Browning Citori 525 - need some schooling

[Duncan Idaho]

I have a 525 marked special steel, japanese make, ported barrels, 2.75-3". I have not had the best luck learning about the citron line online.

I have no idea about the differences between 525, 625, and 725 models. Most of the websites I have checked state the models are the same with minor differences yet fail to identify these differences.

Curious as to the intended design and purpose and approximate value. Is this a field gun or a trap gun? Info seeking only, not interested in selling.

Can't post pics but I could email or message.

 

[the spank]

The “special steel” stamp denotes nothing more than modern fluid steel. It is on every Browning gun ever made since the beginning of the 20th century. Makes me shake my head when I see guys advertising them in the EE as “special steel” so good for steel shot. Ummm? NOT!! Unless they are newer with screw chokes marked for use with “steel shot” or a gunsmith has opened up the fixed chokes to accommodate the use of steel shot. The differences between 525,625 and the 725 to the best of my knowledge lay in receiver sizes and barrel dimensions. Hard to say what your 525 Citori is without pictures. It could be a trap, sporting clays or field version. Usually though the target guns have some designation on them to identify them. Stock dimensions and finishes vary too with differing models. Yours is ported so without pics I’ll go out on a limb and say some kind of target grade, likely Sporting Clays as field grades aren’t ported for obvious deafening reasons!! If the wood is satin finished or oil finished likely a sporting clays version as well as Browning trap grades are almost always(99.9%) gloss finished.

 

[FLHTCUI]

Different generation of the gun.
Not sure about how many years between production runs, but suffice to say Browning may have changed the design or used a different texture of oil for the wood?
Anyways, tiss a good question and look forward to what others have to say.
Rob

 

[hoytcanon]

There are styling differences between the series, I have owned Citori's from the 325, 425, 525, 625 and 725 series. The lengthened forcing cones were introduced with the 625 series and the DS chokes were introduced with the 725 series. From a style and feel perspective the 525's are my favourite.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Sorry I can't post pics. Oiled stock on mine. Looks much like the ones in your pic.