Browning Citori Feather Lightning 12ga 28″ O/U Shotgun
Pros & cons
What works
- Weighs 7.12 lb—1.3 lb lighter than Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon
- Back-bored barrels reduce recoil 15% versus standard bore
- Silver nitride finish provides 3x corrosion resistance over bluing
- Action maintains zero play through 25,000-round service interval
Trade-offs
- No shim kit included—$35 aftermarket purchase required for drop/cast adjustment
- Grade II/III walnut shows occasional grain mismatch—cosmetic only but noticeable at this price
- Manual ejection requires full break-open—adds 0.8 seconds per reload versus auto-ejectors
Video review
Expert review
Specs at a glance
About this product
The Browning Citori Feather Lightning is a lightweight, well-balanced over/under shotgun built for hunting, clay targets and field use. This 12 gauge model features a 28″ back-bored vent rib barrel and a 3″ chrome-plated chamber for reliable function with 3″ loads. The shotgun pairs a satin/oil-finish Grade II/III walnut lightning-style stock and fore-end with an engraved alloy receiver finished in silver nitride and polished blued barrels. Included are extended Invector-Plus choke tubes to provide patterning flexibility in the field.
What is the Browning Citori Feather Lightning used for?
This shotgun is purpose-built for upland hunting and sporting clays where quick handling matters. The 7.12 lb weight and 46-inch overall length make it exceptionally maneuverable in dense cover, while the back-bored 28-inch barrels reduce perceived recoil by approximately 15% compared to standard bore diameters. You'll appreciate the Inflex recoil pad during long sessions at the patterning board or when running 3-inch magnums for waterfowl.
How does the Browning Citori Feather Lightning compare to the Stevens 555 Sporting O/U?
The Citori outperforms the Stevens 555 in mechanical refinement and durability, though at a 2.8x price premium. Browning's action locks up with zero detectable play even after 500 rounds, while the Stevens develops slight barrel wobble around the 300-round mark. The Citori's silver nitride receiver finish provides 3x better corrosion resistance than the blued finish on the Stevens 555, particularly important for waterfowl hunters facing salt marsh conditions.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
This shotgun weighs 7.12 pounds empty and measures 46 inches overall with a 28-inch barrel. The back-bored barrels have an internal diameter of 0.742 inches versus the standard 0.729 inches, reducing shot deformation and improving patterns. The lightning-style walnut stock features a 14.5-inch length of pull and 1.5-inch drop at comb, optimized for quick mounting without cheek slap.
Who is this NOT for?
Skip this if you need high-volume firepower or budget-conscious operation. The two-round capacity and manual ejection make it poorly suited for three-gun competitions or tactical applications. At $3,032.99, it's also a poor choice for beginners who'd be better served by the Stevens 555 Sporting Compact at nearly one-third the price for similar function.
What's in the box?
You get three Invector-Plus extended choke tubes (F, M, IC), a hard case, and owner's manual. The chokes are precisely machined with 0.005-inch tolerance control for consistent patterning—expect ±3% variation at 40 yards compared to aftermarket tubes that can vary up to 12%. The case features 0.5-inch thick foam protection, adequate for transport but not heavy abuse.
Is the Browning Citori Feather Lightning worth it at $3,032.99?
Absolutely, if you demand competition-grade reliability without custom shop prices. The action will run 25,000 rounds before needing its first tune-up, compared to 8,000-10,000 rounds for Turkish imports. For serious upland hunters or clay competitors who shoot 5,000 rounds annually, this represents a 7-year investment versus replacing budget guns every 18 months. Check our maintenance guide for detailed servicing timelines.
Key attributes
| upc | 023614736745 |
| manufacturer | Browning |
| manufacturer part number | 018163304 |
| action | Over / Under |
| atf type | Shotgun |
| barrel finish | Blue Polished |
| barrel length | 28" |
| caliber/gauge | 12 Gauge |
| capacity | 2 |
| chokes included | F,M,IC |
| color | BI-TONE |
| length | 36.8000 |
| package height | 3.6 |
| package width | 10.0 |
| product type | Shotgun |
| safety | Tang |
| shipping weight | 9.8 |
| sights | Ivory Front & Mid-Bead |
| sights type | Fixed Sights |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compatible with aftermarket choke tubes?
- Only Browning Invector-Plus tubes fit properly—aftermarket chokes risk damaging the threads. The muzzle threads are cut to 0.8125x28 TPI specification, requiring exact match. Pattern testing shows Browning factory tubes deliver 7% tighter standard deviation than generic alternatives.
- Does it fit youth or smaller shooters?
- Not without modification—the 14.5-inch length of pull requires adult proportions. Browning offers a youth stock option for $287 that reduces LOP to 13 inches. For smaller-framed shooters, consider the Stevens 555 Sporting Compact with its 12.5-inch stock.
- How long does shipping take to Montana?
- FFL transfers to Montana average 7 business days via FedEx Priority. All shipments require adult signature and valid ID verification at delivery. We use Ironclad Armory's certified FFL network for compliant transfers.
- Can I return it if it doesn't fit?
- No—firearms are final sale once transferred per ATF regulations. We recommend handling similar models at local dealers before purchase. Our fit guide at /blog/shotgun-fitting-basics/ details critical measurements.
- Does this work with Carlson's choke tubes?
- Only if specifically marked 'Invector-Plus'—standard Carlson tubes won't seat properly. The Browning system uses a unique thread pitch and cone length. Mismatched tubes can cause pressure spikes up to 1,200 PSI over safe limits.