CZ-USA has been in the shotgun game for many years, and the company’s current list of shotguns includes a lengthy list of side-by-sides, over/unders, semiautos, and pumps. However, the most noteworthy addition to CZ’s shotgun line in the last couple years has been the introduction of their All-Terrain family of shotguns.

When CZ launched the All-Terrain line it didn’t truly add new firearm models. Rather, the company gave existing product lines, including the Upland Ultralight, Redhead Premier, and Drake over/unders, the Bobwhite G2 side-by-side, and semiauto 1012 an upgrade—and made these firearms even more versatile and functional.

Green and Red

My All-Terrain test gun was a Redhead Premier in 12-gauge with 28-inch barrels. The Redhead is the flagship of CZ’s over/under line, and as such it comes with a lengthy list of features like selective ejectors and an oiled Turkish walnut stock. The one-piece CNC machined boxlock action is beefy, and the weight of the 12-gauge version of the Redhead Premier is just under eight pounds (there’s also a 20-gauge version with 28-inch barrels that weighs about a pound less). The silver satin chrome finish on the receiver and the gloss black chrome finish on the barrels has been replaced by an O.D. Green Cerakote finish. Cerakote has proven to be the finish of choice for many firearms manufacturers, and it’s easy to understand why. Color options abound, application is less laborious than other finishes, and the shooting public has embraced these finishes on everything from carry pistols and ELR rifles to ARs and, now, shotguns.

There’s also a practical side to the Cerakote application, and that is improved resistance to damage and corrosion. In fact, Cerakote’s polymer/ceramic composition helps protect the underlying metal from damage, so it requires less care in wet environments than blued steel.

It’s easy to see why CZ chose O.D. Green from the hundreds of Cerakote color options. The color blends in well with habitat and, as CZ says, these guns “stand out without being ostentatious.” The subtle green looks good against the oiled Turkish walnut, and it defends the gun without making it look avant-garde.  

In keeping with the functional but not overly fancy motif, the receiver of the Redhead Premier All-Terrain comes with modest scroll engraving on the receiver. And the tough Cerakote exterior isn’t the only upgraded feature that makes the entire All-Terrain series of guns a good choice for anyone who hunts with dogs. The ejectors on the Redhead Premier (or extractors on All-Terrain over/under and side-by-side guns that lack ejectors) are outfitted with rare earth magnets. The purpose of these magnets is simple: As they contact the metal base of the shell casing they offer a bit of grip, not so much that it’s difficult to remove the shells from the gun but just enough that you can open the action in a duck blind or in the field while handling dogs and not worry that the shells will drop free.

American over/under and side-by-side shotguns typically lack sling studs which are more commonly found on European field guns, but the Redhead Premier All-Terrain comes with sling studs. One is mounted on the barrel, the other screwed into the wooden stock.

A single bright white bead is mounted on the 8mm top rib and a solid mid rib. Five extended black choke tubes come standard, and each choke features gold lettering that indicates the constriction. That makes it fast and simple to swap out tubes in the field, and you won’t have to decipher which constriction is in place via notches. The monobloc is jeweled, which adds a nice aesthetic touch to the gun.

Redhead Premier All-Terrain shotguns come with single mechanical triggers and a tang-mounted safety and barrel selector. Wood-to-metal fit and finish are excellent, and the walnut stock is functional and offers a substantial amount of features on a gun costing around $1,200. These shotguns are built in Turkey by Huglu, and while you may never convince the shotgun elitist that Turkish guns are up to snuff, there are plenty of Huglu guns that have served dutifully on the trap and skeet range, waterfowl pits and upland game fields for decades.

With its extended chokes in place, the overall length of the Redhead Premier All-Terrain is right at 46-inches, and length of pull is 14½-inches. The gun sports a 1½-inch drop at the comb and 21/4-inch drop at the heel. Recoil pads are Huglu standard, which means a hard, rounded heel and a softer, ¼-inch primary pad. Diamond checkering covers the pistol grip, and it makes the checkering on the forearm. There’s a Deeley-style latch to remove the forearm, and the gun’s balance point lies at the hinge pin, offering that between-the-hands feel so many hunters and shooter love.

With an MSRP of $1,219, the Redhead Premier All-Terrain strikes a balance between the cheaper Turkish over/unders that lack this gun’s refinement and lengthy standard feature list. It’s also priced about a grand below most competing Japanese and Italian manufactured over/unders, making the Redhead Premier an excellent value.

CZ-USA Redhead Premier All-Terrain Shotgun Specifications

• Action Type: Over/Under
• Gauge: 20-gauge (tested), 12-gauge
• Chamber: 3 in., 3.5 in.
• Stock: A-grade Turkish walnut
• Stock Finish: Satin
• Reciever: Steel, Matte blue
• Chokes: 3 flush-fit (IC, M, F)
• Barrel Length: 26 in. (tested)
• Weight: 6 lbs.
• Suggested Retail Price: $1,049
• Website: www.weatherby.com

At the Range

Bird season had long closed by the time that I was scheduled to test the Redhead Premier, but I did have a chance to shoot it at our range’s Wednesday skeet and five stand session. The heft of this eight-pound gun may not endear it to all chukar hunters, but that added weight does serve a purpose: It helps control muzzle rise and reduces abuse to the shooter during long clay target sessions. Fifty rounds into the day I was feeling good—better than I do when shooting my lightest field guns—and the Redhead Premier performed without any issues. The magnets don’t preclude spent shells from whirring past the shooter when the action is opened, and the safety isn’t automatic.

The O.D. Green Cerakote finish will be particularly appealing to waterfowl hunters. Glossy blued and coin finish guns reflect light and will alert wary ducks that have been dodging decoy spreads down the length of the flyway. Since the Redhead Premier comes with a 3-inch chamber, it’ll gladly handle everything from the very lightest target loads to non-toxic magnums with equal efficiency.

The Redhead Premier isn’t particularly fancy, but I can’t remember the last time that an over/under was released with so many features that are favorable for dog handlers. The durability of the Cerakote finish itself is a compelling reason to own one of these guns, but the magnets in the ejectors make it easy to manage ammunition when there’s a break in the action and the sling studs offer another carry option.

It's easy to make the case that the Redhead Premier All-Terrain is the ultimate all-around upland and waterfowl gun in its price range. And it’s refreshing to see that CZ-USA has stepped outside the box to bring hunters—specifically those who head afield with their four-legged companions—an innovative and well thought out design that is extremely versatile. The Redhead Premier All-Terrain certainly qualifies as one of the best all-purpose over/unders to come along in years.