Citori or Franchi?

[Bull Elk]

Primarily to be used for club pheasants and chukar.

Citori 20 gauge 26" barrels o/u fixed chokes, 90-95% condition $1k
or
Franchi Instinct 20 gauge 26" barrels I/u screw in chokes 99% condition $1k

Not a primary shotgun, but wouldn't mind having another 20g o/u. Which would you buy?

Thanks

[Coyotegunner]

I am a die hard fan of Browning.
Consider.What if I need something like a firing pin?

Seems a friend just let a Citori Lightning with chokes go for $1200.If memory serves me correct it was a few years old.Maybe 5 years old?Like new and originally set him back about $2200 when he got it new.

[rambutan316]

I would go for the Browning. They are gorgeous shotguns.

[TAS]

I'd favor the Citori myself, even with it having fixed chokes. Good luck either way you go.

[toby]

Franchi is good stuff, Brownings are everywhere I only like the old ones myself. I actually recently passed on a Citori and got a nice old Winchester 101 to add to my Winchester stable.

[Dutch Henry]

My choice would be the Citori.

[ceh383]

Browning quality is well known, you can't go wrong with this pick.
Franchi makes quality guns as well, and would also be a good choice.
If you have the chance to shoulder both, which ever feels the best would be what I go for.
Not much help, I know...But it is what it is...

[Jeepergeo]

Browning makes a fine product...I now own 5 in various gauges and calibers. I also own a Franchi O/U which I bought when I went looking for a Citori. I bought Franchi because I got a whole lot more for my money compared to what I would get if I went Citori. The Franchi shoots great and points instinctively for me. The barrel selector and autosafety did take a little to get used to.

So buy your gut feel or flip a coin...and have fun shooting whichever you buy. Or swing them both!

[TruEdge]

Curious on why you would want an O/U for a hunting gun?

[RudyN]

I have a Citori that I use for Sporting Clays and think it is a great shotgun. It has removable chokes which I like. I don't know about Franchi as I have not held or shot one.

[axhoaxho]

If the Citori you see has fixed-choke barrels, I would definitely recommend it.

I am a fixed-choke fan (less front heavy, easier to clean, more simplicity, etc.) Those Browning fixed-choke barrels were patterned beautifully from the factory, like an art.

While a 20g Citori fixed-choke can be perfect for folks who know what they want, it is specified and not for everyone -- Hence, see if you can negotiate just a little bit lower, wink.

[Newshooter]

Browning..."they wear in...not out!"

[toby]

Curious on why you would want an O/U for a hunting gun?

Because they are great hunting guns and who needs more than two shots?

[wweigle]

Break open shotguns generally have a Shorter receiver making them overall shorter for the same length of barrel as a pump or auto. Double guns are generally better balanced than most auto or a pump for this reason. For upland hunting, like the OP is suggesting he is buying the gun for, a double in my experience is a quicker handling gun. I bought a used Citori about 12 years ago, and have never had a problem with it. It is a great handling shotgun, to the point were my other shotguns no longer get much use.

[JagerDog]

CA will be non-tox for everything soon. The fixed choked Citori's aren't rated for steel shot. Proceed at your own risk.

The 20g Citori is a fine piece. The 12g can be a bit "blocky", but the 20 is nice. I have one with English stock choked IC/M. I like it on pheasant. Quail I prefer the auto, but that's a different convesation.

Franchi can build some fine guns, but they also build ones which are a bit light duty for high volume shooting. Citori's are very rugged, hence even cosmetically worn they have resale value. Not sure where the Franchi you're looking at fits in the spectrum, but if the price is basically the same for new vs, used Browning, the market says the Browning is considerably superior. That said, I'd probably seek one with Invector chokes in today's (CA) world.