Browning Citori O/U

popplecop · #1 10-15-2010, 03:58 PM

Anyone here shooting a Browning Citori, if so what's your opinon of them? I just picked up an older one from 78 in nice shape in 16 ga. I have an old Superposed, but it is heavy and doesn't get used. Have a couple of Berretas and Marlin 90s which are light and I like. The Citori is light, haven't weighred it yet but comes up and swings fine. Just wondering what the pros and cons are.

Gil Martin · #2 10-15-2010, 05:14 PM

I bought it new back in the early 1990s and am very fond of it. It shoots well and is one of my favorite pheasant guns. All the best...
Gil

Shot Gunner · #3 10-16-2010, 10:58 AM

I've had a Browning Citori for about 2 years now in 20ga. Its a beautiful gun and is probably my favorite O/U I have ever shot. This gun swings great and is VERY light, perfect upland gun. I have heard that the action can be really stiff to begin with, However that can be cured by some gun oil. Other than that I havent heard anything bad about the Citori's. The only problem I have had was the bottom barrel didn't fire the shell, leaving a small dent where the firing pin hit the primer but didnt fire. This could be a problem with the shells, but those shells would fire in a different gun. This happened 3 times and only with winchester shells. Nothing to worry about though, You cant go wrong with a citori.

fabsroman · #4 10-17-2010, 03:55 AM

I bought one back in 1989 and it was my last Browning purchase. Switched to Beretta and have not looked back. I have nothing good to say about the Citori, Browning, or the retailer that sold me that gun. Not everybody has had the problems that I have had with the gun, which has sat in the gunsafe now for over a decade without it being used. It might end up being the first gun I ever sell, but I bought it 50/50 with my dad and even though it is a POS, it still has some nostalgia. Good luck with your purchase.

popplecop · #5 10-19-2010, 07:58 AM

Already have Beretta O/Us in 12 and 20, never found one in 16 though. Y es I do love my Berettas too, but have an old Superposed, and 4 old A5s that have been excellent shotguns. Going north this morning for a grouse hunt taking the Citori and an old Marlin model 90 bot in 16 of course. Will let you know how the Citori works out.

skeet · #6 10-19-2010, 12:36 PM

Like Fabs..Not much use for Brownings. Not that the guns aren't pretty decent. The company is hardly worth trying to get things they screwed up in the beginning to fix. Slow...and it ain't their fault is the usual response. Only quick fix for mehappened when I gave a gun to the regional Factory Rep. Had it returned in 20 days. Record time...but they just sent a new gun.

gold40 · #7 11-01-2010, 06:23 PM

I own three 12 ga. Citori's, and obviously like them very much. I've owned, and shot, the oldest one for 16 years with zero problems. My opinion is that the Citori is a great shotgun, and the used ones are an excellent value.

My newest one is a fancy Grade VI. The engaving doesn't make it shoot any better, but it is pretty.

skeet · #8 11-01-2010, 09:01 PM

Hey Gold..Ya know..with the grade VI...even when ya miss you look GOOD!!...So when ya do miss..always look at the gun like it's yer worst enemy..mutter to yerself a little..and they'll just think yer gettin oldtimers..Works for me...LOL

popplecop · #9 12-02-2010, 08:35 PM

When I bought the Citori I also got another Marlin Model 90 16 ga. in the deal. After due consideration I kept the Model 90 a pre war, already had a post war 16 and gave the Citori to my son. He loves it and says it fits him perfectly, so it went to a good home.

Rapier · #10 12-08-2010, 08:22 AM

The idea that there is something wrong with a Browning or a Beretta O/U gun because the gun does not fit you, is total nonsense. Any well versed shotgun shooter knows that the two guns have differently designed stocks and if a Beretta will not fit you, 99% of the time a Browning will and vice versa.

This is one of the very first things that a Clays shooter is taught. It is a basic part of clays instruction, not a myth, a fact. Unless you want to spend thousands of dollars to make a Beretta into a Browning by having a custom stock made, you just buy the Browning to start with, or the opposite, just buy the Beretta if it fits you.

There is nothing really wrong with either gun, it is very much the same old discussion about Fords and Chevy.

My experience with the Beretta is such that I have owned six and now own two 391 Gold Sporting guns but not a single Beretta O/U gun. I also do not own any modern Browning auto guns and own eight Citori guns. The Citori fits me and I carry them all over the world to places where high volume wing shooting is the purpose. In 12 years as a Clays shooter and many, many trips to far and away places, my Citori guns have never failed to function, perfectly.

I simply can not say the same for my Benelli guns or the Beretta O/U guns, neither make or any model do I own, any longer.
Ed

fabsroman · #11 12-08-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rapier

The idea that there is something wrong with a Browning or a Beretta O/U gun because the gun does not fit you, is total nonsense. Any well versed shotgun shooter knows that the two guns have differently designed stocks and if a Beretta will not fit you, 99% of the time a Browning will and vice versa.

This is one of the very first things that a Clays shooter is taught. It is a basic part of clays instruction, not a myth, a fact. Unless you want to spend thousands of dollars to make a Beretta into a Browning by having a custom stock made, you just buy the Browning to start with, or the opposite, just buy the Beretta if it fits you.

There is nothing really wrong with either gun, it is very much the same old discussion about Fords and Chevy.

My experience with the Beretta is such that I have owned six and now own two 391 Gold Sporting guns but not a single Beretta O/U gun. I also do not own any modern Browning auto guns and own eight Citori guns. The Citori fits me and I carry them all over the world to places where high volume wing shooting is the purpose. In 12 years as a Clays shooter and many, many trips to far and away places, my Citori guns have never failed to function, perfectly.

I simply can not say the same for my Benelli guns or the Beretta O/U guns, neither make or any model do I own, any longer.
Ed

Who said anything about fit being the problem with Browning or Beretta? I've been following this thread and fit did not seem to be the issue.

For me, it was an issue of the interior of the barrels rusting up pretty good because they were not chrome lined like the comparable Beretta and of the receiver/forearm getting gouged. I also didn't like the way the retailer or Browning handled the matter (i.e., it was my fault). This happened the first year I had the gun. Had the same issue with a brand new Beretta 682 Gold E where the hard "nickel" plating was flaking off the receiver. Beretta replaced the entire gun. Had the finish on my 391 Teknys start coming off in the first year and Beretta replaced the stock with a very nice piece of wood. As far as I am concerned, I can buy a better Berertta for the same money as a Browning and I can get much better service from Beretta since the factory is right down the road from me.

With that said, the Citori purchase was back in 1990 or so, so I have no idea if I can still buy a better Beretta than a Browning for the same money. Thing is, I just do not look at Browning guns anymore.

I also have a Benelli SBE and have been hunting with it for 13 years. It has taken tons of abuse and continues to shoot. My 391 Teknys has fired a bunch of shells through it, and the only problem I have had with it was this past October shooting a flurry. It was ejecting the empty but not chambering the unfired shell. I haven't cleaned the gun for 2+ years, so it is probably my fault. If I left the Citori uncleaned for 2 years, there would be so much rust in the barrel it would be pathetic.

We are all going to have different opinions about different guns. I will not buy another Browning, plain and simple.

Right now, I am looking at buying the Benelli Super Sport performance gun with all the nice looking red parts on it and the recoil reducer on the magazine cap.

tim416 · #12 12-08-2010, 06:47 PM

I have an older Browning Skeet and a newer 525 Field. The skeet gun has had literally thousands of rounds put through it without a malfunction. I have had no problems with the 525 and actually would have gone with a Baretta but the Browning stocks seem to fit me well.

Rapier · #13 12-09-2010, 08:22 AM

"For me, it was an issue of the interior of the barrels rusting up pretty good because they were not chrome lined like the comparable Beretta and of the receiver/forearm getting gouged. I also didn't like the way the retailer or Browning handled the matter (i.e., it was my fault)."

Ah, really? You mean to tell me that someone told you that rust on your gun was your fault? I see..... a person allows their guns to rust due to neglect, and now it is not their fault. But, they have worked out a scheme in their head so that Browning is to blame. Then not only blame Browning but that person also bad mouths them for the person's protection or failure to protect their own property. That makes perfect sense to me, I have met folks like that all over the world, nothing is ever their fault, as long as they can "blame shift" their neglect to someone else.

Your rusty gun is in fact your responsibility, and is the result of your neglect, period.

I own guns that I have owned since I was 9 years of age, near 60 years now, not one has a speck of rust. I own guns that my grandfather owned and with which I learned to shoot when I was 5 years of age and not a speck of rust and they are nearing 100 years in age. I own two dozen shotguns, alone, no rust on any gun.

I judge men by their shoes, their car's interior and when in the field or at the range by their guns. If I see dirty neglected shoes, a cluttered and dirty vehicle interior, or rust on their guns, I do not do business with them, because those men neglect the details in their life, it is a life's lesson I learned before I opened my first business, 44 years ago.
Ed

skeet · #14 12-09-2010, 04:53 PM

Werll now..he did say rust in the bbl. and that does happen quite frequently with bbls that are not chrome lined. Didn't use to happen with paper shells. They left a coating of wax in the chamber and down the bore just a little way. The plastic shells leave a little bit of moisture in the bbl from sweating. rusts my Remingtons and others...pretty quickly too. Not so bad out here in Wyoming. Sorry Ed but I don't clean my guns every time I use 'em either. Sometimes I would be cleaning every day. twice a day. Some of the most detail oriented people I know don't polish their shoes every day either. One of the best gunsmiths I know has a really messy bench that contains all kinds of stuff. A real mess...and he knows where every thing is too. Amazing. Surprisingly ours is not the only way. My reloading bench(well one anyway) is messy...but I turn out very good ammunition. I also have very little use for Brownings. As Fabs said. Not their fault as they told me that a gun with an egg shaped chamber that had shot only factory was caused by an over pressure reload..wouldn't fix it either. They have never been consumer friendly..but then again...at one time no gun company was consumer friendly. But I was a LOT younger then. LOL!!

I just got a gun from a fellow who had let it rust badly. It was an old Standard weight 1100 20 ga. He is the type of guy I wouldn't trust enough to shoot his reloads. Actually an accident waiting to happen. Don't know how he ever made it to his teens on a farm. But if I want to know about investments or loans or buying farms etc..he'd be the guy I'd go to...and have. Now I have to rescue the ol lemon hunnert..Pitted a little bit I think...but it'll still shoot just fine when I get it done.

6.5s4ever · #15 12-10-2010, 09:14 PM

Popplecop,
I have had many Browning O/U's, used most of them for shooting doubles in Trap, I now have two Brownings I use specifically for 5 stand Sporting Clays .
I tried a couple Beretta O/U's but the fit was not as good as the Brownings.
So I use what works best for me and that is a Browning 525 Sporting Clays
model with the Adjustable Stock and my backup gun is a Browning XS Special
also with an adjustable stock. Both guns are great performers and work very
well with reasonable care. The barrel rusting issue was a good while back, they now chrome line all their barrels so rusting is no longer a problem. I
can not say anything bad about them really, other than a few of my trap
version guns had galling on the reciever mating surfaces. The more recent
models say in the past 10 years dont seem to do that anymore from what I have seen. Browning seems to be making a good product as of current.
Regards 6.5