I shot a CG Summit until I couldn't stand the beatings any longer, despite a lot of work by professional fitters and myself to properly fit the gun to me. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with CG and they have fantastic customer service. When I decided to buy a new gun I targeted the DT-11, MX-2000S, Invictus, and Parcours. I shot all of them, and they were OK, but didn't wow me. At the time I knew nothing about Zoli. At the 2019 Nationals I was introduced to Paolo Zoli and then had a 2 hour conversation about Zolis and the Z-sport. I was impressed by listening to him and he asked me to demo a Zoli. I demo'd the Z-sport mid rib and was blown away. It pointed where I looked and had only barely perceptible recoil. So I started doing research about Zoli. Based on what I've learned I think the Z-Sport is the best engineered sporting gun on the market. They developed proprietary metal treating processes that make their guns the most durable on the market. Their barrels are silver soldered and are reputed to be the best regulated barrels on the market. They have very responsive customer service. I can't say enough good things about them. I tried the others, and I think the Z-sport is superior. I would not consider the Zoli a mid range gun just based on price compared to others. They are better engineered, with better materials and are more durable than other high end guns on the market, and at a lower price. To me that means better value, and the story is getting out despite the lack of marketing for Zoli. Since I took possession I have not been to a shoot where I was not approached by people who wanted to know my experience with Zoli, and wanting to know if I was satisfied because they are thinking of buying one. I don't care what the price is, based on an engineering education and many years of experience, I think it's the best sporting gun on the market.
Best is subjective, but when I shot a few hundred rounds through a demo gun, I forgot all about the other candidates. I consider it the best sporting clays gun on the market, and it is certainly no mid-level gun nor a step down from Krieghoff, Perazzi, Beretta, or Kolar. It's better than all of those.