Gary Reeder
I had a couple ask about the shotgun
Tuesday, November 05, 2024, 13:21

patterning and how the new CZ did. I have a Ruger Red Label 28 gauge O/U to compare it with.All patterning was done at 20 yards which is about max for a 28 gauge. Just for chits and grins here is the Ruger 28 gauge patterns. So don't expect 12 gauge patterns. It ain't happening. There are some open spots in which a bunny could get thru. Somebody on here said the left barrel or bottom barrel was the tightest. That didn't prove out at all. In fact just the opposite.But that could be easily changed by changing the choke tube. I have 6 choke tubes with each gun.
The Ruger shot low in both barrels but in heavy brush and close shots that shouldn't pose a problem.
The first Ruger pattern is one of Larry Farley's fine loads, a modified choke load of #6 shot. The second is a factory load and again is a modified choke load and again #6 shot.This Ruger liked the modified choke with the improved modified choke real close in amount of shot on the sheet. The Ruger did not like the improved cylinder load at all so the one to go with on this shotgun was modified choke in both barrels or modified in the bottom barrel and Improved modified in the top barrel, and again the barrel chosen didn't really matter as the choke tubes are easily changed. .

The CZ did almost identical in shot patterns. Strangely enough the improved cylinder choke did well, putting pellets all over the target but in this gun they were scattered out, with not enough shot in any one area. Probably good for bunnies in real tight brush where the shots were close. Here is that target.

That may have been a fluke so I will use that choke and load in extremely heavy brush. Here is the other targets.

As you can see it is not a great pattern with either gun but for our rabbit hunting here in the heavy brush it will be fine if I do my part. We don't have much bird hunting here as we have no quail. We have Blue Grouse but I have to hike up to 10,000 feet before I find the Grouse. They range between 10,000 and 10,500 feet in elevation and are extremely hard to hunt unless you have a real good dog.

One strange thing about the CZ is it came with a rubber pad on the cheek piece. I thought it was for looks but decided to check the patterns with the pad on there. The pad was 1/2" thick and covered the entire cheek area. I found out the pad was a real no no. In every case with the pad the gun shot 6 to 8 inches high. I was really disappointed in the gun until I took the pad off (it was just stuck on with some type of light glue). After taking the pad off it was a totally different breed. The patterns were still an inch or two high but that is easily covered. Here are 2 of the CZ patterns with that pad on the gun.Both high and left.


All in all both the Ruger and CZ will be fine close up heavy brush guns for both Cotton Tail and Jack Rabbits.