Citadel Boss 25 12 Gauge Burnt Bronze Semi-Automatic Shotgun

This is the CALIFORNIA...

This is the CALIFORNIA COMPLIANT version of the BOSS 25 model. As of this writing. only two companies offer CA compliant semiautomatic, box-magazine fed shotguns! RIA has a model and this one, the Citadel Boss 25 CA compliant. What's the difference between this and the non-CA version? Quite a bit actually, and I think the CA model is the better version! Under CA law, a semiautomatic shotgun cannot have a detachable magazine. To accomodate that mandate - (and I'm extremely pleased they did), Citadel reengineered the Boss 25. The non-CA model mates the upper and lower by means of an interlocking shelf at the front, and the rear of the upper set into a recess on the lower. Normal disassmbly does not include separating the upper and lower. Also, I believe the non-CA model uses a polymer lower. The CA compliant model uses an alluminum alloy lower, with forward hinge pin just like an AR, and a rear pull pin - also like an AR, that extends out about half and inch on the right side. This pin is pulled to allow the upper to shotgun, and in so doing, it allows a small Patriot Pin located above the magazine release to pop up, thus unlocking the mag release. Normally, I'm not a fan of the Patriot Pin system as it applies to AR rifles because even with the bolt barely retracted, the upper and lower are locked together, making it impossible to remove the magazine in the case of a feed malfunction. But the Citadel Boss 25 is different. The bolt and bolt carrier assembly is very much like a conventional semiauto shotgun, with twin steel bars running forward to the annular ring piston, with the recoil spring mounted around the barrel. When the bolt is retracted it does not extend into the lower at all, so whether the bolt is closed or locked back, the Patriot Pin can be pulled to allow the upper to swing upward so the mag can be released. This makes the system a mere annoyance of little practical consequence for normal sport shooting. Five to ten rounds of 12 gauge is subtantial, and shotgunning the receiver is quick and easy. Attaching a small length of paracord between upper and lower creates an automatic lift-limiter. IMO, the ability to remove the mag by cracking the receivers open outweighs the annoyance factor. Even with shotgunning the shotgun to load, the mag-fed system can be recharged with a 10-shot magazine in less time than one can thumb 5-8 shells into a tubular mag system, and the entire process is completely straightforward, no confusing loading sequence where one must lock back the bolt, drop in a shell and chamber, then start shucking fresh shells into the tube. At the price-point, in this case, California buyers are getting a better version of the Boss 25, for the same money! The gun comes with two, 5-round magazines, and 10-round mags are surprisingly inexpensive from various online sources. One reason magazines are cheap is because a wide range of brands and models share the same design! The gun also comes with the obligatory plastic pack of chokes along with a choke wrench and a separate takedown wrench. Now the amazing part. This is one BEAUTIFUL shotgun! It's one beautiful ANY KIND of gun! The Burnt Bronze anodized upper and lower is rich and even. Fit and finish overall is clean and crisp! The shotgun feels well balanced, not too heavy, and with a surprisingly manageble length of pull. I was expecting the pull to be a stretch, but it's not, the gun comes up and shoulders nicely. The supplied flip-up sights are pure AR pattern, and certainly better than adequate for normal shotgun ranges. I know the current craze it to stick and optic on everything, but when it comes to shotguns of any kind, optics only work against fast shooting, and since they use batteries and delicate internal structures, the one thing you can bet on is that if the time comes you need to grab your shotty and make the shot, will be the PRECISE MOMENT the LED diode decides to no work. I prefer Ghost Ring style sights, though with a decent cheek weld, one really only needs a bit of front sight when using ANY kind of shot! Only slugs require honest sights and I'll stick with iron. There's an old saying, the fancy do-dads you DON'T install can't fail you at a critical moment! The advantage to box magazine shotguns is the same as with box magazine rifles and handguns. Rack the bolt back to lock, slap in a mag, release the bolt and start shooting. Autoloaders are VASTLY superior to pump guns in the real world. They shoot with lightening speed if needed, and a mag swap is always faster than shucking shells into a tube - even work those shotguns festooned with multiple tubes with tube selectors and awkward ergonomics. As for reliability, a human hand and arm is much more likely to induce a malfunction than an automatic system. From a family, home-defense standpoint, familiarizing family members with the Citadel Boss 25 is far simpler and more sure because it's the same manual of arms as learning the AR system. As we boomers shuffle off the mortal stage, I predict these AR-pattern shotguns will become the dominant tactical choice, just as the AR has. At present one can buy a conventional autoloading shotgun - even in California for an amazingly low price - less than this cost, but the box feed, AR pattern system makes this work the added acquisition cost!