The Browning Citori CX Over/Under Shotgun: The Ultimate Companion for Competitive Target Shooting
For avid shooters seeking a versatile, high-performance shotgun engineered to excel across all clay target disciplines, the Browning Citori CX stands out as a preeminent choice. Unveiled to critical acclaim at prestigious industry events like SHOT Show, this 12-gauge over/under shotgun has been meticulously designed to meet the rigorous demands of competitive shooters worldwide. Whether you’re a dedicated trap, skeet, or sporting clays enthusiast, or an aspiring competitor looking for an edge, the Citori CX offers a refined blend of precision, durability, and user-centric features.
What makes the Browning Citori CX the ideal shotgun for discerning competitors?
This shotgun is crafted for consistency and comfort during long days at the range. Every element, from its robust steel receiver to its innovative recoil system, is purposed to enhance your performance and enjoyment.
Precision Engineering for Unmatched Performance
Robust and Elegant Receiver
At the heart of the Citori CX is a steel receiver boasting a brilliant, high-polished blue finish. This isn't just about aesthetics; the robust steel construction provides incredible durability and strength, essential for absorbing the stresses of high-volume shooting inherent in competitive disciplines. The sides of the receiver proudly display the new Citori CX logo in gold, a subtle yet distinct mark of quality and identity within the esteemed Citori line. This attention to detail ensures not only a visually striking firearm but also a reliable core that will withstand countless rounds, maintaining its integrity and function for years to come.
Optimized Barrel Design for Superior Patterns
The Citori CX features a lightweight profile barrel, which contributes significantly to the shotgun's overall balance and responsiveness. This lighter profile allows for quicker swings and more agile target transitions, a crucial advantage in fast-paced sporting clays courses or challenging skeet stations.
Adding to its precision capabilities are the high post rib and ventilated top and side ribs. The high post rib provides an elevated sighting plane, aiding in quick target acquisition and promoting a more heads-up shooting posture, which many competitive shooters prefer for improved visibility and reduced neck strain. The ventilation in both the top and side ribs serves a dual purpose: it helps dissipate heat generated during rapid firing, preventing mirage effects that can distort your sight picture, and it further reduces the overall weight, contributing to the shotgun's dynamic balance. This sophisticated barrel architecture ensures consistent, tight patterns shot after shot, giving you the confidence needed to break clays with authority.
Versatile Point of Impact (POI) for Every Discipline
One of the defining characteristics of the Citori CX, and a major selling point for competitive shooters, is its 60/40 point of impact (POI). This means that 60% of the shot pattern will land above the point of aim, with 40% landing below. This specific POI is widely regarded as suitable for all target disciplines, including trap, skeet, and sporting clays.
- For Trap Shooters: A slightly higher POI helps with rising targets, allowing the shooter to float the target slightly above the barrel and still achieve a solid hit.
- For Skeet and Sporting Clays: While skeet targets are often closer and more predictable, and sporting clays offer diverse presentations, the 60/40 POI offers a natural sight picture that accommodates both rising and falling targets, as well as crossing shots. It minimizes the need for extreme lead corrections, making it a highly intuitive and forgiving POI for diverse target presentations.
This versatility eliminates the need for multiple shotguns tailored to specific disciplines, making the Citori CX an excellent investment for shooters who enjoy a variety of clay target sports.
Reliable and Versatile Action
The Citori CX operates with a robust 12 gauge action featuring a 3-inch chamber. This chamber size offers exceptional versatility, allowing shooters to use both standard 2 ¾-inch and magnum 3-inch shotgun shells. While competitive target shooting typically uses lighter 2 ¾-inch loads, the ability to handle 3-inch shells provides options for specialized applications or even light field use if desired. The chromed chamber is a significant advantage, providing superior corrosion resistance and simplifying cleaning. This means less time on maintenance and more time focusing on your shooting technique. The consistent, reliable ejection of spent shells is a hallmark of Browning's Citori action, contributing to smooth, uninterrupted shooting sessions.
Ergonomics and Advanced Features for the Shooter
Beyond its core mechanics, the Browning Citori CX integrates several advanced features designed to enhance shooter comfort, customization, and ultimately, performance.
Premium Stock and Recoil Management
The shotgun is fitted with a beautiful Grade II American walnut stock, finished with a rich gloss. Walnut has long been the material of choice for premium firearms due to its strength, classic aesthetic, and ability to dampen vibrations. The gloss finish not only protects the wood but also adds to the Citori CX's elegant appearance.
Critical for high-volume shooting, the stock is equipped with the innovative Inflex recoil pad. This advanced recoil pad technology utilizes directional deflection to pull the comb down and away from the shooter's face during recoil, significantly reducing felt recoil and vibration. This translates to greater comfort during extended shooting sessions, minimizing fatigue and allowing you to maintain focus and consistency shot after shot. Reduced recoil also helps prevent flinching, a common issue that can undermine accuracy. For anyone spending hours on the range, the Inflex recoil pad is a game-changer.
Advanced Shot Control with Vector Pro and Midas Chokes
The Citori CX comes standard with Vector Pro lengthened forcing cones. Forcing cones are the tapered sections within the barrel that guide the shot column from the chamber into the bore. Lengthened forcing cones, like Vector Pro, provide a more gradual transition, which has several key benefits:
- Improved Pattern Uniformity: They help the shot column remain more perfectly round, leading to denser, more consistent shot patterns downrange.
- Reduced Pellet Deformation: Less abrupt constriction means fewer deformed pellets, which in turn leads to more effective energy transfer and tighter patterns.
- Reduced Felt Recoil: The smoother transition also contributes to a reduction in felt recoil, further enhancing shooter comfort.
Complementing the Vector Pro system are three Midas grade extended Invector-Plus choke tubes (Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder). These extended choke tubes are easily changeable by hand, without the need for a wrench, allowing for quick adjustments to your pattern density based on target distance and presentation.
- Full (F): Delivers the tightest pattern, ideal for distant targets in trap or long-range sporting clays.
- Modified (M): Offers a moderate pattern, versatile for a wide range of target distances and common in sporting clays.
- Improved Cylinder (IC): Provides a more open pattern, perfect for closer targets in skeet or initial shots in sporting clays doubles.
The "Midas grade" designation signifies a higher standard of internal finish and precision machining, ensuring optimal performance from each choke. The ability to quickly and easily swap chokes empowers the shooter to adapt to changing conditions and maximize their broken targets.
Customizable Fit with the Triple Trigger System
Personalization is key to consistent shooting, and the Browning Citori CX addresses this with its Triple Trigger System. This innovative system includes one trigger supplied, but allows for easy interchangeability with optional gold-plated trigger shoes (not included, but available separately). The main benefit of this system is the ability to adjust the length of pull and trigger reach, allowing the shooter to fine-tune the fit of the shotgun to their individual physique and shooting style. A properly fitted shotgun is crucial for comfortable mounting, natural pointing, and reducing strain, ultimately leading to improved accuracy and reduced fatigue over long shooting sessions. This level of adjustability is a significant advantage for serious competitors.
Clear and Reliable Sights
For fast and precise target acquisition, the Citori CX is equipped with Ivory front and mid bead sights. The front bead helps with initial alignment on the target, while the mid bead serves as a crucial reference point for ensuring proper gun mount and head alignment. These highly visible sights are simple, robust, and effective, providing a clear sight picture even in varying lighting conditions, ensuring you can quickly and confidently acquire your target.
Who is the Browning Citori CX For?
This shotgun is not just a tool; it's an investment in your passion for shooting sports. It is perfectly suited for:
- Competitive Clay Target Shooters: Whether you compete in trap leagues, skeet tournaments, or challenging sporting clays events, the Citori CX provides the reliability, accuracy, and comfort needed to perform at your peak.
- Serious Recreational Shooters: If you spend significant time at the range, value precision, and appreciate high-quality firearms, this shotgun offers a superior shooting experience.
- Upgrading Enthusiasts: For shooters looking to move beyond entry-level models or field guns and step into a dedicated competition-grade over/under, the Citori CX offers a substantial upgrade in features and performance.
- Shooters Seeking Versatility: Its 60/40 POI and comprehensive feature set make it an excellent "all-around" competition gun, eliminating the need for multiple specialized shotguns.
Why Choose Browning and the Citori CX?
Browning has a legendary reputation in the firearms industry, built on over a century of innovation, quality, and performance. The Citori line, in particular, has been a cornerstone of their over/under shotgun offerings for decades, known for its enduring durability and elegant design. When you choose a Browning Citori CX, you are investing in:
- Unrivaled Heritage: Browning's legacy ensures a firearm built to exacting standards.
- Proven Reliability: Citori shotguns are known for their mechanical strength and consistent performance, round after round.
- Exceptional Resale Value: A Browning Citori holds its value well, a testament to its quality and demand.
- Dedicated Engineering: Features like Vector Pro, Inflex recoil pads, and the Triple Trigger System are results of continuous innovation driven by shooter feedback.
For those ready to elevate their shooting experience and commit to a shotgun that will serve them faithfully in the demanding world of competitive clay target sports, the Browning Citori CX is a clear front-runner. Its combination of robust construction, advanced shooting technologies, and customizable ergonomics makes it a top-tier choice for any serious shooter. This exceptional firearm is readily available through trusted and reputable retailers.
For an extensive selection of Browning firearms, including the versatile Citori CX, and expert assistance, consider exploring the offerings available at DEGuns.com. DEGuns is known for providing a comprehensive range of high-quality firearms and accessories, ensuring you find the perfect match for your shooting needs and preferences. Their dedication to customer satisfaction and broad inventory of premium brands, including Browning, makes them an ideal destination for your next firearm purchase.
Browning Citori CX 12 Gauge Over/Under Shotgun Specifications
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Gauge | 12 |
| Chamber Size | 3" |
| Barrel Length | 32" |
| Overall Length | 49" |
| Length of Pull | 14 1/4" |
| Weight | 8 Pounds 5 Ounces |
| Chokes Included | Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder |
| Sights | Ivory Bead Front |
| UPC | 023614440499 |
