CZ 527 American load development- happy finish

[Tom Kat]

Not like that!

I did plenty of research and decided to try some 35 gr Berger bullets, pushed by 28Gr of 8208XBR. OCL 2.250

I cleaned the gun REAL good, and shot 3 fouling shots at the orange dot. I knew I was on to something-

Then I fired a 3 shot group. That made me happy...but was it going to be consistent?

A 4 shot group that was even better was good enough for me. This gung seems to shoot better dirty.

I have found my coyote medicine for the upcoming season. I have confidence in the gun, scope, and load. The rest is up to me.

[Bill K]

Looks like a good start. If those are 100yrd hits, remember they will double/opening up that size at 200. (MOA) Surely by working up and down a few tenths of a grain and seating the bullet at various depths, you can get groups to pull together and start touching each other.

couple of examples of what I mean.

102_7702.JPG (1.14 MiB) Viewed 3104 times

[Tom Kat]

Looks like a good start. If those are 100yrd hits, remember they will double/opening up that size at 200. (MOA) Surely by working up and down a few tenths of a grain and seating the bullet at various depths, you can get groups to pull together and start touching each other.

couple of examples of what I mean.102_7702.JPG

At first I doubted my own shooting...but I think you are right. A little tweaking and It could do better. I am .02 gr under max. Thinking go to max powder and maybe shorten my OCL .010 and see what happens. Any thoughts? Any one?

[Bill K]

If you are showing no pressure signs, but be careful up in the max area, they can pop up very fast, then try the same load you are using, but vary the seating depth on a few 3 shot groups and see if one does not close up the group.
Then too, you could even try a few tenths less and see what happens with those groups.

[Tom Kat]

Thanks for the ideas.

[Rick in Oregon]

TK: Bill is right, now that you have a load that appears to be consistent, I'd tweak the seating depth from here without doing any other changes to see the progression of those groups, smaller or spreading larger. Once you see the group size getting smaller, you'll know you're now really on to something.

When handloading, only change one aspect of the load at a time.

[FoxFlopper]

Looking pretty good!

[K22]

I agree with Bill and Rick. Your load is within 1/10th of what I load. What primer and brass are you using?

[Tom Kat]

Brand new Hornady brass. Primer is CCI. I just went and did this. I don't know if it was me or the gun. I did move the OCL down .10 to 2.240 At first I thought this is great! then got the flyer...twice.

[Bill K]

Are you still using the original set trigger on that CZ? If so you might adjust it down some or even invest in a after market one, like a Rifle Basix, which will really smooth out the let off.
But in the meantime, just try that load and set up again, but really concentrate on a smooth trigger let off and keep that rifle rock steady. See what happens.

[Tom Kat]

I do have the original set trigger on that gun. I wonder if it was poor shooting on my part. I can make a lot of excuses but the gun will always out shoot the human operator. I hate to be this close to really having something special and not having the time to work on it. I may have to hunt with it, as is, until spring. In my part of NE KS many of the shots are under 200 yards.

[Bill K]

In that case you will make plenty of good hits. Then later work on it some more. Also give CFE 223 powder a try,

[Tom Kat]

In that case you will make plenty of good hits. Then later work on it some more. Also give CFE 223 powder a try,

I appreciate your help. I am really itching to get after some coyotes...and ducks, deer, pheasants. Its always something!

[K22]

I'm seating mine to 2.275 with Rem. 7 1/2 primers and the rest the same as yours.