Few firearm manufacturers offer as many shotguns in their catalog as CZ, but that doesn’t mean the brand has forgotten about their core product lines. Take, for instance, their 712 gas-operated semiauto shotgun. The original 712 was a solid gun and a great value, but eventually that gun was due for a refresh, and the 712 G2 followed. And now, CZ has released the third generation of this semiauto gas gun.

The 712 G3 shotgun uses a gas operating system, and it comes with two interchangeable gas pistons. Some shooters scoff at the idea of having to swap out pistons based on the payload of their shotshells—shouldn’t a modern semiauto shotgun be capable of handling a full range of 12-gauge loads?

In truth, the ability to adjust the piston to match your load and regulate your shotgun has significant advantages. For starters, you can tune your gun to shoot very light loads reliably. By using pistons designed to make the most of the gas produced by 1- and 7⁄8-ounce target loads you can make this gun cycle with very soft-shooting loads.

“With the light piston this gun will reliably shoot 7⁄8-ounce target loads,” says David “Clay Killer” Miller, who has been a member of CZ-USA’s shooting team since 2007. The 712 G3, which weighs almost seven-and-a-half pounds, is “one of the softest shooting 12-gauge semiautos on the market,” Miller says, describing the recoil as “almost nothing.”

“The new gas system looks similar but it’s larger and catches more gas in the barrel lug,” Miller says. “That allows you to regulate the gun to shoot any load you want, from 7⁄8-ounce loads at 1,150 feet per second to high-velocity magnum steel loads.” When I spoke to Miller about the 712 G3 he was using that gun to hunt pheasants in South Dakota. Three-inch, 1 1⁄8-ounce magnum steel loads with a muzzle velocity of 1,600 feet per second were provided for the hunt, which is certainly a hot round for upland hunting. With the magnum gas piston in place, the 712 G3 managed recoil effectively. Shooting that load in a lighter gun without the benefit of a gas system to reduce felt recoil would have been a chore.

CZ-USA provides a chart on their website listing loads that are suitable for each piston. Very light target loads require the use of the light piston, but that piston can handle loads to 1 ¼-ounce at 1,300 feet per second. Likewise, the magnum piston is rated for loads down to one-ounce with velocities over 1,450 feet per second and 1 1⁄8-ounce loads over 1,350, so there is considerable functional overlap between the two pistons. The heavy piston handles 2-ounce loads up to 1,300 fps. The 712 G3 comes with a 3-inch chamber.

Shotgun instructors preach gun fit, but until a few years ago customizing a shotgun stock to fit the shooter was an expensive and time-consuming chore. That’s no longer the case, though. The CZ-USA 712 G3 shotgun comes with stock shims that allow you to adjust the cast on or off and drop along the comb. Additionally, because the 712 G3’s return spring is located on the magazine tube, the stock can be cut and length of pull can be shortened.

CZ-USA 712 G3 Shotgun Specifications

• Action Type: Gas-Operated Semiauto
• Gauge: 12-gauge
• Chamber: 3-inch
• Finish: Matte Black
• Weight: 7 lbs. 5 oz.
• Chokes: 5 Extended Active Tubes (C, IC, M, IM, F)
• Suggested Retail Price: $579
• Website: cz-usa.com

Additional Improvements

In addition to the tweaks in the gas system that make it more versatile, the third generation 712 receives additional improvements. The bolt handle and bolt release button are both oversized, which makes them easier to operate. The crossbolt safety has also been moved in front of the trigger guard, which Miller says will be a benefit for southpaws.

“If you’re left-handed your finger can accidently engage the safety when you mount the gun,” he says. I’m not left-handed but I grew up with shotguns that had crossbolt safeties mounted ahead of the trigger guard and it always seemed the more logical position to me. Pressing the rear-mounted crossbolt is anything but intuitive as opposed to pressing the safety and then running the finger back to the trigger, which is a much more fluid motion, requiring less fine motor movement that fails when your hands get really cold. Miller says that the forward mounting position also reduces the risk of accidentally manipulating the crossbolt, and I agree with his assertion. I hope more guns move the safety to the forward position, and kudos to CZ for taking that step on the G3.

The 712 G3 comes with five (C, IC, M, IM, F) extended Active Choke Tubes. Like the Active chokes in the 1012, these are designed for a .735-inch bore diameter and have a longer parallel section. What’s the benefit of this? Better patterns, says Miller.

“That added length allows the shot to be rearranged,” he says. “Reorganizing the shot in the choke tube produces better patterns.”

Other key features include a Turkish walnut stock with fine checkering (as tested), a black rubber recoil pad with a radiused heel, and a lightweight aluminum receiver. The 7mm rib is flat and there’s a single front bead. Both the barrel and receiver come with a matte black finish that cuts glare. A 3+1 capacity is standard, and there’s a limiter plug that reduces capacity in the tubular mag to 2.

In addition to the walnut stocked version of the 712 G3 I tested, CZ offers an all black “Utility” version with a synthetic stock as well as a Mossy Oak Elements Terra camo dip that will conceal this gun in the duck blind or turkey woods. All 712 guns are made in Turkey by Huglu. MSRP for the Field and Utility guns is $579 while the Mossy Oak camo version carries an MSRP of $679.

Testing the CZ-USA 712 G3 Shotgun

Like earlier 712 models, the G3 is nicely balanced. Center of mass is at the front of the receiver, and with an overall weight of seven pounds, five ounces this 12-gauge gun is quite manageable. The light gas piston allows the gun to operate with light loads as promised, and I had no issues cycling one-ounce target loads. I could not find any 7⁄8 ounce ammo, but there’s no doubt that this gun will cycle light loads effectively. David Miller will be shooting the new 712 G3 with a 30-inch barrel for trap, skeet, and sporting clays competitions this year instead of the CZ Sporter over/under he normally shoots.

I agree with Miller that the 712 G3 makes sense for clay targets. Recoil is light and the gun can be customized to fit the shooter—even if that means chopping the stock. With a starting price of $579, the affordable 712 G3 leaves some money in the coffers for customization. I’m particularly a fan of the pistol grip which is nicely rounded, deep, and angled more steeply than some competing guns. There could be (and have been) lengthy arguments about the proper angle for a shotgun’s grip, but when I naturally position my hands in front of the body my thumbs are up, which indicates that a steep wrist angle is best for shooting. The forearm features a finger groove and is nicely rounded, sitting comfortably in the hand without feeling portly. This gun isn’t particularly light, but it handles well.

The oversized controls are easy to operate, and the lower portion of the receiver is beveled for easy loading without pinching fingers. Many gas guns do not offer an easy-to-operate shell drop lever, but the CZ 712 G3 does. To my mind, this is one of the most important features on a semiauto shotgun for anyone working with dogs. Every handler has, at one point or another, needed to grab their dog quickly. Perhaps a rooster flushes across a busy highway or a neighbor’s dog that is running at large comes looking for a fight. These and dozen other things may happen in an instant and in those instances you need to immediately unload the chamber of your shotgun. Sure, your dog may recall, but what if it doesn’t? Or what if it’s hung-up in a nasty roll of rusty barbed wire and damaging itself worse with every passing second of panic? Having the ability to operate the bolt and empty the chamber in an instant is a huge benefit, and one that not all gas semiautos offer. This one does.  

With a break weight at five-and-a-half pounds the 712’s trigger is outstanding and better than some guns costing hundreds more. Fit and finish is good for the price class but not as clean as some of Browning or Benelli’s high-end guns. However, I kept having to remind myself that this gun carried a price tag of under $600. There’s no doubt that the 712 G3 is an exceptional value.