Thermal on cz 527?

J

jwalle1

New member
I occasionally hunt with a thermal but don't own one. I was curious if something like a SH, SY or one of the pulsar models would work with the cz 527 bolt? I see pulsar has a few models that use traditional style rings.

I also realize that an AR platform is much better for follow up shots, but I just love this gun and it would be better for longer distance shots when hunting with a partner.
 

There is a picatinny mount available for the CZ. I can’t remember the brand, but I have one on a .17 Remington 527. Recently I purchased a new AGM Rattler 25 thermal and wanted to see how it might fit and look. I can attach some photos later since I am writing this from my phone right now. Anyway, the picatinny mount has a bit of a rise to it, and the one-piece quick detach Rattler mount has a little bit of a rise too, so it seems to sit pretty high on the rifle, which is not so good for trajectory for shooting at varying distances. Has a somewhat awkward look too. Since I hunt at a bait site at a known distance, it won’t be a problem since I can sight for that particular distance. Personally I think the one-piece mounts on some scopes, while good mounts, just put the scope too high. However, on the CZ I found that the bolt just barely cleared the scope, so in this case high is a good thing. The scope fits an AR platform much better.
 
Take a long hard look at the Iray Bolt, if I shot a bolt gun thats probably where I would start. Pulsar has been notorious for zero shifting so I would give them a few years to work it out. Most thermals designed today are high and better suited for ARs or chassis systems that have adjustable cheek welds.
 
Thanks to both of you for the info. All of that makes sense. I didn't think as much about the trajectory but I guess if it's sitting that high then that could be a problem. I was thinking more for bolt clearance, I've never had an issue with mine but I had read where some did. I will check out the suggested thermal.

I found this extended rail for the cz. Mine is the varmint version, I'm assuming that would. Have no impact.

https://www.diproductsinc.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1133585
 

JW, that mount looks very much like the one I have. Here are some photos I promised of the Rattler 25 on both the CZ 527 and an AR. Hope this gives you an idea of what a thermal might look like on both rifles. Of course, that depends on the particular scope and mount you use, but also consider the bolt clearance, if you have, or choose lower scope rings / mounts.

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Thanks.. Looks like it might be possible, although definitely better on the AR. Is it enjoyable using it on the cz or more of a hassle? Does the height cause you any issues? And does it hold stable with that mount?
 

I haven’t actually used (shot or hunted with) this particular scope on the CZ nor the AR as of yet. I placed it on the rifles to get a sense of how it would look, as well as determining how high it would sit, as well as positioning for proper eye relief. As to the mount, it fit snug on the CZ with a minor turn of the adjusting nut, but will require further adjusting for the AR. I see no reason why it shouldn’t work well. Most likely I will use the scope on the AR 6x45.
 
Solid and repeatable cheek weld is one of the most important parts of good marksmanship that is often overlooked and its obvious that the setup that 6mm posted of the CZ has a HUGE amount of space to make up for a solid cheek weld unless you are a pumpkin head!

I've said this many many times, most thermals on the market today are DESIGNED to run on an AR or chassis with adjustable cheek weld, not classic bolt guns. Iray makes the Bolt and Pulsar makes one that uses regular rings to mount and they are better suited for classic bolt guns.
 
You could add a cheek riser and shoot the CZ with a SY, SH or Trail 2.

They've recently dropped the pricing on the Pulsar XG50 to $5k. If it had been at that level when I was looking, I'd have gone that route for a bolt gun.
 
While it certainly is more comfortable shooting a thermal scope with a good check weld where it just comes up naturally and your check rests on the stock and you're looking dead-center of the ocular lens, there is a difference between shooting a normal day scope and a thermal scope.

With the day scope you are actually looking the the scope and magnifying an image that comes in through the Objective lens, so having that perfect check weld is critical and will result in better accuracy. If your eye moves the crosshair moves.

With a thermal however, you aren't actually looking through the scope. Rather, the thermal camera is reading the image through the objective lens and the camera's software projects the image onto the small screen we view through the ocular. In other words it is just a miniature TV screen. While I have noticed that the SY seems to give a sharper image if the eye is centered correctly looking through the ocular, I do not believe that you have to acquire a perfect check weld for accuracy with a thermal scope. As long as the crosshairs are on the acquired target, it won't make any difference where the eye is placed to look through the ocular to view that little TV screen.

Yes, the perfect check-weld is certainly more comfortable feeling on a thermal scope, and truly necessary for accuracy on a regular scope, but with the thermal you are only viewing the little TV screen so where you hold your eye may feel awkward but if your weapon is sighted-in correctly and the crosshairs are on the acquired target, you will hit the target.

It seems beyond any reasonable doubt that the newer and smaller thermals appear better suited for AR's, look better on them, and feel better when you bring them up to your eye.
 
Double, agree 100%.

There are lots of cheek risers available. I still prefer putting a bolt in a chassis as it allows easier connection to tripods, battery packs, rangefinderss, lasers, and other night hunting goodies. The gun should be comfortable to shoot no matter what optic is on the gun.
 
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