CZ shotguns

Status
Not open for further replies.
bangswitch

bangswitch

Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2014
Messages
1,942
Location
western NC
I've seen several videos reviewing CZ shotguns, the owners seem to like them a lot. Prices are pretty good, and there is quite a bit of variety in their model lineup. Anybody here own any of the CZ models, specifically a side-by-side?

I've become enamored of their "Hammer Classic"; (NOT the coach gun). Has 30" barrels, screw-in chokes, color case hardened receiver, Turkish walnut furniture, it's a side lock and has manual exposed hammers and can get one for less than $1K. Thinking hard about one for clays.

Don't tell me to get an over-under; I've always shot SxS's; I currently shoot an older Savage 12 ga. SxS and do okay. I'm not a competitive shooter, just a weekend hobbyist, and also will occasionally go dove hunting or upland game when friends invite me. My old Savage has fixed chokes (Mod/full), which is okay for birds but a bit of a handicap for clays. The CZ also weighs half a pound less than the Savage, which also has 30" barrels.

Reason I want the Hammer Classic is that it has the nice case-color and is a side lock, which is the only combination like that in their model lineup. My Savage is a box lock, just want something different, or I could get a box lock CZ with the other features I want. I don't think having to manually cock the gun will present any real problems, as I'm not in a situation where speed is of the essence during loading.
 
I have a CZ Ringneck 20 gauge SxS single trigger, 28" barrel. Shoots well with screw in chokes. Also have a Huglu .410 SxS Single trigger that was imported before CZ took over. Trigger pulls are a bit heavy on both, .410 has a 9lb pull, the 20 gauge about 7lbs. Both guns I have been able to shoot a straight round of skeet with even the .410 with the fixed full and modified barrels. Both guns are very well regulated to point of aim, the .410 I used slugs to check POI, 4" apart at 30 yards. A poor man's express rifle. I particularly like the Prince of Wales semi pistol grip stocks on mine. Not had lots of shells through them, but each has had at least 1500 shells through them and both are quite tight.
 
In case you don't know, those CZ shotguns are made in Turkey. They look nice but you can buy nearly identical Turkish shotguns under other brand names for hundreds of dollars less.
 
And you can buy better Turkish-made guns for a little more; the Dickinson from Cabelas is the revision of the S&W Elite Gold and is an excellent shotgun - I have the S&W version. AKUS is the maker and is considered by many to be the best of the Turk shotgun makers.....
 
The fact CZ shotguns are made in Turkey is not a negative to me. We have four Turkish made semi-auto shotguns in the family that I’ve been impressed with. The Turks can make whatever quality shotguns a customer wants, from low quality to very very good.

I’ll also echo George P in that you can get a nicer quality Turkish SxS than a CZ.

I have no experience with their SxS’s and OU’s but have owned two CZ 720 semi’s. I was underwhelmed with them.
 
Thanks for the replies. I've been looking for something to replace the Savage Fox B I've shot clays with for 15 years. It's not a bad gun, has held up very well, but it has mod/full fixed chokes and I did not want to have it smithed for screw-ins, since I have a collection of three in 3 gauges. It wasn't an expensive gun when new, but the three I have are all in excellent shape for their ages (50-70 years).
What I wanted in a SxS was 1-double triggers, 2-screw-in chokes, 3- a side lock instead of a box lock (no particular reason, just something different), and color case hardened finish. The rabbit-ear hammers is sort of a plus, I've always liked the looks, and I could see no functional reason not to get them, for what I'll use the shotgun for. I'm 66, only shoot clays a couple of times a month, if that often lately. The CZ is lighter by half a pound than my Fox B. Dickinson does make a good-looking gun, but their prices are a bit above my budget for one that I'd like. Their SxS run in the $1500+ for a field grade gun, nothing available with exposed hammers, although their side lock does look tempting. I can't go with a semiauto vs simple break-open for a comparison; too much difference in the mechanisms. Fit and finish look good, and function is probably on-par with what CZ has been making for quite a few years. There is a lot of stuff coming out of Turkey these days, sold under many non-Turkish brands.

I watched half a dozen reviews on the CZ guns, nobody didn't like theirs, the only complaints we stiffness or slightly heavy triggers, which will either improve over time or can be adjusted somewhat. My LGS guy is someone I trust, knows his weaponry well (former SF armorer), and he speaks highly of the CZ built guns. I got a quote from him yesterday for $900 OTD for the Classic Double, and he can have it in 5 days.
 
MAKster said:
In case you don't know, those CZ shotguns are made in Turkey. They look nice but you can buy nearly identical Turkish shotguns under other brand names for hundreds of dollars less.
Click to expand...

CZ’s come with a warranty and excellent customer service. I wouldn’t buy a Turkish shotgun without someone standing behind the product.
 
MAKster said:
In case you don't know, those CZ shotguns are made in Turkey.
Click to expand...
What Turkish company makes them for CZ, then? According to their company profile, the only thing they outsource is the polymer frames and some of the magazines of their pistols, but manufacturing is done in their Uhersky Brod factory in the Czech Republic. Their long guns do utilize Turkish Walnut.
 
bangswitch said:
What Turkish company makes them for CZ, then?
Click to expand...
I believe it's Huglu, although I think the same factories make different grades for different company's of the same gun with one more care and hand fitting for for say Dickenson , and another for CZ. That's just my opinion, but makes sense. Would really have to dig into imports to see for sure.
 
MAKster said:
Yes the CZ shotguns are made by Huglu.
Click to expand...
I finally found a video on YouTube that showed a review of the Classic coach gun in detail, and the reviewer pointed out on the breech where it is stamped "CZ-USA" on the right barrel, and "Huglu" on the left barrel. Up to that point I had not seen any images or read anywhere (especially in CZ's own literature) that the guns weren't made in CZ's factory. However, all the reviews I've read were very positive regarding quality and appearance; I ordered the Hammer Classic yesterday afternoon, should have it within a week, according to my LGS. He was really the clincher, he has a high opinion of CZ's products, even though they technically don't make the gun; his comment is that they are particular about what they sell, they have good service and have a concern regarding their image in the marketplace, so aren't going to put their brand on a POS.

Thanks for the link, BTW. I'm a member on Shotgun World, so I'll check it out.
 
I got my Hammer Classic today; the stock is nice, but nothing really special. I think it's more how it is finished than the wood itself. I gave it a good wax job with BriWax and it looks better, but I may eventually refinish it. The casework is really nice, though. The case-color hardened finish and the small amount of engraving gives it a nice antique look that goes well with the exposed hammers. Hopefully, I'll do some skeet shooting or sporting clays this weekend and loosen the gun up a little. It's nice and tight, but smooth. I'm happy with it, a nice gun for what I gave for it.

Here's a few pictures of it, alongside my other 12 gauge, a Savage Fox B from the early 1970's:
DSC01642.JPG
DSC01652.JPG
DSC01653.JPG DSC01645.JPG
 
bangswitch said:
Thanks for the replies. I've been looking for something to replace the Savage Fox B I've shot clays with for 15 years. It's not a bad gun, has held up very well, but it has mod/full fixed chokes and I did not want to have it smithed for screw-ins, since I have a collection of three in 3 gauges. It wasn't an expensive gun when new, but the three I have are all in excellent shape for their ages (50-70 years).
What I wanted in a SxS was 1-double triggers, 2-screw-in chokes, 3- a side lock instead of a box lock (no particular reason, just something different), and color case hardened finish. The rabbit-ear hammers is sort of a plus, I've always liked the looks, and I could see no functional reason not to get them, for what I'll use the shotgun for. I'm 66, only shoot clays a couple of times a month, if that often lately. The CZ is lighter by half a pound than my Fox B. Dickinson does make a good-looking gun, but their prices are a bit above my budget for one that I'd like. Their SxS run in the $1500+ for a field grade gun, nothing available with exposed hammers, although their side lock does look tempting. I can't go with a semiauto vs simple break-open for a comparison; too much difference in the mechanisms. Fit and finish look good, and function is probably on-par with what CZ has been making for quite a few years. There is a lot of stuff coming out of Turkey these days, sold under many non-Turkish brands.

I watched half a dozen reviews on the CZ guns, nobody didn't like theirs, the only complaints we stiffness or slightly heavy triggers, which will either improve over time or can be adjusted somewhat. My LGS guy is someone I trust, knows his weaponry well (former SF armorer), and he speaks highly of the CZ built guns. I got a quote from him yesterday for $900 OTD for the Classic Double, and he can have it in 5 days.
Click to expand...
Look at the Dickinson sold at Cabela's; made by AKUS. They made the S&W Elite Gold which became the Dickinson. that gun is actually bone and charcoal case color hardened; IIRC, the CZ is merely colored using a chemical process. Personally, the Dickinson is, IMO, a better made gun than the CZ. I love my S&W with DT, splinter and English stock, fixed choke IC/M and 28" barrels.
 
That hammer classic is sexy. Made by Huglu, a sort of cooperative in the old Eibar and Val Trompia fashion. For your intended use, it will be fine, and you'll look terribly dashing at it.

I am another AKUS SxS fan. I have a 12 ga "Dickinson" SBE to match my AKUS made S&W Elite Gold 20 ga. I really want one of the 7 pin H&H sidelock guns in 20.
 
George P said:
the CZ is merely colored using a chemical process.
Click to expand...
Not according to CZ-USA, who I emailed before I bought the gun with questions regarding case hardening , place of manufacture, etc. by all appearances during a close inspection when I picked up the gun at my LGS, it's pretty well made. Fit and finish are very nice, we'll see how it shoots this weekend. Can't say whether Dickinson is a better gun, but it is more expensive, and the CZ/Huglu fit nicely in my budget.. If it's anywhere close to the old Savage guns I own in durability, it will outlive me by a hundred years.
 
bangswitch said:
Not according to CZ-USA, who I emailed before I bought the gun with questions regarding case hardening , place of manufacture, etc. by all appearances during a close inspection when I picked up the gun at my LGS, it's pretty well made. Fit and finish are very nice, we'll see how it shoots this weekend. Can't say whether Dickinson is a better gun, but it is more expensive, and the CZ/Huglu fit nicely in my budget.. If it's anywhere close to the old Savage guns I own in durability, it will outlive me by a hundred years.
Click to expand...
I believe one of the reasons for Dickinson’s costing more is they do a real case color hardening. Despite what CZ said in an Email I’m with George P.
 
DocRock said:
That hammer classic is sexy. Made by Huglu, a sort of cooperative in the old Eibar and Val Trompia fashion. For your intended use, it will be fine, and you'll look terribly dashing at it.

I am another AKUS SxS fan. I have a 12 ga "Dickinson" SBE to match my AKUS made S&W Elite Gold 20 ga. I really want one of the 7 pin H&H sidelock guns in 20.
Click to expand...
Are you talking about the Kimber sidelock that was made by AKUS? I should have picked one up when they were discontinued
 
When Kimber discontinued them, they were ~$2200...................the S&W was ~$1200; should have bought both!
 
I bought my daughter a CZ Sharp-Tail. I think it's a lot of gun for the money. She sure powders the clays with it
 
Looking at a CZ Bobwhite myself. Something I can use for some informal skeet shooting with friends once a week. I've always shot SxS, they just feel right to me.
 
Oldschool shooter said:
Looking at a CZ Bobwhite myself. Something I can use for some informal skeet shooting with friends once a week. I've always shot SxS, they just feel right to me.
Click to expand...

I use only SxS for hunting and often shoot a round of Sporting Clays with one. But shooting skeet is focusing on the SxS’s biggest weakness. Shooting crossers with a SxS is just making things harder than they need to be :p
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

V
  • Locked
SxS Question
Replies
15
Views
758
ArmedBear
A
S
  • Locked
CZ Sharptail Opinions?
Replies
11
Views
12K
unspellable
U
C
  • Locked
Need a shotgun for upland, possibly clays
Replies
13
Views
980
bob9125
B
F
  • Locked
I.D. this shotgun?
Replies
1
Views
908
Steven Mace
S
E
  • Locked
Winchester 42...???
Replies
8
Views
540
MG
M
Back
Top