Test: Zoli XL-Evo over-and-under shotgun from the Z-Gun series designed for clay target shooting

Antonio Zoli company, based in the Italian gunmaking town of Gardone Val Trompia in the province of Brescia, comes from a long-established gunsmith family and was founded by its namesake immediately after the Second World War. Antonio Zoli specialised in the manufacturing of high-quality hunting rifles, combination guns and shotguns for hunters and sport shooters, which are now marketed under the Zoli brand. The company is still family-owned and has been managed by Antonio's grandson, Paolo Zoli, since the late 1990s. He applies high quality standards to both the cheaper and the more expensive guns from his company. The premium competition shotguns from the Z-Gun series are among the models that can be customised. 

Our choice fell on a Z-Gun for the clay target shooter, the Zoli XL-Evo in the Greystone color variant. The difference to the "normal" Z-Gun series: the XL-Evo is equipped with an even stronger receiver. Interchangeable side plates allow individual changes to be made to the weight of the receiver. This is a feature that no other manufacturer of premium shotguns offers in this form. These accessories are usually customised when the guns are handed over to the customer and detailed instructions are provided for subsequent use, as the buttstock must first be removed to replace the side plates. Unfortunately, it is not possible to evaluate the final change in balance by replacing the side plates.

The gun is equipped with the BHB system ("Between Hands Balancer"). In addition to the interchangeable side plates, the BHB system makes it possible to modify the balance of the gun with additional weights and adapt it even more individually to the shooter. Weights are attached to the barrel, concealed by the fore-end. The second part of the balance system is located in the stock pistol grip. A special tool can be used to remove the weight mount. The weights are supplied in the form of discs. The discs are placed on the mount as required. Balancing changes the shotgun's center of gravity, allowing it to be adjusted to the shooter's individual preferences. The test shotgun was – according to the subjective feeling of the tester – optimally balanced. Therefore, no re-adjustment was necessary.

The accessory pack supplied with the Zoli XL Evo

The shotgun case supplied makes a sturdy and stylish impression, finished in black with a large red Z-Gun logo. A red contrasting seam embellishes it and there are three combination locks for legally compliant transport. A shoulder strap can also be attached to the case, for which there are two corresponding eyelets – ideal if you need to transport ammunition and other equipment to the stand in addition to the gun in the case. The inside of the case is lined with black velvet-like fabric, which makes a very classy impression. The Z-Gun logo can also be found here so that you don't forget who you are dealing with. The customer has the choice between a case in standard dimensions or the compact case presented here.

The accessories supplied with the test gun are packed in a small case. Included are four interchangeable chokes and a high-quality choke key. The key has a very useful thread cleaner attachment: most shotgun shooters are familiar with the problem that cleaning the choke threads is always a particular challenge when cleaning the barrels. Without the appropriate tools, it is often a hopeless endeavour. The shotgun came with a total of six chokes, none of which were full chokes. It should also be noted that this is a customisable gun package. The accessories come from a possible selection. As a rule, such a Zoli XL-Evo is customised precisely to the customer's requirements and delivered with the corresponding accessories.

When you put the shotgun together, you quickly realise that the work has been done very cleanly and accurately. The wooden parts fit seamlessly to the corresponding metal parts, with not a millimeter of gap to be found. Closing the shotgun is confirmed with a resounding "click". Due to the clean workmanship, the Zoli still has a certain stiffness at the beginning. In this Greystone version, the receiver has a silver-carbon nitride coating. This matte black coating is characterised by its high strength and effectively protects the components from mechanical damage. The Z-Gun logo is engraved on the sides of the receiver, with the "Z" in gold, as well as on the underside of the receiver, but here without an additional gold accent. The model designation can also be found on the underside of the receiver. The trigger guard and the brand-typical "Z" were given an arabesque engraving as a visual enhancement, which contributes to the elegant appearance of the shotgun.

The wood quality of the test shotgun was very good, as was the option for stock customising. If desired, the shooter can also order a fully customised stock. Choosing this option will result in a custom stock being made on-site at Zoli for €2,400, including a guided factory tour. We highly recommend this option: you'll be impressed by the open and friendly manners of Antonio Zoli's on-site staff. It's also a real experience to witness the custom stock itself, including every step of the creation process for such a unique piece. The test gun was fitted with a wooden recoil pad. This is normally used for Parcour shooting, so it is obvious that it cannot be the first choice for use in Olympic trap shooting. But as mentioned, the customer also has a say here.

There is also a lot to say about the barrels. According to Zoli, they were the first company to introduce the silver soldering process for barrels. Traditional tin soldering has been replaced by a more sophisticated manufacturing process using silver solder. This is intended to reduce micro-vibrations during firing, and the barrels are particularly strong and heat-resistant. Due to the more precise seams during brazing, the joints should not weaken. Even repeated bluing does not impair this property. Zoli is so convinced of this method of barrel processing that it offers a lifetime guarantee on the brazing of every barrel bundle, a not insignificant sales argument. The barrels are available in four different lengths: 71, 75, 78 and 81 centimeters, with other lengths available on request. There is also a choice of three sight rib options: 11x7 mm, 11x11 millimetres and the so-called "high rib" version. The test gun is rounded off with an LPA front sight. Alternatively, a classic bead front sight is also available.

The receiver is milled from a solid steel blank using a CNC machine. The receiver is the heart of a shotgun and influences its dynamics. It goes without saying that the action has to be manufactured with extreme precision, as it has to withstand the shooting pressures and not cause any problems when opening and closing the gun for many years to come. For the XL-Evo, as for all Z-Gun models, Zoli relies on the tried-and-tested Boss locking system, which is ideally suited for tough everyday shooting due to its stability. As already mentioned, the gun closes and opens flawlessly and confirms this with a reassuringly rich sound.

The trigger unit can be removed after loosening a screw connection – ideal for maintenance work or to be able to replace the trigger quickly in the event of a malfunction. According to the manufacturer, key parts of the trigger group are specially coated to extremely increase the sliding properties through self-lubricating properties. The coating is also intended to minimise wear and corrosion protection is also included. From personal competition experience with a wide variety of trigger units from well-known manufacturers, the author recommends regularly checking, cleaning and lubricating the trigger unit, despite the promised properties, to prevent unpleasant surprises.

Shooting range test and conclusion on the Zoli XL-Evo shotgun in 12/76

So how does the Z-XL Evo perform on the shooting range? First of all, you can hit with the shotgun and you can do it really well. The balance of the test shotgun was slightly top-heavy, which had a positive effect on the swing behaviour. The longer the tester shot with the Zoli Z-XL Evo, the better the results. Of course, it should not go unmentioned at this point that you can also miss quite well with this gun. But as is so often the case, it was certainly not due to this great shotgun. As described at the beginning, the wooden recoil pad was not the ideal equipment for the trap stand selected as the test location. As the number of shots progressed, this became noticeable in the shoulder, so it made sense to take a break before continuing the test. The Zoli XL-Evo made a well-balanced impression and its quality was also evident in the practical test. After several hundred shots on that day, nothing wobbled, nothing was loose and the chokes were still firmly in place.

What is the bottom line? The Zoli Z-XL Evo is a great clay target shotgun. The workmanship is impeccable, the shotgun looks great and the price is reasonable. Zoli has managed to produce a high-quality shotgun that is a serious competitor to the other top dogs from Italy. Retail price for the model described is around €12,000 (exact pricing depends on the country you live in). This is certainly no bargain, but it is a fair price for this shotgun. 

Zoli XL-Evo over-and-under shotgun technical specifications

Information on the Zoli XL-Evo and other sporting shotguns from the manufacturer can also be found on the Zoli website.