[Spanky]

Guys I'm a mechanic and in reality my shotguns are really a tool much like a torque wrench, impact gun or drive ratchet i own. Don't abuse them and it will last pretty much a lifetime or wear out from use.

My Citoris I've bought new over the years. Field early '80's, Special Trap mid. '90's, Gran Prix Sporter '05 ish when they were discontinued, XT Trap '10? Whatever. I would say I've kept them cherry while using them as a tool.

A Browning for the most will keep a a certain value, they make a quality firearm. No dis to a Wally World or Rossi it's not at that level.

This is my point. Browning comes along and brings out this CrossOver. A lot cheaper than past previous Citoir versions. I believe this is a slap in the face to Browning owners. Heck I never bought a Browning thinking it was going to increase in value there are millions of them. I just feel their worth is decreased due to the CrossOver. It would be one thing to just draw a line in the sand and say they are done with them. They maybe should of put out a nicer than average version than pulled the plug. But to go cheaper. That's a slap. I just believe it's an added devaluation of something that wasn't really valued that high. I hope this bit is a ramp makes sense.

 

[pickleweedpete]

I understand what you're saying, Spanky, but I felt the same way when Browning moved production from Belgium to Japan way back in the early 70's. No harm done, however. It's the way of the world. You still have your Citoris, which everyone knows are very fine shotguns, and I have my Superposed.

 

[broadway john]

and I have my Superposed.

And the best thing about a Superposed, most are worth more now than when they were made.

 

[Matthew]

Well Spanky, back when I was a young man, I looked at Brownings as fine guns like Krieghoff and Perazzi now. And they were fine guns. In my mind they still are. Maybe not equal with a K or P gun, but still a fine firearm. Now for most folks, me included, running out an spending 3,000 and up takes some planning. Perhaps Browning decided to make a cheaper version of the Citori to enable more folks to own a Browning? If they get in with an entry level gun, they could trade up later? Or perhaps a father wanted to get his child a nicer than average gun to get started shooting?

 

[TexasTBag]

Maybe they were able to produce the Crossovers at a cheaper price point and passed the savings to the customer in hopes of increasing volume?

Full disclosure: Recently purchased a Citori CX (its an awesome gun for the price) :beerchug:

 

[MBM1565]

I remember when the Citori came out Browning lovers cursed it as “That Damned Jap Browning.
They at first saw it as Browning cutting corners on quality.
I have a Superposed and have had a Citori.
Both are great in their own special ways.
The Superposed died because of greedy labor unions in Belgium and over complexity.
The Citori was and is a way to keep cost down and quality high.
The cost cutting of the Crossovers is only on minor cosmetics.
Remember that the first Citori’s had slick blue receivers too.

 

[birdk9]

I have two mid 90's Citori Lighining Sporting Clays guns with high rib. Purchased both used, the first for $1100 and the second for $1400. Both have an adjustable comb. I have the catalog from 2004 MSRP for that gun is $1,878. Sale price was probably $1500
The Crossover/CX guns are very similar to the older Sporting Clays version, and directed to an audience that does not want to spend $2000 to $3000 on a new 725. Same gun and marketing strategy Browning has used for twenty years.
They use proven performance in the older Investor Plus guns and the tooling is paid for. All the guns hold there value.

As a coach for high school trap, the Crossover/CX is a hugely popular all purpose gun for high school shooters. Several kids have 725 versions and several still shoot pump guns. It's about having a gun for every price range a consumer can justify to themselves.

The top guns still hold their value.

 

[miketmx]

I bought a grade III Citori Trap gun and thoroughly enjoyed shooting it for 14 years. The only reason I sold it was because I thought I needed a better Double Release trigger and as it turned out I probably would have been better off shooting that Citori with a Release/Pull for many more years.

 

[F3trap]

I thought the same thing. The Browning XT trap should be worth around $2000 used. My grandpa went and bought a Browning CXT for $1750 out the door brand new. The only difference I saw between the CXT and the XT was that the XT came with hi-viz sights, slightly nicer wood, and a slight fancier receiver. Im sure now, people will have a hard time selling a Browning XT double barrel, for what it’s worth.

 

[mallard2]

You said it right when it is said above, that a Browning is not a kgun or pgun. The Browning is a great hunting gun (300 rounds a year), and a good target gun, (3000 targets a year). I own a couple of them, but they will not hold up, perform, or increase in value like a Perazzi or Kreighoff. But Brownings are a good gun. Shoot and enjoy.

 

[Slugo]

The recent Browning Citori CX models are huge sellers. The Crossover Target, CX, CXT, and CXS are nothing more than reconstituted designs from the past. Black receivers, cheaper wood, one adjustable trigger (not three) and one less choke tube. No re-engineering required, huge cost savings. All sell retail for a nominal $2000 dollars. What is bad about this, Browning is offering guns that sold close to $3000 bucks but now at a huge discount. I've owned well over a dozen Brownings. My CX and CXS are as good if not better than all of the others. Take advantage of some great deals and hat's off to Browning making it all possible.

 

[redudley]

I own 2 Browning XT's and have no concern about CXT pricing being less since I'm delighted to see more people using Brownings. I shoot approx 15,000 rounds through my Brownings each year without any failures. Never had to stop shooting a trap round because a Browning in my squad malfunctioned but have experienced it occasionally when fellow shooters are using P or K guns in my squad.

 

[bobski]

spanky, i cant agree with your crossover claims.
nothing but good performance claims and praise from entry level shooters, in this end of the nation.

 

[Setterman]

Been shooting registered since 94' and have yet to have a P or K gun break down while shooting by me or anyone else on a squad. You hear the stories cause a bunch of jealous people shooting less expensive guns make a big deal out of it when it does happen.

I've seen some guns bind up, not close, break firing pins, and fall a part on the line,.....even saw one explode, but I will never say the make or models cause they are a machine, require maintenance, and care and the owners don't always do what it really takes.

 

[Trap Master]

You said it right when it is said above, that a Browning is not a kgun or pgun. The Browning is a great hunting gun (300 rounds a year), and a good target gun, (3000 targets a year). I own a couple of them, but they will not hold up, perform, or increase in value like a Perazzi or Kreighoff. But Brownings are a good gun. Shoot and enjoy.

Nonsense, last season I shot 16,350 registered targets and at least that many practice rounds thru my 20 y/o browning special trap without one single hiccup.

Now ask my how many times I've been on the line shooting along side a K gun that doubled or a Kolar with a broken trigger or a Sietz that wouldn't close/open/eject or any number of different failures I saw occur with my own eyes.

Brownings hold up and perform just as well as any other quality gun. My gun has taken me to the winners circle quite a few times and it continues to serve me well this season too.

 

[AveragEd]

Compared to a Krieghoff, Kolar or Perazzi, Brownings are the Chevrolet and Ford of shotguns. They aren't as "good" as those others but they serve their owners well. I am currently running a trap gun ownership survey in my monthly columns and although it has only run for one month thus far, Brownings are the most popular.

I owned a Browning once. When the Citori Plus came out, I bought one of the first, a 32" that wasn't ported. It had what to me were peculiarities like a recoil reduction system that made a clicking noise and oozed grease in spite of not requiring lubrication, a rib that jingled on every shot and erroneous owner's manual POI adjustment instructions that resulted in double-adjusting. Being employed in customer service all my working life, I was turned off by the response I received from Browning as well as the number of months it took to receive said response so I sold the gun when a fellow club member just had to have it because it only had holes in each end of its barrels. In truth, while it was heavy, clubby and didn't have the balance and feel of the "better" guns, I'd wager that it still works well enough for the average shooter. It cost me $1,349.99 plus tax back then, quite the bargain today.

Ed

 

[gcbailey]

Not detracting from what others here have said, here is a different perspective: Beauty (and price) is in the eye of the beholder. Many firearm purchases are based on emotion. ALL of mine have been. But the way people view firearms changes. What is hot for a decade becomes old hat the next. What used to be an everyday "John" gun suddenly sees a surge in collector value. Across the pond, they view things vastly differently. A firearm that has been restocked from the original and been modified, as long as it was done by the same company, is still considered a factory manufacture. Wood seems to be irrelevant oversees, but Americans place a premium on wood grade. SxS don't have a following like they used to and can be purchased for relatively little compared to O/Us in this day and age. I place my SxS shotguns head and shoulders above my O/Us but again for emotional reasons. If you buy a shotgun to be a tool, then find one you like and enjoy it. If it gets passed down through your family and they are shooters, I doubt the grade will matter to them much. I know some people who have cheap Stevens shotguns passed down from their grandfather or great grandfather and there is no amount of money you could give them for it-even if the market says they are only worth $500.

 

[jmoser]

Not like Beretta hasn't introduced a cheaper version of the Silver Pigeon.

 

[Spanky]

I thought the same thing. The Browning XT trap should be worth around $2000 used. My grandpa went and bought a Browning CXT for $1750 out the door brand new. The only difference I saw between the CXT and the XT was that the XT came with hi-viz sights, slightly nicer wood, and a slight fancier receiver. Im sure now, people will have a hard time selling a Browning XT double barrel, for what it’s worth.

Basically my thoughts. Devalued.

 

[Spanky]

I guess I'm way off base than. I just see this a bit differently. I have no squabble as to the performance of any of my Brownings. The only real problem I ever had was on my BT-99 MAX within my first 500-700 rounds my firing pin broke. I replaced it myself. They sent me two but I needed to send the broken one back. Easy enough repair and picked up a spare to boot which should be a direct replacement for my Grade III BT if need be also.

For a year or two they knocked back the XT Trap to a blued version. Thought that was pretty decent for a trim back.

I don't begrudge anyone for buying a CXT. Seriously. I guess I'd tell you to buy that because that is what is available. I say that sincerely. Will last a lifetime and would expect it to hold up great at least by my personal experience.

But even though I know nothing about K or P gun. They would feel the same way it it was done on that level.