CZ Bobwhite review - 20 and 28 gauge shotguns

Sharptail

Sharptail

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Location
Edmonton, Ab.
The following review is the collaborative effort of two CGN members, Sharptail and Straightshooter. The reason that the review is posted under the Sharptail name is because I come first in alphabetical order. Because the review stems from two authors, the reader is asked to be patient with any overlapped or redundant information and a disjointed style. Please, also be aware that neither of us are professional writers and that all errors in grammar, spelling and form are made strictly out of ignorance.

The original intent was to post (as a new thread), a review of the two Bobwhite shotguns. Being as long winded as we are, the finished product was too long to post in the conventional manner. We decided to post a link to a PDF file instead. Almost everyone has a PDF reader, and if not you can download one for free.

Yes, there are pictures, including some high resolution photos that you can zoom in on (see the help file for your PDF reader).

We hope that the reader finds the review informative. We welcome feedback and opinions.

Some WARNINGS are in order:

1) Dial up users beware. The PDF file is 5 MB large.

2) The opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors, and in no way reflect the opinions of CanadianGunNutz or its sponsors, or of CZ for that matter.

3) The material is presented in an exceptionally dry and tedious manner. Mrs. Sharptail pronounced it "The most boring thing I have ever read". Do not read this document and then drive or operate heavy machinery.

4) All errors and omissions are the responsibility of someone else.

5) Objects in mirror may contain peanuts.

So, without further ado, here is the link:

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


Sharptail and Straightshooter
 
Sharptail and Straightshooter,

Excellent observations/evaluation......thanks very much for providing the detailed insight……certainly made for an interesting reading.

As indicated within your review, the Bobwhite certainly won’t pacify any Purist or the hardcore Traditionalist given its existing build quality and characteristics :)

On the other hand, for the working class and part-time “traditionalist Hunter” (as in my case :) ), due to the Bobwhite’s price range, near appropriate gauge specific frame/balance coupled with attributes such as double triggers, a straight stock and splinter fore end - this is as close as one can humbly approach when searching for a proper Upland sxs shotgun :)

Despite the numerous adverse CZ product reviews in Shotgun World, I took a calculated risk in purchasing a couple of Bobwhites (in 12 & 20). So far both have served very well in the recent past couple of seasons for what those have actually been designed for i.e. hunting. My Bobwhites point and shoot very well. Admittedly, it’s also too early to offer a firm verdict on the durability question!

Needless to mention, the Bobwhite, in terms of quality and finesse, obviously can't be expected to match the higher (read mediocre) priced sxs category available in the market today. Moreover, CZ does need to properly harness the existing QC issues in order to effectively market the full potential of its products.
 
Gentlemen ... despite your "humbility", very well-done indeed. In fact, your review is far superior to Pontcanna's pasted-in "Gun Tests" !

A friend has the 28. His is off to the Gunsmith ... one barrel does fire reliably,
otherwise, he likes it a lot. I had the opportunity to have a look at it "new in the box" and concur with many of your observations, however, his has a relatively nice piece of wood, and the trigger pulls are not objectionably heavy.

I too think of it as comparatively a lot of value for the $.
 
Excellent review by shooters who know what they are doing.

The comparison with the Stoeger is most apt. I believe the CZ guns are worth every cent of the extra money in comparison. They also compare reasonably well with the various Spanish boxlocks which cost twice as much.

I've handled and shot a few of the CZ guns and there is nothing in the review that I'd disagree with. I was particularly heartened to see that the barrels were properly regulated. I've seen some other brands costing many times more than shot patterns into two different postal codes.

I've considered the CZ guns as a potential back up to my Spanish sidelock. My hestitation is two fold. A 26" 28 gauge has barrels that are two inches too short. The 20 gauge is a little portly for my liking which isn't a criticism of CZ but a reality when the guns come with 3" chambers which I consider entirely unnecessary on an upland gun. If you can't do it with 1 ounce of shot on upland then the extra pay load in a 3" shell probably isn't going to make much difference.
 
Claybuster said:
The 20 gauge is a little portly for my liking which isn't a criticism of CZ but a reality when the guns come with 3" chambers which I consider entirely unnecessary on an upland gun. If you can't do it with 1 ounce of shot on upland then the extra pay load in a 3" shell probably isn't going to make much difference.
Click to expand...

Agree.....3 inch is overkill.....here, at Hullett, my 20ga using Kent #6, 2 3/4 inch, 1 oz loads have done really well with shots out to 35 yds.......I try and restrain myself beyond that range :) However, in the past, I've also witnessed many wild Pheasant and Red Jungle fowl absorb 12ga loads and managed to escape crippled.

BTW, never used a shotgun in 16ga ....and the discussions have once again resurrected my desire to acquire a Bobwhite in that config (comes with only 2 3/4 chamber).
 
Last edited:
beretta boy said:
Claybuster...

If you can stand a Prince of Wales style grip & SST, the "Ringneck"
SxS from CZ comes in a 28" barelled - 28ga.
Click to expand...
SST on a sxs? Not for me. God spoke and decreed twin triggers on a sxs. Blessed be the name.....;)

POW grip? Once referred to by a friend of mine in the U.K. as the limp #### grip. If you wonder why just look at one.:D

But the real reason a Ringneck would never adorn my hand are the sideplates. I hate them with a passion.
 
Great reviewI was somewhat hesitant to purchase aCZ shotgun but after reading your fantastic review of the Bobwhite,I think i will purchase a28 gauge . Your research and write up are greatly appreciated. thank you.
 
beretta boy said:
Well, EXCUUUUSE me ! :p

Didn't realize your tolerance was so low !

Only wear a tweedy cap & wellies when you're out rough shooting gov'nr ???
Click to expand...
Nope. Filson for me.;)

The only reason my tolerance is low is that I learned to shoot sxs on a straight-gripped, auto safety, twin trigger gun. I can tolerate a POW well enough but a single selectable confounds me every time. Also I have seen more problems with SSTs on sxs than anything else. Even Purdey doesn't offer an SST with their guns, non-selectable only.

Sideplates on a boxlock are just stupid for several reasons.

As an aside another reason the review is so good is that the term "furniture" is used correctly.
 
Last edited:
Claybuster said:
POW grip? Once referred to by a friend of mine in the U.K. as the limp #### grip. If you wonder why just look at one.:D
Click to expand...

:D :D :D

All those years of handling shotguns......never even ocurred to me to that the grip resembled something like that......you had to go and mention that :D

Apology.....did not mean to deviate from the actual thread topic.....just couldn't resist :)
 
CB:

Make mine either a SG or PG over the POW, and don't mind DT's (hinged front trigger, please) , but prefer a SST ... just like the ones on the Mod. 21' !
The Miller SST's on the old Parkers work pretty well too, as do the SST's on the Parker Repros.

Side plates, take 'em or leave 'em, but do like quality sidelock guns !
Even if I had the $$, which I don't, it wouldn't be a Purdey
or H & H for me anyway.

Can't stand "auto-safeties" :eek: ... first thing to be disconnected ... forever !

Never been unhappy with Filson either ! ( Own a couple of Harris Tweed jackets, but no sporty tweed hats, thanks, nor baseball caps either)
Prefer a felt fedora, river guide type hat, or the like
 
Last edited:
beretta boy said:
CB:

Make mine either a SG or PG over the POW, and don't mind DT's (hinged front trigger, please) , but prefer a SST ... just like the ones on the Mod. 21' !
The Miller SST's on the old Parkers work pretty well too, as do the SST's on the Parker Repros.

Side plates, take 'em or leave 'em, but do like quality sidelock guns !
Even if I had the $$, which I don't, it wouldn't be a Purdey
or H & H for me anyway.

Can't stand "auto-safeties" :eek: ... first thing to be disconnected ... forever !

Never been unhappy with Filson either ! ( Own a couple of Harris Tweed jackets, but no sporty tweed hats, thanks, nor baseball caps either)
Prefer a felt fedora, river guide type hat, or the like
Click to expand...
I like the straight grip in the field because it's easier to carry and puts the wrist in a more natural position if you are carrying the gun the barrels up. The POW is second place in that regard but the pistol grip means the wrist is bent back with my typical carry.

Auto safeties are something that come with the sxs package for me. It's a natural movement just to flick off the safety as the gun comes to the shoulder. Put one on an o/u and I'm befuddled. It's what you get used to I guess.

You make a good point about the Miller triggers and the U.S. and Japanese made sxs but the Europeans have strugged with them. The last two Beretta 471s that I've seen have had trigger troubles.

Sidelocks are one thing (and a very good thing) but sideplates add to the cost particularly if they have to be engraved. They also mean the stock is harder to make, weaker and more difficult to remove. I've never understood why people would buy the Beretta 687 EELL for target shooting when it's just a basic 687 with a lot of tarting up. For the same price or thereabouts you could buy the much better DT10.
 
Gentlemen, we thank you for the kind responses. The project was fun to do, and we attempted to be impartial. We freely admit to reviewing the guns from the point of view of upland hunters.

Two guns are hardly a statistically significant sample. Additional input from those with experience with the Bobwhite is welcome.

In regards to the Ringneck model: The extra weight of the stock and the sideplates in the 28 gauge Ringneck no doubt offsets some of the additional weight of the available 28 inch barrels. The gun shows an advertised weight of 5.9 lbs. , a third of a pound more than the little Bobwhite.

The Bobwhite is not meant to compete with Purdey or Boss ( or even Ugartechea ) in terms of fit and finish. It does provide a good measure of the feel and handling of a game gun. The extra money you pay for a Ringneck actually detracts from the gun's one strong point by adding weight. Throw in the pistol grip and the single trigger and the gun loses the "game gun" characteristics we were seeking.

I am sure that CZ will sell a bunch of Ringnecks, maybe more than Bobwhites. Single triggers are very popular in North America. However, for those seeking the speed and instinctive handling of a traditional game gun the Bobwhite will be the model of choice.

Straightshooter will add his two cents worth in short order, but he is a very busy man these days. The time and effort he put into the project was hard to come by. A true gun nut.

Sharptail
 
Perhaps some focussed correspondence to CZ-USA might result in
the Bobwhite 28 being oferred in a 28" barrel ... gotta believe it's the same barrel set on the Ringneck !!! Upgrades are available for a few of their rifles.
If there were enough interest, the same might be for their shotguns.

...and again, thank you both ... well done !
 
Beretta Boy, he 28 inch Ringneck barrels in 28 gauge could probably be fitted to the Bobwhite. It would not be worth the effort. The balance point would be shifted too far forward, and the moment of inertia (MOI) figures would soar.

If CZ would offer fixed choke barrels in a 28 inch length, and retain the same balance and weight, I would be the first in line for a set. Such barrels would not need the trombone flare at the muzzles, and would look much ###ier. I don't think Huglu's tooling is set up to make such barrels, it's a pity.

Sharptail
 
Sharptail and Straightshooter,

Thanks very much for putting your passion in print and even more so for sharing your passion with us.

Very enjoyable read.

I must go measure my Tonolini...:D

Good shooting to you,

V7
 
viper7 said:
Sharptail and Straightshooter,

Thanks very much for putting your passion in print and even more so for sharing your passion with us.

Very enjoyable read.

I must go measure my Tonolini...:D

Good shooting to you,

V7
Click to expand...

No worries. It was a tremendous hardship taking those SxS's out to the ol' covert and trying them out on the "ghosts of the forest", but someone had to do it.

The whole project was a good time waiting to happen. I strongly recommend it to anyone who's got nothing better to do than shoot guns, go hunting, check out the guns, and compare notes over a pint or a glass. Sharptail's expertise on the subject is exceeded only by this enthusiasm. The review is the evidence.

SS
 
I bought a 26" Bobwhite in 20ga last year from Epps. They were priced better than all others who responded to my e-mails.

My biggest positive comment on the gun is the fit. It does fit me, and well. Head and eye position is perfect every time resulting in more hits. The stock is cast a bit for a RH shooter and this helps as well.

My biggest negative comment is the plainness of the walnut and the fact that the checkering was done before the finish resulting in the checkering being filled with plastic goo. Water sealed for sure, but no very pleasing to the eye. I had contacted the distributor far before the delivery date and requested that he pick the nicest one of the bunch, sending that one to Epps for sale to me. I found out later that he didn't bother, even after two phone calls confirming that he would. :mad:

I like the double triggers, but could live w/o the choke tubes as long as the bbl contour was lighter with the fixed chokes.

Overall, I am pleased with mine and will probably keep it for a while. I like the fact that I didn't have to pay a fortune for it and won't have to keep it only for fair weather days. It won't be babied.

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom