Rediscovering a passion (for clays and over/under shotguns)

[Sreduos.]

I recently rediscovered my passion around shotguns, specifically over and unders as well as shooting sporting clays. I have been purchasing some here or there and my main tool is a new Browning Citori CX White, it's a fantastic sporting gun and I love it, but I go with other folks who often times don't have their own shotgun or do but it isn't necissarily ideal for a sporting course. I have let folks use my gun and I really don't have any issue with it but I think it's always nice to have more guns so what better excuse to get a not so nice version of my gun to clean up and work on and also shoot and share? 

Now these guns are a bit on the pricey side, and not necissarily the most popular type of shooting style here in TN so I chose to go the online route in search of a deal. I came across a posting for a used Citori, with 78 photos for <$1000.00. So I jumped at it, after loking through the photos I was fairly confident I was getting a well loved gun, it had been used but also well taken care of and customized a bit for the previous shooter. Those suspicions were confirmed when the gun showed up at my local FFL. I wasn't sure of the age of the gun but was pretty sure it was older than me. When I finally asked for the S/N to date it the seller had already dropped it off at their FFL and didn't even take note of the S/N.

I received it today and sure enough it is a pretty darn good shotgun, definitly shot, but fit and finish is very nice, it's almost as tight as my brand new one, and the S/N checks out as a 1978 production year and the model designation is J53, which is a special order of their standard Grade I Hunter "153" configuration, meaning it was likely part of a large batch of orders for a specific chain of stores.

It has 26" barrels, fixed choke of modified over improved cylider, which happens to be exactly what I run in my CX White (I knew that when I bought it), it has the automatic safety bar removed, and the butt pad has been shaved and rounded, so it seems like this gun was used as a clays gun. The only thing it doesn't have that I prefer is a mid-bead which I will look to add at a later date likely.

Right now I'm just very happy with my purchase, I happened to have an old case I got on here for a trade a while back that she fits perfect inside of (and my CX White does NOT fit in with the extended chokes installed).

Anywho, this is the result of a lot of foam cleaner, a lot of bore cleaning, and toothbrush work and then oil and lube. She has a few nicks and dings but nothing I'm not going to add to, and if I get really frisky later I may just take a crack at some repair/refinish work as I do enjoy working on my firearms. 

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by Sreduos.

[KahrMan]

That is a very nice older Citori.  Great gun for a great price.  Congrats!

[Sleep profit]

Very nice  

[Jabo76]

Nice O/U, you did good!!

[gregintenn]

While I prefer the look of a classic side by side, I tend to shoot an over and under better.

A tractor trailer couldn’t haul all the shells ejected from my 20 gauge Citori Superlight. It’s still running strong.

 

Dad has and old 20 gauge Superposed. It is a simply awesome shotgun.

 

Looks like you made a great score on this one! Congratulations.

[aknifemaker]

Can't go wrong with a Citori they are great shotguns.

[Frog4aday]

The quality of Citori's never fails to impress, especially for the money spent on them. It's nice to see an older one that was used but not abused, getting a second lease on life. You got a nice shotgun @ a good price. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Nice post. Thx for sharing.

[chances R]

Nice buy.  If you really get bitten by the sporting bug, look at the 725 30” bbl.

[Sreduos.]

I have a Citori CX White 30” barrel as my sporter. The 725 is a beautiful gun but I was already stretching my budget with the CX at the time.