Estimated reading time: 21 minutes
Have you ever had “the gun”? If that sentence resonates with you, then you have. Whether it was a bolt-action long gun, semi-auto shotgun, AR platform, or six-shooter doesn’t matter. Everything felt perfect whenever you put it in your hands, pressed it tight to your shoulder, or swung on a fast-flying clay. The gun filled you with confidence, is a cherished possession, and will someday get passed on as a family heirloom.
I have two of these guns, and during my outdoor writing tenure, I’ve shouldered and wrapped my hands around hundreds. That’s how rare it is to find a gun that feels custom-made for you. And for some of you, maybe you have one or more custom builds—a gun crafted to your specifications. I don’t have a custom-made rifle, shotgun, or handgun; I’m referring to factory models that come right off the shelf from your dealer. Finding one of these gems is rare.
After spending over a month testing Browning’s all-new Citori 725 Field, I can confidently say that I now have three factory-made guns that feel like they were made just for me.
Table of contents
A Little History
Browning introduced its Citori shotgun in 1973, and the over-under became an instant hit. The goal was to give the shooting masses, clay busters, and hunters a more affordable alternative to its uber-popular superposed shotguns.
In 2011, Browning strengthened the Citori legacy by launching the Citori 725 in various models and configurations. The hope was to incorporate more modern advancements while maintaining the traditional qualities that made the Citori a legend.
The Citori 725’s low-profile receiver was a game-changer. By bringing the shooter’s eye closer to the axis of the barrels, it significantly improved handling and balance. Clay shooters noticed an immediate increase in accuracy. Also, bird hunters praised the new receiver for enabling a more fluid swing and enhanced in-the-field handling. This improvement instills a sense of confidence in the shooter, knowing that their accuracy and control have been enhanced.
Why the Citori 725 Hits Different
The Citori 725 also featured a mechanical trigger. Unlike the previous Citori, which used an inertia trigger system, the 725 utilizes a mechanical trigger, which ensures a more consistent trigger pull regardless of recoil. This was appreciated more by upland goers who dropped heavier loads into the barrels.
Other features such as Vector Pro Lengthened Forcing Cones, reduced felt recoil, and improved shot patterns. The Invector-DS (Double Seal) Choke System boosted pattern performance while making the chokes easier to remove and clean.
As the Citori 725 grew in popularity, more makes and models were added. Most recently, with the massive growth of the sub-gauge era, Browning added the 28-gauge to its fine lineup of Citori 725 Field models.
I will never part with Browning’s Citori 725 Field chambered in 28 gauge. It IS the gun that has become my third-ever gun that feels like it was made to my exact shooting wants and specifications.
First Impressions
Pulling a gun from the box showcasing this type of craftsmanship intimidates me from the get-go. Not with the assembly—this shotgun promises a straightforward assembly that takes seconds. Instead, I’m afraid to handle and take the shotgun to the field.
Why?
In the case of the Citori 725 Field, features like the metalwork, which depicts engraved flushing quail on one side of the receiver and doves on the other, grab the eye. The stock is a Grade II/III walnut stock that sports a smooth satin finish. The barrels on top-end Steel Shot Performance make.
Designed to Hunt, Built to Last
I had to remind myself that Browning purposely put the word “Field” into the shotgun’s name. This gun was engineered to crack clays, bust doves, hammer fast-flushing roosters, and handle puddle ducks on days when you know they’ll suck tight to the deeks.
I appreciated the Tapered Locking Bolt, which I knew would help fight against everyday wear and tear and ensure a tight receiver lock-up. Chrome chambers increase durability and fight off corrosion, and I’d read enough about the FireLite Mechanical Trigger to know the break should be clean with zero slop or creep.
I have plenty of experience with Inflex Technology and knew that this, combined with the gauge, would reduce shoulder abuse.
Performance from the Citori 725
Browning sent me a 28-gauge Citori 725 Field with a 28-inch barrel, but a 26-inch barrel option is available. Measuring 45 3/4 inches long, this 7-pound shotgun feels light as a feather and ultra-maneuverable. The gun will handle 2-3/4- and 3-inch loads, so you can use this shotgun for everything from doves to geese to turkey.
The Inflex Recoil Pad II has proven its salt, and I know from shouldering other Brownings that it soaks up recoil like a sponge. Browning includes Full, Modified, and Improved Cylinder chokes, and after placing the IC choke in the bottom barrel and the M choke in the top barrel, I was ready to go boom.
In The Field
I’ve learned not to get in a hurry when testing a new firearm. As badly as I wanted to drop a pair of Federal Top Gun target loads in the barrels and bust some clays, I first wanted to further familiarize myself with the shotgun’s functions and swing it right to the left, left to right, up and down, and down and up before sending a lead.
The full-width Hinge Pin maximizes strength and longevity. After sliding the break-action lever to the right and pulling downward slightly on the vented top barrel, the action broke open smoothly. Lock-up is also smooth, and you’ll hear a click when you close the action.
Barrel Control and Safety Function
Shooters have different opinions about which barrel should be fired first. Most competition shooters agree that the bottom barrel delivers less felt recoil because it’s lower in the gun and more in line with the shoulder. This has been my experience as well. For this reason, I slid the top-tang safety, which also serves as the barrel selector, to the right to expose the branded U, telling me the bottom barrel would fire first. A slide to the left shows an O, which means the bottom barrel will fire first. A forward push of the safety makes the shotgun hot, and a reverse pull makes it safe.
28-gauge ammo can be hard to come by. I only had Winchester’s Xpert High-Velocity Steel Loads in #6 for the first two weeks of testing. Still, I busted the first two crossing clays I squeezed the trigger on. The shotgun felt smooth and balanced and was a joy to shoot.
For the past two weeks, I’ve shot the Citori 725 Field with Federal’s #7-1/2 Top Gun target loads, Remington’s Premier STS 28 Gauge #9s, and Federal’s Prairie Storm FS Lead #6s.
Design That Drives Performance
As with other Browning shotguns I’ve tested, I discovered that Browning’s 50/50 POI (Point of Impact) is 100 percent legit. The POI percentage is the number of pellets that fall above and below the front sight bead. While this is essential no matter the gauge, I’ve found it pivotal for regular success when shooting sub-gauges. There are far fewer pellets in a 28-gauge shotshell than a 12-gauge shotshell, but shooting confidence snowballs when the shooter knows that half the shot will be above the bird and half below.
While I was cracking clays with my steel shot #6s, which the Steel Shot Performance barrels handled beautifully, I was turning the orange discs into puffs of smoke with the #7-1/2 (1,330 fps) and #9 (1,200 fps) shot size rounds. The purpose of the #6 Prairie Storm (1,300 fps) ammo was to test the shotgun’s recoil with a load engineered to smash upland. The Inflex Recoil Pad II handled the recoil like a dream.
I applaud the flat-bottomed, long forearm, which allows the shooter to get their hand further out on the forearm. This design forces the shooter to use their body and not just their arms when shooting, which boosts shot-to-shot consistency.
Smooth, Consistent Operation
Another winning feature is fluid shotshell ejection, whether you fire a single barrel or both. The ejectors produce an audible click, and clearance is excellent. You can place your hand over the shotshells and eject them directly into your hand, or you can break the gun with your hand clear, and the ejectors will send spent shotshells into the air. It’s important to understand, and an excellent feature of this shotgun, that the mechanical ejectors only eject fired shotshells. If you fire only the bottom barrel or only the top barrel and break the gun open, only the fired shotshell will eject. The unfired round will remain in place and be ready when you load another round and close the action.
The 725 Field handles amazingly, as a quality shotgun wearing this price tag should, but the gun is more than impressive—it’s a work of art that fits and functions perfectly. You have to shoot it to fully understand how balanced and smooth this shotgun feels.
Though a sub-gauge, the design of the ultra-low-profile receiver improved recoil control, creating less muzzle jump, which allows the shooter to focus on shot execution. The shotgun swings with a custom feel that you must experience to appreciate fully, and I love the feel of the Fire Lite Mechanical Tirger.
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READ MORE HERE:Alaska Tested: Browning’s Citori 825 Field
Final Thoughts On the Citori 725
Whether you’re a sub-gauge nut or a sub-gauge snob, there is no denying the performance of Browning’s Citori 725 Field chambered in 28 gauge. This will be my go-to dove gun come September 1. Before that, I’m toting the gun to Alaska for a date with ptarmigan. It has earned my respect, love, and admiration.
To learn more, visit Browning
Browning Citori 725 Field 28-Gauge Specifications:
Gauge: 28
Chamber: 3 inch
Barrel Length: 26 and 28-inch options
Overall Length: 43 3/4 w/26-inch barrel
Length of Pull: 14-1/4 inch
Drop at Comb: 1-1/2-inch
Drop at Heel: 2 3/8 inch
Weight: 6 pounds 14 ounces
Rib Width: 1/4 inch
Barrel Finish: Polished Blued
Stock Finish: Gloss Oil
Wood Grade: Grade II/III
Chokes: Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder
Receiver Finish: Silver Nitride
Chamber Finish: Chrome Plated Chamber
Front Sight: Ivory Bead
Barrel Material: Steel
Stock Material: Black Walnut
Trigger Guard Engraving: Buck Mark in Gold
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