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Citori Questions

tenorman
Thanks again to everyone who replied to my "newbie gets into sporting" thread/topic. I'm taking the suggestion to look at Browning Citori's as an alternative to the Beretta Silver Pigeon O/U. And indeed, the Citori 525 Sporting has the European-style forend that I find very comfortable on the Beretta, and is just a beautiful gun.

At the risk of opening a can of worms, I noticed it is manufactured in Japan and the workmanship appears to be superb. In general, what are differences between the Japan-made and European-made O/U's, aside from geographics? "Japan-made" is not a bad thing, I can personally attest that top-flight musical instruments are manufactured there that I would not hesitate to play. And the 525 looks like it is patterned in style very much like the Silver Pigeon.

Looking forward to hearing your opinions. I want a gun that's better than me (not hard right now) and probably always will be! I'm taking the same tack as I did when I bought my custom M1A for hi-power, and it's STILL more accurate than my modest marksmanship skills. [:)]

Best,
KC


K.C.
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • MIKE WISKEY
    don't let the 'made in japan' stamp bother you. I work on a lot of browning bar's and the ones made in japan are just as good as the ones made in blegium. I also have a citori trap gun and have had several superposed's, mechanicaly they are just as good.
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  • Alpine
    Citori has been made by Miroku of Japan for some time. They are a quality manufacturer and sell their own line, and make brand name guns for other distributors (Charles Daley is one that comes to mind).

    I have Citoris from Belgium and Japan and the fit and finish are great on both.

    You mileage may vary.

    avatar.jpg

    "If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."
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  • bobski
    japanese have perfected gun making. absolutley world class guns. unlike other companies that just fire bad employees, in japan, if fired, odds are the guy will kill himself out of shame. buy with confidence.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
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  • allechalley
    The quality of both Browning and Beretta is tough to beat for "off the rack" guns and both have a following in different areas of the country. I have both a 687 silver pigeon and bunch of Citori's (ultra, GTI). They do both have their own personal "feel", that's why everone has been saying see if you can try a couple of each that fit your tastes at the range. You want one that seems to point naturally for you with out having to adjust yourself radically to hit targets. Both companies have different types of rib and to some extent, the way the stocks sit, ie that you either look on top of the bead or flat down on the bead and rib. There is also "the weight forward (more prevalent in brownings with pistol grip and beavertail forearms)" or the livelier "english" pattern stock(some feel this carries the weight more balanced over the hinge, hence lighter, faster feel). With these two manufacturers, beauty and function are in the eye of the beholder and
    to some extent what you build confidence in by shooting the gun a lot so it becomes an automatic extension of yourself.
    The Brownings tend to not have automatic safety application after you open the gun everytime(haven't seen what the lawyers are up to of late) whereas the Berettas are applied every time you open the action.
    Just have to get used to it or have a gunsmith deactivate the auto set safety. Depends what you get used to.
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  • tenorman
    Thanks again for the advice everyone, appreciate it. I know the Beretta just seemed to work naturally with me and I found it easy to point on target. The Citori 525 has similar feel, just haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. Both the 525 and Beretta have the slimmer profile forend, the other Citori Lightning had the beefier forend, and it felt different. Not bad (and I have large hands) but different. And from all of your comments I'm confident either one is of a high-level of manufacture.



    K.C.
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  • bobski
    if you can feel the forearm, youre not holding the gun right. the forearm is suppose to just sit in the hand, it shouldnt be grasped. all that should be felt is the thumb touching the side of the wood and your index finger. if you do that properly, youll find the wide forarms offer more control for target shooting. the snobble(sp) forearm is a hunting type where the gun is brought up quick and sometimes not perfectly, allowing the shooter to push his hand forward to the knob or pull backwards to get control back quick. comfortable should be defined as when both beads line up with the center of your pupil every time you mount the gun blindfolded. have a local 'pro' fit you and check it with an empty gun. repeat, empty gun. he'll know what needs to be done to check the alignment.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
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  • tenorman
    Ah...OK. I will DEFINITELY get some professional instruction before these bad habits get established.

    K.C.
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  • bobski
    learn what is considered right first, then buy the gun. it might save you from an inpulse purchase of a sexy looking gun. if youre in va beach area, id be glad to teach you.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
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