Ruger red label vs Browning citori

[waterman]

My problem is I can't afford both but I like both. I currently have a Remington 3200 12 ga. skeet/skeet that I enjoy. Just wanting to add to the collection.

I would like to hear reviews on both from folks that know (NOT A CORNBALL SALESMAN).:banghead:

 

[sm]

3200 NICE, fastest lock time...sweet !!

Then you are very much aware of fit and probably checked this out.

I like both and I shoot them well. Skeet or general purpose?

I shot for years a Citori bbl set, never a problem. I like blue and wood personally, and this has beautiful metal to wood fit.

Red labels I've shot 12, 20 and that cute woodgrained 28 ga-what a hoot for doves.

Me, both are nice, but sentimental me, the history, memories, trophies and monies ---I like Citori, that blue and wood also a thing for me.

 

[waterman]

Sorry, for not specifying. it would be for skeet. We have a little sportsman club here in town.

I shoot an 1100 magnum for everything that flys.

 

[sm]

Ok Skeet, staying with 12 bore, or smaller? You prefer longer bbls? Reason I ask is I prefer 28" on everthing (semi, shucker, break-open) . I used the Citori( fixed skeet chokes) on clays also.
Borrowed same Gun with 30" bbls with screw chokes and really liked the swing better than the Red Label. I am biased, but I think the longer tube and FIT made a difference for ME.

 

[waterman]

12 gauge and am partial to the 28" barrel, I know the citori is a fine gun... but the red label is too. I guess I'm going to have to save a while longer

 

[PJR]

Between the two there is no choice. A Browning 525 Citori is one of the best guns on the market. Better balance, better stock, better triggers, ported barrels, Hi-Viz sights and more. If I didn't already have a couple of spaghetti guns in 12 gauge, I'd buy a 525. I do own a Browning Citori FeatherXS in 20 gauge that I like very much.

Ruger shotguns don't do much for me. The Ruger is however less money and if its fits you then it would be better but the Red Label isn't in the same league with the 525 IMHO.

 

[Wildalaska]

Which one subjectively fits you better?

 

[HSMITH]

The triggers are a legitimate point that guys don't like on the Ruger, they suck. They are heavy and gritty, and never get much better even after 30K+ rounds. Resale value of a Ruger if you get tired of it is dismal. Not guessing here, I have them and have shot them extensively.

The Citori is heavy, blocky, and very tall through the action. Ribs on the lower priced guns are very low. It takes 2 hands and one leg to break a Citori open for the first 10K rounds, stiff is an understatement. The grip and forends are typically fat and the checkering shallow. Not guessing here, had one and shot it extensively.

That is about all that I don't like for each. I like that the Ruger opens easily, is light and fast, and has a higher rib. Grip and forend is slim and very deeply checkered. I like that the Citori has great triggers, and resale value is much better than the Ruger.

Personally I prefer the Ruger, it fits me better and I learned to slap the triggers hard right away so that never posed a problem. In that price range I would also be sure to look at some of the Berettas. I have shot some owned by friends and they are darn nice.

 

[sm]

So totally confused yet.

HSMITH, your post is true. Tall through the action on the Citori, Ruger triggers -well not a Browning for sure.

It all boils down to Fit and personal feelings. Back when I competed with the Citori, it and the 3200's were pretty much the cream of the crop. For multi ga many used different guns or bbl sets...then the tube sets started being the way to go.

Kreighoffs, Beretta's making an appearance with the Briley tubes.
I'd be inclined to try the fit, not rule out another choice, especially if one came up used because someone was 'upgrading"...read excuse for another gun and gotta sell this one first. Or trying to buy targets with gear-lots of good buys this way.

 

[Gary G23]

I've never owned a Ruger but I've spent substantial time at gun clubs shooting skeet and sporting clays and I see probably 50 Citoris for every one Ruger. That tells me something.

 

[waterman]

The reason I started the thread was because I liked the way the ruger fit me but...

I liked the the citori (fit and finish, looks, reputation and so on). I appreciate all the info.

I think either way I will enjoy my new purchase.

I'll ask around and see if I can test drive one.

 

[Marshall]

IN 50 YEARS, WHOEVER HAS THE HAS THE GUN WILL BE HAPPIER IF YOU BOUGHT THE BROWNING.

 

[45auto]

Hello,
For overall clay target shooting I would go for the Browning.
If you are used to a 3200 ,I might suggest you look at the 30" Browning sporting clays model. It will work great for skeet and give you more options later on.
It wouldn't hurt to look for a good used Browning 425 and save yourself a lot of money over a new model. Brownings are very reliable and durable.
Good luck

 

[196pc]

Citori 525 or the the Beretta 686 O/U's?? I know nothing of the O/U shotguns. I was told the Beretta's were over priced compared the to Brownings. Any thoughts??

 

[196pc]

Citori 525 or the the Beretta 686 O/U's?? I know nothing of the O/U shotguns. I was told the Beretta's were over priced compared the to Brownings. Any thoughts??

 

[Red Label]

I think my name says it all. Maybe I should be glad that I have never shot a Browning. I just like the way my gun looks. I think that the wood to metal fit is excellent and the gun fits me too. It swings smooth and I tend to hit where I point. It fit my budget and I think I got a heck of a gun for the money.

 

[blades67]

I prefer the Beretta and the Ruger to the Citori, but I prefer the Citori Lighting to the Red Label.

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

FWIW, I'm just about convinced to go with a Citori White Lightning in 12ga. I just want to go somewhere where I can check out the actual gun before making a final decision. (Have checked out an OLD 12ga and a new 20ga, but no new 12ga.)

The Red Label fit me OK, but I thought it was a little clumsy.

- pdmoderator

 

[oscar]

I went to the store about 10 years ago to buy a Browning. However, it just didnt fit me, but the Ruger did. We have got along fine these years. I just got back from South Dakota with a bunch of pheasants.

 

[Alerion]

I would suggest that you go to a shop that handles both the Ruger and the Citori and compare them side by side. There are enough subtle differences between the guns that I suspect you'll be drawn to one over the other. At least that was my experience when I made the exact same choice.

I don't want to taint your decision by suggesting that you buy the same gun I did. But I will say that I'm glad I made the comparison because the gun I took home wasn't the one I went in to buy!

Whichever gun you chose, if it's the one you want you've made the right decision!

Tom

 

[Alerion]

BTW, the big-chain store I was in also carried the Beretta's so it actually was a 3-way comparison for me. The Beretta is another fine gun that you can't go wrong with if that's what you want.

I'm not sure that I can agree that the Beretta's are overpriced compared to the Brownings. Of the guns I looked at the Beretta fell squarely between the (low) Red Label and the (high) Citori. Although in this case the Browning wasn't one of the lower end models. I thought all three guns justified their prices.

Tom

 

[Gila Jorge]

Not really much of a decision: forget them both and continue saving
your money and get a Baretta 686 or 687 sporting model. Thinner receiver
profile means more straight back recoil and less overall kick. For getting
back onto doubles thats critical to minimize that upward jump. Better
triggers and better wood in addition to better fit. Baretta knows what
they're doing. Resale on Ruger shotguns is dismal at best. I found the
3200 Comp model skeet gun very nice with good triggers but I want's crazy about the weight...it never swung like the Barettas and Perazzis.

 

[Gary G23]

If resale value is of any importance to you get the Browning.

 

[Muddhead]

Browning vs. Ruger

Hello All:

Im new to this board and I hope I can give some valid opinions. I have both the Ruger and the Browning. One thing for sure is you cant beat Ruger service dept. They are great. My Browning is a 12 ga,1987 Citori Grade 6 spec trap. It has 30" brl's and is the smoothest gun Ive ever used. The older it gets the better it works. The fit and finish is superb. Engraving and gold inlays are super too. My Ruger is a 20 ga and it just feels so good. The first thing I did was to polish the Rcvr so I looked like chrome. It is a great gun and would buy another. Very fast swinging and really nice wood. Great american workmanship. I also have the Cynergy, Golden clays, Benelli Legacy, Beretta Teknys 391. As you can tell I love shooting clays. See Ya till next time.

 

[ArmedBear]

The Citori is a crude design with a high level of refinement in fit and finish. It makes a good American Trap gun, if you put long barrels on it to balance it out. Otherwise, it's a cinder block with a stock attached. Browning's competition guns all come with porting, which I can't stand. They do last, but their longevity comes with a heavy price in handling. Sold my Browning, don't miss it, don't want another one.

The Ruger is a slick design, but with excess weight and not quite the same level of refinement. You won't see many at a range, for better or worse. I haven't owned one, so I can't comment on longevity. I've borrowed them and knocked down birds in the field; they do fit me.

Personally, I'm not too interested in either one, especially in 12 Gauge.

I was told the Beretta's were over priced compared the to Brownings. Any thoughts??

You heard that from someone who is doesn't know squat. That's my thought.

To the OP: want to add something nice to your collection, with good handling AND incredible workmanship, check out Caesar Guerini. http://www.gueriniusa.com/

I like the way Berettas balance, point and shoot, myself. The receiver design is completely different from the Browning, and unlike the Citori, it's designed specifically to provide the lowest profile an O/U will allow, and natural pointing. Browning designed the Cynergy to compete with it -- sadly for Browning, they decided to go for some radical styling departures that few buyers seem to like, at the same time.

They're worth shouldering to see what you think of how they feel. Much as I might like the looks of other guns, I keep getting Berettas because they work for me and they're excellent guns. I've sold two shotguns in my life, a Remington and a Browning, both in order to buy Berettas to replace them. The basic models are a good value -- and every brand can run up a serious bill if you want the highest grade of wood, fancy engraving, etc.

If you really like your Remington 3200, then save for a Krieghoff. Sadly, Remington quit making good Over/Unders in the mid 1980s when they stopped making your gun. But Krieghoff bought the design for the original Model 32 and picked up where Remington left off. They make nice guns, but they're not cheap.

This shop has a nice selection of worthy shotguns. http://www.pacificsportingarms.com/