Recently I acquired a CZ 527 in 204 Ruger. Since 2005 I have owned one in 223 so I am fairly familiar with the model.
I am familiar with this 204 since I know the prior owner well. It has been a lights out shooter since it’s first owner bought it in early ‘05.
It was so for me until I began re-floating the barrel. I realize that some rifles shoot better with some fore end pressure but I took a chance. The previous (and first) owner had floated the barrel but not entirely and it was still riding at the tip and on one side.
I am used to the 204 factory Hornady ammo out shooting handloads but I am determined to bring this rifle to “heel” as to handload accuracy. As I improved the flotation of the barrel hand load accuracy deteriorated.
I thought the barrel probably was dirty so this AM I cleaned it.
After cleaning I began studying the barrel clearance and saw something I had never seen before.
As I flexed the wooden stock at the tip I could see that the wood stock was flexing all the way into the MAGAZINE area. I placed my finger tips on the front of the receiver at it’s sides and confirmed much to my amazement that yes .... the front of the receiver was bobbing up and down several thousandths.
Both action screws were tight, I got just a wee bit more rotation on the front screw but not enough to stop the objectionable movement.
I knew I did not have a shorter screw to replace what seemed a factory screw that is too long nor did I have a washer narrow enough to fit directly under the screw head as the recess just a hair larger than the screw head. Since the rifle is made in the Republic of Chech (sp) I am assuming it’s a metric screw.
At our farm shop I figured I had some flat washers that could act as a spacer that could be temporarily used to shim the lower metal far enough away from the bottom of the stock to allow the front action screw to tighten up.
So after a brief search I located them and placed one between the top side of the bottom metal and the underside of the stock. I got the stock tightened up well and tried the flex test.
Success! The forward action screw now tightens up as it should as that the receiver is fully seated in it’s stock and the rifle is back to driving tacks! I ran a series of test loads finished with two groups at .1 gr less than max and max in the sub 2 the tenths range with Reloder 15 and CCI 450 primers.
Overhauling that screw or buying a new slightly shorter one is in the near term and perhaps a glass bedding of the action is in the longer term. But right now my home grown coyotes are probably wondering why their paws are more itchy.
Best regards
Three44s