Probably not as easy as it sounds, but is it possible to take a NIB Browning Citori O/U 2 3/4" and rechamber it to hold 3" or even 3.5" 12 gauge shells?

If possible, who would you recommend and about how much might that cost?

Would it just be cheaper/better to order a special barrel for that purpose? Barrels might cost $500+...

Citori barrels begin to thin out just past the forcing cone and depending on how fast this occurs on your particular set, there may not be sufficient wall thickness to allow even the smallest transition to a 3" chamber. It's been years since I've done anything with Citori barrels and so I am not sure if they are chrome lining their barrels. If they are, then this would also be a limiting factor.

Besides, if you can't kill it with a 2 3/4" shell, your not going to kill it with a 3" one either.

If it's a new Citori it's probably already chambered for 3" shells. Have you checked it?

malm, I do think that the Citori barrels may be chrome lined. Thanks for the heads-up on barrel thinkness.

Tailgunner, I've shot 18 pound Spurwing Geese (ducks, actually) in South Africa with a 2 3/4" 20 gauge; but it was not ideal. I'd prefer to have the flexibility to use the shotgun for a range of birds from dove to goose. In the extremes, the extra shot does make a difference. WHile I have a Benelli SBE II in 3.5"mag, it is illegal to use in South Africa and some sporting clubs will not allow anything other than a side-by-side or o/u to be used for hunting purposes. A 20 gauge is not that practical on the international scene as ammo is harder to come by and more expensive.

Val, the Citori that I am considering is the Citori Superlight Feather. It is exactly like my 20 gauge upland special but is 1" longer and in 12 gauge.


The only drawback is that it comes in 2 3/4" length only. If I could make it a 3", I'd be in paradise.

Thanks for helping. If the barrel is too thin or crome lined, then I guess it would not be possible to modify. Anyone do this type of work that I can call?

ttt.

Wow, this is an active forum. Thanks guys.

Just me or does the idea of 3 - 3.5" shells in a Featherlight hurt to think about?

My SBEII has got to not weight but 7 lbs and I took it turkey hunting this spring shooting 3.5" mag with 2oz of shot.

Yes, it gets your attention

Keep in mind, that I may only shoot a few hundred 3" shells through it in a year.

I assume that the SBEII is an autoloader? that takes away a good chunk of the felt recoil doesn't it?

I still wince when I think about sighting in my Mossberg pump turkey gun with 3.5" mags and that was only 10 shots.

Still, I guess it's all relative, you won't be shooting from a bench and they seem to bother less while hunting.

Good Luck.

Rob

Mine is Chrome lined. This is off the Browning site.

Q. Do all Browning guns have chrome-lined chambers?
A. No. All current Citori and Gold shotguns as well as the BAR centerfire rifle have chrome-lined chambers.

I didn't know they chrome-lined rifle barrels.

Steve