This week on #SundayGunday, we’re checking out the Citori 825 Sporting shotgun, from Browning. A classic over/under, this is a scattergun designed to shine on the sporting clays course. An ideal game for hunters looking to hone their skills in the offseason, or when the birds aren’t flying, this is a great gun to reach for if you begin to find sporting clays almost as much a hobby as chasing quail or pheasant.
The dimensions of its Grade III/IV walnut stock have been designed to guide the eye efficiently down the rib for a target focus. A low-post floating rib provides the perfect endpoint for this geometry, being easy for the eye to pick up and align when quickly bringing the gun to shoulder at unexpected angles. A close-radius pistol grip with a palm swell is textured for purchase, allowing shooters to firmly pull the gun’s Inflex recoil pad into their shoulder. Just in front of this, the classic golden Browning trigger shoe takes advantage of a Triple Trigger System, that can be adjusted for position in the trigger guard. This is exceptionally useful on a shotgun, as unlike when taking a precision shot on a rifle, the amount of space your finger has to travel before touching the trigger is incredibly important when pulling up on a fast flying bird. Three trigger shoes of different profiles are also included. The trigger mechanism itself is the Fire Lite 2, which breaks clean and consistent with very little take up.
Above, a low-profile receiver with modern contours is elegantly eye catching. A transverse mounted, full-width hinge pin maximizes strength, and the tapered locking lug and recess means that the gun wears in more than out, the taper causing the lockup to self-adjust with wear. Inside, chrome chambers increase durability and corrosion resistance.
Moving forward, steel-safe barrels are back-bored for increased pattern density. Lengthened forcing cones also help with this, as thy reduce pellet deformation by constricting the pattern more gradually. Outside, top and side ribs are ventilated to keep barrels cool and reduce heat distortion. A HiViz Pro Comp sight and ivory mid bead sit up top for easy pointing, while out front, the gun uses the Invector DS Choke Tube system, and ships with 5 extended chokes. Finally, and perhaps most importantly for hunters using the gun to stay sharp for the season, this 825 is set for a 50/50 point of impact, meaning you could conceivably carry this gun afield with you to take down birds. For more information on the Citori 825 Sporting, available in 12 gauge with a 3 inch chamber, and the choice of a 30 or 32 inch barrel, visit browning.com. And if you’re a fan of SundayGunday, don’t forget, your support through an NRA membership is the only way we can keep this content coming. Head on over to nra.org to sign up today, and as always, for more #SundayGunday, check out our playlist on YouTube, where all previous episodes are archived.
