Building a ft/r 223 from cz 527

[mattt]

I have a cz 527 kelvar varmint and want to put a pacnor 30" 7 twist on it to shoot ftr class. They offer that barrel in 3 to 5 and also a polygonal groove. Dont know which would be best? I want to shoot 75 to maybe 90 grain loads. I am going to use a james calhoon single load follower so I can single load with the mauser action.Any advise on the groove to get or this set up in general would be great. Thanks

 

[Kenny474]

Matt, Welcome to the forum.

I have heard many good things about Pac-Nor's 3 groove barrels. It just so happens I have one as well. It is an absolute hammer. As my skills get better (slowly ) I have been able to get down into the .1's on a few occasions in near perfect conditions, and it will shoot .25" without too much fuss pretty regularly. And I honestly am the limiting factor, not the rifle. This is a 26" 3 groove chambered in .222 with a 1-9" twist. But I'm sure a 1-7" will shoot just as well with proper chambering and bullet selection.

The CZ 527 is a nice rifle as well. Not sure how it will fare in FT/R, but they are a really nice shooting rifle none the less. And Pac-Nor makes one heck of a barrel. Really nice people to deal with, very helpful.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Kenny

 

[15Tango]

Be sure to post pics when it's done.

Don't bother with 90 grainers, seems the jury is out on them and the 80s are where it's at - the 90s are just too slow to justify the extra BC. The 75 VLDs and Amax get a lot of attention as well. If you get a 7 twist it'll raise your pressures without any advantage and could cost you some velocity - if you stick with an 8 or 7.5 twist it'll help keep the pressure down and it'll still be well stabilized. I'm managing to launch a 75 AMAX out of a .223 24" 8 twist at 3015 FPS - there's no way I'd be able to do that safely in a 7 twist.

Wayne

 

[rbertalotto]

You need to "fix" that ugly trigger guard............. ;D

http://www.rvbprecision.com/shooting/cz-527-rifle-magazine-conversion.html

 

[Matt Pitchon]

I have a Savage Target action with a Shilen 30" 7 twist. It shoots way better than I do. The Pac-Nor is a very good barrel. If you lose points, it won't be because of the barrel. My local F class matches go out to 1000 yds. For that distance the 90s are the best solution. Velocity for my 90gr VLDs is about 2850, and I could go faster, but have no need. I looked at the ballistic of the various 80gr bullets, and up to 600 they are OK. At 1000yds things change. BTW: Sierra 90 are good up to 2750fps, after that they blow up, according to Sierra. I use Bergers.

The last Long Range nationals was won with a Winchester 70, and a few years ago by someone shooting a Mauser. Your CZ, with be fine, as long as the tigger is consitent and repeatable.

 

[mattt]

My local matches aslo go out to 1000. I shoot at sac valley ca. I am new to the ft/r class and use 2 different rifles at this point. A mini 14 target model at the 600 yard matches and a cz 550 308 out to 1k. The mini 14 surprised a few poeple at the 600 yard match I shot.I think I shot 187 out of 200 on the first string,not bad for a mini.I just orderd a ASI target stock for the mini and a sinclaire f-class bipod but I know the cz 527 223 will do far better with the new barrel then the mini ever will. Thats why I am going that route.

 

[Kenny474]

Matt,
Thats some good shooting with a Mini 14! I didn't know they could shoot that well!

Good luck with the CZ and the Pac-Nor barrel. You will not be disappointed with the barrel at all. One of the best companies in the business of making barrels. I have never heard of anyone owning a Pac-Nor that didn't shoot. And most are just scary accurate.


Kenny