Huglu 103D mini review

Sharptail

Sharptail

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
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Location
Edmonton, Ab.
We have all seen the Turkish made doubles marketed by CZ. Here is an example sold under its original maker's brand name. This Huglu 103D is essentially the same gun as the CZ Canvasback, a non-ejector model. I had no idea that Huglu branded guns were being marketed in Canada.

Huglu103D.jpg


I have been playing with this gun for a couple of weeks now and I am pleased with it. For a gun in its price range ( < $800, ~ same as the CZ ) it is well built. It makes a better comparison to an entry level Citori than it does to a Baikal or Stoeger.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this particular gun was built as a distributor's sample. For one thing, the Huglu web site states that the 103D is available with either a black or silver frame. This example has a (cyanide) case colour finish, and the colours are quite rich and deep. For another, this gun has had more attention paid to it than is typical. The fit and finish are better than the CZ branded examples I have held, and extra attention seems to have been paid to the wood - to - metal fit. The walnut has some figure, but it is mostly hidden beneath a dark stain. This gun may not be typical of the factory offerings, but if it is, it's a gratifying surprise.

The gun has a subdued, rather conservative look. While it has minimal engraving, the brass coloured maker's logo inlayed in the top lever is a nice touch. Another pleasant feature are the rounded bottom edges of the frame - no sharp, squared corners.

HugluCC.jpg


The 103D has some nice technical features such as moderately lengthened forcing cones and gas relief channels cut in the breech face. The single selective trigger is of the mechanical variety (as opposed to inertial. The trigger needs no recoil to set the second shot). The barrel selector is on the (non automatic) safety button, and follows the Browning method of actuation. The gun comes with 5 choke tubes and is steel shot compatible.

The top lever is a little stiff and the fore end latch takes a bit of force to snap closed. I believe these will loosen up with time and use. The trigger pull is at 6 Lbs., about 2 Lbs. too heavy. It also has a wee bit of grittiness to the feel. It would take a gunsmith to improve this, and is probably not worth doing as overall the trigger is quite useable.

Balance and handling are fairly good. A slight forward balance promotes a smooth swing. It is about a pound too heavy to be a good Ruffed Grouse gun, but is of reasonable weight for most everything else. It could stand to lose 3 or 4 ounces. The majority of the mass is contained between the hands.

The gun is not staying in my stable, it is going to an extraordinary young man who has just completed his PAL. I thought that some folks here might like a peek before it goes.

Specifications - Huglu 103D

Gauge: 12
Chambers: 3 inch
Barrel Length: 28 inches
Barrel Construction: Monoblock
Barrel Lining: Hard Chrome
Barrel Finish: Black Chrome
Barrel Ribs: Ventilated
Sights: Single Brass Bead On Serrated, Ventilated Rib
Chokes: Interchangeable, 5 Choke Tubes Included (Flush Mount) C, IC, M, IM, F
Ejection System: Mechanical Extractors (Non Ejector)
Frame: Colour Case Hardened Steel
Action Style: Trigger Plate
Mainsprings: Coil Type
Bolting System: Bifurcated Lump
Hinge System: Side Mounted Trunnions
Release System: Top Lever Operating Monolithic Bolt
Trigger: Single Selective, Mechanical (Not Inertial) Style
Trigger Guard: Steel, Rounded Edge, Short Tang
Barrel Selector: Browning Style (On Safety Button)
Safety: Tang Mounted Manual Sliding Safety With Engraved "S"
Stock Material: Turkish Walnut
Fore End Style: Schnabel
Fore End Attachment: Deeley Latch
Stock Style: Round Knob Semi Pistol Grip
Stock Attachment: Through Bolt From Rear Of Stock
Stock Finish: Unknown
Chequering: ~ 20 Lines Per Inch
Butt Plate: Plastic And Rubber With Non Stick Heel
Weight: 7.7 Lbs., or 3.49 KG's
Balance Point: ~ 3/4 Of An Inch Forward Of The Trunnions (Slight Forward Balance)
Length Of Pull: 14.5 Inches
Drop At Comb : 1.5 Inches
Drop At Heel: 2.3 Inches
Overall Length: 45 1/3 Inches
Wrist Diameter: 4 3/4 Inches



Sharptail
 
Great review Sharptail (as always) nice pic's too. Great case colours. Is it available with longer barrels? Do you have any idea of the bore measurements?
 
Win/64, the 28 inch barrels are the long ones, the other choice is 26 inches. While I did not measure the bores, I understand that the gun is compatible with Beretta Mobil chokes, so no overbored barrels here.

Sharptail
 
Very nicely done! it looks like an excellent starter gun even if one can't get at least 30 inch barrels.

Regards,
Henry;)
 
You guys know the score. If they put 30 inch barrels on this gun it would weigh 8 lbs. and have a balance point 3 inches in front of the hinge. Unless, of course, they made nice thin walled barrels - and then it would not be a sub $1,000 gun.

As it stands the gun is quite useful and has pretty good balance. A little clunky compared to a nice slim upland gun, but with a smooth swing and half decent weight distribution it is easy to hit targets with. You don't see 30 inch barrels on field grade Citori's, either.

Sharptail
 
icedog said:
So who is the Canadian retailer of Huglu shotguns?
Click to expand...

Well, I got this one at P&D but it was sort of a one - off, I don't think that they regularly carry the line (although they do have a 12 Ga. SxS sitting on the shelf). The sticker on the box says R. Nicholls Distributors Inc. / F.N. Sports, so I guess they would be the ones to ask.


Sharptail
 
I feel obligated to update this review. As I was preparing the gun for delivery I installed the IC choke tube, and felt a sharp ridge inside the muzzle end of the tube. Closer examination revealed that incomplete machining was the cause. The Huglu tubes are identified by notches cut in the end of the tube. The notches had been cut but no finishing work was done, leaving hard, sharp edged metal protruding into the bore. Out came the choke tube set and a good look revealed that 3 of the 5 tubes suffered from the same problem! No way could the gun go out the door in this condition.

I am ashamed and abashed that I missed this in my initial review.

I should have dealt with this problem through the warranty channel. However, I felt pressed for time and had lost faith in the Huglu tubes anyway. Since the gun uses Beretta MobilChoke style tubes, a quick trip to Western Gun Parts provided some real Beretta tubes to replace the defective units. The Beretta tubes were about $40 each.

The good news is that the Beretta parts fit the Huglu much better than the original chokes. The new tubes are a much tighter fit than the Huglu bits, and they bottom out with a solid clunk rather than the softer feel of the originals. The threads are much smoother as well. This makes me believe that Huglu got the barrel machining right, at least.

As you can imagine this episode motivated me to re-examine the entire gun with a very critical eye. I am happy to report that no other problems surfaced. However, defective choke tubes are a fairly major issue and in this case added $120 to the cost of the gun.

To be fair, neither the 20 or the 28 gauge CZ / Huglu Bobwhites that Straightshooter and I reviewed a few years ago displayed any problems with the choke tubes. Perhaps this is a one-of-a-kind issue. A replacement set of choke tubes under warranty may have been perfectly satisfactory. It does show that Huglu's quality control is not as good as it could be, and that will affect sales no matter whose brand name is stamped on the gun.

The end user of this gun has agreed to report any problems he encounters. Given the "vetting" this gun has received I don't expect any, but if problems do arise you will hear about them right here.


Sharptail
 
Sharptail said:
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To be fair, neither the 20 or the 28 gauge CZ / Huglu Bobwhites that Straightshooter and I reviewed a few years ago displayed any problems with the choke tubes. Perhaps this is a one-of-a-kind issue. A replacement set of choke tubes under warranty may have been perfectly satisfactory. It does show that Huglu's quality control is not as good as it could be, and that will affect sales no matter whose brand name is stamped on the gun.



Sharptail
Click to expand...

I have not heard of this problem on any of the Huglu made CZ's on the Hgku forum on Shotgunworld either.
personally, my little Bobwhite has no QA issues at all, I liked it so much I actually got it back in trade from the fella I originally let it go to!:cool:
The trigges however, I have heard had soem issues....
Cat
 
Sharptail said:
You don't see 30 inch barrels on field grade Citori's, either.

Sharptail
Click to expand...

You will sometime this year and I have heard there will be a 32 inch as well. I think browning is going for the sporting crossover market. A 32 inch browning without those blast ports might be nice.
 
I purchased a CZ Canvasback last fall from Londonarms in Rexdale, ON. I used it to hunt grouse and do some trap and skeet with it. I guess I put around 1000 rounds through it. No problems yet. There is a guy in Shotgun World who fired over 14000 through his Canvasback without a hitch.
 
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