Has CZ (BRNO) quietly taken over the rifle market on higher end guns

gizamo · Dec 11, 2009

Doesn't seem to matter what caliber of late... CZ seems to have a wonderful offering of high quality rifles at a decent price point. Frankly, some of their overings are competitive with the best makers at a greatly reduced price. That won't last much longer as folks are catching on. Not sure if it is the de-stabilized dollar ~ but their guns are quickly coming up in price...to the level of the best U.S makers.

Anyone ?

giz

Ron H. · Dec 12, 2009

Sir, could be. I started hearing good things about Brno probably 20 years ago, and I can't recall hearing anything negative since. For years, they were more popular with the cognoscenti than with Joe Sixpack, but that seems to be changing lately.

JMHO, FWIW.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

Hermann · Dec 12, 2009

gizamo said:
Doesn't seem to matter what caliber of late... CZ seems to have a wonderful offering of high quality rifles at a decent price point. Frankly, some of their overings are competitive with the best makers at a greatly reduced price. That won't last much longer as folks are catching on. Not sure if it is the de-stabilized dollar ~ but their guns are quickly coming up in price...to the level of the best U.S makers.

Anyone ?

giz

CZ over here in Europe is rather cheap stuff.
You have to consider 1US$ = 0.66€ !

anglaispierre · Dec 12, 2009

My first rifle was a CZ 452 followed by a 550. I traded the latter part-exchange for a Winchester 94 in .444 Marlin calibre, and have regretted it ever since. Love the Winnie, but wish I had paid full price in cash and kept the 550. It was such a nice rifle to handle and shoot. Still have the 452. I was shown another rifle which looked cheap, then I saw the 452 for a slightly higher price. Still less than most other makes. Bought it instantly. They really are good quality rifles.

Also have a CZ 75B pistol. Excellent value.

canoeguy · Dec 12, 2009

I bought a CZ 452 .22 rifle, $383 out the door, and it is the best shooting .22 rifle I have ever owned. I can't think of any rifle made in the USA that makes a rifle anywhere near as good for that kind of money.

For comparison, I paid $550 for a Marlin Model 39A .22 that is being packed up to go back to the factory, for the second time. Had it three months, first time the follower on the magazine tube came came apart (on the 40th round fired from a new rifle!), tying up the rifle like you have never seen. Now it won't extract a fired cartridge, empty cases stick in the chamber. Clean the rifle, it will shoot OK for 50 or so rounds, then cases won't extract. I thought it was the "Cadillac of .22's", not the case.

The new Cadillac of .22's? A CZ 452 LUX, the one with the walnut stock....

Smith357 · Dec 12, 2009

I'm not sure I would consider the CZ rifles "high end" but I do believe they are by far the biggest bang for the buck. When I hear "High End" I think of rifles like Cooper, Kimber, Anschutz, Dakota, and H&H. I would put CZ in the second tier makers like with Remington, Winchester, and Browning.

I had a 452 Lux for some time and it was a great shooter but it did lack certain refinements. The trigger needed minor work to get it up to my expectations, and the trigger guard was just stamped sheet metal. Then on some of the ceterfires I'm not sure i personally care for the magazine well protruding from the bottom of the rifle and breaking up the fine lines. In the end I traded the Lux and moved up to a Kimber which is everything I expect a $1000 .22lr sporter to be.

Wyatt Burp · Dec 12, 2009

Here's a cute little BRNO 8MM I posted before. I've been thinking about selling it. I don't know. It has fantastic DS triggers and express rear sights.

JohnK · Dec 12, 2009

I LOVE 'em !

I now own a 452 (.17 HRM), and a 527 (.221 Rem. Fireball).

The most accurate rifles I own, and I have a bunch.

The 527 has the absolutely best trigger that I have ever encountered.

Andy Griffith · Dec 12, 2009

I have one of the CZ 452 Silhouettes...I got rid of a Kimber for it and it shoots like a dream.

However, I do have a problem with CZ...their customer service is below par from my only experience with them. I had to send my 452 back because the crown wasn't cut correctly and at first would pattern instead of group.

I boxed it up and sent it back with a note in there explaining the problem. Two weeks later, I received the gun back...and they refused it!!!

It seems that you have to get a return number before you send it back. You could have boiled an egg on my head. I called them and talked to someone in their customer service and told them that I needed a call tag because I wasn't going to pay shipping again...I had to call several times until I got someone in management to grant my request. I finally got a shipping label two weeks later...took six weeks to get it back, but they did include a new magazine.

The refusal on the package is unacceptable in my opinion.

They did repair it and it shoot great, but it was a lot of trouble.

Why was I the only one to get a bad one out of everyone I know who has one?

Plus, the price on the 452 "Military" isn't anywhere as good as it was when they first imported it. I remember them being $149.99...not any longer.

hoppes-no9 · Dec 12, 2009

Andy Griffith said:
I boxed it up and sent it back with a note in there explaining the problem. Two weeks later, I received the gun back...and they refused it!!! It seems that you have to get a return number before you send it back.

The refusal on the package is unacceptable in my opinion.

That's industry standard practice. I don't think any business wants used guns showing up on their doorstep unannounced.

I, on the other hand, will accept any that show up.

Dougdeb · Dec 12, 2009

My wife and I bought a CZ 452 Lux almost six years ago at a dealer in AZ that was closing its doors. We paid about $200. It is without a doubt the nicest shooting .22lr that we have. I prefer it to my 10/22T. The handling is smooth and effortless. The bolt action is smooth and doesn't bind anywhere. Even with open sights, the rifle is incredibly accurate. We had mounted an optic sight to it, but decided that it ruined the look and balance.
We're actually looking for another one to add to the collection.
Thanks,
Doug

Smith357 · Dec 12, 2009

Dougdeb said:
We're actually looking for another one to add to the collection.
Thanks,
Doug

I saw a half dozen of CZ LUX at Powderhorn Outdoor Sports a month ago.

Powderhorn Outdoor Sports Center in Williston, VT 05495 - (802) 878-2865

gizamo · Dec 12, 2009

I currently have 4 CZ rifles. All 22's. One is a .22 lr rifle, two are 22 Magnums, and the fourth is a 22 Hornet. Fit and finish are fabulous and the mini mauser action is really about as good as it gets. All my rifles have excellent wood. Every CZ I have shot have been scary accurate.

I've been eyeing their centerfires. Some of the set trigger versions have really perked my interest. And it seems of late that the rifles are actually getting higher end on finish...

How do you guys like their centerfires?

giz

Andy Griffith · Dec 12, 2009

hoppes-no9 said:
That's industry standard practice. I don't think any business wants used guns showing up on their doorstep unannounced.

I beg to differ- that is not industry standard. S&W or Ruger doesn't do that- but they do issue shipping labels- CZ does not, but they did for me because I was persistent. I do understand that they are just an importer and not a manufacturer (except DW, but that's different)- as such importers seem to have chips on their shoulders- at least most of the ones I've dealt with.

If I had lived closer, I'd a driven down there and given them a piece of my mind.
Maybe I was just grumpy at the time...but I felt like I was treated 2nd class. They got it repaired and I wasn't out any more money...so I was happy- this is just a warning so it doesn't happen to anyone else.

They are great guns, but I couldn't bring myself to get another. They are a bit overpriced right now IMHO.

K.38 · Dec 12, 2009

The CZ rifles are breeding like rabbits in my gun safe.

I bought the first one about 2 years ago from a kid who sold a bunch of fence for a farm store and they gave him a 452 Full Stock .22. He didn't have any use for a bolt gun so I bought it from him for IIRC $200.

The 452 FS is a beautiful rifle and can easily shoot 5 shot one hole groups at 25 yards and easily shoot 5 shot groups at 50 yards that can be covered by a dime. I put a Leupold VX-2 2x7 scope on it.

The next CZ that appeared in the gun safe is the bolt action 7.62x39 carbine with an old Lyman 4x with a european reticle in it. Even with nasty russian ammo it shoots great.

Then came a 550 in 6.5x55 Swede. That is a tack driving rifle also. Harvested a big bodied 3x4 mule deer with it a month ago. That rifle loves Hornady 140 grain spire point bullets. It has a Leupold VX-2 3x9 mounted.

Next CZ is a 452 Lux .22. I haven't put a scope on that rifle and probably won't as it came with military type iron sights.

The next CZ is the 452 varmint. I'm waiting on a Leupold 3-9x33 rimfire scope and rings to come in from manventure outdoors. I expect this rifle will shoot good also.

In my opinion the CZ rifles today are what Remington, Ruger, Winchester should be making. Remington hasn't made a decent .22 since the 500 series in the 1950's. For production rifles the fit and finish of the CZ line is great. The action design is old school Mauser and the .22 line have receivers made of machined steel not plastic and castings like the domestic makers.

While I won't be trading off any of my Rem 700s or Win 70s I sure won't be buying any new ones either.

GO CZ!

Rule3 · Dec 12, 2009

I do not think this "event" is just happening. CZ has made excellent products for some time. I have several CZ pistols and a 452 American which is a outstanding 22LR with excellent walnut stock. For the money they can not be beat for quality. The CZ75, although rather large for a 9mm is a tack driver and used a lot in competition. Their whole product line is excellent. I want one of their shotguns now

Where do you find a tack driver 22 with this kind of wood for $375?

Mickey D · Dec 12, 2009

JohnK said:
I LOVE 'em !

I now own a 452 (.17 HRM), and a 527 (.221 Rem. Fireball).

The most accurate rifles I own, and I have a bunch.

The 527 has the absolutely best trigger that I have ever encountered.

Ditto here.
I also have two, a 453 in .17HMR with set trigger and a 527 in .204 Ruger. Sleepers I tell ya. Very accurate and great trigger systems.

CZ 527 Varmint with Kevlar stock in .204 Ruger (great for squirrel and coyote)

Kuglespritz · Dec 12, 2009

I also own a few CZ products including a 452. However, these rifles along w/ the 75B pistols are made at the UB (Uhersky Brod) location. Which by the way is a huge firearms manufacturing complex. Although some long guns are now made in BRNO by CZ, most of the ones coming into the U.S. are made in UB.

Out West · Dec 13, 2009

In my safe are three CZ rifles: one 452 22lr, one 452 22 mag and a 527 7.62X39. All of them are accurate, smooth and very pleasing to the eye. I've taken more deer with the 527 than any other rifle that own.

Out West

fyimo · Dec 13, 2009

I bought my first CZ rifle a couple of months ago and it's a 550 American in 22-250 that I topped with a Nikon Coyote Varmint scope in 4.5x14x40mm and I really like the combination for varmint hunting. This one isn't scary accurate but it shoots an inch at 100 yards. I'm still doing load development trying to find that magic 1/2 inch at 100 yards round. It's a great gun for the price and other then their clips are a little over priced it's a great gun.

Has CZ (BRNO) quietly taken over the rifle market on higher end guns

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