Welcome, all, to another gun review. I’ve done a small number of gun reviews on this page, and if you’ve read any of them, you’ll know that I keep it simple. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I’m not here to tell you about the intricacies of this firearm. I’m here to tell you about the basics, how well I like the firearm, what I don’t like about it, and my recommendation as to whether you should buy it.
The CZ 612 Magnum Waterfowl
First and foremost, I was given this firearm as a sort of “gift” from when my grandpa passed away. If the person that gave me this firearm is reading this, know that I’m very thankful and I love this gun. Any negative comments about this gun won’t keep me from using it and enjoying it (as can be shown by how much I’ve used it).
This is the CZ 612 Field model, which includes a wooden, laminate stock.
The CZ 612 was a shotgun released by the Czech Armory in multiple different models, including the Target, Magnum Turkey, Magnum Waterfowl, Field, Home Defense, and perhaps More (but this is what I could find). My understanding is that they are all pretty similar and that variances are in stock and finish. Further, the Magnum Turkey and Magnum Waterfowl vary just in terms of the camo they are finished in.
The basic stats for the CZ 612 Waterfowl Magnum are as follows:
MSRP: $445.00
Chambering: 12 Gauge Pump
Capacity: 4+1
Max Shell Length: 3 ½”
Barrel Length: 28”
Chokes: 5 Extended Black Chokes
Stock: Camouflage Synthetic
Length of Pull: 14 ½”
Barrel Finish: Camouflage
Rib: 8mm Flat Vent
Overall Length: 48.75”
Weight: 6.8lbs
Comb: 1 5/8”
Heel: 2 ¼”
Safety: Crossbolt Behind Trigger
I also want to mention that the shotgun is hydro dipped in a duck hunting, downed corn-type camo, which is nice. After many outings, the finish doesn’t have a single flaw on it, even after pushing through thick brush with it.
The firearm also comes with a fiber-optic sight instead of a bead, which is nice, but we’ll talk about it later.
Last but not least, I want to point out that the 612 comes with 5 different chokes, which I think is extremely helpful. This makes it so that I don’t have to go out and buy chokes, but instead have what I need. Are they the nicest chokes ever? No, but they do the job.
The Pros
Let’s talk about the pros of this firearm.
Weight-wise, this gun is almost a quarter-pound lighter than a Remington 870 and about half a pound lighter than a Mossberg 500 (pretty much the two standards of shotguns). While this may not seem like that big of a deal, after an entire day in the field, the difference can be felt. I should also mention that the firearm comes with sling studs so you can add a sling!
Next, let’s talk about the pump action. The pump itself has very little play, which is extremely nice when you’re trying to be quiet in a duck blind. This gives a superior sense of quality that I, personally, really like.
Accuracy-wise, I can’t complain. Listen, I’ve shot an 870 or 500 for pretty much the entirety of my life, so switching to this gun was an adjustment – I couldn’t hit anything. I found myself shooting low for some reason. However, with practice, I’ve become a lot better. Don’t get me wrong, I still shoot low on occasion, but not nearly as much.
My BIGGEST compliment of this firearm, which I’ve already sort of hit on, is the overall feel of it. I’ve sat here thinking of how I can explain this better, but I can’t. The feel of this firearm is great. It’s balanced. It swings amazing. It almost glides in the air. It’s great, but it’s hard to explain.
The Cons
The cons list is short, but both of the cons have to do with loading.
First, the loading port cover (is that what it’s called?) “bites”. I call it biting, in that if your finger isn’t in the right position when loading, the loading port cover snaps back and bites your finger. Let me tell you, when it’s very cold outside, this can be pretty painful. I imagine that this is going to get better as the gun ages and gets more use, but this makes me angry regardless.
The Biter
Next, it seems like the cartridge stop is a tad further forward in the CZ compared to, say, an 870. Why is this a problem? Because if you don’t push the shell far enough forward so that the shell stop grabs it, once the port cover snaps down (while destroying your finger) and the shell goes under the port cover. This is an EXTREME, pain the butt to handle, especially while in the field. I’ve had this happen twice and I’ve had to take apart the shotgun each time. Not fun.
Ah, and I forgot one more, minuscule thing. From the get-go, the front sight has been loose. It’s a screw-in sight, so I just screw it back in, but it should have been glued in from the factory. Was it glued in when I got it? Maybe, but it became loose quickly if it was. I can fix this easily by adding some Loctite, but I shouldn’t have to.
Do I Recommend the CZ 612?
If you’re looking for a high-quality pump shotgun without just getting an 870 or 500, I highly recommend the CZ 612. MSRP is about $450, but you can get in-store or online for about $400. I should mention that this is a prime competitor for the Benelli SuperNova, which is the most garbage shotgun I’ve ever shot. Or wait, I didn’t shoot it because it wouldn’t shoot… but anyways.
Go pick yourself up a CZ 612 and let me know how you like it. I’ve enjoyed mine as I’ve shot many squirrels, a turkey, cottontails, jackrabbits, and many ducks with this gun, and it’s got many more to shoot.