Zoli
Z-Sport

A competition over-and-under with a detachable trigger group

Z-Sport · USZ-Sport MR · UK

Drawing of a Zoli Z-Sport from the right: two stacked 32-inch barrels with extended chokes, a flat rib, a blued action, a walnut stock with an adjustable comb, a rounded fore-end and a single trigger. — Drawing: 12-bore sporting, 32 in, flat rib, right side

The Z-Sport is Zoli's competition over-and-under, offered for Sporting, Trap and Skeet.¹ Sporting versions have a rounded fore-end, while Trap versions use a beavertail.²

The current Z-Sport has a forged steel action with Boss-style locking and a detachable trigger group.^1,² Its single inertia trigger adjusts to three positions, and the safety is non-selective on Trap and Skeet configurations.¹ The Bilanx, by contrast, has a mechanical trigger group and the BHB balance system.³

Specifications

12-bore · sporting

Locking	Boss-style system with a lug moving lengthways in the receiver^4,^1,³
Lockwork	Detachable trigger group with titanium-coated components and self-lubricating springs^4,^1,³
Trigger	Current specification: single inertia trigger adjustable to three positions; Bilanx: mechanical trigger group^4,^1,³
Bore	12-bore
Chambers	76 mm (3 in)
Barrels	28, 29, 29.5, 30.75, 32, 33, 34 in
Chokes	fixed

^1,² Compare specifications

Specifications

Configuration	Bore	Chambers	Barrels, in	Rib, mm	Fore-end	Grade	Choke system	Markets	Stock	Finish
Sporting
Sporting^1,²	12-bore	76 mm (3 in)	28, 29, 29.5, 30.75, 32, 33, 34		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 7 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	12-bore	76 mm (3 in)	28, 29, 29.5, 30.75, 32, 33, 34		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 7 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	12-bore	76 mm (3 in)	28, 29, 29.5, 30.75, 32, 33, 34		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 7 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	12-bore	76 mm (3 in)	28, 29, 29.5, 30.75, 32, 33, 34		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 7 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	12-bore	76 mm (3 in)	28, 29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	12-bore	76 mm (3 in)	28, 29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	12-bore	76 mm (3 in)	28, 29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	12-bore	76 mm (3 in)	28, 29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	20-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	20-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	20-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	20-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	20-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	20-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	20-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	20-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	28-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	28-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	28-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	28-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	28-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	28-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	28-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	28-bore	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	.410	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	.410	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	.410	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	.410	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32		rounded	Flat rib 11 × 5 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	.410	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	.410	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	fixed	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action
Sporting^1,²	.410	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end	blued action
Sporting, left-handed^1,²	.410	76 mm (3 in)	29.5, 32	11	rounded	Flat rib 11 × 11 mm	removable; 6 tubes	US	rounded fore-end; left-handed	blued action

Scroll for more columns.

Identify and date

MR stands for Mid Rib, a step rib.⁶ The tested MR has a gold Z on its black action.⁵ Within the Z-Sport range, the Z-Extra adds engraving.⁷

Italian proof stamps sit on the rear underside of the barrels and on the action, and the year stamp records the year of proof.^8,⁹ On 1 June 2020 the proof house replaced the letter code with the last two digits of the year in a rectangle.^10,^11,¹²

Where	Markings
Rear underside of the barrels and the action	Italian proof stamps⁸
Black action of the tested MR	Gold engraved Z⁵

Proof date

The stamp gives the year of proof. CZ applies up to 31 May 2020, and 20 from 1 June 2020. The later stamp encloses the year’s last two digits in a rectangle.^9,^10,¹²

Proof date codes

Before you buy

Inspect the fore-end wood around the ejectors; Zoli warns that rotating the fore-end before sliding it towards the muzzle during removal can break the wood there.¹³
Check the choke threads for dirt; if a tube resists seating, Zoli says to remove it and clean the tube and the barrel threads.¹⁴
Inspect the thin end of each choke tube; Zoli says not to use a visibly damaged tube.¹⁴
Check the choke configuration and which tubes come with the gun: Zoli lists six external tubes and offers fixed chokes to order.²
On a Bilanx, check the trigger type: the Bilanx was announced with a mechanical group, while the current Z-Sport has an inertia trigger.^3,¹

History

Antonio Zoli North America announced the Z-Sport Bilanx in January 2011.^15,¹⁶ It combined a new mechanical trigger group with Between the Hands Balancing (BHB).³ ShootingUK reviewed the Z-Sport MR in July 2022; its step rib sits between the flat-rib and high-rib arrangements.^17,⁵

Sources

Zoli: Z-Sport, disciplines-mechanism-and-finishes. Zoli Antonio s.r.l.. maker website · Archive
Zoli: Z-Sport, stocks-fore-ends-chokes-and-barrels. Zoli Antonio s.r.l.. maker website · Archive
Antonio Zoli North America introduces Z-Sport Bilanx, bhb. Antonio Zoli North America via AmmoLand, 2011-01-05. maker website · Archive
Zoli Tech: action, trigger, balance and barrels, locking. Zoli Antonio s.r.l.. maker website · Archive
Zoli Z-Sport MR: Becky McKenzie test and history, rib-and-mark. ShootingUK; Becky McKenzie. magazine · Archive
Zoli Z-Sport MR: Becky McKenzie test and history, rib-meaning. ShootingUK; Becky McKenzie. magazine · Archive
Zoli Z-Sport MR: Becky McKenzie test and history, names. ShootingUK; Becky McKenzie. magazine · Archive
Conarmi: Italian proof marks and year codes, shotgun-stamp-positions. Consorzio Armaioli Italiani. magazine · Archive
Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
Conarmi: Italian proof marks and year codes, code-table. Consorzio Armaioli Italiani. magazine · Archive
Cambio marchio anno di prova, change-date. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
Cambio marchio anno di prova, numeric-stamp. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
over under manual, fore-end-removal. Zoli Antonio s.r.l.. manual · Archive
over under manual, choke-fit-and-compatibility. Zoli Antonio s.r.l.. manual · Archive
Antonio Zoli North America introduces Z-Sport Bilanx, date. Antonio Zoli North America via AmmoLand, 2011-01-05. maker website · Archive
Antonio Zoli North America introduces Z-Sport Bilanx, introduction. Antonio Zoli North America via AmmoLand, 2011-01-05. maker website · Archive
Zoli Z-Sport MR: Becky McKenzie test and history, date. ShootingUK; Becky McKenzie. magazine · Archive

Overview

Specifications

Specifications

Identify and date

Proof date

Before you buy

History

Sources