Breaking down a Browning Citori for deep cleaning?

[Hugh R]

Bought this new about 30 years ago, the owner's manual didn't address opening and cleaning the bottom end (trigger stuff). I've never been in there. Now I'm having trigger and barrel switching problems. I looked at a few youtube videos that talk about taking two philips screws out of the butt plate and removing it and pulling a long slot screw bolt out to release the bottom end from the stock. I don't see any holes in the butt plate. I don't want to force anything.

Any thoughts?

[cashman]

Sorry, no help. Thought this was a STD thread . No help there either.

[AFC-911]

I read that really quickly and thought there was an "L" and an "s" in that c word.

[Tobra]

My brother has that same shotgun, perhaps the most excellent weapon I have ever held in my hands.

[Mericet]

The "holes" are two short cuts in the rubber. They are not easy to see, but if you press on the recoil pad you should be able to find them. Put a small amount of petroleum jelly on the tip of the screwdriver to prevent damage to the recoil pad.

[Hugh R]

Thanks, I'll look again tonight.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by cashman

Sorry, no help. Thought this was a STD thread . No help there either.

No kidding, I thought "Citori" was plural for .....

naw ....... Let it go Sam

[Seahawk]

Go to page 18: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/407888/Browning-Citori.html?page=16#manual

I have a Citori as well, field grade. Fine shotgun.

Edit: Not enough info. Give me a few minutes.

More better: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=89866

[targa911S]

Browning Citoris are complicated guns for the DIY person. Browning will not service either model of the Citori as they consider it obsolete. I strongly suggest you send it to a browning specialist for the repairs. They are not for the inexperienced. I have dealt with Midwest gun works and had success.
https://www.midwestgunworks.com/gunsmithing/shotgun.html

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Mericet

The "holes" are two short cuts in the rubber. They are not easy to see, but if you press on the recoil pad you should be able to find them. Put a small amount of petroleum jelly on the tip of the screwdriver to prevent damage to the recoil pad.

This is true. Ya gotta look for it. It can be a phillips or a slotted head screw. Try the slotted first.

[Hugh R]

Got the butt plate off as suggested (thanks everyone) and the big long machine screw. The lower end is supposed to slide out of the stock but it seems to be hanging up behind the trigger guard. Inter-Web info says I don't need to remove anything else. But it moves a little at the top and seems stuck on the area behind the trigger guard, and I'm wondering if I need to remove the two tiny slot thread machine screws in this picture.



I've been conversing with David (Targa911s) and he gave me some sage advise. He said at maximum, pull the lower end, soak it in mineral spirits for an hour, clean it and oil it, and put it back together, if it works, fine, you're done. If not, send it to a Browning -certifed repair shop, DO NOT take the bottom end apart yourself. He is a Master gunsmith. Keep you posted.

[Bill Douglas]

Hugh there are gunsmith quality screw drivers available so you don't mess up those screws.

[targa911S]

yes Hugh those will have to come out as well. Then pop the tang on the trigger guard up out of the stock. Remember which one goes where as they are timed so the slots point down the axis of the gun. As Bill says be very careful as those are fine slot screws and easy to bugger.

[FOG]

Hugh,

You list yourself as being in SoCal. Try Bolsa GunSmithing in Garden Grove, they're a Browning repair facility.

Your best bet is calling ahead and talk to Fred (owner) who is knowledgeable, vice his son in law who he kind of had to find work for. It would be worht the effort to arrange to talk to Fred directly when you take it in.

S/F, FOG

[Hugh R]

Thanks Dave and FOG, I ordered a set of gun smithing screwdrivers today. Should be here on Saturday.

I'll follow David's advice and take the lower end out and soak it in mineral spirits and clean and oil it. If that doesn't do the trick, I'll look into taking it to a Browning repair facility. Its too nice a piece for me to get in and screw it up.

[Hugh R]

update,

My brother was able to grind down a screwdriver to 0.021 to fit in the screws that Browning doesn't want me to touch. Came out easily. I'm soaking the trigger assembly in what CA passes as mineral spirits.Nothing looks broken. I'll clean and lube tomorrow, it it doesn't work, its off to the Browning authorized repair shop.

Edit: Dave the Browning screwdriver set was crap and would not fit.

[vash]

good luck. thanks for the pic.

hopefully, i never have to look at the guts of my citoris.

[Hugh R]

Soaked the trigger assembly overnight in what passes for mineral spirits here in Los Angeles, toothbrush and blew it clean and dry, lightly applied gun oil to every part that looked like it moves, and it cycles beautifully.

I'm a happy camper.

Vash or anyone else, if you ever need the screwdriver to pull the trigger assembly out that my brother made/thinned for me I'll loan it to you.

[flatbutt]

Rather than start a new thread I figured I'd piggyback here....what are the thoughts on sonicating a pistol lower, or even upper for that matter?