Browning Citori 825: a Modern Superposed?
Browning is once again tinkering with the double-barrel formula, with the introduction of the new Citori 825 platform. This new over-under shotgun enters the market in several different configurations, intended to serve the needs of all kinds of shooters and carrying on a Browning tradition that goes all the way back to the original Superposed O/U.
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The basic details
The changes start in the action itself; this is not just a rebadged 725, it’s a re-design. The work starts with the Fire Lite 2 trigger, which has a mechanical reset now, instead of relying on inertia to set up for the second shot. This is supposed to make it more reliable—even with light loads—and Browning says it has “a light pull, crisp break, and reduced overtravel,” with a better feel than most shotgun triggers as a result.
Moving on to the receiver, you’ve got a full-width hinge pin, and Browning’s website says “A transverse-mounted, full-width tapered locking bolt fits into the monoblock recess and self-adjusts for wear to keep the action locked-up tight.” In other words, it wears itself into a better fit, instead of wearing out. That’s good news because gunsmith work on a double gun is expensive.
The receiver is steel, with a silver nitride finish to resist corrosion; Browning says it’s lightweight and with a low-profile design, so you can get your eye in line with the barrel more easily. The lower bore line also makes for better handling and recoil management, with less muzzle jump. That’s a good thing, too, because none of the current Citori 825 models (Browning introduced eight at launch) have ported barrels.
Of course, the Citori 825 comes with a tang safety that doubles as a barrel selector, allowing you to choose whether the shotgun fires first from the top or bottom. Browning re-designed even this small part, making it easier to operate than the 725’s safety. Same goes for the barrel latch, with a new, larger lever for improved handling.
The new Citori comes with chrome-lined chambers and Invector-DS choke system as standard. The floating rib helps the shooter avoid shift in their point-of-impact as the barrel heats up, as the rib and barrel expand independently.
The Inflex II recoil pad helps direct the shotgun’s kick downwards, away from the shooter’s face, which improves comfort while also allowing better aim on your follow-up shot.
All in all, there are a lot of changes, even if the 825 series might not look much-updated at first glance.
The different models
Browning has eight different models of the new Citori, with different barrel lengths and configurations and different furniture. These eight models fit into the Field, Sporting and Trap families.
Browning Citori 825 Field
This is the model you want if you’re going hunting. The receiver comes with a game scene engraved on the side. The barrels (your choice of 26-inch or 28-inch length, with a 3-inch chamber) have a ventilated top rib and solid side rib and come with an ivory bead sight. The barrels are tuned for a 50/50 point-of-impact mix. The Grade II/III walnut stock has a gloss oil finish.
Although this is a field gun (Browning also recommends it for sporting clays), it’ll still set you back a $3,149 MSRP. See more details here.
Browning Citori 825 Sporting
Aside from the Field model, the rest of the new Citori 825 models are aimed at sporting clays or skeet competition. This is the start of that lineup, with Browning’s Triple Trigger system included as standard. Three trigger shoes ship with the Sporting model, allowing the user to swap out to get the right fit. Browning also throws five extended choke tubes in the box.
The Citori 825 Sporting comes with a low-post floating rib and gold-enhanced engraving. The Grage III/IV walnut stock has a glossy oil finish and a close-radius grip and palm swell. Up front, there’s a HiViz Pro Comp sight with ivory mid-bead. A 50/50 POI mix is standard, from your choice of 30-inch or 32-inch barrel. MSRP is $3,679; more details and photos here.
Browning Citori 825 Trap
Now you’re really getting into the sport shooting world—take a look at that furniture! Browning gave the Trap model a Monte Carlo comb; the glossy-finished Grade III-IV walnut stock has a vertical grip and palm swell, and there are finger grooves worked into that semi-beavertail forearm. A high-post floating rib is standard, and the Inflex II recoil pad comes standard along with the Triple Trigger system, HiViz Pro Comp sight and ivory mid-bead.
With a 70/30 POI impact blend, this is set up for trap, as the name implies. Thirty-inch or 32-inch barrels are available, and MSRP is $3,949. See more info here.
Browning Citori 825 Sporting with Adjustable Comb
The big difference here is obvious at first glance. This shares many features with the Trap model, but comes with an adjustable comb so you can dial in your bead alignment. POI is a 50/50 blend, and Browning recommends this for sporting clays or skeet. That trick stock drives the price up to $4,079, whether you buy the 30-inch or 32-inch barrel model. More information here.
Browning Citori 825 Trap with Adjustable Comb
Once again, it’s easy to see this is basically the Trap model with an upgraded stock. Same components otherwise, same barrel length options. The only major difference is that adjustable comb, which also adjusts the price along with your POI, with MSRP raising to $4,359.99. More details here.
Browning Citori 825 Trap Max
Browning calls the Citori 825 Trap Max “the ultimate competition shotgun with adjustments for drop, cast on/off, POI, and more.” This is a very trick shotgun, built for the trap shooter who needs or wants the best. A Graco adjustable Monte Carlo comb comes standard, making it easy to dial in your bead alignment. There’s a GraCoil Recoil Reduction System that also lets the shooter adjust the length of pull. And Graco also provides the butt pad plate, allowing for adjustment of angle and location. The stock ends with a Pachmayr Decelerator XLT recoil pad.
To further dial in your fit, the rib is adjustable; the shooter can adjust POI from a 50/50 blend to 90/10. The Triple Trigger system comes standard, and Browning really glammed up this gun with a lot of deep-relief scroll engraving, complete with silver accents. The stock is a flash Grave V/VI piece of walnut, with vertical grip and palm swell, and there are finger grooves cut into that semi-beavertail forend.
Great luxury comes at great cost—Browning asks a $7,499.99 MSRP for all barrel lengths. Ogle more photos of this luxury competition model here.
Browning Citori 825 Pro Sporting with Pro Fit Adjustable Comb
For a less lofty but still steep price tag, you can instead buy the Pro Fit versions of the new 825 platform. As the name implies, this is the Sporting model but with the Pro Fit adjustable comb system, for setting up proper bead alignment, and the Pro Balance system that lets the shooter dial the shotgun’s balance how they want. That Grade III/IV walnut stock comes with a close-radius grip and palm swell and a glossy oil finish. Browning gave this shotgun extensive scroll engraving with hand retouching and also gave it a $4,649.99 MSRP. See more details on the Pro model at Browning’s website here.
Citori 825 Pro Trap with Pro Fit Adjustable Comb
Like the Pro Sporting, the Pro Trap shares the same basic parts as the standard model, but comes with the Pro Fit comb, the Pro Balance adjustability system, and upgraded walnut furniture and lots of engraving. Dial in your drop and your cast on/off, and add or remove the Pro Balance weights to get this Citori swinging on-target how you like. Browning asks $4,899.99 for this shotgun; see more specs and photos here.
All photos: Browning
Professional hoser with fudd-ish leanings.
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