .223 Lux model a lot, coyotes and birds were zapped very well. I used one in a Varmint, .204 for some awesome prairie dog shots.
I often thought about having that 527 .223 Lux rebarreled or rebored to 6x45mm. I had used a Remington 700 rebarrelled to 6x47mm and used the 85gr XBT for some exotics in Texas. I shot an axis doe, a real nice Axis buck in velvet and about a 500# Scimitar Horned Oryx with it. I was recovering from a neck surgery and the rifle had no recoil ( one of the rules my wife set for me,! ha)I later had that rifle rechambered opened up the bolt face to .243 and gave it a friend in south Africa. I think your idea is a great one Pastor! I never loaded the 7 TCU, but if you can get it to fit your magazine, I say go for it! If you do, we will require you to report on "everything", ha. Good luck to you Pard.