Foster Bartholow Boosts Doubles Average with the Browning Citori 825 Max Trap
Published on August 15, 2025
The Bartholow brothers, Foster and Matt, own the world of trap shooting. Foster is a singles kingpin, and Matt is now, after this past weekend’s event at the World Championship in Sparta, Illinois, a five-time Doubles World Champion. A five-time Doubles World’s winner is a feat no other person has ever accomplished.
Both brothers shoot Browning, and because the discipline of trap is so personal, most shooters rarely switch between shotguns. Trap shooters find a gun that fits them exactly how they want, and they stick with it.
For 2025, Foster Bartholow made a change. His choice was Browning’s all-new Citori 825 Max Trap, an under $8K trap gun with all the bells and whistles that top trap shooters demand.
“I had a goal this year,” Foster said. “I wanted to get better at doubles. Because I have the luxury of shooting against my brother Matt, I get to shoot against the best doubles trap shooter in the world daily. It has really helped me.”
In 2025, using Browning’s Citori 825 Max Trap, Foster accomplished his goal. Foster beat his brother Matt at the South Dakota State Championship.
“The 825 Max Trap has it all,” said Foster. “Top trap shooters want a trap gun with lots of adjustability. Adjustability means customization, and customization leads to a perfect fit and feel. Perfect fit and feel lead to confidence and excellent shooting.”
“From the adjustable rib to set your POI from 50/50 to 90/10 to the adjustable GraCoil Recoil Reduction System to the Graco butt pad that adjusts for angle and location, this trap gun has it all. I love shooting it, and the more I shoot it, the better I get.”
During this interview, Foster and his brother Matt were driving back to their South Dakota homes, and both were reminiscing about the impressive WSRC shooting complex.
“It’s 3-1/2 miles of trap houses,” Foster said with a chuckle. It’s enormous, and the shooting seems never to stop. From daytime to shooting under the lights, this is an event that never gets old. The best trap shooters from all over the world come. It’s an awesome event. Matt and I stayed an extra day this year to soak it all in and take some photos and videos.”
Foster noted that in 2025, using the Citori 825 Max Trap, his per 100 targets doubles average is better than ever.
“I'm averaging 99/100 rounds,” Foster said. “That’s my best average ever. I keep track during practice and competition, and this is my best doubles average ever.”
“I want to point out that both Matt and I opt for 30-inch barrels when shooting doubles. The Max Trap comes in barrel lengths of 30 and 32 inches. If you shoot doubles, go with the 30-inch option. This shotgun swings like a dream. Matt and I are spot shooters. We want to crush the first target quickly, rapidly swing to the second target, and smash it. The 30-inch barrels combined with the Max Trap’s overall fit and feel make it deadly fast and accurate.”
Recoil is something else to consider when choosing a trap gun. Foster and his brother Matt shoot thousands of rounds per year. Recoil means soreness, lack of shooting joy, and increased target acquisition time.
“The 825 Max Trap is smooth after I pull the trigger,” Foster said. “People forget that there’s more to the shooting experience than just pulling the trigger. This is especially true in doubles. The recoil reduction system is amazing. It’s like the shock never gets to your shoulder, which allows you to remain focused on your job, which is busting clay targets.”
Browning Citori 825 Max Trap
Browning Citori 825 Max Trap
Browning’s most prestigious trap gun, the 825 Max Trap, still hits an under-$8K price point, which is remarkable considering the technology and innovation this clay buster offers.
Working from the stock forward, the 825 Max Trap has a Graco adjustable Monte Carlo comb, an adjustable GraCoil Recoil Reduction System, and a Graco butt pad plate that adjusts for angle and location. That’s just the stock! The Citori 825 Max Trap over and under delivers shooter customization in spades.
The stock with palm swell and semi-beavertail forearm with finger grooves ensures excellent control, and the gloss-finish Grade V/VI walnut stock gives the shotgun a classic look.
Moving forward, the slimmer, lower-profile receiver showcases stunning engraving, and the redesigned safety/selector boosts ease of use and blends seamlessly into the receiver. A traverse-mounted, full-width hinge pin ups strength and longevity, and the tapered locking lug and recess self-adjust to reduce wear and ensure a tight lock-up even after thousands of rounds.
The new Fire Lite 2 trigger offers improved performance with a crisp break and light pull weight. Being a mechanical design, the Fire Lite 2 doesn’t require recoil to set the hammer for a second shot. The Max Trap also includes the adjustable Triple Trigger System that allows for finger to trigger reach customization. Three trigger shoes are also included.
The tall, adjustable rib allows for POI adjustment between 50/50 and 90/10. This range of customization is insane for a trap gun at this price point, and, as with all things 825 Max Trap, boosts shooter options. Chrome chambers mean no corrosion, and the Vector Pro forcing cones reduce stress on the shot column as it passes into the bore, which means fewer deformed pellets and improved patterns.
Browning topped the Citori 825 Max Trap with a HiViz Pro Comp sight and ivory mid-bead, and the shotgun comes with five extended Invector-DS choke tubes.
