CZ Shotguns - How Good Are They?

The Bishop · December 22, 2005, 06:18 PM

Was just given a brand new CZ .410 "BobWhite" side by side. It is one beautiful little gun! Case hardened, blued, good wood, and tight action.

Any one have any experience with CZ shotguns?

The Bishop

David Berkowitz · December 23, 2005, 02:02 AM

If it is one of the ones CZ currently imports from Turkey, you have a well made shotgun.
It is made in a co-op factory in Huglu. There are essentially two lines that come from there. The fancy and gingerbread ones are imported by DeHahn, the field grade ones are imported by CZ.
These are all very well made on modern machinery, but the engraving is done by hand.
Don't let "Made in Turkey" fool you. You have a fine value in a shotgun.
It should give you many years of service.
The key thing is, you have to go shoot it and enjoy it. They just hate being kept in the safe.

exoduster16 · December 23, 2005, 02:37 AM

David - I thought that all guns hate being kept in the safe? LOL.

The Bishop · December 23, 2005, 06:19 PM

Yes, The one I have is marked HUGLI on the barrels, imported by CZ,and is made in Turkey. Even though this is not the fanciest grade, the engraving is incredible!

The Bishop

kudu · December 23, 2005, 08:52 PM

I have basicaly the same gun, imported by Armsco, CZ bought the rights to import them starting in 2005. Mine shoots quite well, but the trigger is horrible, at about 9#'s. I have been working with it off and on whenever I decide to get it out and shoot it. I have put about 500 rounds through it this year, it shoots very tight patterns, and is very well regulated for point of impact with slugs. I have had 1 25 straight with it on the skeet field and a whole bunch of 23's and 24's, not too bad considering the trigger and the equivalent of full chokes. It's beginning to loosen up, hope it will withstand hard use.

David Berkowitz · December 24, 2005, 01:14 AM

Exoduster,
I have a couple of safe queens.
A few I take out occasionally, clean and fondle them , and return to the shelf.
One or two just sit there because, well, because I thought I was getting a bargain when in fact, it was the other guy that did well.

Wildalaska · December 24, 2005, 01:24 AM

Quote:

It's beginning to loosen up, hope it will withstand hard use.

Unfortunately it wont.

Turkey still has a way to go before it joins in the premium metallurgical world

WildsorryaboutthatAlaska

larryw · December 26, 2005, 02:48 PM

Hmm, mine (a Redhead o/u, not SxS) has several thousand rounds of heavy trap loads put through it over the last two months and sill locks up tight. A buddy (who buys his shot by the ton) has one with an order of magnitude more rounds through it, and it's still tight. It looks to me like the Turkish metallurgy is on par with their walnut.

They're a bit tight when they're shipped and smooth up nicely with early use; once that's done, they stay solid.

Only downside is (I'm told, I know of nobody who actually had this happen, but some have a firend of a friend...) the firing pins break, but (I'm also told...) CZ is great about shipping replacements. As it's a shotgun and not a bullseye pistol, the tad heavy trigger with no creep and a very positive reset is not a handicap.

There's a reason they're hard to get, and it's not because CZ is limiting the imports.

I wrote a bit about mine on another board.

David Berkowitz · December 26, 2005, 10:31 PM

Wild,
I sure hope you're wrong.
I have a trap model That I have used for about a year, 100 rounds per week. That would be 5,000 rouinds. Is it as tight as it was new? No way, but it still locks perfectly, now mechanical problems, and certainly no mechanical integrity issues.
I have every confidence inthis gun.
Mine is not a CZ import, but they stand behind anything you get from them.

Bishop, since you already have it, take it out and shoot it, then give us a report.

December 22, 2005, 06:18 PM	#1
The Bishop Member Join Date: June 16, 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 32	CZ Shotguns - How Good Are They? Was just given a brand new CZ .410 "BobWhite" side by side. It is one beautiful little gun! Case hardened, blued, good wood, and tight action. Any one have any experience with CZ shotguns? The Bishop

December 23, 2005, 02:02 AM	#2
David Berkowitz Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 1999 Location: Yucaipa, CA USA Posts: 214	If it is one of the ones CZ currently imports from Turkey, you have a well made shotgun. It is made in a co-op factory in Huglu. There are essentially two lines that come from there. The fancy and gingerbread ones are imported by DeHahn, the field grade ones are imported by CZ. These are all very well made on modern machinery, but the engraving is done by hand. Don't let "Made in Turkey" fool you. You have a fine value in a shotgun. It should give you many years of service. The key thing is, you have to go shoot it and enjoy it. They just hate being kept in the safe. __________________ David You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.

December 23, 2005, 02:37 AM	#3
exoduster16 Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 148	David - I thought that all guns hate being kept in the safe? LOL. __________________ Mine: Weatherby Vanguard in 7mm Rem Mag Remington Model 572 Pumpmaster Remington Model 11-87 12 guage Remington Model 870 Express 12 Gauge w/18.5 in. barrel And plenty of ammo for all of them

December 23, 2005, 06:19 PM	#4
The Bishop Member Join Date: June 16, 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 32	David, Thanks for the reply Yes, The one I have is marked HUGLI on the barrels, imported by CZ,and is made in Turkey. Even though this is not the fanciest grade, the engraving is incredible! The Bishop

December 23, 2005, 08:52 PM	#5
kudu Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 273	I have basicaly the same gun, imported by Armsco, CZ bought the rights to import them starting in 2005. Mine shoots quite well, but the trigger is horrible, at about 9#'s. I have been working with it off and on whenever I decide to get it out and shoot it. I have put about 500 rounds through it this year, it shoots very tight patterns, and is very well regulated for point of impact with slugs. I have had 1 25 straight with it on the skeet field and a whole bunch of 23's and 24's, not too bad considering the trigger and the equivalent of full chokes. It's beginning to loosen up, hope it will withstand hard use. __________________ "a shootin' we will go"

December 24, 2005, 01:14 AM	#6
David Berkowitz Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 1999 Location: Yucaipa, CA USA Posts: 214	Exoduster, I have a couple of safe queens. A few I take out occasionally, clean and fondle them , and return to the shelf. One or two just sit there because, well, because I thought I was getting a bargain when in fact, it was the other guy that did well. __________________ David You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.

December 26, 2005, 02:48 PM	#8
larryw Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2002 Posts: 336	Hmm, mine (a Redhead o/u, not SxS) has several thousand rounds of heavy trap loads put through it over the last two months and sill locks up tight. A buddy (who buys his shot by the ton) has one with an order of magnitude more rounds through it, and it's still tight. It looks to me like the Turkish metallurgy is on par with their walnut. They're a bit tight when they're shipped and smooth up nicely with early use; once that's done, they stay solid. Only downside is (I'm told, I know of nobody who actually had this happen, but some have a firend of a friend...) the firing pins break, but (I'm also told...) CZ is great about shipping replacements. As it's a shotgun and not a bullseye pistol, the tad heavy trigger with no creep and a very positive reset is not a handicap. There's a reason they're hard to get, and it's not because CZ is limiting the imports. I wrote a bit about mine on another board. __________________ Learn about TR-069 remote management.

December 26, 2005, 10:31 PM	#9
David Berkowitz Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 1999 Location: Yucaipa, CA USA Posts: 214	Wild, I sure hope you're wrong. I have a trap model That I have used for about a year, 100 rounds per week. That would be 5,000 rouinds. Is it as tight as it was new? No way, but it still locks perfectly, now mechanical problems, and certainly no mechanical integrity issues. I have every confidence inthis gun. Mine is not a CZ import, but they stand behind anything you get from them. Bishop, since you already have it, take it out and shoot it, then give us a report. __________________ David You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.