Product Review
Browning Citori Ultra XS Sporting
I like the fact that many manufacturers these days make product
selection easier by bundling options into a few packages that
one can
choose from, rather than leaving the customer to select from a
laundry list of options. I like the package options because I
have
post purchase regret sometimes when I have to pick all the options.
Its sometimes hard to shake the cloud of doubt that I missed
something or bought more than I really needed.
Browning is a manufacturer that makes so many models of over and
unders it falls under the category of a manufacturer that has
the
maximum selection of options, but they also do some nice packages.
I
hope that statement isn't a confusing contradiction. The review
group
at Shotgun Report has had the opportunity to live with a 12 Gauge
Browning Citori Ultra XS Sporting Model, 30 inch barrels for several
months and we are duly impressed. In short it is a great package.
It has a 2 3/4 inch chamber, Schnabel forend, ventilated side
ribs,
ported barrels, 1/2 "-3/8" tapered flat rib, right hand palm swell,
7
lbs. 14 oz., 47.5" overall length, 1.5" drop at comb, 2.25" drop
at
heel, 14.75" length of pull. Single selective trigger with the
Triple
Trigger System™ that allows for three interchangeable trigger
shoes
and a change of length of pull. The time proven Browning style
tapered steel under lug locking bolt locks the gun to battery
and the
ejectors are automatic, tossing fired hulls clear of the breech
and
lifting unfired shells for easy removal. The safety is non-automatic
and selectable for either barrel. It would be great to be able
to
lock the safety and the barrel selection on. It is unnecessary
for a
target gun to have a safety that can be "accidentally" switched
on
causing a lost target because the safety wasn't checked and taken
off. It is a minor criticism. The chokes that came with the gun
were
Mod, I.C. and Skeet.
Metal to wood fit is tight and without noticeable gaps. The
checkering is sharp and clean. The wood is a low gloss matte finish.
Blueing is deep in color and even throughout the barrel section.
The
receiver is what Browning calls silver nitride. It looks fine.
SR
reviewers liked the look of the ventilated side ribs compared
to the
solid side ribs found on other Brownings. We acknowledge that
in the
field these ventilated side ribs could catch brush and debris,
but
hey, they look good on the gun rack. It is also notable that the
tapered flat rib has a slightly depressed center channel running
the
length of the rib. This feature is usually found only on target
guns.
With the 30" barrels, the gun moved well. Some reviewers commented
that they'd like to try the gun with 32" tubes for comparison.
Impossible to tell how that would feel, but it would be interesting
to try. It would also be nice to have fully mechanical triggers
that
would fire the second shot without needing the rearward movement
of
the gun from the first shot to set the trigger for the second
shot.
This would allow for sub gauge shooters using .410 tube sets would
not have to have a gunsmith do this conversion.
The gun lockup is tight and solid as a new gun should be. There
were
no misfires. The gun shot flat. No vertical gap was necessary
for
rising birds. Just the right set up for Sporting Clays. No reviewer
complained of excessive recoil. Suggested retail price is $2,196.00
and the gun can be found for about $1800.
There is a lot to like about this gun. Time proven design, quality
construction, nice package of features, reasonable price. SR loves
value, and the Browning Citori XS Sporting series is a great value.