New Trap Gun

Soft shooting, affordable, and versatile.
Remington 1100 comes in several configurations.
You might call it entry level gun, but I 'entered' the ATA back in 1977, and I love my 1100 sporting Clay's competition edition.
All Clay's games and doves too.

Here are a few current trap-specific offerings in your price-range.

I wouldn't let ported barrels be a reason I passed on a gun. My trap and skeet guns have ports. I can't tell any difference in noise. As far as cleaning goes, I simply don't clean the ports.

Shooting clays is addictive. Double your budget. Don't forget your SO.

mokin said:

Shooting clays is addictive. Double your budget. Don't forget your SO.

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skip clays, and go straight to cocaine....cheaper...

As an aside...the most fun I have had shooting in a group has been clays, I see no difference for the group in trap....

My single criteria....fit, fit, fit....

enjoy, and prepare to light money on fire....

mokin said:

Don't forget your SO.

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My wife enjoys shooting with friends as much as anything...spend the money, and got your SO involved....

Hey now!
A round of 25 trap at my club is $3.
For members.....
Membership is $30...
And we would like you to buy some raffle tickets.....
...yeah, never mind.

Armored farmer said:

Remington 1100 comes in several configurations.

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find a used 1100 with a fixed choke barrel...it will not be as cheap as a used Mossy, but take the extra money (save your pennies) and get the gun fitted...

StationOps said:

1. First shotgun, hopefully only shotgun. Running out of room in security cabinet.

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First you say a Trap gun, then mention skeet and Sporting clays. Under $550, and preferably pump, there is only one choice-870 Express Trap.

StationOps said:

2. Want American made and not super expensive, so near as I can tell, Remington and Mossberg are only options.

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Well, Remington is the only option.

StationOps said:

3. Looking at 28" to 30" barrel.

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30".

StationOps said:

3. Any particular difference in quality between Mossberg 500 or Remington 870? Or the particular models of each type? I don't live anywhere near the ocean, so don't need a marine model.

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Day and Night. The 870 is going to be the better gun for clays games, particularly if you want to add Skeet and Sporting Clays.

StationOps said:

4. I would kind of like a pump, though I know semi-automatic would be much better if I branch out into skeet or sporting clays. Local club does have a doubles part in their tourneys. Semi-automatic rifles are boring to shoot though. Running the pump is just fun.

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I stand with Armored Farmer and recommend the 1100 Competition Synthetic. There is no other good quality gun with all the features needed for Trap, or Skeet, or Sporting Clays at anything near it's price level. Yes, the 870 Express trap is half the price, and is serviceable, though you'll have to buy chokes to shoot the other games. they all come with the 1100 Comp.

StationOps said:

5. Do NOT need it for home defense. HKVP9 will work fine for that.

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Understood.

StationOps said:

6. Near as I can tell, I should avoid ported barrels- loud and difficult to clean.

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The real reason to avoid ported barrels is they are ineffective. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

StationOps said:

7. Keep it below $550 or so dollars.

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Again, the 870 Express Trap is the only gun I will recommend in that price point. I do heartily recommend you compare the value between the 870 Trap and the 1100 Competition Synthetic.

https://www.remington.com/shotguns/pump-action/model-870/model-870-express-trap

https://www.remington.com/shotguns/autoloading/model-1100/model-1100-competition-synthetic

rabid wombat said:

My single criteria....fit, fit, fit....

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I'll agree. When the gun fits you, not the other way around, you shoot better.The 1100 Competition Synthetic has an adjustable comb on it , which is the main reason I bought mine. The Auto-Buster recoil reducer is a nice 'icing on the cake' -makes a difference when shooting 3-4 rounds of Trap a night. I traded my 870 in on the 1100, and am glad I did.

Shooting a pump at Trap doubles, Skeet, and Sporting Clays is a challenge.

notice how all the guns suggested for trap have a monte carlo butt stock and a raised rib. the previously suggested guns by guyfromohio and entropy are spot on. I feel that is worth repeating.
….using a run of the mill hunting gun is not gonna let you learn to hold and follow through properly. sure you can get by but you will peak and never get better. then you will have to get men in black neuralized and start over. get the trap version right off.

StationOps said:

2. Want American made and not super expensive, so near as I can tell, Remington and Mossberg are only options.

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How strongly do you feel about that? It's fine if that is a deal breaker (and I usually would agree with you; the socks, belt, and jeans that I have on are all made in the USA), but there's another pump-action shotgun out there that is, in my experience, quite an improvement over the 870 Express or a Mossberg 500 (and I own the latter). It's not made in the USA, though. Now, if you're looking at the 870 Wingmaster, they're closer in quality.

If you do buy an autoloader, the Remington 1100 that other people have suggested is a good option.

Top shooters in the various clay games shoot ammunition by the pallet load. Reliability of the the shotgun is important but that does not mean you have to spend a fortune. Just choose wisely. There are good low cost competition guns but they are more expensive than budget priced shotguns.

While pump guns were the guns to shoot at skeet in the 1930s and 1940s, they have fallen out of favor as semi-autos and over/unders work better for doubles. If you never plan on getting into any game that shoots doubles, a pump will probably serve you well.

Good trap guns tend to be a bit more specialized over guns for the other clay games. If you plan to shoot only trap, then get a trap gun.

I shoot primarily skeet. In my opinion, a Browning Citori, Beretta 686, Remington 1100, or a Beretta 300 or 400 semi-autos are the minimum for reliable clay target guns.

Just my 2 cents worth.

JudgeHolden10 said:

but there's another pump-action shotgun out there that is, in my experience, quite an improvement over the 870 Express or a Mossberg 500 (and I own the latter). It's not made in the USA, though.

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BPS?

You really don't need to buy a shotgun right away. If you're fortunate enough to have a good-natured trapshooting club there will be plenty of members offering to let you shoot theirs. Take them up on the offer and you'll quickly find out what you like and what you don't. You will find plenty used ones for sale from members trading up.

If you want to buy your own though the Rem 1100 is a fine choice. So is an 870. You'd be hard pressed to do better within your stated budget. Personally I prefer break-opens for trap because I think the simpler, the better. After trying a bunch of others I bought one from another trapshooter, and eventually traded it in on a new one that cost many thousands more. I'm very happy I did.

If that sounds like a lot of money you're right, but consider the fact I've personally shot over 30,000 shells in less than three years. That's not even anywhere near excessive for trapshooters. Do the math.

I agree with @cfullgraf to be competitive at a higher lever....

Separately, get a gun and go shooting. To his point, it is not about the equipment - it is about the shooter (equipment plays when the shooters are equal...)

A local golf legend, Lee Trevino, used to caddy before hitting the bigs. He used to bet you and your golf bag vs him and a club of your choice (you pick the one club he could use for a round while you had your whole bag). His best win was winning with a Dr Pepper bottle. He also defined pressure...not the 8 footer at the Masters, but the $40 skin when you have $20 in your pocket....

go shooting...

Side notes:

There is a guy on here that shoots trap very well with his Maverick 88.

Another guy here uses a single shot pardner to win matches. (its not hard to reload)

entropy said:

BPS?

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I bought my son a BPS trap. It’s a great gun. A couple hundred dollars above the stated price range, but WELL worth the difference.

Where are you guys finding 1100s under $550?

i hear about top scores with field shotguns, single-pump-semi at the clays games, but do not see that at the clubs i shoot at 3 times a week. but it would be the exception, not the rule if they do. a man who can do well with a field shotgun at trap-skeet-sc,s, would indeed be a good shot in my mind.

I think you're going to shop the used market to even stay close to your budget.
The classic trapguns dont come cheap.
I coach a HS trap team. Some kids have appeared with tristar guns. They have performed well but (I think)not made in USA .

Used model 12s, 870s, 1100s, A390s, bt99s 4es, are $1k or close to it......but, will be hold your money together.

I've been using the same 870 TB, 30", fixed full since 1975. Buttstock and barrel are the only original parts left (I shoot a lot and parts break). That said, I sometimes use one of several 1100s, most of which started as field guns. None were over $350 used. I just added a 70s 1100 Trap to the stable ($450). I have a quiver of barrels for these guns and use both styles for trap and skeet. That said, the gun I miss most is an 11-87 Premier that I won the annual club combo tournament with in 2009, shooting 24-25-25-24 in skeet with an i.c. tube and identical trap scores with a full tube. Stock gun. Pick one and learn to shoot it.

entropy said:

BPS?

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You guessed it. I was trying to avoid being that one guy who ignores the parameters in the OP and brings in new stuff without the consent of the OP. Oh well. Haha.