Browning Citori 825 Over Under Shotgun: Field Tested

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When I picked up Browning’s all-new Citori 825 Field from my FFL, I wasn’t sure what to think or how to feel. With the black Browning-branded box in my back seat, I drove slowly, musing about the many pheasants, quail, and doves—so many doves—I’d taken over the years with various Citori 725 models. From the Sporting to the Field to the Feather Superlight, Citori 725 over/under shotguns have filled the mouths of my trusty retrievers and my freezer more often than I can count.

Browning is a kingpin in the over/under game. The legendary Superposed was John M. Browning’s last shotgun design. The stacked barrel shotgun was stylish and one of the first successful over/under shotguns ever produced. Clay busters and upland hunters favored the gun for its smooth swing and balanced feel.

The Superposed was replaced by the Citori 725. Responsible for countless podium finishes and more tail feathers protruding from upland vests than anyone will ever know, the Citori 725, of which Browning crafted 19 models in various gauges, was an over/under win.

The new-for-2025 Citori 825 replaces the Citori 725 lineup. Currently, there are eight offerings in the new line, all in 12 gauge, but as Browning works to phase out the 725 line entirely, more 825 models and gauges will likely come to the surface.

First Impressions

When I opened the box and peered inside, I felt nostalgic. The stock, receiver, forearm and barrel were in three pieces, and, at first glance, I would’ve sworn I was looking at a Citori 725.

The wood stock and forearm are Grade II/III Black Walnut, and the game-scene engraving on the Silver Nitride receiver — quail on one side and pheasants on the other — boosted the aesthetic appeal. At the stock’s backend is Browning’s Inflex 2 recoil pad. Browning engineered this pad to deflect the energy created during the recoil process down and away from the cheek. The 26-inch barrel (Browning also offers a 28-inch version) wears a ventilated top rib with a single ivory bead sight toward the end of the muzzle. With the polished blued barrel, Browning includes a trio (Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder) of Invector-DS choke tubes.

The shotgun fell together like butter. Browning designed the forearm latch lever large, which made it easy to access and boosted ease of assembly. I rested it next to my Citori 725 Field. Jumping out at me was the modernized receiver. The traditional H-shape receiver-to-forend connection is gone. Browning did this to create a lower profile with more fluid lines. The receiver sports a profile lower than that of the 725. In theory, the lower-profile receiver should boost pointability and swingability while working with the Inflex II Recoil Pad to thwart shoulder abuse further. The new receiver design reduces muzzle jump as the barrels are better aligned with the shoulder. The new design gives the Citori 825 a more modernized look; the barrel leans into the receiver instead of stepping down into it.

For grins, with the shotgun unloaded and pointed in a safe direction, I snapped it to my shoulder. The 43 3/4-inch overall length (45 3/4-inch, 28-inch barrel) felt good, and the 14 1/4-inch length of pull let my finger wrap around the Fire Lite 2 mechanical trigger.

With the shotgun pressed against my shoulder, I noticed eye-to-rib alignment was ideal. The stock welcomed my cheek, and the rounded forearm with a checkered semi-beavertail design provided a comfortable and controlled grip.

At the Range

Before heading to the range to turn orange discs into puffs of dust, I threaded one improved cylinder Invector-DS Choke Tube into the bottom barrel and the modified choke into the top barrel.

Most top-tier clay busters and upland goers prefer to shoot the bottom barrel first. The barrel’s lower position, and being directly in line with the shoulder, will reduce recoil, resulting in rapid second-shot target acquisition and more doubles.

The chokes threaded quickly, and Winchester Xpert Game & Target Steel No. 6s fell into the chrome chambers. I opted for that load because my first 825 field test would involve chasing ptarmigan across the open Alaska tundra. Ptarmigan are reasonably-sized upland birds, and non-toxic shot is the law in Alaska.

The full-length hinge pin at the receiver’s front lets the barrels pivot smoothly, and the lock-up into the receiver is tight and precise. At this moment, I noticed another new feature. Browning redesigned the safety/barrel selector. The new design boosts shooter functionality; the safety/selector’s pyramid shape creates more surface area to engage the safety, making it more functional and easier to use.

The first clay was moving fast from left to right. The shotgun shouldered clean, my cheek found the comb, and instinct took over. My thumb pressed the raised safety forward, and when the trigger broke, it was clean and crisp.

Through the puff of dust that was once a clay came another; this bird moved right to left. My swing was fast and sure, and again, the pellets turned the clay to dust.

The top lever is long and raised. The thumb finds it easy, and the hulls pop up and out when the barrels crack. Each barrel features a spring-loaded ejector, and I found the load/unload process fast and efficient throughout testing.

The recoil was light, and I was impressed with the trigger. A mechanical trigger with a higher pivot point ensures a crisp pull and a reliable reset. A reliable reset means a rapid second shot, and a mechanical trigger ensures the second barrel is always ready to fire, even in the event of a misfire after the first trigger pull.

I prefer a mechanical trigger over an inertia trigger—an inertia trigger resets based on the recoil created by the first shot. If there is no first shot, none will follow until the shotshell that didn’t fire is cleared.

After 50 clays, I was pleased with the results. Aside from shooter error, the Citori 825 Field functioned like a well-oiled machine. Most every quality over/under shotgun I’ve shouldered promoted instant shooting confidence, and the 825 was no different. Balance and swing were superb, making swinging to and through moving targets possible.

I applaud the slim-gridded forearm; it’s long enough to extend the support hand toward the end of the barrels to ensure proper support, which leads to the appropriate form and improved shot-to-shot consistency.

The recoil was mild, which is a credit to the shotgun’s overall build. The Inflex II Recoil Pad harmonizes with other recoil-reducing features like Browning’s Back-Bored Technology. Increasing the inside bore diameter of the 825 to its maximum allowable specification reduces friction between the shot cup and the barrel. Less friction means that instead of the energy from the powder charge going to the shoulder, the energy developed by the powder sends the shot with increased velocity.

The Back-Bored Technology also allows the Invector-DS choke tubes to send more perfect patterns. There are more pellets in the pattern’s center, and Browning’s 50/50 POI (Point of Aim) puts 50 percent of the pellets above and 50 percent below the target.

No matter what choke tube I used, and I tested them all, the pattern density was solid. When shooting a single-bead shotgun, the POI is based on the bead alignment of the single, front-mounted bead.

Fun in the Field

Chasing hard-hunted wild ptarmigan across Alaska’s willow-sprinkled, spongy tundra was remarkable. Deep bear trails made the best for walking, and twice, I saw birds and bears in the same willow patch.

After 10 Garmin-measured miles on the hunt’s first day, my vest housed a 10-bird limit. I fired 19 rounds. I’m not proud of the nine misses, but I promise they resulted from a wide-eyed hunter’s first trip to the Final Frontier and the fast flush of stocky birds splashed in summertime plumages of red and brown.

The Citori 825 Field toted easily and handled well. Over six hunting days, the shotgun saw rain, mud, sand and a wild boat ride across a section of the Bering Sea to access a few ptarmigan honey holes.

Maintenance was minimal. Aside from wiping the gun down with oil each night and some general TLC, I didn’t give the shotgun a proper cleaning until returning home.

The more I shouldered the Citori 825 Field, the more confident I became. The shotgun is quick to the shoulder, target acquisition happens fast, and I could stay in the gun and pull doubles due to reduced recoil.

Browning took a slew of shotgunners to Alaska. This was a high-volume hunt in harsh conditions, and no hunter experienced a mechanical issue. Happy hunters and cleaning tables full of birds were the day-to-day norm.

Final Thoughts

After returning from Alaska, I put 425 more shotshells through the Citori 825 Field in September. I love hunting doves! Again, the Citori 825 Field handled high-volume shooting with ease. It’s the type of over/under that demands attention from other hunters when afield, but it holds their attention when the shooting starts because this shotgun has much more going for it than its racy appeal. It feels great in the hands, is functional, and if the shooter does their job, dead birds and busted clays will result.

Browning Citori 825 Field Specs

• Type: Over/Under Shotgun
• Caliber: 12 gauge
• Barrel: 26-inch and 28-inch models available
• Weight: 7.4 pounds
• Capacity: 2
• Stock: Grade II/III Black Walnut
• Finish: Silver Nitride
• Sights: Ivory bead front sight
• Trigger/Safety: Fire Lite 2 mechanical trigger
• MSRP: $3,150
• Manufacturer: Browning, browning.com

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