CZ Hammer Classic VS Huglu HRZ 201

Mumbles Marble Mouth

Mumbles Marble Mouth

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Is there anyone here who owns a CZ Hammer Classic or Hammer Coach that is willing to share your thoughts on the shotgun? Specifically about the build quality. I just got a Huglu HRZ 201 and the fit and finish has a lot of imperfections. From pictures on the internet looking at the CZ, it looks like a better finished version of the same shotgun. I'm not sure I can complain too much about a $1000 side by side shotgun with minor fit and finish issues but if the CZ is way better, I would be willing to pay the extra $400 for a better finished gun. Or, if someone ownes an HRZ 201, can you confirm if your gun is finished really well or does it have minor blemishes too. Maybe I just got a bad example.
 
Mumbles Marble Mouth said:
Is there anyone here who owns a CZ Hammer Classic or Hammer Coach that is willing to share your thoughts on the shotgun? Specifically about the build quality. I just got a Huglu HRZ 201 and the fit and finish has a lot of imperfections. From pictures on the internet looking at the CZ, it looks like a better finished version of the same shotgun. I'm not sure I can complain too much about a $1000 side by side shotgun with minor fit and finish issues but if the CZ is way better, I would be willing to pay the extra $400 for a better finished gun. Or, if someone ownes an HRZ 201, can you confirm if your gun is finished really well or does it have minor blemishes too. Maybe I just got a bad example.
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I had Prophet River bring a Hammer Classic in from the States a few years before they were available. It was a great hammer shotgun at a reasonable price and steel comnpatable, and well made, although it was not the same quality as a Pedersoli.
I killed a lot of waterfowl with it.
Cat
 
My experience is reversed. The huglu versions my friends have or had were much better nicer than the couple cz versions I'd shot. The huglus had much nicer triggers and overall were better finished with nicer wood. I don't own a huglu hammer gun but do own 4 huglus and have shot 5 huglu hammer guns numerous times. They all worked as intended but the huglus were the nicer guns

I have seen huglus for sale marked as having blemishes. So batches of guns have gotten out that don't meet the normal standards. Not sure of what or when or why but prophet river has a bunch of 16ga guns so listed. Maybe they're the only reputable dealer willing to acknowledge the blemishes. I haven't seen them so I can't speak for how bad or minor said imperfections are

Other than the wood darkening over time all mine have been flawless
 
iron cat said:
I had Prophet River bring a Hammer Classic in from the States a few years before they were available. It was a great hammer shotgun at a reasonable price and steel comnpatable, and well made, although it was not the same quality as a Pedersoli.
I killed a lot of waterfowl with it.
Cat
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How are your side plates? Mine on the Huglu are not flush with the receiver. The barrel finish also has some blotches in it. I also wanted the Pedersoli but this Huglu was the compromise. Lots of people said they liked theirs. Maybe I'm being too critical of a $1000 side by side. It's $1049.99 today in 2024 but my CZ Ringneck 28 gauge was $1339.99 at Wholesale Sports maybe 10 years ago if not even longer.
 
brybenn said:
My experience is reversed. The huglu versions my friends have or had were much better nicer than the couple cz versions I'd shot. The huglus had much nicer triggers and overall were better finished with nicer wood. I don't own a huglu hammer gun but do own 4 huglus and have shot 5 huglu hammer guns numerous times. They all worked as intended but the huglus were the nicer guns

I have seen huglus for sale marked as having blemishes. So batches of guns have gotten out that don't meet the normal standards. Not sure of what or when or why but prophet river has a bunch of 16ga guns so listed. Maybe they're the only reputable dealer willing to acknowledge the blemishes. I haven't seen them so I can't speak for how bad or minor said imperfections are

Other than the wood darkening over time all mine have been flawless
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I actually just had an opportunity to compare a CZ Bobwhite with a Huglu version of the same shotgun. While the Bobwhite was just a plain black action and the Huglu was case hardened, the overall fit and finish of these two guns looked identical but my CZ Ringneck is better than both of them.
 
I got my answer. Just watched the Hickok45 video on the Hammer Coach and, since they get some nice close-ups on the receiver in the video, I got to see that the side plates are also not flush with the receiver. The plates are flush with the wood instead just like on mine. I also happened to have a look at the Pedersoli version and it too the side plates sit high exactly the same way as mine.
 
Mumbles Marble Mouth said:
How are your side plates? Mine on the Huglu are not flush with the receiver. The barrel finish also has some blotches in it. I also wanted the Pedersoli but this Huglu was the compromise. Lots of people said they liked theirs. Maybe I'm being too critical of a $1000 side by side. It's $1049.99 today in 2024 but my CZ Ringneck 28 gauge was $1339.99 at Wholesale Sports maybe 10 years ago if not even longer.
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I no longer own that gun, but the fit and finish was excellent, the barrels especially.
Never had an issue with it at all and hunted it hard for three seasons in all sorts of weather and it got soaked more than a few times in my canoe.
Cat
 
Mumbles Marble Mouth said:
I actually just had an opportunity to compare a CZ Bobwhite with a Huglu version of the same shotgun. While the Bobwhite was just a plain black action and the Huglu was case hardened, the overall fit and finish of these two guns looked identical but my CZ Ringneck is better than both of them.
Click to expand...

The older cz ring-necks were the premium grade while the bobwhite is the entry grade
 
brybenn said:
My experience is reversed. The huglu versions my friends have or had were much better nicer than the couple cz versions I'd shot. The huglus had much nicer triggers and overall were better finished with nicer wood. I don't own a huglu hammer gun but do own 4 huglus and have shot 5 huglu hammer guns numerous times. They all worked as intended but the huglus were the nicer guns

I have seen huglus for sale marked as having blemishes. So batches of guns have gotten out that don't meet the normal standards. Not sure of what or when or why but prophet river has a bunch of 16ga guns so listed. Maybe they're the only reputable dealer willing to acknowledge the blemishes. I haven't seen them so I can't speak for how bad or minor said imperfections are

Other than the wood darkening over time all mine have been flawless
Click to expand...

I wonder if the gun I had was a better example of the older Huglus. The CZ hammer Classic was not even available in North America when I bought mine many years ago.
I think it was Clay from Prophet River told me that when he spoke with the CZ reps at SHOT, that they had not even heard of it! The one I had was brought from Europe by a fella who wanted to get into vintage trap and skeet , and decided very quickly that hammers were not for him! LOL
I bought it from Guns International and Clay brokered it up for me.
Cat
 
I have the CZ version, made by Hugo, actually have both the 30 classic and the 20” coach, I would say quality is excellent, I have fired thousands of rounds at sporting clays with no problems and the gun is as tight as the day it was new.
 
Howdy Triple M. I have the hammer coach. Picked it up at PR about 5 yrs ago. I hunt with it a lot and shoot it a lot. Good couple thousand rounds through it from 1.75" bird shot to 3"slug and buck. It has been excellent. Fit, finish lock up, patterns all very good. Nice walnut. Clay and the guys at PR actually had a chuckle when there opened the case and got eyes on it. There's two other things to mention: First, the triggers were HEAVY. I mean 12 lb heavy. Many dry fires over snap caps and general shooting lightened them up and smoothed them out. Still thinking of sending it to Rusty for a trigger and hammer tune. Would be nice but not necessary. Second: And this is a bonus, the damn thing throws 2.75" Federal True Ball slugs to point of aim within 3" of each other, horizontally, with IC/M chokes at 75 yrds! Hey, so I got the regulated "double rifle" I've always dreamt of for under a grand - ha ha. I've taken it for deer many times walking my home quarter. No deer yet but I have no issue to 100 yrds. Other thing is nothing looks better around camp, in the back seat, corner of the fire pit or cabin etc. Hope you have the same luck I've had. Cheers,
 
My 20ga 202b huglu prints Tru ball slugs side by side at 30 yards 1/2" to 3/4" apart. Only bad thing is it's 8" low. Bird shot and buckshot patterns perfectly to point of aim though
 
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