I would . Send it to CZ.

 

My two cents: Contact CZ and send it to them. The local guy might well be able to remedy things.........but his doing so may void any warranty claims if his efforts don't pan out.

 

In my opinion, the guys behind the Cabelas’s gun counter should have never let it leave the store.

 

It amazes me the condition that some of the guns are in at the big box retailers, and amazes me even more that they sell them in that condition. The small local gun shops don’t seem to have that issue nearly as much.

 

Are you holding the barrel release to the right while trying to install the barrel?

 

Store should have sent back to CZ, not sold to a customer. While the CZ Redhead is a good gun for the price point, they can have marginal quality control. I have a Sharptail and love it but it has some issues.

 

I've owned a number of CZ's over the years. A couple of them have had that round trip to the service folks but this problem sound simpler. I watched someone struggle installing barrels in the past. They did not know that some shotguns require that the barrel release be held to the right. The problems I've seen are like the one with my most recent purchase of the hammer gun. The front trigger was over the 14 pounds that my trigger pull gauge would register. They took care of it.

 

Here's my experiences with my two CZ 20 ga shotguns. I have a Drake from my understanding has the same receiver as the Redhead

Grease is not your friend with these shotguns. They fit tight when new the Drake was tighter than the bobwhite. Again my experience grease takes up space and makes things tighter. I have found Ballistol spray gives just the right amount of lube to allow taking the barrels off and reassembly and breakin, all tho when new you have to line the barrel lug up perfectly and at the right angle then push it down before trying to close the action. It can be a bugger.

IMO this is one area where you didn't pay someone to do the break in/fitting for you more or less, and the price reflects it. If you take the grease out of the action replace it with Ballistol spray it down then wipe it off just leaving a fine coating. I found putting the gun back together while when new like i said can be very tight you got to get it lined up just right will become easier over time. I opened and closed the action like maybe 100 times or more watching TV. Broke it down cleaned the receiver and barrel lug then repeated over a span of time plus shooting it. And on the CZ over unders (at least mine) you do not have to push the barrel release to the right it should stay to the right when broke down and the barrel is removed.

The CZ Bobwhite you do have to hold the the barrel release to the right. It wasn't near as tight but still grease was not your friend. Now maybe down the road grease might be ok IDK. But the Drake is a year old the Bobwhite a few months old. There both opening and closing like there a bank vault the Drake is still a little tight but working great.

Also getting off topic but it might be useful info. Both my CZ's shoot off the top of the rib. In other words if i take the bead off and shoot off the top of the rib the Bobwhite shoots 50/50 both barrels with the right barrel shooting a hair farther right but not bad at all. The drake the top barrel shoots 60/40 the bottom barrel shoots 50/50. So cover up the intended target with the bead and it dies or gets busted float the bird and you shoot low.

I certainly understand if you want to send it back and that might be the best plan .

 

It should have never left the store

 

Take it back to Cabela's and tell them the gun is unusable as it is and ask for a replacement or refund.

 

Unless that Cabela's bends store policy, he's out of luck there. Once you've paid for it and gone through the check, it's yours and they're done. You bought it, you own it. As of 2015 my local Cabela's had a sign on the back wall of the gun counter that said "Satisfaction guaranteed- your money back or replacement'. In 2016 that sign was gone. The Johnny Morris group had purchased Cabela's. I bought a CZ Teal O/U 20 gauge that October. I found out a couple of weeks later that one barrel wouldn't fire. I took it back to Cabela's. All they would do was send it in to CZ. I didn't have a replacement gun till the following February. When that came in I traded that straight across for a Win. SX3 20 gauge. It cost $50 more than the Teal. Cabela's wouldn't even cover that $50 upcharge. I don't think that Cabela's will even send in a new gun on your behalf any more.

 

Send it to CZ. Cabelas is like most places, once you pay it's your problem. They've gone to pot since Bass Pro bought them.

 

I have found that Hoppe's benchrest oil with weather guard the absolute best for light VERY THIN LIKE WATER lubrication. It also has a great deal of anti-corrosive properties in it, that makes it for fishing reels as well. It is a metal conditioner as well, as it gets in the pores of the metal, kinda like duralube but water thin. I use it on my AR15 and all close tolerance firearms. It has never let me down on wear or corrosion.

 

Have Cabelas send it to CZ. Make a note to self: do not accept a gun that does not work Correctly. Check it before making the purchase.

 

Consider going back to the Cabelas when it's less busy. Insist on a sales agent showing you how to mount and dismount the barrel.

Often times there a little bit of a knack to getting the trunions and barrel to align. Once you get the right angles, it should become easy and second nature.

If your salesperson is on loan from the shoe department, wait for someone that has familiarity with over and under shotguns.

 

When I bought my Rizzini at Cabela's, the sales guy set the box up on the counter and opened it. He said that the gun was above his pay grade, but I could put it together if I wanted to. He wasn't on loan from the shoe department either... he was an assistant manager.

 

It seems like a bunch of folks that buy CZ end up sending them back to CZ at least once. I know several that have done that. Not my cup of tea. Buy something decent the first time and be done imo.

 

I have had a similar problem with my Redhead Premier and it appears to me to be a problem with the ejectors and the ejector sears. This isn't a permanent fix, but it allows me to put the barrel on the receiver and, if it works for you, you'll be able to describe the problem to CZ. As you fit the barrel into the receiver and try to close it, push the ejector in with your thumb, which pushes the sear(s) back and allows them to slot into the receiver. Good luck.

 

Thanks Everyone for your Excellent responses to this problem.

UPDATE: I have made some forward progress, just being patient, and trying to assemble the gun, and break it down repeatedly. When I first started I was 1 for every 50 attempts of getting the barrels to mate with the Receiver. Now im about 1 in 3 tries, so its breaking in, and Im learning what to do with each attempt. For the record, The sales staff at Cabelas were very friendly and cordial, and very helpful, making for a pleasant sales experience. I did call CZ customer support, and they said if I wanted to, to send it back to them for no charge, Warranty work. However now that im making forward progress I might just keep working it myself, If im not able to assemble it consistently after a week, im going to send it back. Outside of this issue, This Redhead Premier in 20 gauge, seems to be a very well built gun, and am really looking forward to put some rounds through it, once I join my local club.

again thanks for all of your responses, I will post another update after a week of setup/breakdown so stay tuned....

 

A quick Update: I did NOT have to send my Gun to CZ-USA. I was going to, however my action on the Gun. CZ Redhead Premier in 20 Ga, loosened up after simply setup/breakdown over and over again. I did not keep count, but it was a lot. This is my 1st Shotgun, and did not realize that this really is par for the course. I can now get the barrels on the receiver on the 1st try almost every time. Being a "green horn" in all things OU, I really had to also get the "knack" of how to connect the two together, once I got that, It became easier and easier, as the parts began to break in as well. Also: white lithium grease was definatley a big help, and not a detractor at all.

CZ-USA customer support was Excellent, they were very helpful, and got me an RMA label quickly, although I declined because I solved the problem myself ( it really was not a problem with the Gun) Also: My case has a crack in it on the interior of the case, which I did not notice when i picked up the gun at Cabelas. The gentleman from CZ-USA sent me a new case no questions asked. My 1st interaction with CZ-USA support is 5 stars all the way.

Now its off to joining my local Sportsmans club, and taking some Shotgun lessons, im really looking forward to passing some shells through this gun.

Again, thanks for all of your responses.

 

CZ Redhead Premier in 20 Ga, loosened up after simply setup/breakdown over and over again.

I doubt that anything "loosened up". I suspect you just learned to get things properly positioned and lined up correctly. The tolerances are very tight, and should be. I have a particular affinity for a specific model of vintage O/U gun. Got one for my first gun as a kid more than 50 years ago. The first time I disassembled it I didn't think I would ever get it back together. Finally figured out that things just had to be positioned and lined up perfectly. Every one of those guns I have owned since has been the same way. And, I have owned a bunch of them.

 

A quick shout out to CZ-USA customer support. I noticed a crack on the inside of my Case that came with the gun. Myself or the counter staff at Cabelas noticed the crack, which was
inside the case. It was actually a piece that had broken off at the end of the case leaving a somewhat jagged edge, which I did NOT want to come in contact with my Gun. I called CZ support number, and no questions asked shipped me a new case. The Case arrived at my door in 2 days! Now thats customer service!!!

 

This is a common issue with the CZs. They are very nice guns, but the reattachment is tough. I know this is an old thread, but I want to take the advice of not using the heavy grease and see how it goes, and push down, then close and reattach. Mine shoots 50/50 as it should. It's a little tough with Trap, but I tried it with Skeet for the first time, as I'm a trap shooter only, and it worked great for skeet. I guess that's why it's not called a Trap gun. lol they are good work horses without the B, CG, K or R...

 

Im using my CZ Redhead Premier as a trap gun. I have raised the comb by 1/2" using several pads. The gun is now patterning at the 32 yard line with a very nice concentric 70/30 pattern. I now have almost 1500 rounds through the gun with no issues whatsoever. I really like this gun a lot!

 

Gentlemen,

IMO stay away form Cabalas, before the Bass pro buy out Cabalas was a good store to purchase from, no longer true. 2nd the only CZ guns I purchase are the SXS two trigger double guns, they seldom have any problems. I own both the Bob White 28 gauge and 20 gauge intermediate guns, they have worked well, with no problems.

All the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith/Westly Richards Man