Browning 825 Game Prestige: A Centenary Evolution

Not wishing the rest on their collective laurels, the company have in the last year launched the latest iteration of the big brother to the 525, the 825.

Evolution in the Field

The slew of launch models include a number of options in grades of wood and engraving for the clay enthusiast, but there is now a model for ready to take to the game field and bring some innovation to the Browning game line up.

First Impressions and Visual Impact

The 825 Game Prestige stands out immediately when you pop open the velvet lined case to the reveal the gun. Vying for your attention are the Grade 4 oil finished walnut and the deeply incised game scene and flashy bordering on the newly designed action.

The gun certainly makes a visual impact that shooters are sure to appreciate. Both from a distance and up close this gun offers plenty to look at, with some incredible detail in the engraving, neat laser chequering and the usual tear drops in the neck of the grip that mark higher grade Brownings.

Action, Barrels and Rib Design 

The jewelled monoblock and smoothly integrated shoulders integrate nicely into the new action design with clever stippling on the top surface of the rear of the action to reduce glare (perhaps less of an issue here in the UK where being troubled by the sun on a game day is infrequent) and the sleekly redesigned top lever flow into the 6mm game rib.

The top rib is ventilated for air flow while the mid rib is solid giving the gun a pleasantly game “look” without sacrificing function. The barrels themselves are deeply blued and nicely struck off on the outside, and on the inside, overbored after the 3” superior steel proofed chambers, and fitted with the latest generation of Invector DS chokes.

Chokes, Chambers and Modern Proofing

These flush fitting chokes throw an excellent pattern and Browning claim that the brass ring at the base of the choke improves gas seal preventing the threads getting gummed up with carbon deposits, surely a selling point to those of us who are less than rigorous with our cleaning regimen. Ahem...

Configuration and Availabilty 

The gun is available with 28”, 30”, and 32” barrels in 12ga at the time of writing, although I am sure sub gauge models will follow.

Forend, Grip and Stock Design 

The rounded sporter forend is pleasing in the hand and features JMB’s signature as well as a nicely engraved latch and frond iron.

The grip is offered in two styles, a rounded pistol grip with more rake in the grip angle and a more normal pistol grip with a palm swell depending on the shooters preference for feel and versatility.

The oil finished, Turkish walnut stock is a nice balanced 36-56 drop and slim enough but not too slim in the comb for a gun of this size and feel. Finished with Browning’s Inflex II recoil pad which can be changed in minutes to a pad of a different length with no grinding or fitting, meaning you can set the gun up for summer or winter clothing and, shall we say, Christmas timber, without a visit to a gunsmith.

Trigger and Mechanical Performance 

The gold, non adjustable trigger is part of a completely redesigned mechanical system Browning call the Fire Lite II. Browning have clearly spent a fair bit of effort on the trigger and it shows.

There is less take up or creep, the breaks are crisper and generally trigger feel is much improved over what I always felt was a rather clunky system on the 725.

Mechanical reset of course means that in the heat of the moment if you get a misfire or even worse, have failed to load your first barrel, you can simply pull the trigger again to fire the second. Since no recoil is required to reset the trigger, the second shot is always available.

Engraving Style and Aesthetics

Coming back to the receiver Browning have opted for a bold style of deep laser engraving with hand finishing to give an incredibly eye catching contrast to the nitrided finish.

The Acanthus scroll that borders the fences wraps around the bottom of the action and looks frankly, stunning.

The game scenes are a little more marmite, the almost photo real renderings of the scenes are interrupted by the oddly jarring border around the birds that in my opinion, is at odds with the scene.

Your mileage will of course vary, and I have certainly been approached by chaps keen to look over the gun and declare it gorgeous. Aesthetics are of course very much in the eye of the beholder so viewing is essential.

Final Thoughts

Overall then, the 825 Prestige is a very pretty gun, and if it handles anything like the 825 clay guns I have tested it will surely impress in the game field.

Will it be enough to tempt trad Mirook and 525 enthusiasts in the 21st century? Only time will tell, but as we move towards non toxic shot and bio degradable performance wads, these technical improvements are no longer something we can simply ignore.

To find out more about the Browning 825 specifications or about any of their other shotguns and rifles visit their website here.