Anyone have a CZ 527 in 17 Hornady Hornet? Opinions sought.

[dstoenner]

I have a 527 that did not shoot under MOA. Waiting for the rebarrel from PacNor. A shooting friend has one that shoots 1/2 MOA out of the box. Pay your money and take your chance.

Bad news. PacNor burned to the ground 2 days ago.

david

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I have one.. And I love it.. I use mine on P-dawgs and jack wabbbits. Great little round. And accurate. Shootin 25's and 2200 in mine

 

[Bill K]

I have the American model, a shooting buddy has the Varmint model. Both shoot very well. Just adjust or replace the trigger and lighten it and you will find the CZ527 is one fine shooting rifle. I only shoot the 15.5 NTX with CFE BLK or AA1680 and it shoots consistent 3/4inor smaller groups.

 

[Tommie]

I have a 527 that did not shoot under MOA. Waiting for the rebarrel from PacNor. A shooting friend has one that shoots 1/2 MOA out of the box. Pay your money and take your chance.

 

[oneshot 66]

I had a CZ 527 17 HH and worked with reloads for 2 years. I never got it consistent, MOA one group and 1.25 the next. Sent it to Calhoon to make a Badger in 19. Now -1/2 MOA every group. I should have sent it back to CZ, but didn't. The brass available is not good, that is the main problem with this cal.

 

[searcher]

I have a CZ527 17H and it shot 1/2" groups with factory barrel using both Hornady leaded and unleaded factory ammo - as well as reloads using V-Max and Berger bullets. I had the barrel replaced with a Lilja and I replaced the stock with a HS Precision and bedded it to the chassis block. shoots 1/4" MOA now. Works really well on ground squirrels. Blows them up with much more authority than the .17 rimfires, shoots flatter with heavier bullets available to handload - and best of all can tune the load unlike rimfire. If you already have a .17HMR or WSM and a .223 or other centerfire suitable for high rates of fire, you may find the .17H a nice addition for a void that really doesn't really need to be filled. I call mine the "150-350 yd no wind option." You can hit them out much further - but impact is lacking.

 

[JSH]

After tinkering around with the 17 FB, I believe it to be a better option than the 17Hornet.
If Prefered Barrels offered a 17 Fireball for the Howa Mini I would be all over one. They will do 17 and 20’s but use barrels from X-Caliber. They have a nut system and are the only ones offering it as far as I know.

Maybe I need to revisit this.

 

[MoneyWaster]

I'm the OP for this thread which started in 2017. I just happened to be reading this forum when I realized that people were still posting to my original question. Since my original post, I picked up a Vudoo V-22 barreled action, mounted it in an XLR Carbon chassis, installed a Jewell trigger and mounted a USO LR-17 scope. Me and my family shoot that rig regularly. I went that route simply because I was able to achieve a very high level of accuracy in a rifle that is ergonomically identical to my center firePRS style rifles. It is now my favorite rifle to shoot. I absolutely love it!

Anyway, I still have a desire to get something in 17 HH. Since my original post I decided that I wanted a Cooper, but they stopped making the model that was chambered in 17 HH. So, it's just fallen down my list of firearms to purchase. The V-22 lets me and my family shoot hundreds of rounds each weekend without the burden of reloading. I purchased a KYL rack with plates from 2"-1/4". When we set it up at 50 yards, it presents a great challenge and fun for all. I've attached an image of that rig as I know that everyone likes rifle pics lol.

 

[Tommie]

I'm the OP for this thread which started in 2017. I just happened to be reading this forum when I realized that people were still posting to my original question. Since my original post, I picked up a Vudoo V-22 barreled action, mounted it in an XLR Carbon chassis, installed a Jewell trigger and mounted a USO LR-17 scope. Me and my family shoot that rig regularly. I went that route simply because I was able to achieve a very high level of accuracy in a rifle that is ergonomically identical to my center firePRS style rifles. It is now my favorite rifle to shoot. I absolutely love it!

Anyway, I still have a desire to get something in 17 HH. Since my original post I decided that I wanted a Cooper, but they stopped making the model that was chambered in 17 HH. So, it's just fallen down my list of firearms to purchase. The V-22 lets me and my family shoot hundreds of rounds each weekend without the burden of reloading. I purchased a KYL rack with plates from 2"-1/4". When we set it up at 50 yards, it presents a great challenge and fun for all. I've attached an image of that rig as I know that everyone likes rifle pics lol.

So if you’re still interested in a .17 cal rifle...
The .17 HH is solid to around 300 yards depending on wind conditions. It can stretch further but honestly there are better cartridges for the longer shots. A CZ 527 Varmint is a great setup. If shots are mostly inside 200 yards then a .17 HMR is the zero recoil star.

 

[B23]

So if you’re still interested in a .17 cal rifle...
The .17 HH is solid to around 300 yards depending on wind conditions. It can stretch further but honestly there are better cartridges for the longer shots. A CZ 527 Varmint is a great setup. If shots are mostly inside 200 yards then a .17 HMR is the zero recoil star.

Pretty much agree with everything you said, love my CZ Varmint model 17 Hornets, but my 17 WSM is the super star rimfire for me and has pretty much relegated my 17 HMR's to the very back row of my safe.

 

[TheCZKid]

What do you use the Hornets for? Are you hunting or target shooting?

I know this is an old thread, but I have the CZ Varmint model, and I shoot sage rats in central Oregon. It's a great varmint rifle. I see some cool YouTube videos of people in England shooting foxes at 300+ yards, and rabbits. People also shoot coyotes, but I'd prefer a 223 or 22-250 for larger varmint game.

 

[TheCZKid]

After tinkering around with the 17 FB, I believe it to be a better option than the 17Hornet.
If Preferred Barrels offered a 17 Fireball for the Howa Mini I would be all over one. They will do 17 and 20’s but use barrels from X-Caliber. They have a nut system and are the only ones offering it as far as I know.

Maybe I need to revisit this.

I looked at the 17 FB, but I would be concerned about the barrel life with the extra speed. If you want an inexpensive (sorta) option for 20 caliber, then consider 20 Practical. It has about the same ballistics as the 204 Ruger, but you just make your own brass by necking down 223 cases, which are in abundance normally on the ground where people go shoot. I have a White Oak Armament barrel which they normally stock (they are a wildcat round, but many barrel makers off them), in an AR upper, and everything else is common to the AR - BCG, magazines, everything same except the barrel. That's a good coyote or P-dog cartridge and cheap to load.

 

[JSH]

I looked at the 17 FB, but I would be concerned about the barrel life with the extra speed. If you want an inexpensive (sorta) option for 20 caliber, then consider 20 Practical. It has about the same ballistics as the 204 Ruger, but you just make your own brass by necking down 223 cases, which are in abundance normally on the ground where people go shoot. I have a White Oak Armament barrel which they normally stock (they are a wildcat round, but many barrel makers off them), in an AR upper, and everything else is common to the AR - BCG, magazines, everything same except the barrel. That's a good coyote or P-dog cartridge and cheap to load.

Barrels are like tires, replaceable. Drive with sense and they will last longer.
I have a 17Hornet, even when my original comment was made and I have a 17 Fireball. Actually had the Hornet first. I worked with it a fair bit. The work it takes to get the accuracy I expect is a PITA compared to the fireball.
All I shoot in either one is a 20 grain bullet, anything heavier gets ran in my 17Remington. I have three accuracy loads for the Fireball, one runs at Hornet speed.

If I were just starting out the 20Practical would interest me. I was late playing with the 20’s. Components for the 204 Ruger were around if you did some searching. I lucked into what I will call a goodly amount of brass and bullets at a super price.
Buddy is building a long barrel 20P. We will find out for ourselves if there is anything to discuss between the two.
If I barrel and AR, it will be a 6mm something. The 6-223 is highly over looked by many and performs wayyyy over what folks expect, have two different ones in bolt guns.

 

[ohlongarm]

I'm thinking about getting a rifle chambered in 17 Hornady Hornet. It looks like a great little round that would be fantastic on Nevada ground squirrels. There aren't many offerings out there. As much as I'd love to order a Cooper, that probably isn't going to happen anytime soon. I'm considering either the CZ, Savage 25, or a TC contender with a custom barrel. I'd love to hear of other's experiences with the CZ, or any of the others for that matter.

Thanks in advance!

Lou

I just got one , I liked the 17 WSM so much , I got the 17 hornet, CZ 527 American, beautiful rifle bolt slicker than grease, the set trigger breaks unbelievably clean at 14 ox, the regular trigger at 2 lbs, right from the factory. I just today dropped it of at Kelblys in Dalton Ohio, will be pillar bedded, they did my WSM. I topped it with a Vortex 6x18x44 with V-brite reticle , my second one I really like this scope. Trust me the CZ will shoot as good as it needs to, I don't care if you get a Cooper,it won't leave you embarrassed, been there done that.I only shoot fur, so a hairs width difference in accuracy won't matter. Talk to me in a week and I'll let you know how she works, now good luck finding a new one, and better luck finding ammo, I lucked out.

 

[boatammo]

I have 2 with over 9500 rds. thru the pair. I shoot all factory and sell the brass. Great pdog rifles and cartridge. Both mine are the varmint models and I shoot suppressed.

 

[Bill K]

I have the 17 HH in the American version. A shooting buddy has one in the Varmint version. Both are great, but if I were to buy again, I would get the Varmint version just for the added barrel weight. Unless you want strictly a walking rifle, then the American would work some what better in being lighter.
Only I would add in reloading for it is anneal the brass about every 2 to 3rd firing to get more

 

[searcher]

I was looking at the Horney specifically to reload. I was hoping to have a 17 HMR on steroids with reloads that I could tune to my rifle.

This is what led me to the CZ Hornet I bought. I put a Lilja barrel on mine, replaced the stock and bedded it. I turn the necks on the brass and weigh the powder to within 1/20th grain, use moly on bullets for uniform release. Wicked accurate little rig at 1/4" MOA. The factory barrel easily did 1/2" MOA. Very nice upgrade alternative to the HMR when shooting out to 350 yards or so (depending on bullet) and yes - TUNEABLE. Basically extends effective range of the HMR by 100 yards, with better accuracy from my experience.

 

[ohlongarm]

This is what led me to the CZ Hornet I bought. I put a Lilja barrel on mine, replaced the stock and bedded it. I turn the necks on the brass and weigh the powder to within 1/20th grain, use moly on bullets for uniform release. Wicked accurate little rig at 1/4" MOA. The factory barrel easily did 1/2" MOA. Very nice upgrade alternative to the HMR when shooting out to 350 yards or so (depending on bullet) and yes - TUNEABLE. Basically extends effective range of the HMR by 100 yards, with better accuracy from my experience.

What bullets are you reloading, I will have a friend reload me some , I'm looking at a 25 grain hollow point similar to what Hornady used to make, or a Berger flat base hollow point, my friend is a surgeon and really known his re-loading , he's meticulous hunts the world.

 

[ohlongarm]

I have the 17 HH in the American version. A shooting buddy has one in the Varmint version. Both are great, but if I were to buy again, I would get the Varmint version just for the added barrel weight. Unless you want strictly a walking rifle, then the American would work some what better in being lighter.
Only I would add in reloading for it is anneal the brass about every 2 to 3rd firing to get more

In all honesty neither one will outperform the other, at least that's what I've been told by the guys who have both, I'm happy with the sporter the balance for me is incredible.

 

[AlanF]

I have owned the Varmint model for a couple of years. Very pleased with the accuracy and the effectiveness of the round. The weight of the rifle and shape of the stock are perfect for walking varminting.