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Posted By: blairvt Browning experence - 07/22/14
I bought myself a new Citori Lightning Featherweight for a welcome home from Iraq present. Its been lightly used and well taken care of. The silver colored receiver started corroding. I sent it back to Browning. They told me it cost to much to fix and offered me %40 off MSRP of a similar gun. price? $2500! Screw Browning. Never again
Posted By: 22WRF Re: Browning experence - 07/22/14
Sorry to hear that. I have been very happy with the Citori that I purchased new almost 20 years ago.
Posted By: blairvt Re: Browning experence - 07/23/14
Bad enough they made a gun that isn't right, but not standing by it is inexcusable.
Posted By: kid0917 Re: Browning experence - 07/23/14
Yes, instead of 40% off it should be at least, here's a new one, let us know if you have any problems with it!

Thanks for your service, too , sir!
Posted By: Mannlicher Re: Browning experence - 07/23/14
well, they are a Belgian company.
Posted By: steve99 Re: Browning experence - 07/23/14
That's a shame they did that. Wonder what Berretta woulda done?
Posted By: blairvt Re: Browning experence - 07/23/14
I told them I was done with Browning. He said OK
Posted By: GF1 Re: Browning experence - 07/23/14
Originally Posted by steve99
That's a shame they did that. Wonder what Berretta woulda done?


I'd wager they'd have made it right. I know the guys at Beretta, and they are first rate (and that includes their service).
Posted By: humdinger Re: Browning experence - 07/24/14
Hmm... I'm considering a citori 725 and it makes me wonder.

Got any pictures to show us?
Did you talk to the guys manager?

Any details missing? what were you using it for? did it rust in storage?
Posted By: bangeye Re: Browning experence - 07/24/14
I had a 16 ga citori and the receiver would discolor if you didn't stay after it. it is not a durable finish IMHO. Sorry for your problem and thank you for your service in Iraq
Posted By: battue Re: Browning experence - 07/24/14
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=357470


It is not just Browning. If you are referencing discoloration I had the same thing happen around the tang and safety of a Beretta silver finished DT-10. Used that shotgun a good bit at one time and came to accept it as normal wear and tear. Flitz would remove most of it, but it would return quickly.


Perhaps varying acid/base balance of differing individuals hand moisture may have something to do with it.
Posted By: blairvt Re: Browning experence - 07/24/14
I asked for the manager, he said he was the manager. I used that gun on a pheasant hunt and several dove hunts. Shot skeet with it occasionally. I'm as anal as they come about cleaning my guns. Always wiped down the day it was used and put in a gunsafe with a dehumidifier in it. I'll post pictures of it when Browning sends it back. All he offered was 40% off MSRP of a new equivalent gun. He said it would be $2500! He really didn't give a damn and it was obvious.
Posted By: humdinger Re: Browning experence - 07/24/14
Did they say what kind of finish it is?

I would get it back and see what aftermarket finishes are available to salvage it.

You should send in a general "contact us" type email and have it directed at a different department to see if it lands in someone elses mailbox and gets attention. Maybe go to engineering to see if they will evaluate the product. Or product management instead of service.

I'm sure you will get better reaction from a different direction.
Posted By: Odessa Re: Browning experence - 07/25/14
Isn't the Citori Featherweight built on an aluminum alloy receiver - the discoloration would be corrosion, right? I don't know if there are any finishes that can be applied over the alloy or not. Not any help to you I'm afraid. I have had good luck with the Browning service center in Arnold MO, but that was only a one time issue - could depend on who you are dealing with. Write a letter to their corporate office and see if you get a different response. Good luck to you, Odessa
Posted By: humdinger Re: Browning experence - 07/25/14
If its aluminum, it will corrode into a hard case and stop. It will look terrible.

Its hard to anodize the parts after the fact and thats what the corrosion process really is (accellerated corrosion).

If they don't fis it - clean it up, degrease, and apply a laquer finish to salvage the gun.

Good luck working with browning. Ask them if these missed a silver anodize process if its aluminum.

Posted By: rlee2500 Re: Browning experence - 07/28/14
That's interesting to hear about Browning. A good friend of mine had to send one back due to the camo finish coming off and they swapped out his for a new one. Too bad you didn't get better treatment, I've always been very pleased with my Browning shotguns. I will say I've never had to send one in for service or repair though.
Posted By: MOGC Re: Browning experence - 07/28/14
The one time I dealt with Browning customer service they went a step above to make me happy.
Posted By: battue Re: Browning experence - 07/29/14
I've come to not expect much from any of them when something breaks, and in fact the usual long wait times if it is something one uses more than a little isn't worth it.

A good smith is usually quicker and less aggravating.
Posted By: Hawk_Driver Re: Browning experence - 07/31/14
Originally Posted by blairvt
I told them I was done with Browning. He said OK


That was my experience with Winchester, 2003.

Parent company must issue the same manual to both companies customer service.
Posted By: blairvt Re: Browning experence - 08/03/14
I'm waiting on it to get back, then I'm going to take some pictures and send it to a big whig if I can figure out who one is
Posted By: nyskt100 Re: Browning experence - 08/06/14
Originally Posted by battue
I've come to not expect much from any of them when something breaks, and in fact the usual long wait times if it is something one uses more than a little isn't worth it.

A good smith is usually quicker and less aggravating.


Yeah, this is pretty much where I'm at...
Posted By: 22WRF Re: Browning experence - 08/15/14
after thinking about this for awhile, I don't see that you were offered a bad deal. After all, the gun was used. All of the retail markups and costs had come out of it already. It would have bee different if you had been the original purchaser of the gun when new.
Posted By: blairvt Re: Browning experence - 08/15/14
I bought the gun brand new. Even have the receipt
Posted By: blairvt Re: Browning experence - 08/18/14
I unloaded the Browning for what I paid for it at a gunshow. What now, Beretta?
Posted By: R_H_Clark Re: Browning experence - 08/21/14
What gauge and spec gun are you looking for? I've seen quite a few good deals lately in my own search.
Posted By: mart Re: Browning experence - 08/21/14
Originally Posted by blairvt
I unloaded the Browning for what I paid for it at a gunshow. What now, Beretta?


I just picked up this Beretta Onyx White Wing Sporting. It was used, only slightly. It is my fourth Beretta and I have always been well pleased with them. I see these around new for around $1900. I bought mine used for $1500. I shot it for the first time last week and shot really well on skeet. When it comes to O/U's I really like Beretta's. I've never seen a Beretta with the discoloration you are seeing in the Brownings.

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I also kind of fond of Beretta SXS's. I picked up this piece of field artillery last week. It's one of the nicest 10 gauges I've ever run into, that I could afford.

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Posted By: blairvt Re: Browning experence - 08/23/14
looking for a bird gun, 20 ga 26" barrels. I've never shot a 10 ga, don't think I want to
Posted By: mart Re: Browning experence - 08/23/14
I don't think you could go wrong with a Beretta 686 Onyx in 20 gauge. Here's a few, some 28 some 26inch. The EELL is pretty sweet.

nice Beretta

another 20

a 26 inch

another 26 inch

and yet another 26 inch
Posted By: mart Re: Browning experence - 08/23/14
And a 10 gauge isn't bad if it's stocked correctly and has sufficient weight. It still has some recoil but in a gun like the Beretta with a good stock and fairly heavy, it's not too bad. Certainly not like a 20 gauge 2 3/4" but not terrible.
Posted By: Lslite Re: Browning experence - 08/24/14
Anyone have this problem with the steel framed White Lightnings ?I just bought one last season.
Posted By: Reloder28 Re: Browning experence - 08/29/14
My 12 ga Citori White Lightning still looks as gorgeous as it did the first rattle out of the box in 2008.

Blair,
Take them to small claims court. They can't bring their high collar lawyers in there. Check the fine letters of the warranty before you proceed.
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