So what is the most logical choice for a blue collar shooter that has around $1000 or more to spend? We recently had a few new shooters on the site ask the same question. With more SCTP shooters joining same question. Get the answer here. I have my choice.
My opinion at under $1000 nothing beats Remington 1100. 1200 BT99 2000 Citori 2500 Beretta 686 Cabelas (my pick) 4000 Beretta or Browning combo. Dysinger and Leo shot cheap Berettas and Leo also shot an 1100. I cant shoot anything.
Guns Unlimited has a BT-99 called the 80/20 model for $1279.99. It has a rib similar to the BT-99 Plus. I would think that one of the best deals in trap guns.
Personally, I think the best bang for the buck in the economy class of shotguns would be Browning and or Beretta ... I know people who have them and have shot them for years, never gave it a thought to buy anything else ... Typical trap shooters, buy and sell guns like they change under ware, but will many times recall their fist gun and many times go back to it ... I started with a Zoli that made a mules kick feel like a massage, got an 1100 and then a Model 12 , not sure why I ever quit shooting the Model 12 (dumb, dumb, dumb) and will probably go back and start shooting one again ... I have Perazzi's and they have served me well but they ain't no Model 12, thats for sure ... WPT ... (YAC) ...
It is not the best Trapgun but you can get a Tri-Star Combo, 34"inch w/80/20 adj rib and a 30"inch or 32"inch O/U for List $1750, they are made in Turkey, Chrome Lined Bbl, and some Beretta's are made I believe in the same factory. Distributor is in Kansas. Tri-Star 815-421-1400 for distributor, Zanders has them in Stock. Yours in Sport Gary Bryant...............................Dr.longshot
I started with a Mod 12, then BT 99, shot a 1100 at doubles, then went to a Super X-1 for singles and doubles ( pigeons also ), shot a 101 at doubles for a little bit sometime in there, in fact broke my first 100 in doubles with that gun in 1977. I never had an expensive trap gun until I went to work for Beretta in the early 80's. I had a 680 c0mbo, but then switched to a 302 auto (my favorite auto I still have it and shot over 300,000 targets with it) then got back into pigeons and went to a 682 over under for everything. Along the line in my Beretta years I shot all the Beretta trap models at one time or the other. My point to this long winded answer is that all those guns I've shot have a few basic things in common. They all shot where I looked, they had dependable triggers ( going from the mod 12 and auto to 680 series guns was hardest. The triggers on the 680's were a lot faster so I had to learn to lead a target a little more. With a mod 12 the trigger is slower so you have more of a built in lead on angles. They were all for the most part very dependable. The 1100 was the least dependable, the Model 12 and Beretta's the most. New shooters today think they need a $10,000 gun to shoot trap when instead then really need a 500 to 1000 dollar gun and $9,000 worth of practice. I often think I did trap shooting no favors shooting those expensive Beretta's when I shot the cheaper ones just as well. The best shooters today don't need those high dollar guns anymore than Leo and I did but without the Kolars of the gun industry supporting them they'd not be able to make any money shooting like we did back in the day so they are going to push the $20,000 guns when for the sport it would be better to push the guns that the average joe can afford. Brad
I like that BT-99 80/20 that is being advertised lately. High Grade is offering a discount on them, around $1900 34" MC Stock. GB.......................DLS
Tristar TT15 DX Combo is my go-to gun. Works for me and I love shooting it. Best scores I have ever shot.
I just sold a BT99 for $800.00. The young man tried it out and just smoked the targets with it. It was an easy sell after that.
Ken, He will probably shoot it for a long time if he takes reasonable care of it ... They are built like Tanks .... WPT ... (YAC) ...
I saw a decent gun at a decent price last night, Remington 1100 comp. Owner was asking $850, bet he's willing to deal...its been for sale now at least two weeks. Looked good, nice soft shooter from what I watched. I'd consider it but just not a huge fan of semi's. Sharp looking gun though, I'll give it that!
I shot an 1100 way back when, bought it on sale for $319.00 plus tax with a canvas case ... It was a TB or TC or something , been awhile can't remember ... WPT ... (YAC) ...
Remington 1100 Competition Synthetic. After adjusting to fit the only change I made was the installation of a Carlson EF choke and switched to Vectan AS for a clean burning powder......... Larry
If I were starting over, I would probably buy a really nice Model 12 and live with it ... If I had spent all of the money on ammo and practice I would of been way ahead of the game ... I actually did very well with the first Model 12, I bought and paid for it in 3 weeks of shooting it (got all of my money back and more ) but I had to have a Model 32 Kreighoff, liked it but it got stolen and went to shooting a Perazzi MX 8 combo, ( 2 barrels, 2 triggers) , back to the Model 12 ( my game gun) and a host of others over the years ... Had a really nice MX 2000 un single, (didn't care for the un single) sold it and got a MX 2000/8, combo, nice gun but I don't shoot doubles and my Buddy who wanted to shoot bunker quit coming out for the winters ... (ITS FOR SALE OR TRADE) ... I have a really nice TMX and a few Model 12's I am going to try and wear out, go from there ... WPT ... (YAC) ...
Any of the listed below will work. The BT99 is a good value and they just seem to keep working with little to no maintenance need. 1. A nice old style BT99 with long tang. 2. Browning s7 3. Remington 870