Need opinions and price check on Browning Citori Special Trap

I'm a skeet shooter but a shotgun game is a shot gun game within some specifics for the sport at hand. My competition skeet gun is a Citori built in the 1980's, I bought it used in the early 1990's and had a sub-gage tube set fitted to the gun. I've got a new Browning 725 Skeet grade ready to get fitted for sub-gauge tubes once I can get it to Briley for tubes.

The Citori is a good entry level clay games gun. It is reliable and reasonably long lasting. Generally, it will require a rebuild of springs and firing pins at some point in excess of 100,000 rounds or so. Maybe sooner, maybe later.

Shooters that are at the world class level and shooting ammunition by the pallet load benefit from reliably from better quality shotguns than a Citori.

Recoil depends alot on the ammunition that you shoot. For skeet in 12 gauge, I shoot 7/8 oz loads and they are similar to to the 20 gauge loads that I shoot. A semi-auto gun will have less felt recoil versus an over/under.


I do not answer all your questions but I hope it helps.

Final note, Beretta 686 is another good entry level shotgun. Trap does have some specifics for shotgun fitting that the Beretta may not accommodate.

Citori's are fantastic guns. Firing pins will likely need replaced much sooner than 100k rounds. Probably more like every 10k or so. Sometimes much longer. Sometimes much shorter. Either way it is no big deal. They are about 10 bucks each and take just a few minutes to replace. What will start to wear at the 100k or so round mark is the locking bolt If the top lever is right of the serial number, the locking bolt is still in good shape. As the bolt wears, the top lever will move left. After it passes the serial number, you can probably expect the gun to pop open upon firing. Getting a locking bolt replaced costs a few hundred bucks. Note that I said, the bolt will "start" to wear at 100k rounds or so. That is not hard fast rule. Many guns go much longer before needing attention.

A gun of the vintage you are talking about is worth at least $1k. Price will go up based on condition. I would expect a 98% gun to top out at $1500 or so considering that you can get its successor, the CXT, for about $1800-$2000 brand new. Add a couple of hundred for an adjustable comb model.

I put a recoil reducer in my Brownings. I have no problems shooting 300+ rounds a day. I also have a 391. Felt recoil is less with the semi. With that said, I prefer a O/U.

the group i shoot the clay games mostly use browning o/u shotguns and in over 14 years i have seen very few problems that could be blamed on the brownings, a few of the shooters with problems were due to inproper cleaning habits. my most shot browning shotgun has shot over 40,000 rounds and as only needed cleaned.

gunsrfun1 said:

Here are my questions:
1) Generally speaking, are these considered good guns that will last, and do they have any endemic issues, like parts that break, etc. (I don't know too much about Brownings.)

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All shotguns have parts that wear; On a Citori, these will be the firing pins and their springs. Over a lifetime of shooting, they might be need to be replaced a couple times. The extractor/ejector rods, might also need it after a lot of shooting. Since you are a "dabbler" in Trap, you'd probably never get to that point. (Unless you love the gun so much, you take it up seriously.) There are no endemic problems with the Citori otherwise.

gunsrfun1 said:

2) Anything special I should look for when I go over the gun?

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Wear on the breech face; there will be a small amount, which is normal. If it is excessive and deep, that could be a problem. Wear to the locking block; again normal, but if it is worn, they can be replaced.

gunsrfun1 said:

3) What is felt recoil on this gun like, vs. my 391? I'm not a big guy, so I don't want it to beat me up.

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Bearing in mind felt recoil is subjective, the Citori will have more felt recoil than your 391. The 391's are soft shooting guns. If you are still in the dabbling phase, it shouldn't concern you too much. When you get serious and start shooting 4 or 5 rounds of Trap a day, it might be time to consider putting a recoil device, such as a Gra-Coil, Soft Touch, Stock Lock, or PFS on it. Both of my Trap guns have recoil devices, I can shoot all day, and the only pain is the cost of shells, these days!

gunsrfun1 said:

4) What would a fair price be to pay for it?

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If the seller is an acquaintance, tell him you're not sure on price, try to get a number from him first. I'd say you're doing OK if you get it for $1700 or less.

George P. would be able to give you more detailed onfo on Citoris; He's shot Brownings for many years.

@George P ?

With Brownings, you can get some abnormal wear on the lower firing pin, typically from ammo using Cheddite primers; this leads to corrosion of the tip which then results in light primer strikes. I use grease on the hinge pin and knuckles and choke threads and oil on things that slide like ejectors. Many folks refer to them as having sewer pipes for barrels as they tend to be heavy, but I am used to that weight up front as it smooths my swing.

As to what to look for; if it has been used expect the typical normal wear and tear marks, little dings here and there in the stock or the rib (if it gets placed in a gun rack at the club that will happen). Look for rust, especially along the rib (and do the "ring test" where you remove the barrels and forearm; hold them by a fingernail and flick them; if you get a ring, things are great; if you get a dull sound, there are issues. If the owner will let you pull the stock, do so and look for abnormal wear or rust. Many folks forget to pull the stock if they have been caught in the rain or snow and moisture can lead to rust, corrosion,m wear or something freezing. Check the choke tubes and see if they thread in and out easily - if extended ones, you should be able to do it easily enough with two fingers; if they're flush, make sure you get the wrench and check them.

As to felt recoil; that is subjective based on how the gun fits you; ACTUAL recoil is a physics calculation. To reduce actual you shoot the slowest and lightest payload in the heaviest gun. To reduce felt, aka "kick", you make sure the gun fits YOU. The drop and similar dimensions are different on Brownings vs Berettas, so typically if one brand fits you other may not. That said comparing a gas gun to an O/U is apples to oranges as the recoil pulse is different.

Pricing is also one of those "it depends", because what it might go for where I live and where you live can be very disparaging. Right now, with the lunacy in the gun world, prices have risen, so - depending on condition, $2K or less would be acceptable. I bought a used XT from a coworker of my wife and paid him $1800 1.5 years ago, but it came with extra chokes and the Browning hard case - those items alone are worth between 3 and 400

HTH

gunsrfun1 said:

Here are my questions:
1) Generally speaking, are these considered good guns that will last, and do they have any endemic issues, like parts that break, etc. (I don't know too much about Brownings.)

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Yes to the first question. Not often to the second question.

gunsrfun1 said:

2) Anything special I should look for when I go over the gun?

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ColtPythonElite said:

What will start to wear at the 100k or so round mark is the locking bolt If the top lever is right of the serial number, the locking bolt is still in good shape. As the bolt wears, the top lever will move left. After it passes the serial number, you can probably expect the gun to pop open upon firing. Getting a locking bolt replaced costs a few hundred bucks. Note that I said, the bolt will "start" to wear at 100k rounds or so. That is not hard fast rule. Many guns go much longer before needing attention.

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What @ColtPythonElite said +1.

gunsrfun1 said:

3) What is felt recoil on this gun like, vs. my 391? I'm not a big guy, so I don't want it to beat me up.

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It will depend on how it fits you, but O/Us in general tend to have minimal felt recoil in my experience.

Just so you're aware, the trap guns pattern pretty high, so if you're looking to shoot anything other than trap with it, you might want to think about buying a different Citori. If you're just shooting trap, you're fine.

CopperFouling said:

It will depend on how it fits you, but O/Us in general tend to have minimal felt recoil in my experience.

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Never shot a Win. 101, eh? Stevens 555?

However the Citori Trap he's looking at is 8 pounds+, so recoil shouldn't be bad, as long as the gun fits, as you mentioned.

The XT I bought is actually closer to 9 pounds, weighs more than my Gti, DT-11 or A400

entropy said:

Never shot a Win. 101, eh? Stevens 555?

However the Citori Trap he's looking at is 8 pounds+, so recoil shouldn't be bad, as long as the gun fits, as you mentioned.

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You know, I have heard that the Winchester 101s have some nasty recoil, but the two that I shot don't stand out in my mind as being harsh. Granted, it's been a number of years, so perhaps I've just forgotten. I've also read that the older 101s were worse than the newer ones in that regard, though, so maybe that's the difference. I've no experience with the Stevens, though.

George P said:

The XT I bought is actually closer to 9 pounds, weighs more than my Gti, DT-11 or A400

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Yeah, the one I hefted at Cabela's two years ago, and was thinking of buying, was around 9 #, it was a nice gun.

I had that exact model for a few years but while it shot well with no problems, it just didn't fit me. Sold it to a buddy and he is still shooting it weekly for the past ten years with no problems. Great gun.

I had an early Citori Trap, nothing more than a 30" M-F low rib with Monte Carlo stock. It didn't fit me as well as other shotguns so I sold it on. The new owner shot it frequently for years, wore it out and rather than do a major overhaul, bought a new gun... a current model Citori.

I paid $1100 for mine and sold it for the same. About ten or so years ago.

With the stock work, that would be a fair price. It has been shot as you can tell by the center position of the top latch. When mine went left of that it was $100 for the smith to replace all the springs, firing pins and tighten it up - but that was years ago. If it isn't opening on firing, then it is still good to go.
How far abive your budget is the price? If it is just a little, you might make it work. If your budget is $1,000, I don't see that happening......BUT ya never know. The worst he can do is decline a lower offer.

That is not excessive wear. You may have years left before major tuning is needed from what I estimate will be your actual use. Offer him $1300. Cash. In hundreds. Fanned out in your hand. If you really like it, have a couple more in your pocket.

gunsrfun1 said:

a) This gun would be a toy for me. I already have a 391 that I like. It's just that I have always wanted to try an O/U, and at least this one fits me well, and it's a brand-name gun.

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$1,600 is a lot of money to many people for something you're not planning to shoot much. Just a thought.

gunsrfun1 said:

c) I don't want to have to repair the locking mechanism (or anything else) after a few thousand rounds.

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The wear to the bluing does seem to indicate that it's been shot a fair amount. However, the lever doesn't indicate, I don't think, wear to that extent. Then again, I've never shot one to the point that it needed to be tightened. My Citori that I bought new is around 7,500 rounds. If you want, I can take a picture of the lever.

gunsrfun1 said:

Therefore, I don't want to overpay. He wants $1,600, but no way I will pay that. (I can't afford to anyway.)

What do you think? Should I pass? Make an offer? If so, what's a fair price?

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Seems a tad high to me. The stock work looks pretty decent, but you (usually) don't get back what you pay in custom work. Personally, the Brownings fit me well, so I wouldn't be paying a lot for an adjustable comb. You may be different, though.

gunsrfun1 said:

Open to any and all comments and suggestions.

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Sounds like you're not thrilled with it but kind of think it might be a good price. It's an okay price. On the other hand, you might want to look at the Franchi next to it for $600 less.

Papa G's the man with your plan!

Pass, looks like it has a lot of wear.

I'd definitely pass at $1600.

I believe that is a factory adjustable comb. All the Special Traps I have seen with a fixed comb have had a Monte Carlo stock.

any one who stays in the clay games knows the cost for shells and club fee,s will soon over take the price of a good clay games shotgun.