Thoughts and Opinions on the CZ 712 Utility with Nordic ext Tube

[Corpral_Agarn]

Hello THR,

The title pretty much says it.

I am in the market for an entry level 3 gun shotgun.
After a little bit of research I was thinking that that CZ 712 Utility with a +3 extension tube would be a good place to start.

Thoughts?

Opinions?

Bring em on.

Thanks!

 

[Virginian]

Remington 1100s and Benelli M1s seem to dominate all the three gun I have seen. A used 1100 would be an excellent starting point. 870 mag extensions will fit.

 

[rule303]

Benelli's seem to be king of the hill for 3 gun, followed by highly modified Remingtons. To me the 1100 is a poor choice without some major upgrades. The clumsy loading and weight is a deal breaker for me. The budget choice would be a Mossberg 930 IMO. The CZ seems to be an OK gun, but I have no idea how one would hold up to high volume competition.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I have a slightly different approach to these competitions. What shotgun (if any), rifle, pistol do you keep as a home defense firearm? Those are the ones I would want to use in the competition so I can get more hands on use with the ones I may use to defend myself. For the trap league I belong to (which runs most of the year), I run a Mossberg 500 pump. My home defense shotgun is a Mossberg 590A1. By doing so, I get 50 rounds of practice a week that directly translates to home defense. I may get a CCW in a liberal part of CA (just down to the shooting qual, all else done). My carry will be a Glock 30SF. Later this year, I will start doing some IPSC and will run my Glock 30SF.

If this isn't a concern, the only semi auto that I've seen used in lots of training classes that is dead nuts reliable is the Benelli M4.

 

[Hookeye]

Please explain how shooting trap translates to HD?

 

[oneounceload]

It doesn't except for practice in working the action. Personally, I would rather have a dedicated trap gun with better balance, MUCH better trigger, and better build quality - but that's JMO.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Please explain how shooting trap translates to HD?

I can load the shotgun very smooth and quick literally with my eyes closed. I use a side saddle as well. I practice using the safety each and every shot so that it is completely natural for putting it on or off. I chamber check and mag check now without even looking. I have ingrained pumping immediately after each shot. By doing double or five stand, I know that I don't short stroke and can get two shots off quickly. Last year when I took a number of defensive fire arm classes, we practiced shooting at moving humanoid targets, my having to track clays made it easy for me to track and make center shots. On man on man competitions I came in second out of 20 and that was due to my comfort and speed at reloading. The same speed came in hand during rolling thunder drills. Basically, I shoot the shotgun so often, it feels like an extension of me. Obviously not everything translates but trap has helped me become better at weapons manipulation. That's why I think it helps to do competitions with the home defense weapons.

 

[browningguy]

I'll have to say I've never shot one of the CZ's. However I would look closely at the Mossberg 930's, various lengths etc. to choose from and they seem to be very reliable now after the first batch about 3-4 years ago. I shoot the Rhythm model (a 930 with a 12 round tube) and it's been through many thousands of rounds now with no problems. It's reliable enough I use it now instead of my Benelli M2.

 

[Nom de Forum]

Please explain how shooting trap translates to HD?

If you took a minute to think about it, it would be obvious to you that the manual of arms of his 500 is nearly identical to his 590A.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Oneounce, I do agree with you that a double is much nicer and I would likely hit a few more clays. In fact, at one point here I had a thread asking for help to push my trap to the next level and my conclusion based on that feedback was I had likely reached the limit of my pump equipment. I had considered going to a double. After much consideration, I decided to stay with the pump so I could get more practice with a surrogate of my self defense firearm. My brother switched to a double and now he usually beats me by a clay or two each game. Before that it was more of a 50 50 on who would beat whom.

 

[Vernon1]

Convert 870 Twenty Gauge To Home Defense

I have a Twenty-five year old 20 gauge 870. It has the long hunting/skeet barrel and the wooden furniture.

I was thinking a new 18.5 barrel mag tube extension and a tritium bead sight.


Is this an unwise cash outlay? Is this considered making a silk purse out of a sow's ear?

I bought the gun for next to nothing. 1995 maybe too old for this project?

What do you guys think?

67 year old man from the south on pension...

 

[Jack.I]

Vernon1 -

Just chop the barrel down and put on a snap on fiber optic sight; http://www.amazon.com/HIVIZ-Plain-B...141&sr=8-3&keywords=shotgun+fiber+optic+sight then clamp on a good LED light and you're all set.

 

[oneounceload]

1995 maybe too old for this project?

Nope, hit the pawn shops for a used barrel either in the length you want, or an old one you can cut down (do NOT use a pipe cutter)

 

[Hookeye]

Loading one shell at a time, standing upright at 16-20 yards........even if you take the safety on and off ............does what ? Teaches you to shoot upright and to take the safety on and off.

Been blasting trap, informal clays and hunting, for 40 yrs.
Had 870, 835, 500 and BPS pumps. Plus a few 1100's.
Never flubbed switching back and forth, never short stroked a pump either.
Not a stilted affair working one either. Fast n smooth.

My hunting buddy has the same number of years hunting. Still has his 870 Magnum from 1979 (bought new). He shoots, lifts head, works action, gets back down, and then shoots again.

Kills me.

All that use of the same gun............doesn't help.

Some folks are more aware of what's going on, what needs to go on, than others.

You either got it, or you don't. Running the same platform among various activities might help. That's still no guarantee.

Long story short, after a few yrs of pump gun waterfowling I went to auto. Blasted a yote out a ways. Ran after (pastures segregated by hot wire). Load and jumping wire, firing.
I ended up anchoring the yote. Run/reload/shoot...........on the move. Not one bobble or dropped shell.

And I don't do 3 gun.

Did try a little IPSC deal with my street rig. Got beat by B class guys. Was in the top 2 for a couple weeks.

Not against training, just don't think it makes up for a lack of physical or mental skill.

 

[Hookeye]

Nom,

I knew what the guns were, wasn't so simple minded as to think that two pump guns was fully telling of how trap translated to HD.

Personally, I don't think it translates, even when running a common platform.

 

[Nom de Forum]

Loading one shell at a time, standing upright at 16-20 yards........even if you take the safety on and off ............does what? Teaches you to shoot upright and to take the safety on and off.

That is precisely why it has value for home defense! Under stress that is one of the skills the inexperienced sometimes fail to demonstrate.

Not against training, just don't think it makes up for a lack of physical or mental skill.

I am not a great gun guru, but I have been a Class A IPSC shooter, hunted, been an NRA instructor, and shooting instructor at USAJFKSWC. I have seen plenty of students with top tier physical and mental skills. I am sure that most other shooting instructors of all disciplines would agree with me that physical or mental skill does not make up for a lack of training.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Well it only took four posts to completely derail this thread asking about a specific shotgun and accessory for three gun competition and turn it into a clays vs. home defense thread.

OP,
I don't have any hands on familiarity with the CZ 712 utility. Looks like most reviews online lean toward favorable. Looks like a decent set up for 3-gun on a budget. It'll probably work better than my long recoil action Remington Model 48 with mag tube extension.