16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 08 Mar 2022 Posts: 106

At this stage of my life, don't know why i have interest in this. Shooting my 3 other 16s is like eating potato chips though; once you start you can't stop. Was narrowing down huge collection of outdoor/hunting mags when i came across an article (Jan '99) on the Rizzini Citori. Nice write up got me interested to ask fellow 16 gaugers. What's the pros & cons of shooting a Citori ? I can't remember ever shooting an over under before.
I shoot a '61 Belgium A5 Sweet, a Parker-Hale SxS (Ugateccha) , & a recent Rizzini Iside SxS. This '99 Rizzini was built on a true 16ga frame & had a straight grip, which i'm partial to & came with 5 flush choke tubes which i'm also partial to. I don't want a "wall" or collector grade and would use it for non competition clays and probably hunting. I reload for all 3 already & am well stocked with components. Can someone give me the benefit of some advice & personal use. Is an over/under justified or is it just personal preference? Thanks

Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 182 Location: Great White North

A bit of confusion here…no such thing as a Rizzini Citori. You mean a Browning Citori or one of the various Rizzini models. Both over unders and both great guns

Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 982 Location: Minnesota

I’ve owned several 16 ga citori shotguns, and sold them for no reason other than to buy something else. I have for a few years kept a Grade III. Citori and like it a lot. I wish I had kept the Citori Feather that I owned. There’s really no pro/con per se. They’re a great gun and good value in my opinion.

Joined: 21 Jan 2019 Posts: 57 Location: Indiana

Just like the other Citori guns I've had, the one I have now is barrel heavy.

Wood is pretty plain. Unless you get lucky, or see it before buying it, or pay extra.

If you're right handed, they usually have cast that way-not so great for a lefty.

They DO take a pounding though, and last forever.

Trulock makes nice replacement chokes.

BD

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1369 Location: Western WA

With apologies to Winston Churchill, the Citori has the most shortcomings of any 16 ga shotgun, except for all the rest.

Seriously, the Citori has so many splendid merits that it’s hard to go wrong with it. I’ll go so far as to say it’s the benchmark for modern 16 ga guns, especially since Beretta has declined to make one. I’m extremely pleased with mine, purchased through this list, BTW.

Best of Luck,
B.

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 476 Location: WI

I have 3 Browning Citoris, all in 16 gauge - a 525 Field and two Superlight Feathers.

I'm working on accumulating Cabela's bucks to buy my next gun, which will be a Browning Citori 725 Trap Max. Given the high cost, it's going to take while to accrue enough of the Cabela's Bucks (or whatever they call them these days) so I can get it for free. Maybe by the time I do, they will actually have it available again...

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2397 Location: West MI

Probie, can you confirm which shotgun you're considering? Are you referring to a Rizzini Citori as a Rizzini Over Under (Superposed)? OR a Browning Citori?

In general if you're already shooting and enjoying an A5 single barrel sight picture, as opposed to your SxS sight picture, an O/U gives a similar sight picture as a single barreled shotgun. Albeit the A5 might not have a vent rib and the O/U most likely will. I'd imagine that if your new to you O/U fits you you'll probably shoot it as well as your other shotguns.

Main reason I prefer shooting O/U's is I despise leaving (chasing) spent hulls all over the place, especially afield.

Aside, own several Browning Citoris, all field/hunting grade and use, all are a pleasure to own and shoot. My 1 peeve w/the platform; they aren't available w/double triggers.

Not sure about a Rizzini, but I can speak to a Citori, as I own & shoot 3 of them.

Pros:
Most are under 7 lbs, usually 6.5, Feathers will be around 6.
Wood durability is good with normal loads.
Metal durability is excellent w/exception of the main springs (see Cons)
Selectable single trigger (selector is on the safety).
Very consistent fit between guns of the same model.
Balance is weight forward (may not be pro for some folks, works for me).
Very reliable inertia trigger.
Plenty of aftermarket choke options.

Cons:
FTF issues on lower barrel (Solution: firing pin socket requires frequent cleaning, replace main springs with aftermarket J&N).
Non-automatic safety (not a con for some folks, I got used to it)
Lower bite recess can collect dirt if not cleaned regularly.

Some things about an O/U in general:
When duck hunting from a boat, the gunwale sometime gets in the way of reloading, versus a SxS which does not cock as far down.
Single sighting plane.
A bit more hard to clean than a SxS, though this is relative.
Most people choose to shoot the lower barrel first most often in target shooting to reduce the possibility of coming off face.

Just my .02

Joined: 08 Mar 2022 Posts: 106

Putz.... if i pull the trigger (hahahah) on this it could be either the Rizzini O/U, which is what i read about first in the article, or a Browning. Ironically, with my present Rizzini Iside & Browning A5, free from problems or issues, i'd most likely stay with either maker. I've found with some further research, the Browning Hunter or White Lightning has ben mentioned alot.