First O/U Franchi or CZ

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Brutis

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Need some help. Starting to shoot sporting clays and I need a new O/U.
Gun will be strictly for clay shooting and my budget is around 1500$
I have been looking at CZ redhead target and also the Franchi instinct sporting.
I have no bias towards any brand but want a gun that I don't have to upgrade later.

Thanks in advance.
 
I was also looking at the RH Target and was told by several suppliers that this model is not available in Canada. Too bad...looks like a nice entry level clay gun...

Brutis said:
Need some help. Starting to shoot sporting clays and I need a new O/U.
Gun will be strictly for clay shooting and my budget is around 1500$
I have been looking at CZ redhead target and also the Franchi instinct sporting.
I have no bias towards any brand but want a gun that I don't have to upgrade later.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
 
I went through this exact same question a few months back. I spent a lot of time looking at different things and ended up with a used EE purchase. I saw a couple in the EE that I didn't buy, but the one I bought I am fully happy with. The franchi I held didn't fit properly. Beretta O/U don't fit me properly. The citori fit me properly. I saw a nice Bettinsoli adjustable comb that fit well and I almost pulled the trigger on that one, but in the end I bought a used Winchester- it fit perfectly. Fit is the most important thing- if it doesn't fit it doesn't matter what deal you are getting, it isn't worth it and you'll miss a lot. If it has an adjustable comb, you can almost certainly get it to fit without too much trouble.
 
I was looking for the Redhead too and couldn't find a 12g available anywhere in Canada anymore. The Redhead is a beauty for under $1000 and I couldn't find many bad reviews of it anywhere online. Ironically my red headed wife talked me into spending more money so I bought a Citori Lightning.
 
Is not the CZ actually made in Turkey by Huglu? There are some good guns from Turkey, but if i was paying the same money and had a choice between a Turkish and Italian O/U i would go with the Italian. Others have said it, if you could try a gun for fit, in trap this is worth much more than brand name. So i would go with fit first then brand name and country of origin second.
 
Brutis, I went through the exact same exercise many years ago and ignored a lot of the advice I had been given. Fit is EVERYTHING! I actually got a great price on a used Franchi O&U and decided that would be my first. It took less than a box of shells before I realized I had made a huge mistake and the Franchi was not the problem.

Fortunately, I was able to shoot a variety of shotguns down at the LFGA range (lots of great members) and soon learned the importance and differences of the cast and stock design. A proper fitting shotgun will make a huge difference. If you have some time, I would definitely recommend heading down to the range when they are running the shotgun stations. You will find a lot of good information there and I suspect you will probably get the opportunity to handle and shoot a few different offerings. Good luck!

If you can, definitely shoot a few before you decide.
 
nowarningshot said:
Is not the CZ actually made in Turkey by Huglu?
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Yes it is.

I agree that fit is very important but I still wouldn't buy a Mossberg Special Reserve or Stoeger ever if it fit perfect. There are just too many bad reviews over quality and a broken gun that fits perfect is not much use.

The odd thing is that Mossberg Maverick Hunter one of the cheapest O/U out there and doesn't seem to have any bad reviews for breaking. People just say that it feels cheap and you get what you pay for.
 
Moon said:
Brutis, I went through the exact same exercise many years ago and ignored a lot of the advice I had been given. Fit is EVERYTHING! I actually got a great price on a used Franchi O&U and decided that would be my first. It took less than a box of shells before I realized I had made a huge mistake and the Franchi was not the problem.

Fortunately, I was able to shoot a variety of shotguns down at the LFGA range (lots of great members) and soon learned the importance and differences of the cast and stock design. A proper fitting shotgun will make a huge difference. If you have some time, I would definitely recommend heading down to the range when they are running the shotgun stations. You will find a lot of good information there and I suspect you will probably get the opportunity to handle and shoot a few different offerings. Good luck!

If you can, definitely shoot a few before you decide.
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Thanks Moon. Yes I will get more info at the LFGA range. I have only been down for 1 sporting clays event and my versamax tactical 22" was alittle short. I have a shoot in tofield Saturday so i hope to try more O/U there.
 
Well I was able to shoot 5 different O/U's it came down to a browning 725 feeling the best.
It's more than I wanted to spend but it's a great gun.
 
Congrats! You won't remember the money. Glad you could find something that works for you. You'd remember the money if you bought something that didn't fit and had to buy again. Hope you saved some money for some flats of target loads!
 
Brutis said:
Gun will be strictly for clay shooting and my budget is around 1500$
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Have you seen the new 2014 pricing for the Franchi's? You'll be blowing past your $1500 budget. Instinct SL's are now retailing for $1750, and the sporting model isnt that much difference in price.

There was a time not long ago that SL's were $1150. I guess the weakend exchange rate of the Canadian dollar and a rising MSRP has really taken its toll on canadian pricing
 
Both Guns will kick the sh!t out of your shoulder.... I would spend the extra money and get a 686, or cynergy sporting. Was already mentioned that Franchi is out to lunch on there pricing. way better off spending the money now. If you are stuck on one of those two guns I would go with the CZ heavier, and I have seen a lot of franchi O/U with linkage issues and at almost 1800 the browning and beretta are only 400 more, weight one more pay check and get one of them. Fit is important, most people the beretta will fit best.
 
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Problem is prices are going up big time this year. Last year you could find an Franchi SL for under 1500, the L for under 1300. This year the prices in Canada will be in the 1500 range for the L and 1700-1800 for SL.... and thats if you can get one. Backordered, and amount imported will determine availability. CZ will be easier to buy, not trying to deter you, but if you want a Franchi you may have to backorder it on Cabelas and in essence reserve one, there won't be many on the shelf this year
 
I don't know if a CZ would be easier to buy. Pretty much every store that claims to have them in stock doesn't and has them on back order for the last year or two. I speak from experience trying to get a Redhead Deluxe. You can probably find a 20 gauge but you're probably not going to find a 12.
 
My own experience with CZ was dismal. You can search the forums for canvasback issues. It was able to send it back to the distributor and although I was out the cost of the initial shipping, I got out of a lemon shotgun. Having said that, I found the fit and swing to be perfect for me.
I upgraded to the Browning Citori Crossover Target in 12ga. It came with 3 extended chokes, has a very nice stock and a mid barrel bead. The action is flawless and although the fit is not quite perfect, I am able to hit an average of 24 skeet per round (I'm throwing my own skeet from a sting activated thrower, so it's not a proper range).
Anyways, we shall see how it performs on fall goose here in PEI...

To sum up, buy a Browning... you will not be disappointed.
 
Thing is, if you get into sporting clays on a regular basis, your 1500$ field gun will be upgraded. Best to try as many guns at your club as possible, and plan accordingly.
 
Used beretta 686 or 682

CZ shotguns are made in turkey and have had QC issues

franchi is good but a used beretta is better imo
 
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