Just join this forum.Last week I bid and won what I thought was a 12 gauge Citori built in 1987 with 28 " barrels.When we got the gun from the seller it was a 16 Gauge made on the same year.The gun is in Good condition however there was some minor pitting near the rib ( minor ) and some more when I removed the forearm.The bore and mechanics are perfect as the gun appears to have seen very little use.I feel this gun was not used much ad not properly stored hence the pitting. I paid $635 plus $25 delivery and $30 FFL dealer fee for a total of $690. I like the gun and have the choice of sending it back for a full refund, however only saw less than three 16's for sale ( one in almost brand new condition for $1700 in Guns America). I need some practical advice here as this gun could be worth more that the price I paid.thanks
Citori 16 gauge grade I
- Thread starter machete96
- Start date
1987 model .....does it have fixed chokes ( if yes, what are they ? ) -- or does it have screw in chokes ?
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Should you / do you ....want to keep it ....depends on whether you want a 16ga or not. If you don't reload / I would say don't keep it - shells will be too expensive to do much shooting with it vs the same gun in a 20ga.
16ga has a special place in my heart ...and I like them ...but some pitting on the barrel - is not a great thing ... If it doesn't have screw in chokes, I would probably not keep it even if I did reload 16ga.
Citori Lightning models in my area in 12ga or 20ga are desireable / new ones list for about $ 1,800 and come with screw in chokes / average new price is around $ 1,400. I picked up a 1989 12ga Citori Lightning, 28" barrels, with the old Invector screw in chokes, for $ 750 a few months ago ....the stock has some scratches on it / but I'll refinish it and give it to one of the grandkids down the road. If that gun had fixed chokes ...it would have been worth about $ 150 less ...
Well kept Lightning models, with screw in chokes, in good condition in my area sell for around $ 1,000 / 16ga just isn't as popular as a 12 or 20ga and will not sell for as much / but Browning doesn't make a Citori 16ga anymore ( at least not in the catalog ) ...they would be special order only ..and I see some available from big dealers that have ordered 50 or so made on the 20ga receiver ...new for $ 1,650 - $1,800 ...in some of the magazines.
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Should you / do you ....want to keep it ....depends on whether you want a 16ga or not. If you don't reload / I would say don't keep it - shells will be too expensive to do much shooting with it vs the same gun in a 20ga.
16ga has a special place in my heart ...and I like them ...but some pitting on the barrel - is not a great thing ... If it doesn't have screw in chokes, I would probably not keep it even if I did reload 16ga.
Citori Lightning models in my area in 12ga or 20ga are desireable / new ones list for about $ 1,800 and come with screw in chokes / average new price is around $ 1,400. I picked up a 1989 12ga Citori Lightning, 28" barrels, with the old Invector screw in chokes, for $ 750 a few months ago ....the stock has some scratches on it / but I'll refinish it and give it to one of the grandkids down the road. If that gun had fixed chokes ...it would have been worth about $ 150 less ...
Well kept Lightning models, with screw in chokes, in good condition in my area sell for around $ 1,000 / 16ga just isn't as popular as a 12 or 20ga and will not sell for as much / but Browning doesn't make a Citori 16ga anymore ( at least not in the catalog ) ...they would be special order only ..and I see some available from big dealers that have ordered 50 or so made on the 20ga receiver ...new for $ 1,650 - $1,800 ...in some of the magazines.
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None of us can see the pitting you're talking about of course ...but if you keep it oiled and protected - it probably won't get any worse.
Since it has screw in chokes ...I don't blame you for keeping it at that price.
Look at the MEC website / consider getting into doing some reloading for the 16ga ( a MEC grabber would be a good investment / or a 9000 GN ) and both are affordable / have a resizer built into station one. A MEC jr is ok / I'm just not a big fan of a non-progressive loader for shotshells ....and Grabber or 9000 GN models are way easier to sell down the road.
Your gun probably has the older "Invector" chokes vs "Invector Plus" - and the barrel should be marked. Browning and Briley both sell chokes for either style. For all of my guns / I usually have 2 Cyclinder, 2 Skeey, 2 Improved Cycl, 2 Modified, 1 Improved Mod, 1 Full choke ( chokes are unique to a specific gague / as well as the style ) but I'm assuming you knew that.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/accessories/detail.asp?value=003J&cat_id=113&type_id=38768
congratulations on a good buy.
Since it has screw in chokes ...I don't blame you for keeping it at that price.
Look at the MEC website / consider getting into doing some reloading for the 16ga ( a MEC grabber would be a good investment / or a 9000 GN ) and both are affordable / have a resizer built into station one. A MEC jr is ok / I'm just not a big fan of a non-progressive loader for shotshells ....and Grabber or 9000 GN models are way easier to sell down the road.
Your gun probably has the older "Invector" chokes vs "Invector Plus" - and the barrel should be marked. Browning and Briley both sell chokes for either style. For all of my guns / I usually have 2 Cyclinder, 2 Skeey, 2 Improved Cycl, 2 Modified, 1 Improved Mod, 1 Full choke ( chokes are unique to a specific gague / as well as the style ) but I'm assuming you knew that.
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/accessories/detail.asp?value=003J&cat_id=113&type_id=38768
congratulations on a good buy.
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nixterdemus
New member
You should have no problem w/gun holding its value.
No shortage of guys wanting the, carries like a 20 hits like a 12, 16 gauge.
Congrats...
No shortage of guys wanting the, carries like a 20 hits like a 12, 16 gauge.
Congrats...
