Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Browning’s latest over-and-under, the Citori 825 Field, proves a winner when put to the test in the last of Alaska’s mainland before the start of the Aleutian Islands.
Over the past decade, I’ve tested various firearms, from smooth-shooting bolt-actions to semi-auto shotguns designed for waterfowl hunting to numerous AR platforms and handguns.
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Guess what?
Whenever I head to my FFL to pick up a new firearm, whether a new launch or a tried-and-true shooter I’m finally getting my hands on, I get excited. This trip was no different. The only problem was it was mid-August, and the shotgun’s official launch date was in October. I hate keeping secrets. The reason for the shotgun’s early arrival was for testing purposes. Before penning a word about it, Browning wanted me to familiarize myself with its new-for-2025 over/under. I would also tote Browning’s shiny new penny to the Last Frontier in search of a ptarmigan on the tundra during the latter part of August.
An Over-and-Under Legacy
Browning has a rich firearm history, especially in double-barrel shotguns, particularly when one barrel sits atop the other. One of John Moses Browning’s final gun designs, the Superposed, broke the double-barrel mold. Double-barrel shotguns were popular at the time, but most were side-by-side designs.
Though John Moses Browning passed away before the Superposed over-and-under design was complete and brought to market, his son, Val A. Browning, took the reigns and brought what quickly became one of the first commercially successful over-and-under shotguns to market in 1931.
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On the heels of the Superposed came the Citori. An over-and-under design responsible for more competition podium finishes than you can shake a stick at and more successful upland hunts than one could imagine, the Citori line is a Browning staple.
In 2012, Browning launched the Citori 725. The hope was that improved design features would boost handling, balance, and overall performance. The 725 showcased a lower-profile receiver compared to earlier Citori models, and the shotgun sported Browning’s latest trigger design, the Fire Lite Mechanical Trigger System. Currently, Browning offers 19 Citori 725 models in various gauges and styles to fit the needs of all shooters.
The shotgun I’ve spent the past two months testing, and can finally let the cat out of the bag on is the latest member of the Citori Family, the Citori 825 Field.
Citori 825 Field First Impressions
There’s something magical about over-and-under shotguns. I smiled when I opened the hard case and saw the gloss oil finish Grade II/III walnut stock, forearm, and gloss-blued barrels. The silver nitride receiver immediately attracted my attention — the double-sided game-scene engraving shows remarkable craftsmanship.
The shotgun assembled like butter. Before I did anything else, I snapped the barrels closed, pulled the gun tight to my shoulder, and swung left, right, up, and down.
The balance was undoubtedly Browning. When my cheek found the ridge of the stock, eye alignment down and over the slim, light receiver to the ribbed barrel to the single ivory bead was natural.
The Differences Between Old and New Browning Shotguns
Though the new 825 Field closely resembles its predecessor, the top lever is noticeably slimmer, and the safety/selector is easy to operate and find. The receiver also received an upgrade. Browning doesn’t make changes just to make them and doesn’t launch a new firearm unless it genuinely feels like an existing line could be made better. That’s the case here. The new receiver design boats sharp, more modernized lines.
The machined steel is protected with a silver nitride finish, which resists weather damage and general wear and tear. The receiver’s light, low-profile design reduces overall weight. It should help reduce muzzle jump and keep the shooter’s cheek welded to the stock and eyes ready to acquire the next target or provide an immediate follow-up shot.
A Redesign
Browning redesigned the forearm latch, making it easier to operate. According to Browning’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Rafe Nielsen, the manufacturer made multiple changes that aren’t noticeable when looking at the shotgun.
“One of the nice things about deciding to launch a new gun line is that we rarely have to start from scratch,” Nielsen said. “Everything we have is based on solid foundations. We aim to take flagship products, build upon what we have, and make what is good and great even better.
“You see some cosmetic features with the 825; however, there are multiple things we improved upon. Internally, the most significant improvement is the new Fire Lite 2 Trigger. Users will experience faster lockup, zero creep, zero take-up, and a crisper pull. Plus, the shooter will experience a better connection when they reset the second trigger.”
Looking at and handling Browning’s all-new Citori 825 Field brought back many excellent memories. I’ve tested and shot numerous Citori 725 models in various gauges, and I love their fit, feel, shootability, and undeniable ruggedness. I expected more of the same, along with improved handling and functionality with the Citori 825 Field.
The Citori 825 Field On The Range
Ammo and Chokes
The new-for-2025 Citori line will, at least for a while, be available only in 12-gauge. My Citori 825 Field featured 26-inch barrels, a LOP of 14-1/4 inches, and pushed the scale to 7.4 pounds without shotshells inserted. The shotgun has a trio of chokes (Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder). First I threaded the Modified into the top barrel and the Improved Cylinder into the bottom. Then I pushed the selector switch to the right, selecting the bottom barrel first, cracked the barrels, and dropped two Winchester Xpert Game & Target Steel #6s in. I wanted to test the ammo I’d be shooting in the north country, and Alaska law prohibits lead shot, even when hunting upland game.
Loading and Reloading the Shotgun
The shotgun shouldered intuitively and swung like butter, and the pair of trigger pulls produced two shattered clay targets. The long, perfectly rounded fore-end welcomes the stabilization hand. It also allows the shooter to extend the hand further out for additional support and a perfect swing.
The slim lever was quickly found. When the barrels cracked, the ejectors sent two spent hulls flying, and the aroma of spent powder filled the air. I shot over 200 shotshells during my first week with the Citori 825 Field. I experienced no mechanical problems. The shotgun is an easy keeper and requires very little maintenance other than standard care. It’s a no-brainer when you’re investing your money into a firearm as fine as this one.
Most importantly, as with the many Citori 725 models I tested, I shot the Citori 825 Field remarkably well. I didn’t crack or chip clays; I turned them into puffs of smoke. Each time I fingered the trigger, my confidence grew. I couldn’t wait to tote the shotgun to Alaska and continue my field test.
The Citori 825 Field, Alaska, & Ptarmagin
Why Test in Alaska?
I spoke with Nielsen about why he selected Alaska as the main testing ground before the shotgun’s October 1 launch. He told me that he wanted the 825 Field exposed to wet, rainy conditions, fresh water, and salt water. He wanted it carried miles across the spongy tundra, bounced across the Bering Sea in boats, and generally abused. Nielsen also knew that ptarmigan abounded in the far north, especially in the landscape around the map-dot town of Cold Bay.
“High-volume shooting is important,” Nielsen said. “Of course, I knew the shotguns would perform, but it’s always nice to see several accomplished bird hunters experience success and see the shotgun perform how I knew it would.”
Testing the Gun Myself
As for me, I shot two limits (10 per day) of ptarmigans on consecutive days with Browning’s fancy-to-do new field model. As was the case during testing, the shotgun swings elegantly. The balance is perfect, and when shooting a combination of #6 and #4 2-3/4-inch steel, the 50/50 POI proved effective. The patterns were excellent, and I didn’t squeeze the Triple Trigger many times without puffing feathers and watching birds fall. This shotgun built hunting confidence rapidly. The Inflex II Recoil Pad prevented shoulder abuse and reduced muzzle jump, allowing me to stay in the gun, swing fluidly, and pull many doubles and triples.
A Very Durable Shotgun
On day three, I loaded my Citori 825 Field in a boat and headed out with the crew across the Bering Sea. The ride was rough, and after beaching the boat, the walk to the ptarmigan grounds was long. Twice, my heavy legs caught humps in the tundra, and I fell. Both times, the Citori 825 Field hit the ground. One of those times, mud caked into the barrels. I’m not proud of my falling. I only note this to highlight the shotgun’s durability. Twenty minutes after a quick in-the-field cleaning session, I smashed a fast-flushing double. I love this shotgun.
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Each evening, after returning to the lodge, the only gun maintenance was wiping down the wood and barrels with oil. The Citori 825 Field was made, well, for the field.
Final Thoughts
In total, there were seven hunters in the Cold Bay ptarmigan camp. High-volume shooting was had; not one person experienced a mechanical. Over a week of hunting, I heard nothing but praise from this group of tried-and-true upland gunners.
Currently, Browning offers eight Citori 825 models in 12 gauge. However, according to Nielsen, the new-for-2025 shotgun line will eventually phase out the Citori 725 line, which means more models and more gauge offerings.
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