Old citori grip vs new 525 grip

[bofe954]

I have been hunting for a good deal on 30" 525 sporting. I prefer the 525 to the citori lightnings and I am positive I don't want a lightning but I keep bumping into used shotguns labeled citori that look like this-

https://www.gunsamerica.com/Classifieds/View/_976984824.aspx

The grip looks a lot more like a 525 than a lightning to me. The bottom of the grip looks a little more like the angle of a lightning. Do these older citori's feel like the 525's now, or do they just have a squared off grip vs a round one?

 

[ArmedBear]

There have been various designs over the years.

The Citori Lightning is a Prince of Wales grip, sort of a hybrid between a straight grip and a pistol grip, made for quick shouldering from a field carry. The 525 has a pronounced hook to it. A lot of Citoris do have the grip you picture, a standard picture grip, somewhere in between.

I can't tell you if you'll like it, of course, and you don't say what you're hunting and in what conditions.

 

[bofe954]

I doubt it would be used for hunting. Right now I am shooting trap fairly often. I don't want a dedicated trap gun, I'd like to be able to use it for other clay games too. I am hoping that the sporting will kind of be a good middle ground.

It's possible that it would end up in a field one day, but I have a winchester 1300 black shadow that I would probably use for that. I can shoot it pretty well but it beats me up when I shoot it a lot. I also want something...well...prettier.

Anyway I had pretty much sold myself on a 30" 525 sporting but I am debating whether I should try and save a few $. I have a lot of shooting activities that aren't shotgun related and the $1000 or so I'd save could go a lot of different places.

I also realize that I'll be shooting the thing for (hopefully) 30-40 years so spending the money may be worth it.

 

[45auto]

You could buy a used 425 and save money. Or a used XS, similar style.

The pistol grip on the 425 isn't quite as "angled" as the 525, which is more like a "pistol grip"...vertical. The 425 grip angle would be the "historical" pistol grip angle for target guns.

The 525's also have more drop, lower than the 425 stock.

I'd try to handle both if you can. Should be able to buy a 425 for around $1500.

Browning is coming out with a 625, by the way.

 

[mswestfall]

I bought a new Browning Citori 525 Sporting model three years ago. It came with a right hand palm swell and what Browning calls a close radius grip. I can't speak for the other models.

I haven't seen a change in the past three or four years in the 525 Sporting grip. I have handled a 425 that had a much more upland game feel to it.

The 525 has the solid base and heafty weigth needed for Trap. It's bulkier than a 600 series Baretta; more wood, more metel, higher profile...

 

[bofe954]

I have handled the lightnings, 525's and the the beretta 686's in the store. I got to shoot a Browning Grand prix sporter (very close to the sporting) and a 686, but it was a "shoot twice, wait in line half and hour, shoot something else twice" kind of thing that didn't make comparison real effective.

I know I do like the 525.

When does the 625 come out? Mayge the 525's would have some incentives then.

 

[Ed/Pa]

You have good taste. I personally shoot a Lightning Sporting Clays for all the games. I've shot the 525 sporting Grade 3-4, and it is a mighty fine gun though agreed on the expensive side. The lightnings all have , as Armed said (prince of whales grip) round knob. There are a couple of options for you if you dont like that style grip.....Browning wise.

1. 525 sporting Grade 1 ( not as fancy wood) say $1800 or so.

2. Browning special sporting clays model (squared off grip) older gun but a fine shooter and can be had for $1500 -$1600.or so.

Lastly.....do not and I repeat do not get swayed to any model without shouldering ,or if you can firing the gun. All these models have different stock dimensions which can effect how the gun fits and shoots. These can be rectifed, but you should be ware of this from the on set.