Browning makes remarkable shotguns; that’s no secret. What’s impressive is the variety of styles, makes, and models, as well as the manufacturer’s ability to craft top-end shotguns at a range of price points with features that provide the end user with a comfortable and customizable shooting experience.

Trap has always been my favorite clay target discipline. I love to toe the line, mount the gun, stand tall, and call for a flying orange disc that speeds up and away from me. The shots are difficult. You can't see the dome or belly of the bird — just the side — adding to the difficulty of this popular and highly challenging shooting discipline.

Since shifting from the Citori 725 Trap lineup to the Citori 825 Trap lineup, improvements have been made, and shooters are taking notice of the fine oil-finished wood and matte barrel trap guns. Currently, Browning offers the 825 Trap, 825 Trap - Adjustable Comb, 825 Trap Max, 825 Pro Trap with Pro Fit Adjustable Comb, and 825 Golden Clays Trap. As you step up in price point, you get features such as an adjustable comb and an extendable butt stock. As I noted earlier, Browning manufactures trap guns — from the entry-level BT-99 to the competition-ready Citori 825 Golden Clays — to meet the needs and wants of every competitive shooter.

Tim Frampton, Browning’s Shotgun Product Manager, knows more than most about the new Citori 825 trap gun lineup, and I was excited to pick his brain, both about the shotguns and how the discipline differs from sporting clays. I also wanted to explore what Browning does with its trap guns to ensure shooters get to and stay on the podium.

JB: I noticed the Citori 825 Trap has the Inflex II Recoil Pad; why is that?

TF: Some of our trap guns have more rubberized Pachmayer recoil pads, which is fine. When shooting trap, the shooter pre-mounts the shotgun so they don’t have to worry about a more rubberized pad grabbing their clothing, causing mounting issues as they do in sporting clays. Still, the Inflex II Recoil pad is just so good and does its job of soaking up recoil by utilizing the directional ribs to pull the comb down and away from your face. We love it, and so do those who put their trust in the Browning name. The only Browning Trap models that don’t feature the Inflex II are the Trap Max and Golden Clays.

JB: How do the stock dimensions of trap guns compare to sporting guns?

TF: Our trap shotguns have a slightly shorter length of pull than our sporting models. We have a lot of smaller shooters that use our 825 Trap. Some are just getting started into shooting trap, while others are highly proficient shooters. It’s easier to shoot a shotgun that is too short than it is too long.

We also use a Monte Carlo stock on many of our trap guns. Monte Carlo stocks typically feature a raised comb and a lower heel to improve cheek weld and allow for the shooter to use a more upright stance, which trap shooters tend to have. They know where the bird is coming from and where it’s going. Sporting clays shooters tend to have a more athletic stance as they don’t know if the bird will be going, coming, crossing, etc.

Our stocks have drops designed to get the shooter’s face into the proper position, and our drops are incredibly universal. It’s impossible to make a one-size-fits-all shotgun, but we try. We want people to be able to look down the raised rib and see the mid-bead and front-bead stacked. Naturally, achieving the perfect drop is easier with our more customizable trap models.

JB: What about palm swells?

TF: Our trap guns are designed for right-handed use and feature a right-hand palm swell. Still, there is not a lot of right-hand cast, so these trap guns are remarkably universal. I’m a left-handed shooter, and I can pick up all our trap models and smash clays with them. The palm swell size is mid-range, providing a nice feel and grip.

JB: What about the trigger?

TF: The 825 features the Fire Lite 2 trigger. We are so proud of this mechanical trigger design. It uses a modified disconnector that optimizes reset for added reliability, especially with lighter loads. Being a mechanical design, it ensures immediate second-shot capability without relying on the recoil of the first shot to set up the next shot. It also has a light, crisp break that you need to feel to appreciate.

As with our sporting models, we opted for the Triple Trigger System with three trigger shoes. Plus, with the three shoes, you can swap triggers and go skinny, fat, or canted. It’s the perfect three-shoe trigger storm.

JB: What about the receiver?

TF: This is our best receiver design yet. I haven't conducted any testing to confirm this, but the silver nitride finish appears to extend the life of the shotgun better than a standard blued receiver. It looks great and gives the gun an excellent finish. The receiver is trim, doesn’t scratch easily, and resists corrosion. It’s low-profile with sharp, modern contours. The traverse-mounted, full-width hinge pin consistently boosts strength and ensures a tight lock-up.

JB: Tell me about the forearm; it looks wider.

TF: It’s wider and fatter. Trap guns have a different shape in the forearm. We refer to it as a semi-beavertail forearm. It’s big, fat, and flat on the bottom. Trap shooters shoot from pre-mounted positions, and this forearm provides a great base for the palm. Shooters can position their hands on the forearm for superior balance, control, and comfort. Trap shooters have a particular style — they know what they want — and they want this type of forearm. We listen. If our shooters want something, we try to give it to them.

JB: We talked about the stock, but dang, is it stylish? Tell me more.

TF: These are Grade III/IV walnut stocks with an oil finish, and they add to the overall look of our trap shotguns. The cool thing is the wood is sourced in America and then sent to our facilities in Japan for shaping and fitting. Then it comes back.

We went with the oil finish over gloss, varnish, or satin. It gives the shotguns an excellent, high-end look. The finish is cleaner, and when combined with the dual matte barrels, it’s genuinely excellent.

JB: What about the barrels and sights?

TF: The mid-rib is vented to reduce weight and enable the barrels to cool more quickly. The top rib is a high-post floating, and the posts are soldered just like our sporting clays, but the posts are higher and position the rib a half inch above the top of the barrel.

We discussed how trap shooters prefer a specific style, and the higher rib is one of those styles. Many shooters note that it enhances peripheral vision; others speak of how the rib blends with the stock position, allowing for an almost standing up shot, which improves balance and enables them to break more clays. Trap shooters like high ribs, and our 825 models have them.

Our trap guns are set up with a 70/30 POI. This means that 70 percent of the pattern is above the bird. If you can float your sight above the rising clay and stay balanced, you have an excellent chance of breaking that bird. We offer 30- and 32-inch barrel options. The size of the barrel should match your body size. 32-inch barrels are extremely popular, but if you’re a small-framed shooter, I recommend a 30-inch barrel.

Some trap shooters want a higher point of impact. That’s where our models with customizable combs come in. We also offer choke tubes with tighter constrictions because you don’t see as much of the target as it’s going away from you. You’re looking at the backend of the target. We ship our trap guns with five extended Invector-DS tubes in Full, Light Full, Improved, Modified, and Modified constrictions. Again, we want to give you options.

JB: What about weight?

TF: Trap guns are heavier than field guns and sporting guns. Heavier means reduced felt recoil and increased balance. Our trap weights are perfect for standing on the line and busting hundreds of clays a day.