CZ Bobwhite SXS - SO Tempted! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

retmil46 · #1 09-01-2012, 01:17 PM

Last Saturday made it down to Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte. After having a session with the gunsmith as far as what I needed in stock dimensions for a proper fit - which thankfully it seems on a generic factory stock I only need to worry about length of pull - I took the time to check out some of their selection, and in particular a couple of CZ Bobwhite's.

The 20 gauge version I checked out REALLY tempted me. It looked to be a true made-to-scale 20 - not a 12 with the barrels bored to 20, as with the Stoeger Uplander at over 7 lbs - narrow and light as a feather.

First time I'd really handled a SXS with a straight English stock, and I was surprised at how easy and natural that felt - one handed carry felt like I was toting a pistol instead of a long gun - and I could easily swing the gun up to my shoulder with one hand.

This particular 20, the stock dimensions were already nearly ideal for me. The same gunsmith I'd dealt with earlier was showing me the gun. He checked the fit on me, and said for this gun he wouldn't have to do a damn thing to it - it already fit me correctly as is. I made sure to note the serial number of that gun just in case.

Nice looking wood on it as well, nice fit and finish overall on the gun.

Problem is, I've already got quite a collection of scatterguns. Kinda hard pressed to justify bringing ANOTHER long gun into the house.

toomany MBZ · #2 09-01-2012, 01:50 PM

I'm a CZ fan, but don't have any of their shot guns.

They are made in Turkey.

Go ahead, get it!

BAVBMW · #3 09-04-2012, 12:18 PM

Just got one for the girlfriend. Haven't even gotten to shoot it yet. Hoping to do that next weekend. She sure likes the way it feels, and for that matter, so do I. What were they wanting for it? New or used?

MV

pj67coll · #4 09-04-2012, 12:52 PM

I say go get it. I'd really like to get myself a good side by side. You can never have enough guns, of any type

Hey, how about some pic's of your stash.

- Peter.

retmil46 · #5 09-04-2012, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAVBMW

Just got one for the girlfriend. Haven't even gotten to shoot it yet. Hoping to do that next weekend. She sure likes the way it feels, and for that matter, so do I. What were they wanting for it? New or used?

New. Price tag was the same as CZ's website, $770 - but when I stated that if I decided to buy it, it would be a straight-out purchase - no credit involved - the gunsmith said he could probably talk them into a decent cash discount - just guessing on my part it'd be somewhere in the 700 - 750 range.

I'm starting to think that perhaps I ought to check out the 12 gauge version. All of my scatterguns save one - the Stoeger Uplander 20 ga - are from before the steel/nontoxic shot era - and all of the 12's in that group only have 2 3/4 chambers - a definite consideration given that many state gamelands in the area also have waterfowl hunting and nontoxic shot requirements as a general rule, even if you aren't going after waterfowl.

Having a "modern" 12 gauge with 3 inch chambers, steel shot capable, and changeable choke tubes - to go along with the same capabilities in the Stoeger 20 gauge - might give me a few more options to play with.

retmil46 · #6 09-04-2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

I say go get it. I'd really like to get myself a good side by side. You can never have enough guns, of any type

Hey, how about some pic's of your stash.

Well, I don't have a digital camera operational at the moment, that can load pics to the computer, but I can give you the "short" list of just the shotguns -

Stoeger Uplander 20 gauge SXS - plain double trigger version.

Hunter Arms Fulton 12 gauge SXS - 28" barrels double trigger.

LC Smith Field Grade Featherweight 12 gauge SXS- 28" barrels M/F, single selective trigger, serial # puts it as being made around '31/'32.

Ithaca Lefever Nitro Special 12 gauge SXS- 28" barrels M/F double trugger

Ithaca Lefever Nitro Special 12 gauge SXS- originally choked M/F, someone had the barrels professionally cut down to 24 1/2" - would make one heck of a short range quail gun.

Browning B-SS 20 gauge SXS - 28" barrels M/F single selective trigger - found this one virtually brand new in a pawn shop in Bremerton WA for $300 in '92 - put less than a dozen shells thru it - as much as one of these is worth today, it's a definite "safe queen".

Browning A-5 Sweet Sixteen 16 gauge Belgian-made - 28" M vent rib barrel - my father's gun, bought brand new - it's not going ANYWHERE.

Browning A-5 Twenty 20 gauge Belgian-made - 28" M vent rib barrel.

Winchester Model 59 12 gauge Auto - 28" M Win-lite barrel (fiberglass wrapped barrel, floating chamber design) - only weighs six pounds - my dad talked about having one of these before I was old enough to remember, and regretted getting rid of it - found this one at a gun show in Bremerton back in '92, $300 used - and that was dad's Xmas present that year - old man was tickled pink.

Winchester Model 24 16 gauge SXS - 28" barrels M/F double trigger - my favorite out of them all - small slim and wicked light, a true built-to-scale 16 gauge - styled to where it looks like an English double rifle instead of a traditional SXS - might have been a cheap farmers gun back in the 40's, but for my money beats the crap out of most anything built today - that CZ Bobwhite is the closest I've found to it as far as a modern SXS that doesn't cost a kidney - 20 years ago you could pick one of these up for a couple Benjamins - nowadays one in decent shape is going for close to a grand, particularly the 16 and 20 gauge versions.

And that's the SHORT list that's worth mentioning.

pj67coll · #7 09-04-2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

Well, I don't have a digital camera operational at the moment, that can load pics to the computer, but I can give you the "short" list of just the shotguns -

Stoeger Uplander 20 gauge SXS - plain double trigger version.

Hunter Arms Fulton 12 gauge SXS - 28" barrels double trigger.

LC Smith Field Grade Featherweight 12 gauge SXS- 28" barrels M/F, single selective trigger, serial # puts it as being made around '31/'32.

Ithaca Lefever Nitro Special 12 gauge SXS- 28" barrels M/F double trugger

Ithaca Lefever Nitro Special 12 gauge SXS- originally choked M/F, someone had the barrels professionally cut down to 24 1/2" - would make one heck of a short range quail gun.

Browning B-SS 20 gauge SXS - 28" barrels M/F single selective trigger - found this one virtually brand new in a pawn shop in Bremerton WA for $300 in '92 - put less than a dozen shells thru it - as much as one of these is worth today, it's a definite "safe queen".

Browning A-5 Sweet Sixteen 16 gauge Belgian-made - 28" M vent rib barrel - my father's gun, bought brand new - it's not going ANYWHERE.

Browning A-5 Twenty 20 gauge Belgian-made - 28" M vent rib barrel.

Winchester Model 59 12 gauge Auto - 28" M Win-lite barrel (fiberglass wrapped barrel, floating chamber design) - only weighs six pounds - my dad talked about having one of these before I was old enough to remember, and regretted getting rid of it - found this one at a gun show in Bremerton back in '92, $300 used - and that was dad's Xmas present that year - old man was tickled pink.

Winchester Model 24 16 gauge SXS - 28" barrels M/F double trigger - my favorite out of them all - small slim and wicked light, a true built-to-scale 16 gauge - styled to where it looks like an English double rifle instead of a traditional SXS - might have been a cheap farmers gun back in the 40's, but for my money beats the crap out of most anything built today - that CZ Bobwhite is the closest I've found to it as far as a modern SXS that doesn't cost a kidney - 20 years ago you could pick one of these up for a couple Benjamins - nowadays one in decent shape is going for close to a grand, particularly the 16 and 20 gauge versions.

And that's the SHORT list that's worth mentioning.

Nice collection. I'm mostly ignorant of shotguns. How easu is it to get shells for the 16 gauge?

- Peter.

Air&Road · #8 09-04-2012, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

Last Saturday made it down to Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte. After having a session with the gunsmith as far as what I needed in stock dimensions for a proper fit - which thankfully it seems on a generic factory stock I only need to worry about length of pull - I took the time to check out some of their selection, and in particular a couple of CZ Bobwhite's.

The 20 gauge version I checked out REALLY tempted me. It looked to be a true made-to-scale 20 - not a 12 with the barrels bored to 20, as with the Stoeger Uplander at over 7 lbs - narrow and light as a feather.

First time I'd really handled a SXS with a straight English stock, and I was surprised at how easy and natural that felt - one handed carry felt like I was toting a pistol instead of a long gun - and I could easily swing the gun up to my shoulder with one hand.

This particular 20, the stock dimensions were already nearly ideal for me. The same gunsmith I'd dealt with earlier was showing me the gun. He checked the fit on me, and said for this gun he wouldn't have to do a damn thing to it - it already fit me correctly as is. I made sure to note the serial number of that gun just in case.

Nice looking wood on it as well, nice fit and finish overall on the gun.

Problem is, I've already got quite a collection of scatterguns. Kinda hard pressed to justify bringing ANOTHER long gun into the house.

Actually over 7 pounds for a 20 gauge side by side sounds heavy to me. My Ithaca SKB 12 gauge is lighter than that, six and a half I think.

It sounds as if you've a history with automatics, since that gun feels light.

All that said though, it doesn't matter if the gun fits you and you like it.

Since my youth I was always a side by side and pump fan, until my first skeet gun, a Winchester 101 Diamond Grade over/under about fifteen years ago. I would never carry it to the field though. I still don't feel right walking along with anything but a side by side or a really lightweight pump.

Thanks to the fire ants, I no longer hear or see Bob Whites. My favorite hunting is quail hunting and today, in my part of the world, it might as well be dinosaur hunting. The last time I heard a Bob White might be 12 years or so now. When I DID quail hunt, a lightweight shotgun filled the bill because of carrying it much of the day.

This brings up a thought too. Are you used to an automatic? Will the recoil of a lightweight double bother you? Of course you're talking a 20, but you still need to make sure it's okay before laying down your money.

Good luck with your decision.

Air&Road · #9 09-04-2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

New. Price tag was the same as CZ's website, $770 - but when I stated that if I decided to buy it, it would be a straight-out purchase - no credit involved - the gunsmith said he could probably talk them into a decent cash discount - just guessing on my part it'd be somewhere in the 700 - 750 range.

I'm starting to think that perhaps I ought to check out the 12 gauge version. All of my scatterguns save one - the Stoeger Uplander 20 ga - are from before the steel/nontoxic shot era - and all of the 12's in that group only have 2 3/4 chambers - a definite consideration given that many state gamelands in the area also have waterfowl hunting and nontoxic shot requirements as a general rule, even if you aren't going after waterfowl.

Having a "modern" 12 gauge with 3 inch chambers, steel shot capable, and changeable choke tubes - to go along with the same capabilities in the Stoeger 20 gauge - might give me a few more options to play with.

Tubes are pricey, but for the needs that you describe, it might be a good investment. This is usually only used by tournament shooters because their events involve different gauges and this is the best way to deal with it, but just buying the 20 gauge tubes might be a really good answer.

I have a Briley 20/28/410 set that was fitted for my 101. They are excellent pieces, but weren't cheap. I would think that if you contacted Briley and tell them what you need, they could fit a 20 gauge only set for reasonable money. They are a top notch outfit, or at least they were when I dealt with them about 15 years ago.

BAVBMW · #10 09-04-2012, 02:43 PM

Actually, I just bought I full set of 5 tubes for the CZ Bobwhite, directly from CZ, for ~$60. And it came with the wrench. I'd been shopping and was prepared for more, but they were on sale on CZ's site, so I did quite well.

MV

Air&Road · #11 09-04-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAVBMW

Actually, I just bought I full set of 5 tubes for the CZ Bobwhite, directly from CZ, for ~$60. And it came with the wrench. I'd been shopping and was prepared for more, but they were on sale on CZ's site, so I did quite well.

MV

Are you talking about tube chokes or tubes for allowing a 12 gauge gun shoot other gauges?

BAVBMW · #12 09-04-2012, 02:58 PM

Oh, sorry, choke tubes.
I've been shopping for the other sort as well, but not with nearly the success.

MV

Air&Road · #13 09-04-2012, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAVBMW

Oh, sorry, choke tubes.
I've been shopping for the other sort as well, but not with nearly the success.

MV

Even so, $60 for a set of factory choke tubes sounds pretty reasonable.

BAVBMW · #14 09-04-2012, 04:23 PM

Well, considering all the aftermarket ones I was finding were approx $25-$30 each, I thought five for $60 was quite nice. Plus a simple wrench. Now if only I could find the time to pattern it...

MV

retmil46 · #15 09-05-2012, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Nice collection. I'm mostly ignorant of shotguns. How easu is it to get shells for the 16 gauge?

5 to 10 years ago, you would have sworn the 16 gauge was a dying breed in this country - very few places carried shells for them, and a very limited selection at those that did. And very few manufacturers still carried any new guns in 16 gauge.

Reasons for this were many and varied, and would be a lengthy discussion just by itself.

But thankfully, for those of us that still have a fondness for the 16, in the past few years it looks to be making a comeback of sorts - more and more places carrying 16 gauge shells, and something resembling a decent selection at that. And more gun manufacturers seem to be bringing out 16 gauge versions of their guns these days - there's a 16 gauge version of the CZ Bobwhite - albeit with old-fashioned fixed chokes and only 2 3/4" shells. Seems when it came to changeable choke tubes and 3" magnum shells, the gun manufacturers for varying reasons decided to concentrate on the 12 and 20, and left the 16 as the "odd man out".

If nothing else, you can go online to places like Brownell's and Cheaper Than Dirt, and see what's available in 16 gauge ammo.

Downside is, because it's one of the less-common gauges now, the price for a box of shells is going to be noticeably higher than for a 12 or 20. 410, 28, and to a lesser extent 16 gauge shells cost a premium these days. A friend in San Antonio sold off his son's 410 and bought him a new 20 gauge pump - the price of 410 shells had become so ridiculous he figured he'd have the gun paid for in a couple years just on the difference in cost between 410 and 20 gauge ammo.

Going on a shotgun forum and starting a thread dissing anyone still clinging to their "oddball" 16 gauges, is even worse than starting a "which oil is best" thread on an MB forum!!

From what I read years ago, over in Europe the 16 gauge was (may still be) what the 12 gauge is in the U.S., and considered to be the "proper" gauge for a gentleman's fowling piece, the 12 gauge being looked down upon as typical American overkill - a handcannon market hunter's gun.