Are CZ O/U shotguns any good

marlin60

marlin60

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There is a thread here on buying cheap O/U, stating you basically get what you pay for.

I believe that, but for about a $1,000 plus, how do the CZ's stack up. They make great pistols and rifles.

I don't think it is as good as a Browning or Beretta (and other mainline O/U for $2,000 +), but does anyone here have experience with the CZ's.
 
First of all, the gun is made by Huglu (in Turkey) and marketed by CZ, so do not compare it with Czech made firearms. Secondly, you do get what you pay for. In the case of Huglu / CZ that means you get decent balance and handling and reasonable reliability. What you sacrifice is wood quality, metal polishing and fine fitting. The single trigger is of unknown quality.

I think the model of choice is the Redhead, the Woodcock doesn't give you much for the extra money. The double triggered Mallard model would make a good hunting gun, if you could find one in Canada (I haven't seen a Mallard here).

My buddy has a Redhead in 20 gauge, and he likes it well enough. Straightshooter and I did a review of the CZ / Huglu SxS Bobwhite models. I believe that the construction of the guns is similar in both U/O and SxS configurations, so the review may be of interest to you. It can be found here (56K warning - 5 MB PDF file):

http://www.members.shaw.ca/sharptail/CZReview.pdf

One last piece of advice - if possible, examine the gun in person. Quality control is such that I would not want to buy one of these guns sight unseen. Look for quality of wood, properly aligned beads and weight that is close to the specified factory number for the model.

Sharptail
 
"Properly aligned beads" - for some reason the Turks can't seem to get that act correct and it ought to be the least of their challenges :confused:
 
I bought a Redhead Deluxe CZ O/U 20 gauge in Calgary

The CZ I bought is a good gun. There is a small stain, maybe oil, in the wood near the receiver that I accepted. It feels great and moves well.
 
??

Both Waldo and I shoot the real "chec" CZ over and unders, they are unbelievably nice and well made, great balance, quality and looks, and not that expensive!!
 
Been 2 years since this thread was started. Has anyone had any experiences since with the Mallard? I see they are advertised on WSS website, so in theory they are carrying them.

Like the OP originally asked, how are CZ shotguns? Please share the good, the bad or any ugly you may have experienced. The CZs intrigue me.
 
I had a Redhead in 12ga thatstarted out pretty good, fit and finish were good for the price but on its first time out the stock split after about 50 rounds. The gun was returned for warranty it and after 3 months of waiting and several phone calls I got it back in rather piss poor condition. The metal was not fit at all the screws were put in at angles as well as stripped and there was a nice big scratch on the reciever, and the best part was they cracked the so called replacement stock durring their attempted install. In my oppinion I would spring for a better gun or wait for a deal on a used gun.
 
I bought a C/Z Woodcock O/U in 2008, since then I have shot about 1500 rounds mostly skeet and some sporting clays with out one single hiccup, cough, sneeze, burp or or fart, you get my point.
There are also a few others I shoot skeet with that use the C/Z o/u, one is a Redhead and the other is a Woodcock both in 20ga I believe.
The went with the Woodcock cause of the case color, I have always been a big fan of it, other than that I could have saved myself an extra few hundred bucks by going with the Redhead.
The wood compared to other o/u's certainly doesn't make ya want to stand back and admire the beauty of the the grain, but with mine and the few others that I have seen, the grain runs straight with out any flaws.
So far I have no regrets buying my C/Z o/u, also my first, and would even consider buying another, perhaps in a 20ga or one of their s/s.
But another summer is upon us and the skeet season here has just started back up for the year, my final verdict will come at the end of the year when I have had a chance to put in a full summer of shooting and some hunting for grouse, then we'll see how well it has done.


Yeah OK, I didn't see the date that the thread was started, but here is my opinions on the subject.

Just my $ .02
Russ
 
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Last month I bought the readhead in 12 gauge and the ringneck in 20 gauge. I have shot about 200 rounds mostly skeet with the readhead and about 100 rounds with my side by side. Until now no problem.
 
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