Like the Citori 725, previous Citori models and the Superposed itself, new Citori 825s feature a transverse-mounted, full-width tapered locking bolt and full-width hinge pin. The bolt engages a full-width tapered recess in the rear barrel lugs, which allows the bolt to seat deeper over time, self-adjusting for wear and keeping the action tight—the essence of Browning’s “wears in, not out” design. The full-width hinge pin, spanning the width of the receiver, enables more strength and reliability than that found on guns with side-mounted trunnions.
The stock is attractive Grade II/III walnut with a gloss oil finish. The grip has diamond checkering and a slight palm swell, which I found comfortable. The forend is slimmer and more rounded than the Citori 725’s and also sports checkering. Stock, grip and forend all worked well together and felt natural.
Field models feature 26- and 28-inch barrels (target models have 30- or 32-inch barrels), and chambers and barrels on all are chrome-lined for durability and corrosion resistance. Barrels are back-bored—the inside bore diameter is increased to its maximum allowable specification—which reduces friction between shot cup and barrel and increases pellet velocity. Meanwhile, Browning’s Vector Pro lengthened forcing cone reduces stress on the shot column as it passes into the bore, producing fewer deformed pellets and more uniform patterns. Regarding patterns, the Citori 825 Field has a roughly 50/50 point of impact/pattern distribution, with 50 percent of pellets above point of aim and the rest below.
