RUT said:
>>The Remington 870 Classic Trap is about the least expensive route.<<
But you'd soon tire of racking that slide.
???
Pumps make great trap guns, since you only get to load one at a time anyway, and they balance like more expensive single-barrels. They also don't make enemies by spitting shells at your neighbor's new Perazzi, and it's easy for the paranoid RSO to see when the action's open.
I shoot doubles with mine occasionally, but I won't tell anyone they should. My score can be right there with the O/U guys shooting doubles. It's good practice for hunting.
An 870 is probably the most reliable heavy-use gun you will get for the money -- whether you're talking about police, hunting, trap, or any other version. The CT model is a winning trap gun.
Lanbers (Basque Spanish guns) are real nice. I haven't seen any for $500, but the ones I've seen are really good-looking guns, with fully-engraved receivers, nice wood and nice polished blue.
I know people like their Mossberg Silver Reserves, and they are real nice even not considering the price. However, the guns haven't been around long enough to prove themselves longevity-wise.
CZ's are made by Huglu in Turkey, BTW. Turkish guns can be quite good.
I haven't been too impressed with Stoegers, but competition is fierce nowadays, so the new ones might be better than what I saw a year ago.
For cheap, there's always the Spartan (Baikal). Ugly, but built like a Russian AK, by the people who make the Russian AK. They always go bang.
If you can find a used SKB for that money, and it's in good working order, buy that.