BROWNING 825 PRO SPORT ADJUSTABLE

The 725 Pro Sport is a nice competition shotgun, but not without its faults, as the 525 XS version seems to be a more popular option. So, Browning has totally rethought the Pro Range and Game lines with their new 825 series shotguns.

Brand-new
The Browning 825 Pro Sport Adjustable features a fresh new look alongside internal enhancements that make it a modernised and highly customisable clay gun. It also addresses some of the internal mechanism issues and the heavier weight of the 725 models introduced in 2012.
New features include a 6oz weight reduction for better handling, which is also enhanced by the fore-end and butt’s weight-adjustable elements. The Pachmayr recoil pad includes interchangeable recoil plates (15mm and 25mm) for personalised comfort and reduced felt recoil, while the adjustable Pro Fit comb allows for a customisable fit to enhance cheek weld, ensuring more consistent shooting.
The 825’s ten-year guaranteed forged steel receiver, built for durability, has a whole new modernised look with a wide, flat locking bolt. The sweeping new action design includes a revised safety button, top lever, and stylish barrel wings that lose the more upright-looking action profile of old. Let’s not forget the barrels, shoulders, and fences have been re-profiled for a sleeker, more modern look.
The chromed barrels are proofed for superior steel shot, and the legendary back-bored design enhances shot speed and reduces recoil. Additionally, the inclusion of Invector DS Pro chokes delivers superior ballistics and tighter patterns downrange.
Internally, an improved trigger mechanism for lighter loads and a new fore-end catch are just a few of the refinements over the 725. Let’s take a closer look.

Barrels and chokes
The test gun came with 30” barrels, which I liked, but some may prefer the slightly less lively 32” tubes. The matte bluing is evenly applied, giving the gun a non-reflective yet premium finish that suits a competition shotgun perfectly.
Both the ribs are ventilated, and I like the tapered top rib, which narrows from 12mm at the action end to 8mm at the muzzles. Here, you can fit one of the included Day-Glo sights, each offering excellent visibility in all weather conditions.
The clay guns come with six extended DS Pro chokes, whereas the game guns have five flush-fit DS chokes, and these are now marked in thousandths of an inch reductions instead of the older ¼, ½, etc., choke rating. It’s probably a better system, as it means restrictions are measured against the original 12-bore bore size of 0.729. For example, a 0 choke is true cylinder and unchanged, whilst a 30-thou difference means 30-thousandths tighter.
The sides of the monobloc are jewelled, and you have hammer ejectors providing forceful, smooth, and consistently reliable case ejection, with the majority of the case being lifted for easy removal.

What an action
The action is strikingly different from the 725, as it has kept the best features of the smaller 525 but with internal mechanical improvements and a shallower action profile. The action looks right up-to-date with its modernised, sleek lines, now with the altered wood-to-metal front section being more sloped. The lower profile reduces muzzle jump and thus helps with recoil management, too.
Inside, the lock-up is a full-width tapered locking bolt combined with a stout hinge pin to provide maximum strength and longevity, and it cleverly self-adjusts, keeping the action tight even after thousands of rounds.
The action fences have been redesigned, while the top lever has been on a diet, giving it a slimmer gait. It has plenty of bite, so lots of ‘wear-it-in’ value. The non-auto safety (ideal for a competition gun) has been reprofiled and still functions as the barrel selector, though I found it a little slippery.
Externally, the all-steel action has a nitrided grey finish, which certainly improves resistance against abrasions, increases the longevity of the action, and enhances protection against corrosion, with Browning offering a ten-year warranty. The surface is hard to see because there’s so much laser-cut engraving! But that’s a good thing, as it’s very well executed, with a mixture of modern and classical engraving.
The top half-sides of the action feature a sweeping crescent divide of plain grey nitride, complemented below with really nice, deep floral scrolls and leaves, set off with a matte backdrop. It looks a lot better in the flesh than in the pictures - trust me.
The fences are sleeker, with matte surfaces. The underside is profusely engraved, while the top lever and tang are all plain grey nitrided, which works very well as a whole.

The trigger
It’s still a mechanical mechanism, but the Fire Lite 2 trigger offers an immediate follow-up shot as it does not rely on recoil to set the hammer. The trigger pull is so light and smooth, too, with minimal overtravel, and it is further enhanced by the addition of a modified and higher pivot-point disconnector, which greatly increases reset reliability, which is very handy for those of us who like lighter 21 or 24g loadings. To further enhance the trigger feel, three interchangeable blades are supplied, allowing you to fine-tune the position and comfort to suit your shooting style. This is an excellent feature.

Turkish walnut
The 825’s redesigned and rather good-looking furniture provides a highly adaptable platform for mounting and shooting the new shotgun. It’s made from high-grade Turkish walnut and features a very effective oiled finish that definitely works in the rain, as the gun was tested in drizzle, and then downpours! The laser-cut chequering on both sides of the fore-end and on the pistol grip is exceptionally well executed, providing an excellent grip and a clear improvement over the 725 model.
I like the beavertail, trap-style fore-end, which is deep and smoothly rounded underneath, providing a secure, comfortable grip and allowing for better finger placement along the full-length grooves. The new fore-end release catch is engraved and very easy to use, with a deep finger hole and a sturdy but smooth release.
The rear stock has a very pronounced pistol grip with a near-vertical stance that really works well. The right side features a small palm swell that worked well with my big hands, and the large cut-out really makes you feel like part of the 825, enhancing the overall feel and balance of the gun.
Further adjustment is available, allowing for a drop at comb of 38 to 23mm and a drop at heel of 58 to 43mm, all easily adjusted using the supplied key via a hole in the butt-pad. Different height washers can be used to save the position of the adjustable comb.
The recoil pad has been upgraded to a Pachmayr Decelerator instead of Browning’s Inflex pad. As previously mentioned, two plates are included, allowing you to adjust the length of pull by about 0.5”.
Finally, the Pro Balance system allows you to add or subtract weight from the butt to further customise the balance of the 825. You can even fit barrel weights if needed.

In the field
We had the 10 and 25 thou chokes fitted, so 1/4 and 5/8 in real money, and the first cartridges to be tested were Eley’s VIP Trap, known for their higher velocities and very consistent performance. I used the 28g load with No.7.5 shot size. The pattern board was hit by 281 pellets, with 181 appearing on the outer edge and 100 in the inner sectors. The result was a nice, tight pattern from the 25 thou choke.
Next up was Eley’s VIP Sporting, specifically designed for FITASC sporting layouts and clays. These 28g, No.7.5, fibre-wadded cartridges managed a total of 268 strikes, with 175 outer hits and 93 inner hits. However, this cartridge produced a slightly looser pattern than the Trap loading.
The final test was with Bioammo’s Rex Steel cartridges, and with the ¼ choke, this load managed a total of 262 strikes, with 112 inners and 150 outers. Overall, a tighter pattern, as expected.
Handling, recoil, and balance were all exceptionally manageable and effortless, making it easy to mount and swing the Browning 825 onto
the target.

Conclusion
This is not merely a revamped 725, it’s an entirely different kettle of fish and, as such, marks a bold and refreshing step forward for Browning and its Pro Sport range.
The handling was sublime, with functionality and adjustments positioned exactly where you need them. The 825 patterns superbly, and even the engraving is nice. Best of all, the price seems very reasonable for a gun of this class.