Any place with large selection of CZ/Huglu O/Us?

aht2131 · Jan 3, 2019

Hi All,
I've been kicking around the idea of picking up an O/U. I've heard quite a few good things about CZ/Huglu guns and would consider the Sterling Southpaw. Does anyone know of a shop that would might have one, or at least a decent selection of CZ models to shoulder? I'll usually try to shoot every week and go through about flat, sometimes half, so that is about the volume of shooting I intend to use it for. The only place I have been able to find them is online, but I wouldn't want to order one without seeing how it fits.

Aamdskeetshooter · Jan 3, 2019

You’re going to spend $3000/year on shells ($60/flat x 50 weeks) plus $2500 on targets ($5.00/round x 10 x 50) through a CZ/Huglu? Good luck with that. I guarantee you will regret the purchase. Every person I’ve ever met regretted it. And I’ve seen many over the years. And I love CZ handguns.

Here’s a thread with some good information.
https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?p=5078888

Take a drive to Etchens in PA and buy this. He sells the most Beretta’s in the country for good reason. They can make sure it fits you. They have years of experience selling guns to serious competition shooters. Full disclosure, I am not in any way connected with Joel Etchens.

If you don’t like the Beretta, check out a Caesar Guerini.

https://www.joeletchenguns.com/new-guns/beretta/686-onyx-pro-trap/view/132-onyx-pro-trap

Edited to add.

If I have offended anyone by my distain for CZ shotguns I apologize. But I stand by my opinion 100%.

aht2131 · Jan 4, 2019

From what I have come across it seems they had some issues early on (pre 2008 ish), but have since improved significantly. I would consider myself a frequent shooter, but its all just for fun I don't compete or intend to. 7-10k shells a year should be manageable I feel, based on what people are posting regarding their reliability. Of course I don't have direct experience with them, and anyone could be unlucky enough to get a lemon. I take no offense to your opinion of these guns and would appreciate any specific issues you know of about them.

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jimbobborg · Jan 5, 2019

Cabelas has a few CZs in stock. I'd go on a weekday if you don't want to wait for an hour to get to look at them. I have no idea where in MD you live, so I can't recommend which Cabelas to go to.

John from MD · Jan 5, 2019

I second Etchens, they are good people and I have been happy with what I purchased from them. I have also owned CZ's for years. The Huglu shotguns (I have owned two), are nice to look at but they don't hold up. When I shot sporting clays every weekend, my 28ga SXS and 20ga OU did not last more than two years. The SXS started breaking firing pins and the 20ga lockup started loosing up and the trigger reset got iffy.

If you want a gun that looks good and shoots good, shop right here in Cambridge, Maryland, assuming you can afford it. https://gueriniusa.com/contact/

aht2131 · Jan 5, 2019

jimbobborg said:
Cabelas has a few CZs in stock. I'd go on a weekday if you don't want to wait for an hour to get to look at them. I have no idea where in MD you live, so I can't recommend which Cabelas to go to.

Thanks I might try to take a trip out to one. I'm in moco so none will be close.

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aht2131 · Jan 5, 2019

John from MD said:
I second Etchens, they are good people and I have been happy with what I purchased from them. I have also owned CZ's for years. The Huglu shotguns (I have owned two), are nice to look at but they don't hold up. When I shot sporting clays every weekend, my 28ga SXS and 20ga OU did not last more than two years. The SXS started breaking firing pins and the 20ga lockup started loosing up and the trigger reset got iffy.

If you want a gun that looks good and shoots good, shop right here in Cambridge, Maryland, assuming you can afford it. https://gueriniusa.com/contact/

Were you able to get those issues resolved with CZ or did you just cut your losses and get rid of the guns?

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John from MD · Jan 5, 2019

aht2131 said:
Were you able to get those issues resolved with CZ or did you just cut your losses and get rid of the guns?

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I returned the SXS twice for the same problem. The fix only lasted about six months. I sold both guns.

This is not to say I dislike Turkish shotguns, I owned a Tristar G2 Sporting 12ga which I only gave up after arthritis made me stop shooting 12ga. These are inexpensive but well built, look nice and perform. I owned it for about 5 years and never had a problem shooting trap several times a month.

Aamdskeetshooter · Jan 5, 2019

Over the years (35+) I have witnessed numerous people buying O/U’s that cost less than a Browning or Beretta. It never works out for them. Something always breaks on them and they have to send it off for warranty work. Or pay to have it fixed. Resale value is zero because everyone knows they’re junk. Other examples include the Remington Peerless, the Ruger Red Label (better than the others, not meant for target shooting), Stoegers, Tristar. Someone who shoots a couple times a year is going to get away with it. If you’re going to shoot that much I guarantee it will fail at some point in the not too distant future. You’re better off buying an auto like a Remington 1187 or Beretta A400.

Redcobra · Jan 5, 2019

So, you shoot a flat week or thereabouts = 13,000 rounds a year and in 5 years you will shoot 65,000 rounds through the gun.
IMHO, no Turkish gun will hold up to that.
I made the same mistake by buying less than quality O/Us when I first started. After many firing pin replacements and ribs falling off (and a cracked stock) a lot of money was wasted. After seeing what other people at LRTSC were shooting and after a lot of questions to those great folks, I finally bought a Beretta SP1 and had it fit by Jack Bart. No issues for 3 years. Got maybe 10%-15% back for the Turks. One I just trashed. (Mossberg Silver Reserve I think it was, choke tubes froze in the barrel from distortion, and many months waiting for firing pin replacements.) No complaints with the Beretta at all. It was just a reliable but very plain jane gun.
After the Beretta, I wanted a nicer gun so went with Guerinis. Got 80% of my money back from the Beretta. I now have 3 Guerinis, one with over 100,000 rounds through it with only one small issue that was repaired at no cost in Cambridge in 30 minutes. (Had a nearby crabcake while waiting)
Just my experience, but I would have saved some dough and a lot of time and heartache if I would have bought a decent gun to begin with. YMMV.

ps: I spent about $600 on the Beretta for fitting, stock cutting, adjustable comb, and better pad. The Guerinis all came that way and were fit to me by the head Guerini gunsmith (Andrew) in Cambridge.

DanJo · Jan 5, 2019

I also highly recommend Joel Etchen Guns in Ligonier, PA. I’ve been shooting a Beretta 391 semi-auto for trap, skeet and sporting clays for while now, but I have been wanting an nicer over/under. A couple of years ago I was with my son at the Scholastic Trap Nationals in Sparta, IL. They have a Beretta shop right at the range, and I shot a half dozen rounds of trap with a demo Beretta DT-11. I fell in love with the gun, but couldn’t justify the $12k price tag. After doing a lot of research online and talking to Joel on the phone, I decided to head up there New Year’s Eve to look at their Beretta 687 Trap over/under Specials. He had eight on display to choose from and more not yet unboxed. His Beretta volume allows him to special order guns not available elsewhere. His 687’s Specials have raised rib trap barrels, adjustable combs, upgraded wood and receiver engraving. This combo is very similar to thr DT-11, but less than a third the price. I only have two boxes of shells through it so far, but I couldn’t be happier. Take your time, do some research, and buy once, cry once.

aht2131 · Jan 5, 2019

Redcobra said:
ps: I spent about $600 on the Beretta for fitting, stock cutting, adjustable comb, and better pad. The Guerinis all came that way and were fit to me by the head Guerini gunsmith (Andrew) in Cambridge.

Wow good to know roughly how much the fitting would add to the cost. I'm lefty and would require a bit shorter LOP so this is great info.

aht2131 · Jan 5, 2019

DanJo said:
Take your time, do some research, and buy once, cry once.

For sure, I have other guns I can shoot at the moment so definitely no rush. I just want to get a feel for what all my options are. So far the only gun I have been able to get hands on and shoot is the Beretta SP 1 which I think is a great gun. I shot it very well from the get go despite it being cast for RH and slightly ill fitting, so it is my top choice thus far. I shouldered a Citori today, but it didn't feel any better than the SP.

DanJo · Jan 5, 2019

If you want to demo a bunch of shotguns and you’re ever in western Illinois near St Louis, I would definitely recommend a visit to the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, IL. Most of the manufacturers have shops there with demo guns right on the range. Beretta had free demo guns which they would do a quick fit for you. You bring shells, and they will lend you the gun and give you tokens for trap or skeet rounds. Some manufacturers even give you shells to shoot. You can’t beat the deal. Most manufacturers have the same set-up. I probably shot 20 different guns while I was there. It was like a candy store with guns. The only catch is that the shops are not all open unless there is a bigger tournament there. Very impressive range too. 100 trap and skeet fields that stretch for over a mile!

aht2131 · Jan 6, 2019

DanJo said:
If you want to demo a bunch of shotguns and you’re ever in western Illinois near St Louis, I would definitely recommend a visit to the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, IL. Most of the manufacturers have shops there with demo guns right on the range. Beretta had free demo guns which they would do a quick fit for you. You bring shells, and they will lend you the gun and give you tokens for trap or skeet rounds. Some manufacturers even give you shells to shoot. You can’t beat the deal. Most manufacturers have the same set-up. I probably shot 20 different guns while I was there. It was like a candy store with guns. The only catch is that the shops are not all open unless there is a bigger tournament there. Very impressive range too. 100 trap and skeet fields that stretch for over a mile!

Very cool. Did not know about this.

El_flasko · Jan 7, 2019

Redcobra said:
So, you shoot a flat week or thereabouts = 13,000 rounds a year and in 5 years you will shoot 65,000 rounds through the gun.
IMHO, no Turkish gun will hold up to that.
I made the same mistake by buying less than quality O/Us when I first started. After many firing pin replacements and ribs falling off (and a cracked stock) a lot of money was wasted. After seeing what other people at LRTSC were shooting and after a lot of questions to those great folks, I finally bought a Beretta SP1 and had it fit by Jack Bart. No issues for 3 years. Got maybe 10%-15% back for the Turks. One I just trashed. (Mossberg Silver Reserve I think it was, choke tubes froze in the barrel from distortion, and many months waiting for firing pin replacements.) No complaints with the Beretta at all. It was just a reliable but very plain jane gun.
After the Beretta, I wanted a nicer gun so went with Guerinis. Got 80% of my money back from the Beretta. I now have 3 Guerinis, one with over 100,000 rounds through it with only one small issue that was repaired at no cost in Cambridge in 30 minutes. (Had a nearby crabcake while waiting)
Just my experience, but I would have saved some dough and a lot of time and heartache if I would have bought a decent gun to begin with. YMMV.

ps: I spent about $600 on the Beretta for fitting, stock cutting, adjustable comb, and better pad. The Guerinis all came that way and were fit to me by the head Guerini gunsmith (Andrew) in Cambridge.

This man speaks the truth.

dreadpirate · Jan 8, 2019

Aamdskeetshooter said:
Other examples include the Remington Peerless, the Ruger Red Label (better than the others, not meant for target shooting), Stoegers, Tristar.

I think Bill Ruger just rolled over in his grave when you compared Ruger to Stoeger and Tristar

Aamdskeetshooter · Jan 8, 2019

dreadpirate said:
I think Bill Ruger just rolled over in his grave when you compared Ruger to Stoeger and Tristar

Funny story about the Red Label. Someone I know was using it to shoot clays before he knew what he was doing. He had a gunsmith remove the automatic safety. He actually put a fair amount of shells through it. Well it broke. No problem. Ruger’s a reputable US company they’ll fix it. They did. They sent him a letter stating that the gun wasn’t meant to be a target gun. I think he mentioned that to them either on the phone or in the letter that was sent with the gun. It was meant for hunting and that it broke because HE SHOT IT TOO MUCH! They also put the safety back in and advised him that they could’ve voided the warranty because the safety was disabled/removed and to not have it removed again. I shot one round of Skeet with it I thought the gun kicked like a mule.

John from MD · Jan 9, 2019

Aamdskeetshooter said:
Funny story about the Red Label. Someone I know was using it to shoot clays before he knew what he was doing. He had a gunsmith remove the automatic safety. He actually put a fair amount of shells through it. Well it broke. No problem. Ruger’s a reputable US company they’ll fix it. They did. They sent him a letter stating that the gun wasn’t meant to be a target gun. I think he mentioned that to them either on the phone or in the letter that was sent with the gun. It was meant for hunting and that it broke because HE SHOT IT TOO MUCH! They also put the safety back in and advised him that they could’ve voided the warranty because the safety was disabled/removed and to not have it removed again. I shot one round of Skeet with it I thought the gun kicked like a mule.

My feelings about the Ruger as well. They were hyped quite a bit before the release date and several of my friends bought them. I shot a couple of rounds of skeet with one and went back to my Citori. :rolleyes:

aht2131 · Jan 9, 2019

Those of you that got your guns properly fitted, what was that process like? Did they have you mount one of those guns that could be adjusted every which way or did they have you mount whatever you were buying and measured off that?

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Any place with large selection of CZ/Huglu O/Us?

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