New (to me) Shotgun

[orhunter]

Just trying to see if anyone is still alive out there.

Buying new guns these days is quite a challenge. Have had two guns on order through Sportsman's Warehouse for quite some time and finally gave up and bought something close to what I wanted. Browning Citori, 28 gauge. Wanted 28" barrels but had to settle for 26 and they're fixed chokes, Imp-Cyl and Mod. Will shoot at paper before changing anything. Gun was mfg'd in '91, looks nice and very tight like it hasn't been shot much. Not that I want to but wondering if chambers can be lengthened to match all the new guns on the market? Can't see ever doing it, a curiosity thing. Fits pretty good. Have never shoulder any O/U that did so this is welcome. One of these days I'll need to start looking around for loading materials.

Hunting is pretty slow here. Not getting the pup into many birds. The ones we are finding she handles like a seasoned pro. Absolutely steady to flush. Pretty cool.

Good luck out there.

[blue04]

Briley used to have a service where you can send your fixed choke gun to them and they'll lengthen the forcing cones and thread the barrels for Invector+ screw in choke tubes. I haven't looked into it for quite some time, so not sure about the cost or wait time these days, but it used to be a great way to update a solid older gun. There is a barrel wall thickness requirement, so if you're interested I'd call them and get that info so you can check your gun before shipping it.

Congrats on the new scattergun.

[orhunter]

Blue.... Thanks. I've used their service before. Their chokes are excellent. Gun does not have Invector + barrels, standard bore. Invector + indicates .010 over standard bore size.

[blue04]

So maybe you know more than I do if you've used their service recently. I _think_ you can still get tubes (maybe not Invector+ tubes) from Briley, as long as your gun has sufficient barrel wall thickness. They used to have "thin wall" screw in choke tubes for guns that didn't have enough wall thickness to do "standard" tubes.

Good luck.

[orhunter]

Blue:

Invector and Invector Plus are Browning trademarks as far as I know. I don't know who actually makes the chokes. I haven't tried installing Browning Invector Plus chokes in the barrel (or vice versa) I sent to Briley because that barrel is standard bore, not Plus. If the Briley chokes would actually go into the Plus barrel, the gun couldn't be fired because of the .005 lip the choke would create. This is assuming the Plus bore is .010 oversize. I don't know that Browning ever made an Invector Plus 28 gauge as their bore is said to be perfect for existing shot charges, pre-3". The guns that need over boring the most are those 20 gauge guns that are regularly used with 3" ammo. With any shotgun, the larger the shot charge and higher the muzzle velocity, the more benefit is gained from over-boring.

[blue04]

Orhunter: The reason I mention Invector in this context is that you have a Browning gun, so I was thinking if you were going to have your barrels threaded for chokes you might prefer to stick with a Browning format. Browning's newer Citori guns that are manufactured today use Invector (not plus) for the 28 ga and .410 bore versions. But I know nothing about the detailed specs of your gun. So I can't say if your gun is suitable for the process of threading and fitting for screw in chokes. If you are interested in that, I'd call Briley (or your gunsmith of choice).

[orhunter]

The gun is suitable. Plenty of meat in the barrels. The A-5 barrel they did for me was lots thinner. I'd rather have Briley chokes. Not that I think Browning's aren't any good I just know Briley's are very good.

I know of a guy who hunts ducks with his .410, drops 'em dead at 40 yards using TSS shot. Loads a mixture of 8's and 9's. Don't know how the gun has been modified ,or if, but the .410 really performs with over-boring. Anyone who seriously hunts with (or wants to) a .410 should have it done.

[blue04]

I've been hunting almost everything with a 20 ga for more than 10 years now. If ammo availability wasn't a problem, I'd have switched to 28 ga years ago.

[AverageGuy]

Hey Harvey, Good to hear you have a new toy. 28s are fun. TSS changes everything. If components were not so hard to come by I would be reloading and using my 28s more. The lethal ballistics of TSS allow such a small shot size that the smaller payloads of the .410 and 28 are real performers.

[Willie T]

Congrats on the new shotgun Orhunter. Two thumbs up on the 28 citori. Briley does excellent work. They are about two hours south of me. Been in their shop many times. A lot of the fellows I shoot skeet with have purchased older Brownings and had them choked by Briley. For an upland gun I would be hard pressed to alter modified over IC. That is about perfect. Going to something like copper plated #5 shot will tighten up your patterns if you need it. Adding a buffer will further tighten them. Most of the 28 citori’s are built on a 20 ga frame. If that is what you have, screw ins will be a piece of cake for the guys at Briley.
Great to hear your pup is doing well!
Willie

[orhunter]

Willie: That’s what I like about the Brownings, using 20 gauge frames for the 28. My Model 12 is the same. They feel like a real gun in your hands not a toy. Another cool thing about the older gun is having the old style round knob buttstock. That’s how every Browning should look.

Found a beauty of an A-5 the other day when filling out the paperwork for the Citori. Thought it was an old version because it had the round knob but it was one of the last built, 1998. Guy wants $1100. Dang it looks nice.... too nice to hunt with. Wall hanger for sure. Not my wall.