CZ O/U 20ga
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2025 11:10 am
I decided to change up my lever action 410 to a 20ga O/U for grouse hunting. I found the noise of working a lever action spooked birds and hunting out of a Utv I couldn’t keep a loaded shotgun on board. Thought I would switch up to a O/U thinking it would be much quieter to to close the action. I sold my Henry 410 and yesterday re-invested the funds in a new shotgun.
I looked around quite a bit while waiting for a buyer for my 410. I really wanted 26” barrels but that limited me to a Mossberg Silver Reserve or a Stevens 512 Gold Wing I found used at a local shop. The Mossberg was at Cabela’s over in Idaho and I didn’t look at it. I did see a 410 Silver Reserve here at a local shop and I didn’t like it. The Stevens is no longer in production and has had firing pin issues in the past. The one in Spokane I looked at looked perfect and hadn’t been shot or carried much. It was priced at $599 and the Mossberg was $699 new.
I had looked at a CZ at Sportsman’s Warehouse, it is the Woodcock model and I really liked it. It was $699 as I recall but might have been $659. Finally right here in good old’ Deer Park our LGS had a pair of CZ Drake models on hand. A new one for $669 and a used one for $579. Yesterday I had made up my mind to buy the new Drake and headed up to the shop. Taking another look at the used Drake other than a slight blemish near the muzzle end and a few very small nicks in the pistol grip it was perfect. Checked with the guy at the counter and it had the hard case and all five choke tubes and wrench. Couldn’t see any reason to pay the extra $90 for the new one so bought the used.
The CZ does have 28” barrels so I compromised on that but I wanted extractors not ejectors and it does have extractors. The Drake is pretty much an entry level shotgun and isn’t very fancy with engraving etc. but I don’t think the grouse will care.
So now I get to wait until the Saturday after next (10 business days) to bring home my new shotgun. Thankfully my wife shoots a 20 ga so we have lots of ammo on hand. Pics to follow.
I looked around quite a bit while waiting for a buyer for my 410. I really wanted 26” barrels but that limited me to a Mossberg Silver Reserve or a Stevens 512 Gold Wing I found used at a local shop. The Mossberg was at Cabela’s over in Idaho and I didn’t look at it. I did see a 410 Silver Reserve here at a local shop and I didn’t like it. The Stevens is no longer in production and has had firing pin issues in the past. The one in Spokane I looked at looked perfect and hadn’t been shot or carried much. It was priced at $599 and the Mossberg was $699 new.
I had looked at a CZ at Sportsman’s Warehouse, it is the Woodcock model and I really liked it. It was $699 as I recall but might have been $659. Finally right here in good old’ Deer Park our LGS had a pair of CZ Drake models on hand. A new one for $669 and a used one for $579. Yesterday I had made up my mind to buy the new Drake and headed up to the shop. Taking another look at the used Drake other than a slight blemish near the muzzle end and a few very small nicks in the pistol grip it was perfect. Checked with the guy at the counter and it had the hard case and all five choke tubes and wrench. Couldn’t see any reason to pay the extra $90 for the new one so bought the used.
The CZ does have 28” barrels so I compromised on that but I wanted extractors not ejectors and it does have extractors. The Drake is pretty much an entry level shotgun and isn’t very fancy with engraving etc. but I don’t think the grouse will care.
So now I get to wait until the Saturday after next (10 business days) to bring home my new shotgun. Thankfully my wife shoots a 20 ga so we have lots of ammo on hand. Pics to follow.