Zoli: Most Affordable High-End Shotguns?
Feb 20, 2025
Today, we're taking a closer look at Zoli, an Italian shotgun manufacturer that has been producing firearms for a long time but only established a presence in the U.S. around 2013. We flew down to Louisiana to meet with Steven Berger of Bergs Outdoors to learn everything there is to know about Zoli shotguns. Let’s dive in!
If you have experience with Zoli shotguns, please let us know your thoughts on the TFL COMMUNITY!
A DEEP-DIVE OF ZOLI SHOTGUNS // FT. STEVEN BERGER OF BERGS OUTDOORS
Since Bergs Outdoors is our TFL Elite Dealer for Zoli Shotguns, we flew down to learn all about the world of Zoli shotguns. Being relatively new to Zoli shotguns, we asked Steven Berger to give us an overview of the Zoli lineup and what makes them great. If you're in the market for one of these shotguns, Bergs will treat you right! Check them out! Steven is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to fine Italian shotguns and we were honored to have this opportunity to learn all about what Zoli has to offer. According to Steven, Zoli shotguns fit right in the middle of the premium shotgun market. With prices ranging between $9,000 and $15,000, they offer a great balance of quality and value. Let's get into the shotguns that we got hands-on with at Bergs Outdoors:
Z-Sport
The Z-Sport is the foundation of Zoli’s entire lineup. It features the tried and true boss-style locking system, which ensures durability and reliability. The standard Z-Sport comes with an 11mm-to-7mm tapered rib and a side rib as standard. A significant difference that we noticed between fine Italian shotguns and your standard "big box" shotguns is that the Italians highly value gun fit and customization. Because of this, brands like Zoli don't always make it obvious that a specific gun is intended for one specific discipline. For example, pretty much every Zoli shotgun is based on their "Z-Gun." - What makes the shotgun specific to your discipline depends on the features and specs that you desire. A dealer may have the Z-Gun for you, but working with an experienced dealer like Steven goes a long way to getting the shotgun of your dreams. But in general, this Z-sport is going to primarily act as a sporting clays gun.
Z-Sport Greystone
An upgraded version of the Z-Sport, the Greystone series has the "Greystone" finish on the action and barrels, making it stand out visually.
XL Evo
A slight variation and upgrade from the Z-Sport is the XL Evo. The XL Evo felt great in the hands. It includes replaceable side plates, allowing you to adjust the weight of the receiver, and achieve your desired balance. This customization is awesome. A common thread between the fine Italian shotguns that we experienced at Bergs, is that those dang Italians are good at crafting perfectly balanced shotguns. Ergonomics in the hands is a huge part of shooting, and these Zoli's felt like a natural extension of the body. Like the Z-Sport, the XL Evo is also going to act primarily as a sporting gun. (This and the Z-Sport can be configured for other disciplines as well)
Bella (Women’s Model)
The Bella is designed specifically for female competitive shooters. It has a shorter length of pull, an adjustable comb, and a weight system for further customization. Additionally, the engraving on the action features Swarovski crystals, adding a touch of elegance.
Expedition EL
The Zoli that we were most excited about was the Expedition EL. This is Zoli’s premier hunting shotgun, and it features a 20-gauge receiver, beautiful engraving (featuring a woodcock and quail on the action), the boss locking system, 32-inch barrels, and an adjustable comb. The Expedition EL, along with these other Zoli's, have a coil spring trigger. The triggers are self-lubricating and are coated with titanium nitrite.
Notable Specs/Customization Options
Zoli offers a wide range of custom upgrades that are important to note if you'd like to consider a Zoli as your next shotgun.
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Custom stocks tailored to your exact specifications.
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Engraving options, including hand-engraving (Which is considered an upgrade to their "Ambassador" models)
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Adjustable combs are available on most models, especially those with higher ribs.
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Choice of rib styles, including flat, mid, and high ribs.
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Fixed or multi-choke barrels
- Boss-style locking system: A standout feature of Zoli shotguns. This design is typically found in high-end shotguns and ensures a solid, reliable lockup.
Zoli shotguns strike a great balance between quality and affordability in the high-end shotgun market. They offer customization, reliability, and features typically found on much more expensive guns. They hit a real sweet spot in the market, and we think that they're definitely worth looking into. We ourselves wanted to dive deeper with some of these Zoli shotguns. To do this, Steven Berger brought us to Covey Rise Lodge for real-world testing, including sporting clays and upland hunting, so stay tuned for our upcoming Zoli reviews!
Whether our targets in the field or our targets in life, we will only hit what we are focused on, so live the #targetfocusedlife
