by Dave Workman | Senior Editor
American shotgunners are in for some treats this year, with new models from the top smoothbore manufacturers that cover lots of ground. We may not have advance information on all of them, but you’ll find quite a few interesting new scatterguns below.
Browning is offering several new versions of the Citori 725 with abundant handwork and fine wood.
Browning (browning.com) is entering the fifth year of its High Grade Program with a limited run of the Citori 725 Grade V and Grade VII trap models. These O/U shotguns get plenty of hand work, including engraving, stock fitting and finishing. They have oil finished Grade VI/VII walnut stocks with a close radius pistol grip and palm swell. Chambered in 12-gauge, they come with a case.
Also new this year is the Citori 725 Golden Clays Sporting Clays model in 12-gauge. This O/U shotgun has gold accented engraving on both sides and the bottom of the receiver, which has a silver nitride finish. This model comes with either 30- or 32-inch barrels.
Browning also offers the A5 High Grade Hunter in 12-gauge, with special engravings of pheasants on the left side and mallards on the right side of the blued receiver. It has a Grade 2.5 walnut stock with gloss finish and barrel lengths of 26 or 28 inches.
Another version of the A5 and Maxus Wicked Wing shotguns for waterfowl features a Cerakote Burnt Bronze camo finish on barrels and receivers. They have banded extended choke tubes, Briley extended bolt handles and composite stock and forearms finished in Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades camo. They are chambered for either 3½-inch or 3-inch 12-gauge shells.
There’s also a single barrel BT-99 Trap model in 12-gauge with adjustable buttplate and comb. It has a 14-3/8-inch length of pull and there’s a Micro version with a 13¾-inch length of pull. The standard model comes with either 32- or 34-inch barrel and the Micro model has either a 30- or 32-inch barrel.
For turkey hunters, Browning’s latest Cynergy Composite Ultimate Turkey O/U model chambers 3½-inch 12-gauge shells and has a Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camo finish. It is offered with either 24- or 26-inch barrels. The gun comes with a Marble Arms Bullseye rear sight and fiber optic front sight, and five Invector-Plus choke tubes.
Browning is also unveiling the B15 in four different grades, all featuring handiwork from gunsmiths at Fabrique Nationale de Herstal in Belgium.
Mossberg 510Mini in 20-gauge features Muddy Girl camo and an adjustable stock.
New from Mossberg (Mossberg.com) is the model 510 Mini Muddy Girl 410, a pump shotgun chambered for the .410 shell with an 18.5-inch fixed modified choke barrel. It wears Muddy Girl camp on the barrel, receiver and synthetic stock. The vent rib barrel has dual bead sights and the stock may be adjusted from 10½ to 11½-inch length of pull.
Another Mossberg entry is the Model 590A1 Magpul 9-shot pump gun. Featuring a Magpul stock and forearm, this 12-gauge model has XS ghost ring sights and a matte finish.
Winchester’s SXP Shadow Defender and SXP Shadow Marine Defender pump guns have synthetic pistol grip stocks with two interchangeable comb pieces.
Winchester (winchesterarms.com) is unveiling the new Super X 4 autoloader in 12-gauge, in either 3-inch or 3 ½-inch chamberings in the Composite black and Waterfowl models. There are two other SX4 models, the Field and Compact Field, with 3-inch chambers. They feature the Active Valve gas system.
Looking ahead to spring, the SXP Turkey pump shotgun in 12- and 20-gauge versions has a composite stock and forearm in matte black, a black alloy receiver that is drilled and tapped for scope bases, and TRUGLO fiber-optic adjustable sights. The 12-gauge model is chambered for 3½-inch shells while the 20-gauge version will handle 3-inch shells. Both guns have 24-inch barrels.
Winchester’s SXP Shadow Defender and SXP Shadow Marine Defender pump guns have synthetic pistol grip stocks with two interchangeable comb pieces. The Shadow Defender has a black matte finish while the Marine Defender model has a matte hard chrome-plated finish on the barrel, magazine tube and slide arms. Both models have 18-inch barrels. The Shadow Defender is offered in 12- and 20-gauge while the Marine Defender is offered in 12-gauge.
Iver Johnson .410 single barrel shotgun is available with wood stock or synthetic.
Iver Johnson (iverjohnsonarms.com) will introduce a single-shot folding shotgun in .410 bore. It is offered with either an 18- or 26-inch barrel, and with either a wood or synthetic stock. This smoothbore is designed to fold in half for easy storage or transport.
Stoeger (stoegerindustries.com) is unveiling the M3000 Tactical model in 12-gauge with field or pistol grip stock. It has an 18.5-inch barrel and is chambered for 3-inch magnums. Featuring an inertia-driven action, it comes with a shim kit.
The P3000 Tactical model is also chambered in 12-gauge, and like the M3000 it has a black synthetic stock available in either field or pistol grip configurations. The barrel is also 18.5 inches long and it is chambered for 3-inch magnums.
Stoeger’s P3500 is chambered for 3-inch 12-gauge magnums. It has a 28-inch vent rib barrel with red bar front sight, and comes with a Modified choke tubes. Additional tubes are available. This one is finished in either black or Realtree Max-5 camo.
