There are lots to choose from, but we think these are the best Browning shotguns you can buy.
John M. Browning did more than start a gun company in 1878, he started a legend. In the years since, Browning has come to be known as one of the top makers of shotguns in the world.
Semi-automatic, over and under, side by side and pump action. These designs are timeless for their versatility and performance.
These are seven of the best Browning shotguns on the market today.
The Browning A5 Hunter High Grade
Browning designed this legendary semi-auto shotgun in 1898 and it's considered one of his crowing achievements. The Auto-5 or A5 has a classic look with the humpback receiver that is instantly recognizable worldwide.
It's still a recoil-operated semi-automatic, but the company has since re-vamped the design with what they call their "Kinematic Drive" system that is supposed to make the action even smoother.
You can still get the classic A5 look with beautiful high grade walnut stocks, which looks especially great on the Hunter High Grade in 12 gauge. This gun is also surprisingly light at just under seven pounds. You can also get an A5 in camo patterns like Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades, perfect for waterfowl hunting. We're pretty sure this gun is going to remain an American classic for many more years to come.
The only downside is these semi-automatic shotguns aren't cheap. The MSRP on many of these guns is right around the $1,500 mark. But they can sometimes be found for under $1,000 if you're willing to wait for sales.
Browning Citori
The last firearm John Browning designed was the Browning Superposed, an over/under shotgun. The Citori models are a modernized take on that design.
Browning produces so many variations we don't have time to list them all here, but these gorgeous shotguns are perfect for upland bird, waterfowl, clays, trap and skeet shooting purposes. There are two different versions of the Citori, the classic and the Citori 725, which features a receiver that is more low-profile in design and different trigger mechanics.
One thing is for sure. These shotguns are gorgeous. We especially like the look of the Browning Citori Lightning with its beautiful chrome finish. There is also the Citori CX, which Browning labels as a "crossover" gun that you can use for both clays and real pigeons. Although, it's worth noting they've moved these guns into the "limited quantities" portion of their website, so if you want one, the time is now to buy.
Most of these shotguns are chambered in 12 gauge, but there are 16 and 20 gauge models available. One of the newest models, the Browning Citori 725 Feather Superlight, comes in both 12 and 20 gauge. Browning was able to trim the weight down on this shotgun to just five pounds, seven ounces!
You can't really go wrong with any of the Citori models. The only thing we don't like is the price. Guns like the Browning Citori 725 Sporting are going to set you back a minimum of $2,000, and the prices only go up from there.
Browning Maxus Hunter
When talking about auto-loading Brownings, the A5 gets almost all the attention, but the Maxus is a fine semi-automatic shotgun. The main difference between this and the A5 is that the Maxus is a gas-operated firearm instead of recoil. It is supposed to cycle faster using what Browning calls their "Power Drive" gas piston.
The main reason these guns have proven popular is their versatility. The Maxus Hunter is equally efficient at shooting both skeet and birds.
We picked the Maxus Hunter for this list because this shotgun only weighs seven pounds, and it has a gorgeous look with its blued barrel and matte nickel finish on a walnut stock. This is a shotgun that will never go out of style. Again, the price point is the only bummer at around $1,500. The price goes up if you get one in a camo pattern. If you're buying a shotgun as a catch-all for both the skeet range and every type of bird hunting you can imagine, you might as well go big right?
Browning BPS Field
Most of the shotguns produced by Browning are pretty expensive. Thankfully, the Browning BPS Field is a much more affordable option.
These pump shotguns go for around $800 and are a good option for someone looking for versatility. You could take a BPS out in the spring for turkey and then swap out to a rifled barrel in the fall for deer season, making this a good option for people who live in a state like Michigan with restrictions on firearms in certain areas.
You may be a little confused the first time you pick up a BPS and see there are no ejection ports. The BPS uses an interesting design where the spent shells are ejected out the bottom port. It makes the firearm more ambidextrous than most. If you buy one of the "deer hunter" models, they often come set up with rifled barrel a scope base already, meaning it won't take much to get it ready for deer season.
Browning Cynergy Ultimate Turkey
The Browning Cynergy models are an interesting design that uses a reverse striker trigger mechanism that is more like something you'd see on a rifle. But the result of this design is a low-profile receiver and very light gun at a little over seven pounds. The Cynergy models are manufactured at Miroku Firearms Plant in Japan making these Brownings even more of an oddball of the group.
We decided to put the Ultimate Turkey model on this list simply because of some creative thinking on the designer's part. The designers wanted a gun that would fit any turkey hunting situation. So, for this over/under, they put in two different chokes. One is a spreader choke meant for up close and personal turkey encounters. The second is a full choke meant for distance shots.
When a big gobbler steps out, all you do is flick the switch to the appropriate choke for the distance and you've got a turkey dinner. This shotgun has proven quite popular and you can expect to pay from $1,800-2,000 for one.
Browning Gold Light
Goose hunters looking for a serious 10-gauge semi-auto don't really need to look any further than the Browning Gold Light. Like the Maxus, this is a gas-operated semi-auto with a 4+1 capacity that is perfect for waterfowl hunting. It's a little hefty at almost 10 pounds, but it makes up for that in performance.
The Gold Light comes standard in Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camo and has an MSRP of about $1,800. That's high for a goose gun, but it'll likely be the last one you'll need to buy.
Browning BT-99 Max High Grade
For anyone looking for a serious trap shooting competition gun, you can't go wrong with the BT-99. Just about everything on this firearm is adjustable for competition shooters to perfectly dial in everything from the length of pull to recoil reduction.
The BT-99 Max High Grade comes chambered in 12 gauge with a 34-inch barrel and an overall length of 51 inches. The weight comes in at a manageable nine pounds, five ounces. This gun is a serious wallop to the wallet with a MSRP of $5,400, so we'd only really recommend it people serious about getting into trap competition.
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