CZ 720

[Broadbill]

Like I've said I'm just getting back into shooting after a long hiatus. My boys are growing and want to shoot.
Anyway I went browsing for a used 20ga gas auto, my 11yr old is kinda small.
I found a Franchi for 789, nice gun but too much $.
A 1100 LT20 used with a 22" barrel for $478, Maybe the one.
And a CZ 720 for $395 new.
3" chamber, 3 chokes, decent wood.
Now I'm no gunsmith but just looking it over it looked remarkably like the Beretta 390 I just picked up. Same floorplate system same wood to metal assembly.
Again this is just superficial but are they knockoffs of Beretta's design?
Does anyone know if they're dependable and or well made? The website I looked at said manufactured in Turkey, that dosen't give me a good feeling but I guess the days of New Haven Conn and Ilion NY are gone.

What are your thoughts?

Or should I just let him tough it out with a youth stock on a 12ga 1100 26" skeet that we already own?

Broadbill

 

[Dave McCracken]

Dunno about the CZ, but the 1100 is a Forever Gun. I'd go there....

 

[CZguy]

The Remington 1100 seems a little high to me. I bought mine five years ago for $300.00 (used in 98%)

Check out http://p201.ezboard.com/fczechpistols82792frm77 for info about the CZ.

They have gotten good reviews, but I have never shot one.

 

[axeman_g]

Weighing in....

I will jump into this one having owned, still own one of these shotguns.

GO GET THE LT20!!! Make a deal on it if possible if in decent condition, pay the price if it is in really nice condition.

I own a LT20 and it is the nicest shooting little upland gun. I save it for woodcock and early season, thick cover grouse hunting were the shots are point and pull only. I can not swing the gun slowly on a range because I am so used to heavier trap/skeet/sc shotguns. I am also saving this shotgun for my five year old son. They are fantastically made, wonderful wood and metal construction. They feel like a carbine in your hands and just have perfect balance.

The CZ was a try gun that failed for me. I am a CZ fan, I own one of their 9mms and have at one time or another had up to three different CZs in my collection. The 720 is very similar to the Franchi 48AL. It had easy recoil, was attractive and balanced well, the problem with mine was the barrel. The forcing cone was milled to tight, an no matter what choke I used I got no better then a 24" pattern at 35 yds. I am an ok shot, but I could not hit a thing with the gun. I tried to pattern it with multiple different loads and nothing worked for me. I took the shotgun back to the dealer and he returned it to CZ for me and gave me a full refund. CZ later contacted the dealer and informed him that the barrel was the issue.

I would be willing to try the CZ again, but for $100 more you can get one of the best light shotties in the world.

 

[Grayrock]

CZ is just the latest importer of the Huglu shotguns. I have a Huglu side by side and it is a fine gun. You get a lot of gun for the money with the Huglus. My FFL was so impressed with my Huglu that he became a distributor for them. He had never even heard of one until mine came in to him. He liked it enough that he still shoots one. The last time we were out at the range, he ran a 25 on the skeet field with his Huglu side by side.

 

[bruss01]

We have a CZ720. It is a well-made semi auto shotgun. My wife uses it for skeet shooting. If you have never taken down a semi-auto shotgun for full cleaning before, take careful note (I'm not kidding a video camera would be helpful) when taking it apart since it is not obvious which way they go back together and the manual is less-than-helpful in this regard. Otherwise it is a fine sporting arm that has provided us much enjoyment at a reasonable cost.