CZ Shotguns

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Anyone know about CZ shotguns? I am looking at a double barrel in .410 gauge as I have wanted a small bore double for some time. Gun is new, English stocked (straight grip) with reasonably nice wood. Price is good at about $600. Any input would be appreciated.

Eric 951 · 05-08-2014, 07:02 AM

Can't tell you about the .410, but I use a CZ 20 GA O/U Redhead Deluxe as my "go-to" gun since my SKB went down. No complaints whatsover--it is a great shooter for sporting clays and bird hunting. I have been using it for 5+ years now without a hitch.

badcar · badcar's Garage

Love my Mallard 20ga. Great spoons and fantastic value for the money..

MRM · 05-08-2014, 09:52 AM

CZ is well respected and the smaller gauges are sought after. They are priced very reasonably in the new market. They seldom come available used (I keep looking) and they hold their value extremely well. I don't see much difference between new and used prices.

Which model are you looking at? The side by side models are more expensive than the over/unders, but both are nice. $600 is a very good price for either.

If anyone ever finds a used bobwhite (SxS) in 28 gauge, let me know.

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRM

CZ is well respected and the smaller gauges are sought after. They are priced very reasonably in the new market. They seldom come available used (I keep looking) and they hold their value extremely well. I don't see much difference between new and used prices.

Which model are you looking at? The side by side models are more expensive than the over/unders, but both are nice. $600 is a very good price for either.

If anyone ever finds a used bobwhite (SxS) in 28 gauge, let me know.

The guns that I am looking at are new, 410 gauge w/English stocks (straight). I believe they are the Bobwhite model. Barrels are 26" choked improved cylinder and modified. There is also one with a pistol grip stock. All have two triggers and extractors rather than ejectors. Nice basic guns!

Mericet · Mericet's Garage

Are you going to shoot it much? We have a few clients who shoot theirs (12g through .410) often and we have had to do a few "tweaks" on them.

mjohnson · mjohnson's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mericet

Are you going to shoot it much? We have a few clients who shoot theirs (12g through .410) often and we have had to do a few "tweaks" on them.

"tweaks" in a reliability/wear sense or in a performance/fit way?

I'm pondering a double for casual range fun and the CZ models are pretty attractive...

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mericet

Are you going to shoot it much? We have a few clients who shoot theirs (12g through .410) often and we have had to do a few "tweaks" on them.

Probably more like "some" rather than "much"! Still, what tweaks did you have in mind?

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

I shot a friend's 12ga cz double barrel recently. It was beautiful to shoot and was brand new.

aigel · aigel's Garage

They are a nice SxS for the money. I think they are made in Turkey. They were a little too bare bones looking to me. I'd want a vintage gun with some patina and some engraving, even if it may cost more. If I buy a new one, I'd go with new technology. (a light autoloader ...)

G

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Drove to the big city this morning and found a couple of the CZ Ringneck small gauge shotguns to look at. One was a 28 gauge, the other a .410 gauge. These are the somewhat nicer sidelock guns. Both were well finished with a small amount of engraving. The stock LOP is just about right for me (14+ inches) and they shouldered correctly when done so with my eyes closed. The only thing that I would like done differently is that the fore end is a "splinter" style and I like a "beavertail" style better. Helps protect the hands when shooting with hot barrels! The actions are scaled to the gauge making them quite petite. Weight on the .410 model was probably about 5 - 5 1/2 lbs., just a bit heavier than it could/should be according to the English method of weight calculations (weight of shot charge x 96). By the English method, the .410 should weigh about 4 1/2 lbs.! After looking about for a while on the net, I found some pros and cons about the CZ guns. Seems that you either get a very good one or one that will be a problem from the "get go". I guess that is what warranties are for!

Mericet · Mericet's Garage

I seem to recall the sidelocks are just decorative. It's a boxlock underneath. We normally do some work on the firing pins. Shoot it, enjoy it and send it to me when it has problems!

targa911S · 05-09-2014, 05:32 PM

Neil is spot on. They are not true side lock guns. They are side PLATE guns. A box lock that looks like a side lock. CZ gives a lot of value for the money. The .410 is exceptionally nice. Shop for nice wood. If you can get a CZ .410 for $600 buy it. They retail for $1200. I have a Dehaan .410 SXS which is a CZ that has been "remanufactured " (think RUF) by Dehaan. It's a stunner. Overall I give CZ everything high dollar to value marks. CZ rifles are among my faves. I have two of them.

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mericet

I seem to recall the sidelocks are just decorative. It's a boxlock underneath. We normally do some work on the firing pins. Shoot it, enjoy it and send it to me when it has problems!

Thanks, good info to know. I have also heard that the finish on the receiver is case coloring, not case hardening and the finish tends to wear somewhat quickly. The barrels are finished with a black hard chrome plating so they should be good for a while at least! As someone said up above, you get what you pay for!

targa911S · 05-09-2014, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fred cook

The guns that I am looking at are new, 410 gauge w/English stocks (straight). I believe they are the Bobwhite model. Barrels are 26" choked improved cylinder and modified. There is also one with a pistol grip stock. All have two triggers and extractors rather than ejectors. Nice basic guns!

the bobwhite is an english stock non sideplate boxlock with double triggers, the ringneck is a sideplate boxlock with a prince of wales stock and single trigger. My Dehaan is a ringneck but has an english stock and splinter. Beavertails are an american invention you don't see on euro guns.

targa911S · 05-09-2014, 05:49 PM

don't sell them short. they are meant to be shot and durable guns. The 12 20 and 28 are screw in chokes and I don't like the way they make the ends of the barrels flare. The 16 and 410 are fixed chokes. I had the 28 but sold it because the flaring was distracting to me. I would like a 16 with an english stock and splinter though. Yes the color case colors are a chemical process and not true "case hardening colors".

targa911S · 05-09-2014, 05:53 PM

DeHaan Shotguns

these guns will give you wood...

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by targa911S

the bobwhite is an english stock non sideplate boxlock with double triggers, the ringneck is a sideplate boxlock with a prince of wales stock and single trigger. My Dehaan is a ringneck but has an english stock and splinter. Beavertails are an american invention you don't see on euro guns.

I have a Spanish made 28 gauge double (sxs) that has a beavertail fore end. Probably made for the American market!

targa911S · 05-10-2014, 05:43 AM

that would probably be right. That actually looks more like a semi beaver tail. There were a lot of Spanish guns made for the US market. I have little room in my heart for most of them.

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by targa911S

that would probably be right. That actually looks more like a semi beaver tail. There were a lot of Spanish guns made for the US market. I have little room in my heart for most of them.

I agree with you completely. I had to swallow hard and scratch my head a couple of times before buying the little 28 double! However, it has proven to be a good piece so far. It's lots of fun on the skeet range!