Browning Cynergy Shotgun Reviews

Discussion in 'Browning Cynergy Shotgun' started by Billythekid, Mar 20, 2011.

  1. Billythekid

    Billythekid Administrator Staff Member Administrator

    Browning Cynergy
    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3n5Bi1hvAA&NR=1[/youtube]
  2. stealthshooter

    stealthshooter Copper BB

    Found this interesting bit on the history of the design of the browning cynergy on Wikipedia:
    http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynergy_Shotgun


    The beginning of the Cynergy technically begins with the original B-25 Superposed, designed by John M. Browning in 1928 and finished for production using a single trigger with barrel selector by his son Val Browning by 1939. Production continued on the Superposed until production costs hurt the Superposed in the marketplace during the late 1960s. The basic design was taken to Browning's partner, the Miroku Company in Japan, and in 1971 the Citori over and under went into production. From that point the Citori took the place of the Superposed as the primary Browning over and under shotgun.

    In the early 1990s the idea of a complementary gun to the Citori was being discussed by all the Browning design teams in Belgium, Utah and in Japan. [1]

    In 1994, at a management retreat in Alaska, the worldwide team determined to begin exploring ideas. Independent design projects began and in 1996 the teams came together in Belgium to discuss three basic ideas. First was a design with a reverse-type hinge system presented by Joseph Rousseau, a master Browning gun designer from Belgium, now living in Morgan, Utah. The second was a low profile receiver concept being worked on by the experienced Browning designer Joseph Mardaga, who was a member of the Browning R&D team in Herstal, Belgium. Third was a design featuring a double firing pin concept specifically created to provide exceptionally fast lock times.

    About this time Dwight Potter joined Browning as a gun designer in Morgan, Utah. Potter had worked for many years prior designing robotic manipulators . . . telerobotics systems used on everything from submarine manipulators to animatronics at some of the world's most famous theme parks. [2]

    By 1997 the Cynergy project became official under the code name of "Sheik" and Potter was put on the project full-time as lead designer, working closely with Master Browning gun designer, Joseph Rousseau, who was now the firm's VP of Research and Development.

    The Cynergy design was to be based on the reverse hinge concept put forward by Rousseau several years earlier With the decision to proceed Potter designed all the internal mechanisms. This took over two years of design work resulting in the first prototype coming out of Browning's model shop in Morgan, Utah in 1999. Both Potter and Rousseau are listed on the patent documents for this design. [3]

    Working closely with Rousseau, Potter designed the Cynergy's reverse striker system which assured very fast lock times. He created a striker type ejection system and integrated a toggle-type safety/selector. Potter's design assured good function with the mechanical triggers via a design utilizing an inertia block that prevents doubling while preserving fast lock times.

    By 2001 Browning partner, Miroku, had produced the first design verification prototypes. In 2004, the new Cynergy was introduced to the public at the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) - a full decade after the original ideas were discussed in Alaska.

    Many have called the Browning Cynergy "revolutionary". Ever since the invention of the Browning Superposed over and under, most manufacturers have relied on the basic principles incorporated by John M. Browning to create their own over and unders, each one adapting and evolving from previous designs. The Cynergy represents the first major rethink of the over and under concept in nearly a Century. As such, it incorporates all of the most desirable features every shooter wants. The Cynergy achieves them through forward thinking ideas and manufacturing methods, in the same manner John M. Browning did when he broke new ground with his designs starting over 125 years ago. From a historical point of view, the Cynergy shows that the innovative thinking started by John M. Browning is still alive and well at Browning today.
  3. Billythekid

    Billythekid Administrator Staff Member Administrator

    http://randywakeman.com/Browning_%20Cyn ... Twenty.htm

    Review: 2010 Browning Cynergy Field Twenty Gauge O/U

    The Browning Cynergy line of vertical doubles has been with us now for six years, first released in 2004. The “Sheik Project” was headed up by lead designer Dwight Potter, officially commencing in 1997 after years of preliminary discussions. It was and is a revolutionary design, a design that provides the lowest-profile stackbarrel action ever offered. Shotgunners can be a fickle lot; at one time the O/U was considered a contraptionary oddity. At the 1938 National Skeet Championships, according to Bob Nichols, 67.1 percent of the shooters used autoloaders, 18.1 percent used pumps, and 10.6 percent used side-by-sides. O/U's accounted for 4.2 percent of the shooters.

    Times have changed, of course. As far as I know, the most successful modern-day O/U remains the Browning Citori, introduced in 1973. In 2008, Browning celebrated the one millionth Citori to be built. It has been the most popular vertical double on the market offered in a dizzying array of stock, finish, and gauge configurations. For many folks, the Citori defines what an O/U is and that doesn't seem likely to change anytime soon. While one million may not seem stratospheric in context of the numbers casually tossed around by “stimulus” packages and bailouts as of late, it is quite an accomplishment considering Beretta reportedly makes 40,000 O/Us a year, with many smaller makers not exceeding 8,000 units per year.

    Right now, there is a glut of O/U shotguns on the market. A tremendous glut. The Remington Spartans have been discontinued as have various Fausti Stefano guns relabeled as L.C. Smith by Marlin, sold by Traditions, sold by Weatherby, Sabatti relabeled as Remington, Huglo branded as CZ, and SKB has ceased manufacturing. The F.A.I.R. Rizzini's once sold as Veronas are no more, the Savage Milano F.A.I.R. models have been discontinued, and SigArms has offered Battista Rizzini shotguns in two different roll-outs and thrown in the towel both times. Charles Daly (K.B.I) has recently gone out of business. For whatever panic-buying there was in the black rifle market, the O/U market has experienced far more supply than demand.

    The Citori line, made by Miroku of Japan, has been a solid buy for over thirty-five years. Though Herstal Group, the parent company that owns the Browning brand, manufactures in the United States, Belgium, Portugal, and Japan, the Japanese made sporting guns have been of uniform quality for as long as I can remember. Having owned many, many Citori's the primary gripe is the weight. Despite their relatively heavy weight, they also tend to kick-- not as bad as the older, lighter Winchester 101 field guns that are among the most effective shoulder-benders, but Citori's have never been the softest shooters in my experience.

    Many have mused about what shooting advantage an O/U has, if any, compared to side-by-sides and slide actions. Not everyone agrees, but I think the late, great Don Zutz had it right: a quick second shot. A properly fitted O/U with a reasonable load that causes no great amount of muzzle flip or shoulder-jolting is extremely fast on the second bird. The reason is the in-line recoil pulse of the lower barrel. As long as stocks are placed beneath shotguns, they are going to recoil up eventually. The lower the first barrel is set in the action, the less muzzle flip there will be.

    That is the impetus for low-profile actions, with the barrels set as low as possible, and the fundamental reason for the Cynergy design. To achieve the goal of setting the barrels so low, the monolock hinge system was employed. The massive Inflex recoil pad was developed by Pachmayr for Browning. What the result has been is the most comfortable to shoot O/U in its weight bracket I've ever tested. This 20 gauge is the fourth Cynergy I've reviewed of late. In a general sense, the Cynergy loses about a half-pound of weight compared to a comparable Citori, yet is markedly more comfortable to shoot.

    Therein lies the appeal of the Cynergy, the O/U that many have found to be the only O/U truly comfortable to shoot with peppy hunting loads that is also pleasant to carry in the field. This 20 gauge Cynergy Field as supplied with chokes installed weighs right at 6-1/2 pounds, a full half-pound over its cataloged weight.

    The lower barrel trigger breaks at 5 lbs. 14 oz., the upper barrel at 6 lbs. 6 oz. In the grand tradition of current Browning shotgun triggers, they are too heavy. As is common with Browning shotguns as well, the trigger face is extremely wide which helps mitigate the excessive break weight. After a small amount of free travel, they break crisply and cleanly but are clearly heavier than ideal. According to Browning, trigger "spec" is 4 - 5 pounds on this Cynergy. Browning at Arnold, Missouri, will happily touch up Cynergy triggers for you if you feel it necessary to within their stated parameters. If you want lighter than Browning's spec, you'll have to see a gunsmith.

    Browning adds a center bead on the Cynergy rib, a “feature” that I generally loathe on a field gun. Though pointless, at least the Browning mid-bead is in the form of a very small, white, half-dome that does not obscure the white front bead, but blends into it. So, although it is a nonsensical feature, it does not obliterate the front bead as horribly as some do. Sadly, though, there is no easy way to remove it that I can see otherwise I'd have it in the garbage can already.

    Browning does do a very good job with their tang safety, giving enough rise in the center so it is easy to get off quickly even with gloved hands. This is in stark contrast to any number of vile, low-profile Beretta type safeties that have had the unfortunate effect of saving the lives of evil communist chinese ring-necked pheasants more than anything else. The Cynergy trigger is considered a mechanical trigger that will cycle through a dead round without having to be set by recoil, though there is an inertia block included as part of the assembly to prevent doubling.

    The nominal dimensions are unchanged from the tested 2009 “Euro Field,” so I won't repeat them here. Like last year's model, a quarter inch stock spacer in included to increase the length of pull if you choose. On last year's model, I did just that. On this individual gun, it wasn't necessary. The MSRP is $2659, and the popular “Cynergy Club” promotion continues as before.

    So what's new on the “Field” versus the 2009 “Euro Field”? The primary difference is the addition of the longer, Vector Pro forcing cones. While the Euro Field's upgraded wood really wasn't to my eyes, in the case of this year's Field is does have character, is more lightly stained, and is more attractive than standard Grade I wood. The game scene engraving appears to be improved as well, having a much more vivid, heavily inked appearance. Overall, it is a clear notch better than last year's model in wood, engraving, and overall appearance.

    I measured both barrels at .626 in. with a Skeets bore gauge. The Browning standard twenty gauge barrel bore is listed at .617 in., so the nine thousandths larger bore of the Cynergy is what you get as “Invector Plus Back-bored Barrels.” Whether this is a truly meaningful change from standard 20 gauge dimensions is questionable. The consistency in bore diameter from barrel to barrel is good to see as it doesn't happen all that much in some brands of doubles.

    At the range, the Cynergy proved its mettle as fast-shouldering, smooth-swinging, and extremely soft shooting. Functionality, with the exception of the overly-heavy triggers, was flawless. At this price bracket, there are a lot of choices in the O/U market. There are none that are as soft-shooting by weight, though, which remains the greatest appeal of the Inflex-equipped Cynergy stackbarrels. Several shooters have remarked that the Cynergy is the only truly comfortable O/U field gun they have ever fired. If you find O/U field shotguns to be generally unpleasant to shoot, the Cynergy may be a welcomed change for you.
  4. Billythekid

    Billythekid Administrator Staff Member Administrator

    http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/guns/126608 ... eview.html

    Browning Cynergy shotgun review
    By Browning Cynergy shotgun

    Thursday, 28 June 2007

    Browning Cynergy shotgun: The Browning Cynergy shotgun incorporates all that's best in modern shotgun design - at an affordable price.

    Browning Cynergy shotgun
    Price: £2000-£3000

    So what's this? Is it a stylish gun designed and built to suit the sophisticated tastes of the 21st century shooter, or something Mr Spock might stash aboard the Starship Enterprise, just in case his phaser goes on the blink and those Klingons get stroppy again?

    Fortunately for Browning, since the Cynergy was launched in the UK, most UK shooters seem to have gone for the first definition - but there's still no doubt this gun breaks the mould, both in looks and the way in which it operates.

    It is probably the most different break-action shotgun to be launched in the past 100 years. In many ways it can claim to be more radical in design than John Moses Browning's immortal B25 born more than 80 years ago and still going strong - the gun that set the yardstick for the modern over-under.

    Mechanically it is like nothing else, as we shall discover.

    Who makes it?
    The Cynergy is built for Browning by Miroku in Japan. The Miroku factory is in the city of Nangoku, in Japan's Kochi prefecture on the island of Shikoku. They started building sporting arms in 1893, and their long association with Browning began with negotiations in 1965. For many years, as well as making guns under their own name, they have built all of the more affordable Browning over-unders. They also make machine tools and automotive parts.

    How adaptable is it?
    We think most people will buy the Cynergy as a clay-busting gun, but the weight and stock dimensions of the Sporter versions make them adaptable enough for field use.

    How does it work?
    In a nutshell, it works in a novel and totally fascinating way. There isn't another gun quite like it anywhere in the world at the moment. Some have some of the features, but nothing else has all of them.

    The action block, machined from a solid steel forging, is one of the shortest in the business, and the first visible difference is the jointing seems to be back to front, with the concave curve in the block itself and the convex curve on the fore-end iron. Stub pins are built into the fore-end iron, but the gun does not truly hinge on these. They form a convenient rearward latch for the fore-end iron when the gun is assembled, and the barrels actually hinge on quarter-circle cut-outs in the action walls which engage with similarly-shaped projections in the barrel monobloc. This feature provides huge load-bearing areas compared to pins of any kind, and makes for incredibly strong jointing with little chance of ever shooting loose.

    The top lever is very slim and low in profile. Cocking rods run along the action floor, and are forced backwards by cams in the fore-end iron when the gun is opened. Browning call this new system 'Monolock'.

    Inside the mechanism, the arrangement for firing the gun is novel, too. There are no hammers, the coil mainsprings acting directly on the firing pins via levers. The sears work directly on to these levers, which means the gun has an incredibly fast lock time. Browning claim just 1.8 milliseconds from trigger release to cartridge ignition, which really is fast. The single, selective trigger is transferred to the second barrel mechanically rather than by recoil, but a recoil mechanism is there to prevent a double discharge.

    Barrel selector is in the usual place, built into the safety thumbpiece.

    The bolt on this gun is a U-shaped component, with prongs coming forward through the breech face to mate with bites in the back of the barrel monobloc level with the centre line of the bottom barrel. There are no barrel lumps, as such, at all.

    The single-piece ejectors, which are tripped when the gun reaches the fully open position, are powered directly by coil springs which run between the barrel tubes forward of the monobloc. With the fore-end fitted, these springs rub behind polymer shrouds.

    Typical of a dedicated competition gun, the exterior of the action bears little engraving - a simple logo and the word Cynergy on each side in gold, and the Browning logo, again in gold, on the top lever.

    Barrels
    - Built on Miroku's now-familiar monobloc system.

    - The top rib, supported on angled pillars, is slightly ramped and tapers from 11mm at the breech to 8mm at the muzzle.

    - Side ribs are ventilated.

    - Bores are internally chromed.

    - Chambers are three-inch (76mm), and the tubes carry steel shot proof.

    - Tubes are over-bored, with an internal diameter of 0.736 in compared to the old British standard of 0.729in. This reduces recoil and tends to improve patterning, too.

    - Long Browning Invector Plus choke tubes, now re-named Diamond chokes, are fitted. These protrude from the muzzles,
    and are colour-coded for easy identification.

    - Barrel sets of 28, 30 and 32 inches are available.

    Woodwork
    - When the Cynergy first came on to the British market the stock was as radical as the rest of the gun. It had what's known as a 'hog's back' comb of rounded profile - a style sometimes seen on continental rifles. The idea of this is, on recoil, the stock moves away from the shooters cheek, avoiding stinging and possible bruising. The gun also had a soft rubber recoil pad, in the style you see in the pictures on these pages.

    - When Sporting Gun tested an early version, the magazine took the unusual step of also asking five experienced clay shooters for their impressions, and by and large they didn't like the stock much. Consensus was it seemed to shoot a bit high, despite a 1.1/2 inch drop at comb, and that the recoil pad snagged on clothing.

    - Browning have now addressed this problem, and their Pro Sport and Pro Trap models are fitted with stocks of conventional profile, with normal recoil pads.

    - There is also a stock with an adjustable comb available, at extra cost, and a version called the Black Ice with a synthetic stock.

    - The original stock remains available on a number of models, for those who like it.

    How heavy?
    Weight of the sporter is about 7.3/4 lb.

    What the tester thought
    Sporting Gun tested the Cynergy in August 2004. It scored 9 out of 10 for build quality and styling, 7 for handling (a criticism which, with the new stocks, is no longer valid), and 8 for value for money. Plus points were noted as the styling, the trigger mechanism, the action layout, and the price. Lows concentrated on that original stock - the comb height and the recoil pad: "We think the makers have dropped on a winner," was one favourable comment.
  5. Billythekid

    Billythekid Administrator Staff Member Administrator

    http://www.gunmart.net/gun_review/brown ... y_20_bore/

    Browning Cynergy 20 bore

    Michael Yardley tests a Browning Cynergy 20 bore model
    The Browning Cynergy 12 intrigued me when it was first launched. Its radical design was obviously going to get attention. Browning took a big risk with the introduction of an entirely new model when they had had such enduring success with the B25 and its various clones. The first thing to strike you about the new gun was the extraordinary ‘Inflex’ recoil pad and the unusual
    ‘hogs-back’stock. Closer inspection revealed, however, that the gun was built around an entirely new action design that Browning called a ‘Monolock’. Instead of having barrels that pivot on a relatively small diameter cross pin, or stud pins, the Monolock dispensed with pins of any sort and had massive, wide-radiused, bearing surfaces upon which the barrels hinged. These were most evident on the monobloc of the barrels when the gun was disassembled. They engaged matching surfaces inside the walls of the action body (rather like a Perazzi or Boss where concave and convex ‘draws’ are used to increase strength of the closed action but not for hinging). The imaginative engineering results in the lowest possible action profile. It also kept the point of
    inertia nearer to the straight line ideal.
    The combination of ergonomically effective stock shapes, a very efficient (if odd looking) recoil pad, and the lowest of low profiles created a gun in which felt recoil was substantially reduced. The Cynergy’s styling had its critics. I was not one of them. The gun was a bit modernistic, but I liked some of the ideas within it. The test guns I shot, handled well, and they had more life than average in their barrels. All of which brings us to our test gun.
    On the test bench
    First impressions of the new and much anticipated 20 bore version of the Cynergy are very good. We are now used to the Cynergy styling, this version however seems especially well proportioned. There is something aesthetically pleasing in a long gun with a shallow action. Our Cynergy had
    30” barrels (there is a 28” option) and these were very pointable when the gun was brought to the face and shoulder. They seemed well suited to the gun, so much so, that I was really eager to get out and shoot it! I liked the feel of the 20 bore Cynergy, and quite liked the looks as well.
    Before telling you how I got on with it, though, let’s briefly go through the technical spec. The gun is made in Belgium, not in Japan like many mass-produced Browning. It is produced at the FN plant at Herstal (where a range of military weapons are also produced). Its barrels bear Belgian proof marks for 3” (76mm) shells. The tubes are perfectly straight, internal and external finishes are excellent. The blacking is deep and lustrous with plenty of evidence of good preparation. Chambers are chrome-lined. Forcing cones are fairly short, as Browning prefer. My own preference is for extended cones. I am convinced that they can make a gun shoot smoother.
    The barrels of the test Cynergy are brought together by ventilated joining ribs. These extend for only two thirds of their length. This is clearly a weight saving feature (and the overall weight of the gun is only 6 ½ pounds even with longish barrels). It is becoming increasingly popular with many
    manufacturers as a means of reducing weight, though I am of the opinion that it may be mistaken. The weight reduction, in my opinion, is from the wrong place. What most barrels need is a bit of weight to their rear but livelier muzzles. That said, I cannot really fault the handling of the test gun. Maybe I am just being picky (again).
    The ventilated sighting rib is only 6mm wide and slightly raised as well. The test gun’s 12 bore big brother has a wider, tapered, rib. I am not a great fan of raised designs as far as most shooters are concerned, as I do not see the need if the stock is well designed. The advantage of a raised rib is most apparent to one-eyed shooters for whom the pattern can increase target visibility.
    Related articles
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    There is a bright High Viz front sight fixed at the muzzles of the narrow and a well machined rib. A number of interchangeable inserts are supplied with the gun. Four Browning Diamond Chokes also come with the Cynergy (cylinder, quarter, half, and three quarters). These are very neatly machined and visually attractive.
    The action of the test gun is a scaled down version of the 12. The mechanical systems are, essentially, identical. There is the same mechanical, rather than inertia operated, single trigger (with interchangeable blades of various types supplied). Rectangular locking bolts engage into recesses alongside the bottom barrel. The mechanism for striking the cartridge primer is most
    intriguing. There are no conventional hammers in a Cynergy. It works rather on a “Reversed Striker” system that operates on a similar principle to a tappet assembly on a pushrod car engine.
    What about the woodwork? I liked the ergonomics of the Hogsback stock design on the 20 bore Cynergy. It may look a bit odd (as may also be said of the angular, tulip, forend design), but it feels good between the hands. Forend and grip provide good purchase and compliment each other well. I though the stock comb a little thin, however. Overall length at 14 ½” as tested was quite short, but the gun is supplied with short and long recoil pads as well as a spacer so this might be altered quite easily (another excellent feature).
    Shooting Impressions
    Here I was a bit disappointed. I was really eager to give it a really thorough work out, but there was a problem with the trigger which only enabled me to use one barrel. The problem was a minor one, but it was a nuisance nevertheless. Felt recoil was not quite as low as anticipated, but the gun shot nicely. It is long but light. It swings and points well, but I cannot yet make a definitive statement. I think the design is very clever and the execution good.
    The Cynergy 20 has great potential and Browning deserve success with it. A 32” version would be interesting, and what about a 28 bore?
  6. Billythekid

    Billythekid Administrator Staff Member Administrator

    http://www.gunmart.net/gun_review/brown ... ight_game/

    Browning Cynergy Hunter - Lightweight Game

    Often overlooked even by enthusiasts, Browning’s latest Cynergy Game is a serious piece of kit, as Mark Stone finds out
    If ever a shotgun has been done down ever since its launch, its Browning’s Cynergy. Even Browning themselves don’t seem to have been able to settle on exactly what they should do with the model, as various tweaks, variations and even colour combinations have been employed to increase its appeal. But with the Lightweight Game version, they appear to have at last got it right and how.

    What a carry on
    Arriving in the familiar, Browning-branded, fully lined and fitted Negrini carry case complete with a full set of Invector Plus multi –chokes and key, there’s sufficient room left over to stow your own personal paraphernalia. Once removed the first aspect that hits home is the Grade 4 woodwork! The well figured walnut stock and vented Schnabel-style forend are enhanced by the luxurious semi-oiled finish and standard chequering, with the deep gloss black of the barrels complimenting the quality of the furniture.

    Self-opener; what?
    Though it’s not especially hard work to do it yourself, there’s something rather nice about a self-opening shotgun. The Cynergy’s boxlock action requiring nothing more than the top lever to be operated. Similarly, although a game gun, Browning have elected to leave the barrel selector/safety catch combo a fully manual affair, still a preferred arrangement from my own point of view.
    The action is high strength aluminium alloy with a steel insert down the face. The monobloc barrels are locked into battery by the two pins that extend from the breech face, engaging and locking into the two détentes situated either side of the lower chamber. Decorated by lightly etched game scenes that take their inspiration from that of the B-Grade B25, my only criticism is that although nicely executed it would benefit from a more pronounced finish. Where the competition model makes its presence felt is in the trigger blade and guard. Electing to use the broader, smooth finished blade, ideal for the glove wearers amongst us, the guard looks slightly incongruous by virtue of the fact the familiar golden Buckmark is haloed by rose and scroll.
    Kick off
    The usual trade off when it comes to lightweight shotguns is that they tend to kick a bit too much. With their easy carrying characteristics very much at odds with their inability to absorb heavy load recoil. Where Browning has capitalised is in maintaining this game version’s ability to reduce felt recoil whilst shedding just over ¾ lb over the standard model. This lightweight tipping the scales at an exact 7lbs!
    Aided in no small way by utilising their proven, back-bored technology, the increased internal bore gives the pellets more room to breathe as they head off down the tubes. Combine this with eased forcing cones ahead of the 3” chambers, stock head angles and dimensions coming together to produce a comfortable shooter, even when loaded up with 28g and 32g Express Supreme comp and game loads.

    Nice pattern
    Similarly the quality of pattern generated from the long, flush-fit, Invector Plus multi- chokes. Meaning slightly wider than usual restrictions can be selected on all but the most distant targets, ½ plus a charge of #8’s annihilating 40-yard + clays. Flat shooting compared too similar 12-bores; the Cynergy Game offers a goodly 14¾” length of pull combined with a drop at comb and heel of 17/16” and 2¼” giving the stock good, sensible dimensions and angles.
    The 6lb pull of the broad, smooth trigger blade though in this case non-adjustable, is exactly as a game gun should be, not overly heavy yet requiring sufficient pressure to go some way towards eliminating accidental discharge. That said there’s a fraction of drag before take up, something I didn’t expect.
    Interestingly, by reducing the familiar pistol grip palm swell, Browning has given the Lightweight Game the ability to move within the shooter’s hands, adding to the overall flow when seeking fast, unseen targets. The view along the 5mm vented game rib is as classic as you’re going to get on a modern shotgun. With the white bead crowning the 28” barrels just bright enough to show in peripheral vision yet sufficiently understated to still be classed as suitable for game. The balance point is an exact ¼” in front of the hinges whilst gentle pressure to the typically neat top lever instantly activates the self-opening system and well timed ejectors.

    Competition heritage
    To shoot, the Lightweight Game has capitalised on the Cynergy’s competition heritage. The gun mounts easily, the solid insert in the heel of the rubber pad eradicating recoil. The gun’s overall poise and demeanour promotes fast target acquisition coupled with the ability to dismount even between birds. The muzzles flash onto their target, with minimum physical drive required from the shooter. The reaction of the gun during discharge is that of crispness, this Cynergy reacting as quickly as the user can make their decision. Fast, flat and accurate; is a good way of summing up what the Game offers.
    If further proof of this Cynergy’s abilities were needed, even as a competition gun, then look no further. An unexpected invitation to shoot in one of the recent competitions saw me lift the winner’s trophy on only the second time I’d used the gun. The overall feeling of the Browning occurs only occasionally, the impression in the hands, the balance and whole sensation is of a 12-bore with purpose to a degree it seems to positively inspire the user to try harder, rewarding them for their efforts.
    Yes, we all know that the Cynergy sits somewhat uneasily within the Browning collection, the model’s acceptance by both confirmed and potential owners still undetermined. Where the Lightweight Game wins out is that it’s sufficiently different, attractive, versatile, nicely made and decently priced at £1,900. If I personally was looking for a good all-rounder that’s dissimilar from the norm I couldn’t think of a better shotgun to go for. This is a genuinely nice gun to use.
    We Reckon!
    Browning has at last got it right
    Looks good, shoots even better
    A fantastic all-rounder
  7. Billythekid

    Billythekid Administrator Staff Member Administrator

    http://randywakeman.com/BrowningCynergy ... 0Gauge.htm

    Browning Cynergy Euro Field Twenty Gauge

    The tested shotgun is Browning's “Euro Field” 20 gauge O/U, essentially the spitting image of the recently reviewed Cynergy Euro Field 12 gauge. For starters, let's get the basic Browning specifications on the board.


    Model: Cynergy Euro Field
    Item Number: 13297604
    Barrel Length: 28 inches
    Nominal Overall Length: 45 inches
    Nominal Length of Pull: 14-1/4 inches
    Nominal Drop at Comb: 1-1/2 in.
    Nominal Drop at Heel: 2-3/8 in.
    Nominal Weight: 6-1/4 lbs.
    Rib Width: 7/32 in.
    Wood Finish: Gloss
    U.S. Suggested Retail: $2679

    There really isn't much difference in this 20 from its 12 gauge bigger brother in the cosmetic department, except for the engraving scenes of quail and grouse displacing the 12's pheasant and duck artwork. A fairly length dissertation was presented along with the 2007 review of the “Classic Field” 20 gauge Cynergy, so I won't repeat the history of the model here. You might want to reference that review for a more thorough discussion of the action and its background. I was favorably impressed with the action back then and I still am today. It is a wondrously slim, low profile action which was Browning's goal from the start. The design of the Cynergy action and its forearm hardware is such that it really is never going to look like a Citori, as it just isn't remotely the same. That is going to be both good and bad to the more stodgy, conservative hunters and shooters.

    For those who feel that a Browning Citori is the way an O/U needs to look, or should look for that matter, I can't disagree. There's nothing that looks more like a Citori than a Citori of course and based on the continual freshening and refreshening of the Citori line, the Citori just isn't going away. The Citori passed the 1,000,000 production mark in 2008 and is currently offered in over twenty-five different versions. Suffice it to say if the Superposed / Citori platform is the look and feel that drives you, there are a huge number of options for you right there.

    Why would you want or prefer a Cynergy? Well, I prefer the Cynergy platform as a generality, and it isn't because I'm especially compelled by the looks. I am enchanted by the lighter, slimmer action, its lighter weight, faster handling, and faster shouldering. The more “standard” (if you want to call it that) Cynergy Classic 20 was an enjoyable shotgun with 7/8 oz. Loads, but beyond that it became uncomfortable for extended shooting. The Inflex-pad equipped Euro Field Cynergy is softer shooting, to be sure, both with 1 oz. AA's and the extremely fast (for a 20 gauge) Kent Tungsten-Matrix 1-1/8 ounce three inch loads I decided on for pheasants.

    I've never liked the patterning performance of factory Browning tubes, so I lost those right away for the far better performing Trulock Precision Hunter extended choke tubes, opting for Full over Modified for pheasants. It didn't take Buddy the WonderDog all that long to send a cackling rooster skyward, and the Kent Tungsten Matrix #5 shot load dropped it instantly at about 40 yards, dead in the air and with two broken legs to boot. That's the beauty of the this Cynergy Euro Field-- it shoulders instantly, instinctively, and you shoot with your eyes just like it should be with no conscious effort. I like it and I like it better than the Classic Field version.



    Kent Tungsten Matrix Loads continue to do a fine job dropping birds. The 1-1/8 oz. three inch 20 gauge loads of #5 shot at a peppy 1360 fps leaves them dead in the air at 40 yards.

    I had one basic gripe about the previously tested Cynergy 20: the triggers were just too darn heavy. So, on this Cynergy Euro Field, it was a case of the less things change, the more they stay the same. The triggers are too darn heavy. The lower trigger breaks at six pounds on the nose, while the upper barrel trigger is heavier yet at six pounds, six ounces-- heavier than the gun itself. They are crisp and otherwise laudable. Yet, for a shotgun approaching $2700 of retail, I think it is reasonable to expect far better than average triggers. Out of the box, there is no reason for a trigger to be as heavy or heavier than the entire gun.

    The engraving and wood are touted as being substantially upgraded over the previous Cynergy. That is a bit of a “maybe.” The jeweled monobloc is there and the engraving is tasteful and attractive. The wood, called upgraded “Grade II/III walnut” is a bit more dubious. While nicely finished, well-balanced in color and tone, it isn't well-figured where I come from. It is darkly stained and attractive, but lacks what I'd call distinct mineral streaks, fiddle-back, or anything remarkable. Perhaps my impression is colored a bit by what Browning standard wood has generally been, that being far better than the average. The upgraded wood in this example just isn't more than a very tiny, incremental upgrade-- if indeed some would notice it as an upgrade at all.

    Browning includes a quarter-inch spacer to add to the buttstock length if you prefer. In my case, it was a very good thing. Without the spacer, the Cynergy didn't have enough drop for me: I saw rib. With the spacer, it fit beautifully. Another thing that Browning got right is the safety. On several field O/U examples, the tang safety is too smooth to allow for easy operation with gloved hands. With a pronounced center nub, this safety is quick and easy to get off or to put back on.

    This Cynergy is a fine-handling, pleasant to carry field gun with less felt recoil than most all stackbarrels in this weight category. Overall, it was hard not to like it with the my sole carping having to do with the overly heavy triggers. Browning can do a better job with them if they wanted to; apparently they just don't want to for legal reasons whether real or imagined. A trigger job will be in order for some owners, to be sure. The Cynergy low-profile action continues to impress, and though the gun does not comport to the rigid idea of a classic O/U, it just plain works better as a field gun-- far better than most and therein lies its greatest appeal.
  8. Billythekid

    Billythekid Administrator Staff Member Administrator

    http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... ntent;col1

    Striking shotgun designs for the 21st Century

    Browning's Cynergy

    Long known for their popular and durable Citori family of O/Us, Browning stepped outside the box when they unveiled the Cynergy. The Cynergy is the product of one of the most secret design programs I can recall in the firearms industry. Its appearance literally took everyone by surprise.


    The Browning Superposed and the more moderately priced Citori sham a design that is now almost 75 years old. The design is classic, and the guns have proven to be unusually durable. Speaking to Dwight Potter. Browning's lead design engineer for the Cynergy, I was told that he wanted the new design to equal the durability of the Citori while creating the lowest profile receiver in the industry, Here's how the Browning team did it.

    But before we gel into the internals of the Cynergy, look at that exterior. You're either going to like it, of question it, of hate it. The exterior styling of the Cynergy is the product of an industrial designer--not a gun designer--a commercial designer who shapes products to appeal to a buying public. Beretta has been using a commercial design house for years, and shotguns like the Benelli Nova didn't just pop off an engineer's CAD screen.

    Frankly, I find the Cynergy's fines, from its sculptured "Inflex" recoil pad to its visually striking forearm checkering pattern, simply refreshing. There are little touches that are pleasing as well like the Cynergy's sculptured top lever and the open, angular and skeletonized trigger guard. The lines of the gun all flow forward. They say "speed," and I think that's exactly what the designer was aiming for.

    Different From The Ground Up

    To create the industry's lowest profile receiver, Potter created a new hinge arrangement. Gone are traditional hinge pins and trunions. The new design is called a "MonoLock Hinge." Basically, the receiver carries two massive "C" shaped lugs that engage similar shaped seats in the sides of the monoblock. Locking-up is accomplished by two rectangular locking pins that automatically compensate for wear. There is also a forearm screw that can be adjusted to take up wear. The new locking system has been run through 30,000 test rounds with no wear discernable.

    Potter's next objective was to replace a traditional lock consisting of sears and hammers with a compact, lightning-fast, rifle-like, striker system. Called a "reverse striker" system, it consists of two coil spring-powered strikers housed on either side of the action.

    When released by the gun's mechanical triggers, the coil spring strikers trip a rocker that impacts the firing pin. The advantage of the system is an ultra fast lock time and triggers that are factory adjusted for a weight-of pull of 4 to 5 pounds. As Potter remarked to me, "I've put rifle triggers into a shotgun." Indeed he has. Crisp triggers and fast lock times simply enhance a shotgun's "hitability."

    The 12-gauge barrels of the Cynergy duplicate the slim profile of the tubes already proving highly popular on Browning's Citori Model 525. While being lightweight, they are back-bored and accept the Invector-Plus choke tube system. The 12-gauge Cynergy Field models are offered with 26 and 28-inch tubes while the Sporting models come with 28.30 and 32 inch barrels that also feature porting. All Cynergy barrels feature ventilated top and side ribs.

    Both the Field and Sporting models are offered in wood and composite stocks. Both stock forms are fitted with the new "Inflex" recoil pad and weigh exactly the same. Spacey in appearance but deeply cushioned and providing long travel recoil reduction, the Inflex pad simply works.

    Browning states that it reduces felt recoil up to 25 percent. Based on my own shooting experience with the new model, it is not a baseless claim. Equally as important, the Inflex pad is available in three interchangeable thicknesses plus a 1/4 inch spacer so that length-of-pull can be readily adjusted from 13 3/4 to 15 inches by the owner.

    Adjustable And Comfortable

    For the utmost in versatility, the Cynergy composite stock is hard to beat. It features interchangeable combs that allow the shooter to adjust comb height in 1/8 inch increments as well as cast-on and cast-off.

    And speaking about combs, notice that the comb line of the Cynergy is contoured on a radius and not straight. Often referred to as a European "humpback" design, it is highly functional. Sloping away from the shooter's cheek, the stock comb won't chop you in the face during recoil.

    How does the Cynergy perform? Like a natural.

    I spent three days hunting ducks, pheasants and clay pigeons at South Dakota's Goose Lake Management Company's properties with both the sporting and the field models of the Cynergy. I put at least 200 rounds of Winchester target and field ammunition through a variety of models.

    When hunting, I particularly favored the 26-inch field barrels and very much liked the adjustable/replaceable trigger on the sporting models. The fast lock time of the Cynergy does make a difference, particularly when engaging sporting clays. The shallow receiver facilitates the hand-to-hand, hand-to-barrel-to-target relationship that is so essential to successful shotgunning.

    While Browning indicates their extensive Citori line will remain in production, I predict the Cynergy will eventually give the Citori a run for its money. As Browning says, the Cynergy has "The heart of a race car, the looks of a supermodel, and the soul of a Browning."
  9. Billythekid

    Billythekid Administrator Staff Member Administrator

    Browning Cynergy Mechanical Trigger

    [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkNhBwAJ0h0&sns=em[/youtube]

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