CZ SxS quality?

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

I know a number of CAS shooters use CZs in our game. What are your thoughts about their quality?  Does the “color case hardened finish” stand up to use?  Does the wood look nice?

 

I’m thinking about the Sharptail model for skeet and sporting clays, but nobody around here has one in stock that I can check out in person before buying. 
 

Any insights are much appreciated. 

[DeaconKC]

I've been using my CZ Hammer for 2 seasons and it has held up beautifully. The CC finish still looks great.

[I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321]

IMO, most CAS shooters are more concerned with the quality such as reliability and durability.  I, myself, wouldn't mind shooting a blued finished/hardwood stock but as long as they are durable and reliable rather than aesthetic.  I don't personally own one but knew a lot of pard that do and they love it.  Just my one dollar (inflation)

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

Maybe not exactly apples to apples, but my old Liberty II, which is almost identical, had what I thought was maybe soft wood for the stock as it got lots of little dents in the bottom. I believe that was from hitting my pistol butts which were butt forward at the time. Other than that, held up good and the case colors looked about like new when I sold it 20 yrs later.

[Lead Monger]

With some tuning the CZ Sharptail is a very nice gun. Smooth and trouble free so far.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

You'll like it. 

Get it tuned....

[Matthew Duncan]

2 hours ago, Lead Monger said:

With some tuning the CZ Sharptail is a very nice gun. Smooth and trouble free so far.

I have the same opinion and experience.

 

Several  months search could not find one locally.  Did find one online and purchased it from Bud’s Gunshop, shipped to my LGS within a week. 

[Snakebite]

5 hours ago, Charlie Harley, #14153 said:

I know a number of CAS shooters use CZs in our game. What are your thoughts about their quality?  Does the “color case hardened finish” stand up to use?  Does the wood look nice?

 

I’m thinking about the Sharptail model for skeet and sporting clays, but nobody around here has one in stock that I can check out in person before buying. 
 

Any insights are much appreciated. 

Message sent

[Dream Chaser, SASS #79316]

Own three.  I am rough on all three and they hold up nicely.  Mine were all tuned for SASS and are easy to shoot whereas out of the box they are stiff as can be.

[Rip Snorter]

I have the hammer model.  Well made, attractive, but as mentioned, very stiff out of the box.  Bought it intending to compete again, but that didn't pan out.

[Erasmus]

I recently purchased one and have been using it for a couple of months. It's smoothing out, but could use some action work. The hammers are probably overly stiff, the action is loosening up a bit but still takes some work. Shells come out just fine. The wood is kind of plane, but attractive. The case colors are nice and so far holding up to black powder just fine. The black chrome barrels aren't as attractive as bluing, but look nice nonetheless. I developed a little rust on the bottom of the rib between the barrels after my first post-black powder hose down. I've since changed my cleaning method to something more directed. 

 

Edit to fix autocorrect miscorrections.

 

Also to add: the right hammer screw came loose on my first match with it, I've since tightened it and just check it after each stage when I'm swabbing. So far so good, but I can see it might loosen up again.

 

Also, the safety is a bummer.

[Hashknife Cowboy]

I have a pair of CZ Coach hammered SG's.  One is my go to and the other is a safe queen and only used as a prop in a Redneck Wedding by the Brides Father.  But that is another story.  I bought these when they first came out, had a great experience with a prior CZ and was never disappointed.  My go-to CAS SG shows the wear but it just adds to the character.  Never a problem, no complaints or concerns.  They are stiff when new, they do break in nicely if your patient or you can find a good smith to speed up the process.  But they are expensive.

 

 

 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

On 5/31/2024 at 8:47 AM, Charlie Harley, #14153 said:

I’m thinking about the Sharptail model for skeet and sporting clays

Yet everyone is responding how well it works for CAS.  Not the same thing guys.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Hey Charlie,

 

In my sordid past, prior to SASS/CAS, I was an avid Skeet and Sporting Clays competitor.  Whilst for our current game, I really prefer Hammer Double Side by Side, for Skeet and Clays I would have to suggest you look for nice Over/Under with choke tubes.  Much more Harmonious for those games.

 

I am no help at all on CZ Box Lock guns.  Oopsies!!

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

I hestiated to respond since everytime a question like this comes up somone will always say they use their outside hammer 18" barrel side by side for skeet and sporting clays.  Yes you can go shoot in the air with an outside hammer 18" barrel side by side but if the intent is to shoot sporting clays and skeet even semi-seriously a seven pound, hunting, entry level side by side with lots of drop in the stock is not the proper tool for the job.  Since CC broke the ice an eight pound+ O/U with a stock shaped for shotgun sports competition is more appropriate.  Compared to a Stoeger side by side the CZ may be "quality".  But it is not designed for the volume of use a sporting clays or skeet shotgun is put to.  About the bottom line entry level shotgun I would recommend for even semi-serious competion is the Browning CX series.  There are some Beretta's is the same price range but they are lighweight hunting guns and will beat you to death if firing hundreds of rounds in a day.

[Matthew Duncan]

3 hours ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

Yet everyone is responding how well it works for CAS.  Not the same thing guys.

Excellent point.  Perhaps OP would get better responses from a Clay Skeet forum?

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

On 6/1/2024 at 7:08 PM, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

Yet everyone is responding how well it works for CAS.  Not the same thing guys.

I appreciate everyone’s insights on the CZ for both CAS and clays. A little more background might make things clearer…

 

When I’m at the clays range and “competing”, my go-to is a Winchester 101. It was my dad’s. Now it’s mine. Neither one of us miss very much with it. 
 

But I also have a quirk for beautiful SxS guns. There’s something about stepping off with a 1936 Parker or a Browning BSS.  They may cost me a few targets, but they sure are fun and more than a little nostalgic. Both have family history tied to them. 
 

A spinal injury has mostly pushed me away from the 12 gauge guns. I have a 20 gauge Benelli semi-auto that is easy on the shoulder and breaks targets, but its synthetic stock just doesn’t turn my aesthetic crank. 
 

So now I’m looking at 28 gauge SxSs. I have a buddy who likes his CZ in that caliber, but he uses it a few times a year for pheasant and grouse. 
 

SASS shooters are some of the most knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to how well guns perform when run hard, hence the original post. The feedback has convinced me that the CZ is not the gun for me. 
 

Thank you all for your thoughts and the time taken to share them.