buze Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 I've heard two vastly different opinions -- One of them is that they are excellent value for money (they look the part) - the other is that if they were, there wouldn't be so many on the second hand market (which is true!)... So, what's the story? Opinions, horror stories? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontbeck Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Excellent guns, great value for money. Much better than Beretta, Browning, Perrazzi etc. Look how many of those are on the second hand market !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 (edited) the resale/trade in value on CG guns is shocking Edited June 20, 2016 by stevo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootthepigeon Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Had a maxum excellent gun although long 34", I've now got an eclipse evo game and can never see me parting with it, all the CG guns I've had a hold of have been excellently manufactured and well balanced (even with scaffold tubes for barrels). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 best thing to do is buy one,then you will have the only opinion that really matters,YOURS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buze Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 best thing to do is buy one,then you will have the only opinion that really matters,YOURS That's such a fantastic piece of advise, thanks so much for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontbeck Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 best thing to do is buy one,then you will have the only opinion that really matters,YOURS Absolutely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bostonmick Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 That's such a fantastic piece of advise, thanks so much for that. Your very welcome.if I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to ask. Atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
postie Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 I have had mine 2years now Summit acsent the mid rib one and love it great value and after sale service even when you by a second hander,as pontbeck said there are some good value second hand ones out there so if you don't like it move it on with out losing to much ,there seem to be a lot of high ribs about buy the ascent ones not so I didnt like the high rib my self kept seeing the rib found my eyes being drawn to it .good luck with your choice if I can help with any info just ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 I owned one and regret getting rid. Take the stock off and have a look at the action. They seem very well put together. They have been around for a relatively short time and resale values probably reflect that. I would expect that to settle down. If you are looking to buy one and keep it - really excellent value for money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJW Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 I have a Maxum game and think it's a great gun. I bought it 2nd hand and I then went and paid to have a London Oil finish put on. It looks great and is very well balanced and seems well made. I did a lot of research before I bought it and couldn't find a single negative review on it. Here is one below as an example: http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/reviews/shotgun/caesar-guerini-maxum-shotgun-review-3 I've had it for just over two years now and to be honest, for the same kind of money, I wouldn't get anything else as I don't think there is anything special in that price/ build quality region to challenge it and warrant a change. Having said that, it is disappointing that the re-sale values don't keep up. Maybe it's because Angalo Italian are flooding the market trying to establish themselves against the big guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 I handled an Invictus at an open day, it felt fantastic, and seeing as I was getting back into clay shooting .. I rang up Kevin Gill and he'd one sent which I picked up in December. It's around 8.5 lbs, very well built, has the trap style forend, traditional flat rib, and I see no reason to upgrade the 8 maxis chokes that came with it (pattern plate shows lovely patterns and the breaks are nice too!). With the weight and over bored barrels, it's soft to shoot ... and coped well with 34g loads in the Welsh Valleys at the end of the season. As a clay gun .... I love it. My classes have moved to AA in Skeet and DTL, and A in Sporting and ABT .... I use the same gun for the lot, and enjoy pulling the trigger every time. With the Invictus built to last, I think my new gun will work out to be an excellent value purchase. There are a lot of other good gun brands out there too .... so buy one you love, and stick with it would be my advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 I'm thinking of buying one at some time soon. Doing my research now but I was initially attracted to these when a very wealthy guy, who I was beating for, asked me to hold his 28g CG and I must say I was impressed. It wasn't one of the more expensive models but there was just something about it. I'm thinking 20g but 28/30 tubes as I'm only short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkyard Dog Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 All the early ones were built by Rizzini and gave problems, they seem to have overcome that a bit now, still see people getting trigger problems and corrosion, I have a friend whom shoots one, it rusts up very quick (and yes he cleans it properly), he has been told that his cabinet must be damp, but his Dad's Miroku's, Beretta's, Perazzi and Kreighoff's dont rust in the same cabinet.... Maybe his is a Friday afternoon gun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) Bought one about 2 years and have not picked up my Beretta since. I bought secondhand as you get a lot of gun for your money. I have had no problems at all with mine, next shotgun I buy will be another CG. Edited June 21, 2016 by rimfire4969 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buze Posted June 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Thanks (almost) everyone, that's quite a few thumbs up here! I'm thinking of picking an essex (or a model up, maxum or something) with an adjustable comb, to supplement my fixed choke B25 -- seems like the ticket then, I'll try to borrow one soon to give it a spin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 The ones I've picked up appear very well made and most have much better wood than their prices seem to suggest, on the whole most models seem very well sorted but I personally think they invariably suffer from nose heaviness with the longer 32" barrels. A few of the earlier ones have a suspect trigger to hand grip reach which are apparently not easy to fix, I also personally don't like the look of the extended chokes and wish more were sold with flush ones but on the flip side I think the fore end button looks elegant. One or two well used ones appear to be a little too slack compared to the better engineered guns such as 682/DT10 etc, having never owned one I don't know about the rust aspect but anything less than bomb proof there would wind the hell out of me because I usually only clean my guns when they get wet including air rifles and rim fire. The reason there are so many on the used market is probably to do with the high rib versions which CG being brilliant marketeers exploited to the hilt , once people realised they were more hassle than help they try and get rid or px for the tried and tested normal ribs. It would be nice if those who sold them on tell us the reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 All the early ones were built by Rizzini and gave problems, they seem to have overcome that a bit now, still see people getting trigger problems and corrosion, I have a friend whom shoots one, it rusts up very quick (and yes he cleans it properly), he has been told that his cabinet must be damp, but his Dad's Miroku's, Beretta's, Perazzi and Kreighoff's dont rust in the same cabinet.... Maybe his is a Friday afternoon gun... They were never built by Rizzini. For the 1st year or so the actions were built by CG's own staff working a night shift at the Fabarm factory and using Fabarm machinery. CG cleverly picked a position in the market between the SP-1/B525/MK38 price level and the DT-10/Blaser level where the only real competition was from the 682 and the higher grade Brownings and Mirokus. After owning a Challenger for 18 months and shooting about 25 other gun varieties I wouldn't contemplate anything else anywhere near the price range - although I haven't tried the F16 as yet. CG sporters are supplied in a fitted lockable Negrini case with 8 extended chokes, branded gun sleeves, stock key, a key for the 3 different trigger adjustments and a dated and signed inspection certificate. The stocks are supplied by Essevierre and the hand finished engraving by the Giovanelli studio (just like the EELL Berettas). CG has simply applied modern business methods to the production of shotguns and released a range of guns that some sectors of the market find appealing on several levels. They are also very nice to shoot with smooth handling and superb triggers. I'm not anal about cleaning but I can bring the bores up like new with about 15 minutes soaking and a couple of patches which is very refreshing after 8 years struggling to clean various Berettas. I've never heard a single negative comment about the performance of the barrels or chokes. I know one person who bought a used Magnus and had rust appear where he handled the gun but I haven't come across anyone else with that issue or anyone with trigger problems. As for the suggestions of shooting loose it appears to relate to early ones mostly. Mine is 5 years old and still tight, but if necessary, they can be easily tightened just like the DT-10s with a simple forend insert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Westward - agreed 100%. The extras that come with CG put Browning / Miroku / Beretta etc to shame. Mine came with 8 or 9 chokes and the Negrini case etc. I had already bought the gun from Malmo when I found out about the bonus items. I was slightly shocked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett1985 Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 absolutely cracking guns for the money, and punch well above their price tag. the ONLY reason I don't have one is that my pro trap came up at an unbeatable price. may still buy one further down the road! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timps Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) I bought a CG Summit Ascent, I never intended for it to replace my DT 10 but it has managed to do so. Never had any rust issues on the gun itself but had slight specks appeared on the outside of the extended chokes left in a wet range bag for a couple days which I forgot about. A 10 year warranty helps should you have any worries about it lasting. If i was given exactly how much I paid for it and told I could buy any gun I would be getting another one. Edited June 21, 2016 by timps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 If i was given exactly how much I paid for it and told I could buy any gun I would be getting another one. My sentiments exactly. And in fact many of the CGs on the used market are from owners changing to a different CG model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 Along with the other positive comments I will add my tuppence worth. Although Mick's advice is the best, it is what you think that really matters, everything else is simply just noise. I had a 20g CG Forum which was a stunning gun with beautiful wood and the hand engraving was superb, the gun really didn't fit me and it seemed such a same to get the stock bent that I traded it in for a 12g Invictus with the ascent rib. It is a heavy gun with 32" tubes and the extended chokes reaching a little bit further out, but I absolutely love it. My other gun is a Browning B725 and nice as that is there is absolutely no comparison in my eyes between them. A good friend of mine has a sponsored Krieghoff Parcours and prior to that a Perazzi MX8, both are superb guns, but I genuinely would not swap my gun for either of them. OK, that's a lie, I would swap it for the Krieghoff and then promptly sell it and buy another CG and pocket the extra £7k that is left over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenlivet Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 (edited) They were never built by Rizzini. For the 1st year or so the actions were built by CG's own staff working a night shift at the Fabarm factory and using Fabarm machinery. CG cleverly picked a position in the market between the SP-1/B525/MK38 price level and the DT-10/Blaser level where the only real competition was from the 682 and the higher grade Brownings and Mirokus. After owning a Challenger for 18 months and shooting about 25 other gun varieties I wouldn't contemplate anything else anywhere near the price range - although I haven't tried the F16 as yet. CG sporters are supplied in a fitted lockable Negrini case with 8 extended chokes, branded gun sleeves, stock key, a key for the 3 different trigger adjustments and a dated and signed inspection certificate. The stocks are supplied by Essevierre and the hand finished engraving by the Giovanelli studio (just like the EELL Berettas). CG has simply applied modern business methods to the production of shotguns and released a range of guns that some sectors of the market find appealing on several levels. They are also very nice to shoot with smooth handling and superb triggers. I'm not anal about cleaning but I can bring the bores up like new with about 15 minutes soaking and a couple of patches which is very refreshing after 8 years struggling to clean various Berettas. I've never heard a single negative comment about the performance of the barrels or chokes. I know one person who bought a used Magnus and had rust appear where he handled the gun but I haven't come across anyone else with that issue or anyone with trigger problems. As for the suggestions of shooting loose it appears to relate to early ones mostly. Mine is 5 years old and still tight, but if necessary, they can be easily tightened just like the DT-10s with a simple forend insert. My Maxum had gone a bit loose, three years old with not too many cartridges through it. I showed it to Kevin of Anglo Italian at the Northern Shooting show and he took it away and had a new forend insert fitted under warranty which did the job. 4 weeks later and the gun went loose again. I spoke to Mike at AI and took it to them this morning. Turns out a screw had come loose in the forend, a bit of locktight and a tighten and right as rain. For my trouble they gave me a skeet vest, kit bag and are sending me a new gunslip, £300 worth of 'sorry'!! Well happy 😊 Love the gun and the 10 year transferable warranty is worth it's weight in gold. Edited to say the Maxum is head and shoulders above the Beretta 692 I took back with dodgy ejectors and swapped for the Guerini! Edited June 21, 2016 by Glenlivet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted June 21, 2016 Report Share Posted June 21, 2016 I had the summit sporter. Lovely gun like already said front heavy in 32" but a set of mullers evened things up a bit. Only reason I got rid was I started to get very much into trap shooting and it was the least expensive gun to chop in on a dedicated trap gun. Mine also was a bit loose but nothing too bad. Are they worth the money Yes Would I have another yes Also I found customer service second to none. My only advice would be to buy a good used one. Enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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