Browning are back in the game

It has been nearly 14 years since the release of the B725 and I was very excited to see the release of the latest B825 range of shotguns. Browning have always been a name recognised by virtually every shooter on the planet and I strongly believe there is a specific Browning shotgun on the market that would suit the preferences of each individual shooter.

For me personally, I have never been the greatest admirer of the B725 Sporting and Trap shotguns purely because I don’t like the look of them. I believe they look very chunky and boring to the eye. However, I am a massive admirer of the 325, 425 and 525 models. These models have a timeless appearance and are incredibly reliable which has been proven over many decades.

I am curious to find out whether this new B825 model will be a good contender against the many other shotguns on the market within its price bracket and if it is an improvement on the B725. Let’s take a look.

Spoilt for choice! 

It was great to discover that Browning have released a huge selection of 12 different variants within the B825 range. These include models such as the Sporter, S3, ProSport, ProTrap, ProMaster, Game and Game Prestige. 

For this review I will be looking at the Browning 825 S3 and the 825 Game. Firstly I will share with you some key specifications of these guns and how they differ from the B725. Then I will share an unforgettable experience shooting these guns for the first time at some extremely high pheasants on Exmoor in the South West of England.

Browning 825 S3

The Browning 825 S3 is comparable to the B725 ProSport with some greatly improved changes.

From opening the hard case to reveal the S3 I immediately liked the look of it. I am rather fond of a plain looking action which is why I have always been a fan of Blaser shotguns and used one for so many years. The B725 ProSport has a plain looking receiver however it is very square where as the new S3 model has a very modern, sleek looking receiver. The new design of the barrel wings mean the barrel has a very aesthetically pleasing fit to the receiver, as does the iron to the forend.

The top lever has a new design which is more visually appealing than the B725 as it is not so chunky and is a lot more pleasurable to use when opening. Below the top lever I noticed the safety catch has also changed. Its new design has been scaled down in length to have a more modern look with a large raised area to allow the shooter to use the safety with ease. Similar to the B725, the S3 has a mechanical trigger system however it has been improved to guarantee the use of extremely light loads which will be a great attribute to anyone who is recoil sensitive.

Another practical improvement to the B825 models is the design of the forend latch. The indentation into the forend is larger and the forend latch is more rounded which will make it easier and more comfortable when assembling and reassembling the gun.

As for the handling and feel to the S3, this is very similar to the B725 ProSport. A healthy palm swell that fills the hand comfortably and a Trap style forend that is incredibly satisfying to hold and move the gun.

This particular S3 has 32’’ barrels and is balanced perfectly on the hinge pin. There is the option with this model to add barrel weights or stock weights via the Pro Balance System so this is a brilliant attribute with this model, being able to balance the gun to the shooter’s exact requirements.

It is fitted with a Grade 5/6 American Walnut wood set which is attractive but also very strong and practical so it will be less likely to crack given heavy use on a clay ground. The 12-8mm vented top rib is very appealing to look over and guides the shooter’s eye nicely to the target they are wanted to obtain and shoot.

As I mounted the S3 for the first time I was looking down the side of the rib and the comb was not high enough. This was easily rectified with moving the adjustable comb to exactly where I needed it to be. The adjustable comb system is exactly the same as Browning’s recent models, a screw that is concealed within the Pachmayr rubber pad on the stock which needs to be loosened, comb adjusted and tightened back up. A strong and easy system that I’m glad they kept.

The trigger is adjustable so I moved this back to its furthest setting to suit my personal preference and the only other thing to consider was which chokes I wanted to use on the extremely high pheasants I was going to shoot at with the B825 S3.

A selection of 8 extended Invector DS Pro chokes are provided with the S3 model so a choke to suit every shooter’s desire. These are a newly designed choke from Browning. They have retained the double-seal (DS) which is a unique brass seal that compresses against the barrel wall to keep the choke tube threads clean and makes installation and removal easier. What has changed is having a great modern look and a clear marking of what choke is in the barrel which will make it very easy for the shooter to know what constriction they are using if they need to quickly change them in a clay shooting competition scenario. I decided to use a 1/2 and 3/4 choke to start with and change them if I felt the need. So with everything set, I was excited to give it a go.

Browning 825 Game

The B825 Game is comparable to the B725 Game. I really like the B725 Game, a very reliable and basic looking shotgun for its price. They are a nice handling game gun but I have always thought the wood sets are very underwhelming. 

This new and improved B825 Game has the same changes as the B825 S3 including a sleek new shape to the receiver and forend iron as well as the new designed top lever, safety catch, and forend latch. Plus the improvements to the mechanical trigger system to guarantee the use of extremely light loads. 

An additional great improvement is the change from Turkish Grade 3 Walnut to Grade 5/6 American Walnut. The wood set looks so much more appealing along side the simple yet attractive game scene and floral pattern on the receiver.

Another new addition to this model is the Inflex II recoil pad which sits comfortably in the shoulder and according to Browning provides fantastic recoil absorption due to its exclusive design. These are available in 4 different thicknesses so it is very easy and cost effective to change the length of the stock if needed.

The stock dimensions are very similar to the B725 Game. It shoulders nicely but has a fairly low comb height which is a little flat for the POI I would prefer. The steep pistol grip is very comfy in the hand and the reach to the non-adjustable trigger is perfect for me.

It moves fast with the 30’’ barrels like most people would expect a game gun to handle. I like the overall weight of 7lb 11oz, it is slightly heavier than other game guns on the market and I believe this is a great attribute to achieve more control when moving the gun, resulting in a better outcome.

In the field

I really did throw myself in at the deep end with taking on some extremely high pheasants with these two new shotguns. The S3 handled incredibly steady which you would expect from an 8lb 11oz shotgun and the recoil from the 36 gram loads I was using did not hurt my shoulder so I am very confident in saying that any one using this gun for clay shooting as it is aimed towards will feel very little recoil with clay loads. 

I found myself effortlessly moving the S3 onto 60 yard driven pheasants and connecting well with them and for a gun I had never used before you can imagine how happy I was. The transition to the second shot from the first was very quick and comfortable which gave me great confidence. The trigger pulls were very crisp and it performed faultlessly. I was extremely happy with how I performed with the S3 and it honestly did make me fall in love with Browning all over again.

The B825 Game is a very fast handling gun that took some getting used to but this was because I am used to shooting a heavier gun. There was a bit more felt recoil through this gun but this was to be expected due to the weight of the gun and the heavy load cartridges I was using. I decided to change to a 32 gram load and the recoil was a lot more comfortable. After a few shots I managed to slow down my hands and let the gun swing more fluently which resulted in some lovely birds heading back down to earth and a smile on my face. 

What I did particularly like about this model was the 6mm vented rib. Although the gun was a bit low in the comb for my liking the rib was very aesthetically pleasing to look down and retaining a focus on the target was incredibly easy. It was not too dissimilar to how a B725 Game would handle but I very much prefer the look of this model.

If you are curious to see how each of these shotguns perform out in the field, be sure to keep an eye out on the ‘Fieldsports with Speed’ You Tube channel as you will see them on there soon.

Conclusion

The subtle changes that have been made to the B825 S3 and B825 Game are very practical and aesthetically pleasing when compared to the B725 ProSport and B725 Game. 

I believe the B825 S3 would be a great choice for someone looking at buying a modern looking Browning shotgun for clay shooting and even high bird game shooting. If you require a weighty gun to achieve good gun control and want minimal recoil this model may be for you. The adjustable comb and Pro Balance System are great attributes to this gun as it can be altered to the exact requirements of each individual shooter.

The B825 Game would be a great partner to anyone wanting a great value for money, modern looking shotgun for driven game shooting who requires more weight than the conventional game gun. 

My only negative point is there isn’t a left handed model available with any B825 models but I believe there are plans to release them in the not too distant future.

If you are like me and was not so keen on the B725, get to your local Browning stockist and pick up an 825. I’m confident you will see some great improvements.

Tech specifications