Well worth the wait

It has been nearly 14 years since Browning released the B725, and I was very excited to see the launch of the latest 825 range of shotguns. The name Browning is recognised by virtually every shooter on the planet, and I strongly believe there is a specific Browning shotgun on the market to suit every shooter.

I have never been the greatest admirer of the B725 Sporting and Trap shotguns purely because I don’t like the look of them. They appear very chunky and boring to my eyes. However, I am a massive admirer of the 325, 425 and 525 models, which have a timeless appearance and are incredibly reliable, as has been proved over many decades.

It was great to discover that Browning has released a huge selection of 12 variants in the 825 range, including models such as the Sporter, S3, ProSport, ProTrap, ProMaster, Game and Game Prestige. For this review I will be looking at the 825 S3 and the 825 Game. I was curious to see if the new B825 model would be a good contender against the many other shotguns on the market in its price bracket and whether it is an improvement on the B725.

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Browning 825 S3

The Browning 825 S3 is comparable to the B725 ProSport, with some greatly improved changes. Upon opening the hard case to reveal the S3, I immediately liked its appearance. 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 many years. The B725 ProSport does have a plain receiver but it is very square, whereas on the S3 it is very modern and sleek.

The new design of the barrel wings gives the barrel a very aesthetically pleasing fit to the receiver, as does the iron to the forend. The new top lever is also more visually appealing than on the B725, as it is less chunky and a lot nicer to use. Below this lever I noticed that 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 it with ease.

Similar to the B725, the S3 has a mechanical trigger system, but it has been improved to guarantee the use of extremely light loads. That’s great for 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 latch is more rounded, making it easier and more comfortable when assembling the gun.

The handling and feel are very similar to the B725 ProSport. The gun features a healthy palm swell that fills the hand comfortably and a trap-style forend that is incredibly satisfying to hold and move. This particular S3 has 32in 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, a brilliant feature that allows the gun to be balanced 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, making it 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.

As I mounted the S3 for the first time I noticed that the comb was not high enough. This was easily rectified by adjusting it to exactly where I needed it to be for me to shoot comfortably. The adjustable comb system is the same as all Browning’s recent models, with a screw concealed within the Pachmayr rubber pad on the stock, which needs to be loosened, adjusted and tightened back up. It’s a strong and easy system that I’m glad has been retained.

The trigger is adjustable, so I moved it back to its furthest setting to suit my preference. The only other consideration was which chokes to use for the extremely high pheasants I planned to shoot. A selection of eight extended Invector DS Pro chokes is provided with the S3 model, catering to every shooter’s needs. They retain Browning’s proprietary double-seal, a brass seal that compresses against the barrel wall to keep the choke tube threads clean and make installation and removal easier. The updated design also includes clear markings, making it easy for the shooter to identify the choke in use. I decided to use a ½ and ¾ choke to start with and change them if needed.

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Browning 825 Game

The 825 Game is comparable to the B725 Game, a gun I really like. It’s very reliable and handles well, but I have always thought the wood sets were very underwhelming.

This new and improved 825 Game has the same changes as the 825 S3, including the sleek new shape to the receiver and forend iron as well as the redesigned top lever, safety catch and forend latch. The improvements to the mechanical trigger system to guarantee the use of extremely light loads are also present.

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

Another addition 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 pads are available in four thicknesses, making it easy and inexpensive to change the length of the stock.

The stock dimensions are very similar to those of the B725 Game. The gun shoulders nicely but has a fairly low comb height, which is a little flat for the point of impact I would prefer. The steep pistol grip is very comfortable, and the reach to the non-adjustable trigger is perfect for me. It moves quickly with the 30in barrels, as most people would expect a game gun to do.

I like the overall weight of 7lb 11oz. It is slightly heavier than other game guns on the market, which I believe is a great attribute for achieving more control when moving the gun, resulting in a better outcome.

I really threw myself in at the deep end by taking on some extremely high pheasants with these two new shotguns. The S3 handled incredibly steadily, as you would expect from an 8lb 11oz gun. The recoil from the 36g loads I was using did not hurt my shoulder, so I am confident that anyone using this gun for clay shooting will feel very little recoil with clay loads.

I found myself effortlessly moving the S3 onto 60yd driven pheasants and connecting well with them. 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, giving me great confidence. The trigger pulls were crisp and the gun performed faultlessly. I was extremely happy with how I performed with the S3 and it made me fall in love with Browning all over again.

The 825 Game is a very fast-handling gun that took some getting used to as I am accustomed to shooting a heavier gun. There was more felt recoil, which was expected due to its lighter weight and the heavy load cartridges I was using. I switched to a 32g load and the recoil became much more comfortable.

After a few shots I managed to slow down my hands and let the gun swing a lot more fluently, resulting in some lovely birds heading back down to earth and a smile on my face. What I particularly liked 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 good to look down and retaining focus on the target was incredibly easy.

It was not too different from how a B725 Game would handle, but I much prefer the look of this model. If you are curious to see how each of these shotguns performs in the field, then you should keep an eye on the Fieldsports with Speed YouTube channel, as you will see them there soon.

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Conclusion

The subtle changes made to the 825 S3 and 825 Game are both practical and aesthetically pleasing compared with the B725 ProSport and B725 Game.

I believe the 825 S3 would be a great choice for someone looking for a modern Browning shotgun for clay shooting or high-bird game shooting. If you require a weighty gun for good control and minimal recoil, this model may be ideal for you. The adjustable comb and Pro Balance System are excellent features, allowing the gun to be tailored to the exact requirements of each shooter.

The B825 Game would be an excellent partner for anyone seeking a great value-for-money, modern-looking shotgun for driven game shooting, with more weight than a conventional game gun. If, like me, you were not keen on the B725, visit your local Browning stockist and pick up an 825. I’m confident you will see some great improvements.

My only negative point is the lack of left-handed models in the 825 range. However, I believe there are plans to release them in the not-too-distant future.

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Tech Specs

Model: Browning 825
Calibre: 12-bore
Mechanism: Over & under
Orientation: Right handed
Barrel length: S3 32in, Game 30in
Stock length: 14⅞in
Weight: 825 S3, 8lb 11oz; 825 Game, 7lb 11oz
Chamber: 3in
Chokes: Multi
Steel proofed: Yes
Importer: Browning International
Warranty: 10 years
More information: Browning International, 01491 681830
Price: 825 S3 from £4,099; 825 Game from £2,749