Citori questions

[eastbank]

check out split butt stocks on the 725, a friend has one that split the butt stock where it joins the reciever. it was only 3 months old when it happened and bought new in july 2023 . when it came back it looks like its thicker where the other one split.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

I have a CXS white in 12ga and really “like” the gun but don’t “love” the gun YET! I think the problem is that I haven’t warmed up to the 32” barrels. It feels great and I shoot it well but tomorrow when I go shoot some skeet I’ll be taking my 20ga lightning like most of the time. If I started over fresh, I’d probably go with a 20ga CXS. My son shoots an old invector Citori 12ga Hunter and kicks my ass regularly at clay games. Also never had a misfire on any of the Citori’s or BT99.

I’m looking at either 20 ga with 28” barrels or 12 ga with 28” or 30”

 

[Archibald Stanton]

check out split butt stocks on the 725, a friend has one that split the butt stock where it joins the reciever. it was only 3 months old when it happened and bought new in july 2023 . when it came back it looks like its thicker where the other one split.

That’s disappointing

 

[Barnfixer]

I’m looking at either 20 ga with 28” barrels or 12 ga with 28” or 30”

I’m a fan of 20 gauges, lighter weight, quick pointing and less shell weight in my pockets for 50 rounds of sporting clays. The CXS in 20ga would be a sweet gun, I like the rib on them and the grip. The lightning might be worth looking at too.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

I’m a fan of 20 gauges, lighter weight, quick pointing and less shell weight in my pockets for 50 rounds of sporting clays. The CXS in 20ga would be a sweet gun, I like the rib on them and the grip. The lightning might be worth looking at too.

That’s the way I’m feeling about it too. I have a super black eagle 3 that I use for ducks now so I’ll probably just keep using that and use the 20 for quail and skeet… or maybe I should get another 12 ga. I’m undecided

 

[cfullgraf]

With a tubed 12 ga Citori, the .410 does not have enough oomph to reset the trigger for the second shot.

Generally, the tube makers will adjust the triggers as needed. My late 1980’s vintage Grade III Skeet grade Citori had the trigger modified when sub-gauge tubes were installed in the gun.

I have never had a miss fire on the second barrel of the .410 double.

I have a 725 Skeet grade Citori that I plan to get tubed at some point. The trigger modification will be high on the list.

I do have a .410 Browning O/U and the trigger works flawlessly. But it is designed for the small gauge from the get go.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

With a tubed 12 ga Citori, the .410 does not have enough oomph to reset the trigger for the second shot.

Generally, the tube makers will adjust the triggers as needed. My late 1980’s vintage Grade III Skeet grade Citori had the trigger modified when sub-gauge tubes were installed in the gun.

I have never had a miss fire on the second barrel of the .410 double.

I have a 725 Skeet grade Citori that I plan to get tubed at some point. The trigger modification will be high on the list.

I do have a .410 Browning O/U and the trigger works flawlessly. But it is designed for the small gauge from the get go.

That is my fear with the inertia trigger, but I think I’ll go with 20 ga and I don’t plan to tube it lower. I like sporting but just as a hobby and will also use it for quail. Originally I was thinking 12 ga for ducks, which is why I wanted a mechanical trigger and why I was looking at the 725. From what I have read, the 725 is not a fully mechanical trigger, although I’m not exactly sure what that means but it appears to be some sort of hybrid? I’m still uncertain on that. I don’t know how you could have a partially mechanical trigger though. Seems like it would be mechanical or it wouldn’t be mechanical. I like the black receiver on the cxs 20 as well. I would still prefer a mechanical trigger though. But I think I will just have to move past that.

 

[Bill M.]

Even though the 725 is a mechanical trigger it still has some sort of inertia block to prevent doubling. Will a 725 actually switch barrels and fire the second barrel if the first barrel does not fire? I suspect not. When I hunted I used a Win 101 with a mechanical trigger and I had a few instances where I was able to get off a shot after a misfire. But not many. After reading shotgun forms for years I would worry more about the 725 trigger than the Citori trigger. Lots of people have trouble with the 725 trigger.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

Even though the 725 is a mechanical trigger it still has some sort of inertia block to prevent doubling. Will a 725 actually switch barrels and fire the second barrel if the first barrel does not fire? I suspect not. When I hunted I used a Win 101 with a mechanical trigger and I had a few instances where I was able to get off a shot after a misfire. But not many. After reading shotgun forms for years I would worry more about the 725 trigger than the Citori trigger. Lots of people have trouble with the 725 trigger.

That’s good to know. I knew of some trigger issues but didn’t know that it was partial inertia

 

[wetr78]

I faced this choice 3-4 years ago. I went with the 725, but really would have been fine either way. The 725 has a different (some say better) trigger and the receiver is a bit more “low profile”. I’m had one of each in front of me and was just drawn to the 725 - especially with my wife saying “but the pretty one” at the store!

Some will say the swing/balance is different, but with 32 inch barrels they will be very similar in feel.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

I faced this choice 3-4 years ago. I went with the 725, but really would have been fine either way. The 725 has a different (some say better) trigger and the receiver is a bit more “low profile”. I’m had one of each in front of me and was just drawn to the 725 - especially with my wife saying “but the pretty one” at the store!

Some will say the swing/balance is different, but with 32 inch barrels they will be very similar in feel.

I like the black receiver on the cxs because I know how rough I will be on it. How do you like the trigger on the 725

 

[cfullgraf]

Some will say the swing/balance is different, but with 32 inch barrels they will be very similar in feel.

Yes. This is not a good or bad comment on barrel length, just my experience.

The Citori that I shot competitive skeet in the 1990’s is a tubed 28” barrel gun. I like it and still shoot it.

I shot it well with tubes installed. But even with added counter weights on the barrel I could never get the gun to swing the same without tubes (12 ga) versus with tubes. My 20 ga averages were better than my 12 ga averages so I shot 20 ga in the 12 ga event.

Now a days, competitors get a carrier barrel and insert tubes for all four gauges. Hence the gun would be the same for each gauge.

I have a 30” Browning 725 Skeet that I plan to get tubed. I’m not sure what the effects of the longer barrel will be.

I did buy some 32” Brownings in 12, 20 and 28 gauges. They still do not swing like my tubed 28”-er. Of course I’m in the sunset of my skeet career and maybe I could have adapted.

One of my sayings for skeet is “The swing is the thing” and anything that helps the shooter to follow through is a good thing.

I feel a longer barrel would be helpful but different folks may find they prefer different lengths.

But I’m just a Class B and C shooter.

 

[garandsrus]

Buy a 12ga semi auto or pump for ducks, preferably with synthetic stocks. Boats. Weather, and mud are hard on duck guns! There are times that the third shot is worthwhile. Then get a 20ga O/U for clay games and upland bird hunting.

 

[cfullgraf]

The 725s I have looked at all have mechanical triggers, which is why I was leaning that way originally. I’d be interested to know what made you pick up the 725 after using the CXS?

The 725 I bought is a Skeet grade that Browning made in 2016-2017 or so. Since I shoot mostly skeet in clay games, it seemed to be the one to choose.

I have not shot the 12 ga Skeet 725 as I'm waiting until I get tubes fitted for it. I do have a 20 ga, 28 ga, and .410 gauge 725 that have been used on occasions.

I have a 32" 12 ga CSX that I have tried to embrace but the longer barrel seems not suited to my shooting style. The triggers have performed flawlessly.

At 70 years old, I do not shoot as much as I did a number of years ago

 

[entropy]

Since we're discussing 20 ga. Citoris, I have an amusing anecdote about one. One showed up in the shop last week with "Not firing" on the repair tag. Naturally, I attempt to test fire guns labeled as such first. Fired it with 2 pheasant loads. Worked perfectly. Fired it with 2 AA Trap loads. Again, works perfectly. Fired it from the hip, trap loads, works perfectly. Sometimes inertia guns won't fire the second one in that test. Fired 2 more trap loads, holding the gun very loosely from the hip, first fires, second does not. The gun is working exactly as it should. Inspected the firing pins, they look brand new.
As has been mentioned, I've seen more problems with 725 triggers over Citori triggers.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

Since we're discussing 20 ga. Citoris, I have an amusing anecdote about one. One showed up in the shop last week with "Not firing" on the repair tag. Naturally, I attempt to test fire guns labeled as such first. Fired it with 2 pheasant loads. Worked perfectly. Fired it with 2 AA Trap loads. Again, works perfectly. Fired it from the hip, trap loads, works perfectly. Sometimes inertia guns won't fire the second one in that test. Fired 2 more trap loads, holding the gun very loosely from the hip, first fires, second does not. The gun is working exactly as it should. Inspected the firing pins, they look brand new.
As has been mentioned, I've seen more problems with 725 triggers over Citori triggers.

That’s exactly what I was looking for. Thank you sir.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

The 725 I bought is a Skeet grade that Browning made in 2016-2017 or so. Since I shoot mostly skeet in clay games, it seemed to be the one to choose.

I have not shot the 12 ga Skeet 725 as I'm waiting until I get tubes fitted for it. I do have a 20 ga, 28 ga, and .410 gauge 725 that have been used on occasions.

I have a 32" 12 ga CSX that I have tried to embrace but the longer barrel seems not suited to my shooting style. The triggers have performed flawlessly.

At 70 years old, I do not shoot as much as I did a number of years ago

I am looking at 28” barrels and probably going with 20 gauge at this point

 

[Barnfixer]

This is a model I have and use it for everything from hunting to skeet and sporting clays. Spotted a few new ones on gunbroker with 28” barrels. The CXS would be another great addition.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

This is a model I have and use it for everything from hunting to skeet and sporting clays. Spotted a few new ones on gunbroker with 28” barrels. The CXS would be another great addition.

Looks great but that pad looks very thin. I’ll use for quail and sporting, maybe skeet.

 

[Barnfixer]

Looks great but that pad looks very thin. I’ll use for quail and sporting, maybe skeet.

Thin and hard plastic, but I can’t complain about recoil.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

Thin and hard plastic, but I can’t complain about recoil.

Good to know. shooting 9 shot?

 

[Barnfixer]

Good to know. shooting 9 shot?

Usually 8 shot. I have a Franchi Instinct SL that is a great all day carry bird gun but shooting it 50+ rounds of clays is noticeable on the shoulder. The Browning is a little heavier but still nice to carry and very manageable recoil. According to the Browning website the CXS runs a little heavier.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

Usually 8 shot. I have a Franchi Instinct SL that is a great all day carry bird gun but shooting it 50+ rounds of clays is noticeable on the shoulder. The Browning is a little heavier but still nice to carry and very manageable recoil. According to the Browning website the CXS runs a little heavier.

My cz swamp magnum is pretty barrel heavy because the geniuses there decided to have a hollow synthetic butt stock…. But at least they are one of the few double barrels that come with sling studs.

 

[eastbank]

a older bird hunting friend who quit hunting because of health issuses took this 20 ga browning upland special to a LGS to sell and was told as it was only 2-3/4 and used plain invecta choke tubes with a 26" barrel, few people would want it. i ask what he was offered for it and then said i would buy it if he still wanted to sell it, i offered 100.00 more than the LGS had and he sold it to me. as i like a long butt stock i added a slip on pad. i find my self carrying it on small game than any other shotguns.

 

[Archibald Stanton]

a older bird hunting friend who quit hunting because of health issuses took this 20 ga browning upland special to a LGS to sell and was told as it was only 2-3/4 and used plain invecta choke tubes with a 26" barrel, few people would want it. i ask what he was offered for it and then said i would buy it if he still wanted to sell it, i offered 100.00 more than the LGS had and he sold it to me. as i like a long butt stock i added a slip on pad. i find my self carrying it on small game than any other shotguns.

perfect find