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My first shotgun was a Browning BPS pump-action 12 gauge . That gun and I had a heck of a run. Before school, after school, and on weekends, I toted the trusty bottom-ejecting shotgun down weeded ditch rows, across sage-dappled plains, and into many damp duck blinds along the Arkansas River.
There have been many Browning guns in my life since that BPS. Most recently, I joined Browning's Director of Marketing Rafe Nielsen, and a slug of other hunters, in the far north to test Browning's latest over/under build, the Citori 825 Field . But before I did, I sat down with Nielsen to chew the shotgun fat about Browning's latest line.
Over a week-long far-north upland hunt, the Citori 825 Field filled multiple limits. (Photo courtesy of Jace Bauserman) Why the 825? Browning knows how to build legendary over/under shotguns. John M. Browning's last gun design was an over/under make. Branded the Superposed , this stylish shotgun was one of history's first commercially successful over/under shotguns. It was well-accepted by shooting competitors and upland hunters.
Then came the forever-rooted-in-shotgun-lore Citori 725 . This family of over/under shotguns is responsible for more podium finishes and successful upland hunts than you can shake a stick at. Currently, there are 19 members of the Citori 725 family. From the Sporting Medallion High Grade, to the Trap, to the Field, Browning's Citori 725 lineup fills the needs of every shotgunner.
"We keep family lines," Nielsen said. "We did the same thing with the X-Bolt . It was a natural progression to make some improvements and call our new-for-2024 rifle the X-Bolt 2 . We wanted to do the same thing with the Citori, and the 825 is the next evolution in this top-end line of competition and sporting shotguns."
The author shows off a double. This shotgun is ultra-consistent, which immediately increases shooter confidence. (Photo courtesy of Jace Bauserman) What's New on the Citori 825? At a glance, the 825 resembles the 725, which Browning wanted. When I pulled my Citori 825 Field from its case, the new design features that jumped out were the slimmer top lever and the redesigned forearm latch. The stylish, engraved receiver is also new. It sports sharp, modern lines and is machined from steel and protected with an impenetrable silver nitride finish, which will resist wear and tear. The 825's receiver also sports a blended-in curvature look in the metal to fore end connection, rather than the signature H-shape of the 725. The shotgun's safety/selector also got a slight redesign to maximize functionality.
"We also made some changes that won't be obvious to many consumers, but we knew the changes needed to be made and that they would make the 825 better, so we made them," Nielsen said. "Internally, the biggest change is the Fire Lite 2 Trigger."
According to Nielsen, the new trigger design ensures a faster lockup, crisper break, and zero creep. The goal was to create a trigger with less pre-shot take-up. The modified high pivot point disconnector optimizes reset for increased shot-to-shot reliability even when shooting ultra-light target loads.
A quick-shouldering, balanced, and easy-to-swing shotgun, the crew had no trouble bringing home ptarmigan for dinner each night. (Photo courtesy of Jace Bauserman) At the Range Before taking Browning's shiny new penny to Alaska for an August ptarmigan hunt, I wanted to get familiar with it. I loaded up my 19-year-old son Hunter, and we headed to the range to turn flying orange discs into puffs of dust.
The Citori 825 Field shoulders like a dream, and after spending years shooting various 725 models, the shooting experience was a bit nostalgic. The shotgun balances perfectly and feels excellent when swinging right, left, up, and down. The thin walnut forearm welcomed my hand, and I could extend that hand toward the end of the forearm to ensure maximum balance and proper shooting form.
When my cheek hit the stock, eye-to-rib alignment was found, and my right eye went straight down the raised rib to the single ivory beady sight. The trigger was fast and smooth with no creep. The beak was perfect, and the slim top lever easily cracked the barrels. The ejectors send spent hulls flying, and the reloading process is fast and smooth. This shotgun builds shooting confidence in a hurry.
The Citori 825 Field has Full, Modified, and Improved Modified chokes. For the clay mission and the hunt, I threaded an Improved Modified into the bottom barrel and a Modified into the top barrel. I always fire the bottom barrel first, and the newly designed safety/selector makes swapping between barrel choices quick and elementary.
After five left-to-right crossing shots, five right-to-left crossing shots, and five shots going dead away, I broke 13 clays; not too shabby for a sub-par shotgunner.
The Inflex II recoil pad soaked up recoil from the 1-1/8-ounce target loads like a sponge, allowing me to stay in the gun and find shot-to-shot consistency. Of course, Browning's 50/50 POI (Point of Impact) was evident. This is the percentage of shot above and below the dot, always adding up to 100 percent, and ensuring a perfect pattern each time the trigger is squeezed.
After a few clay rounds, I took a moment to admire the fine craftsmanship. This shotgun is stunning. It looks like an upland gun, from the gloss oil finish of the Grade II/III walnut stock to the game scene engraving on both sides of the receiver and the gloss-blued barrels.
Many upland pursuits require long walks, and the Citori 825 Field carries like a dream. (Photo courtesy of Jace Bauserman) Shooting the Citori 825 in the Field Browning could have taken their shiny new over/under shotgun anywhere before the October 1 launch. They choose Alaska for several reasons.
"First, I wanted the shotgun to get field experience from several shooters in harsh conditions," Nielsen said. "Cold Bay promises a wet, damp environment. I knew the guns would be exposed to rain, mud, etc. I also knew we would walk miles on the tundra and get in and out of boats with them.
"Secondly, ptarmigan are plentiful in Alaska. I wanted some high-volume shooting days. I knew the shotguns would handle the conditions and the high-volume shooting, but it's always nice to prove it."
For seven days, I tested my Citori 825 Field. I walked over 20 miles on soft, spongy tundra and even toted the gun across a section of the Bering Sea via boat to access a hidden ptarmigan honey hole. The gun got wet. The gun got muddy. Not once did I experience any mechanical failure, and aside from doing my due diligence each time we returned to the lodge and wiping the gun down with a rag and a little oil, all I did was grab the shotgun each day and go hunting with it.
The shotgun carried well across the tundra. Three times, I took it on six-mile-plus hikes. The weight is perfect, and when a bird flushes, it comes to your shoulder quickly. Target acquisition is immediate, and thanks to its sweet swing, follow-up shots happen fast.
From boat rides across the Bering Sea to long walks across the Alaskan tundra, the Citori 825 Field performed well. (Photo courtesy of Jace Bauserman) Final Thoughts Browning does nothing halfway. The Citori 725 came on the heels of the Superposed, and while the Citori 825 lineup will replace the 725 in 12 gauge, Citori 725 models will still be available in sub-gauge offerings. But make no mistake, the 825 is the new kingpin in the Browning over/under line.
Currently, Browning offers eight new Citori 825 models, but the family will likely grow. If you're in the market for a new field companion that shoots as good as it looks and promises reliability season after season, the Citori 825 Field should top your list.
