Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1446249
When we received an invitation for the Press Day taking place from 13th to 15th of October, we didn't even slightly hesitate if it was worth going. From experi- ence, it definitely is. We were participating in other events organized by CZ and we knew how awesome they were. This time, exceptionally, we were invited to the town of Olomunec where other than a nice hotel we can find a rather big sport shooting range. The reason to organize the Press Day was a presentation of the new line of bolt-action rifles which were introduced shortly after... But we are barred from writing more about them until the gag order was lifted which should happen in January but was moved to December. And here we have a marketing craft of Ceska Zbrojovka. Invite firearms industry journalists from all over the world and show them a new product and we tell them that they can write about it after three months. Of course, most of the invited people will arrive as they are avid for news and want to be first. Especially when everything, food and accommodation, is paid by the organizer, what was left were travel costs to get on place. The two day event to let those journalists gather enough data/information to show before letting them write about the main product. Let's start from the CZ factory tour – it wasn't obligatory and the official open- ing of the Press Day was the same day at 7pm so we decided to pass the oppor- tunity as we were in the factory a couple of times already. Official opening had a form of the typical evening meeting so after a few minutes of the intro, everyone formed small groups and started their work. Add nice food and drinks and nothing more is needed for the first day. Second day started with a breakfast and an official presentation – first a gen- eral one regarding a summarization of COVID-19 pandemic years from CZ point of view and after that there was a part for new rifles -we-are-not-allowed-to- talk-about (at that moment). We were only allowed to write that there will be 6 different models focused on different customers and in different calibers. And that they look great and there is one that caught our interest. No social media posts, no Instastories. After the second part we had 30 minutes to jock up and we left for the shoot- ing range – very close, no more than a 10 minutes bus ride. There everything started… Firstly, the official part: where we are, what and where we will be doing, safety rules, where we can find food and drinks, how to move between ranges and so on. And then we went to the lanes. There were five stations with firearms: civilian and sport handguns, „service weapon" handguns, semiautomatic and select fire carbines and rifles, bolt-ac- tion rifles and shotguns. Unfortunately we weren't able to use shotguns or full auto in military firearms. Why? You won't guess… It appears that shooting range in Olomunec is facing same problems as ranges in Poland so reluctance from some local people. So, as to keep problems off the head, range staff have rules set – full auto is banned to be used down range and very precise safety brief before shooting. All of these to prevent something that would fuel further "negative interactions" toward the range. Of course, hosts didn't miss a chance to communicate that since CZ is owner of Colt – almost on every station with firearms (excluding the one with repeater rifles) was a chance to shoot from a few products from over the ocean – revolv- ers, pistols and carbines. We were mesmerized by the beautiful Colt M1911A1 in the M45A1 Marine Pistol, the same as was used by Marine Force Recon as CQBP. Awesome handgun, with top shelf smoothless operation and looking im- maculate but – unfortunately – with $1.7K price tag. Quite a sum. There were cheaper models as well and even almost classy Government Mk IV Mod 70. Of course, Dirty Harry-like revolvers or classic M4 rifles were present as well. www.fragoutmag.com