Last year we reviewed the Beretta 688 Performance Sporting, and I came away thinking it was one of the best sporting guns you can buy for under $4,000 dollars. So when the trap version showed up, the question was simple: is the Beretta 688 Performance Xtrap one of the best trap guns under $4,000? We took it out to Alexandria Shooting Park and put it to the test to find out.
In this article
Quick take
Verdict: A competition-ready trap gun with a great trigger and a really good price-to-quality mix, as long as it fits you and shoots where you want it to.
Best for: Trap shooters who want an over/under built for competition without jumping into the high-dollar guns.
Skip it if: You want a high point of impact straight out of the box, or the laminate look just isn’t for you.
What stood out on the Beretta 688 Performance Xtrap
It feels like a trap gun should
The first thing I noticed, same as with the sporting model, is how good it feels in the hands. It’s dense, balanced, and solid, which is exactly what you want in a trap gun. You don’t want something light and whippy on the trap line, and this one carries its weight between the hands in a way that makes for a smooth, steady move.
A lot of that comes from the heavier steel receiver, which Beretta builds off its 680 platform. The laminate stock is also denser than traditional walnut, and that adds to the overall heft without making the gun feel clumsy.
The trigger surprised me
The trigger came in right around 3 lb 8 oz on the scale. It’s crisp, there isn’t much pre-travel, and there’s no sponge to it, which is about as good as you can ask for at this price point.
The trigger shoe also adjusts for length of reach, so you can get your first pad landing right where you want it while your hand sits naturally on the palm swell.
Fit you can dial in yourself
The Monte Carlo stock comes with Beretta’s B-Fast adjustable comb, which lets you keep your head more upright, the way many trap shooters like it. It’s very easy to adjust, and you can change your cast without losing your comb height. Add the palm swell and the adjustable trigger, and you can get this gun set up to fit you without a trip to a stock fitter.
One small detail I really liked is that the barrel selector can be locked in place with a set screw. If you shoot trap singles off the under barrel, you never have to worry about bumping it over, calling pull, and getting nothing.
How the Beretta 688 Performance Xtrap shot
We ran Federal High Overall 1 1/8 oz loads through Modified and Improved Modified chokes. Recoil felt manageable and came straight back, and the gun ran flawlessly through two full rounds of trap. Now to be fair, as I kept shooting, I did feel a little more recoil to the face than I expected, which I think comes down to fine-tuning my setup.
Here is the part that surprised me. On the pattern plate, it was shooting close to a 50/50 point of impact, and I like a trap gun that shoots a little higher. Stacking the beads didn’t get me there, and I didn’t want to raise the comb any more than it already was.
I’ll be honest about how that played out. I shoot a fair amount of trap with one specific gun, and I’m used to seeing targets a certain way. When you switch it up, your habit is to keep shooting the way you’re used to seeing it, and my scores showed it. It would take me a while to get used to this gun, but I’m confident I’d get there if I made it my dedicated trap gun.
That being said, I had a buddy come out and shoot it. He shoots trap and has never run a 25, but he picked up this gun and started breaking everything, right up until he dropped his 25th target. That’s one away from his best round ever, on his very first round with the gun, and he immediately said, “I want this gun.”
A note on the laminate stock
Now, to be fair, I would be leaving something out if I didn’t mention this. After I finished filming, I noticed a slight crack in the forend. I sent the gun back to Beretta and asked if they had seen that before, and they told me they hadn’t. They fixed it promptly, which I appreciate, but it does leave me slightly concerned about the laminate stocks on these guns. If you have had a laminate stock crack on you, I would love to hear about it.
As far as looks go, the gray laminate and the orange 688 on the receiver are going to be a love it or hate it thing. My son saw it and thought it looked really cool, so put me down as a fan of the modern look, even if it’s a little basic in places for the money.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Really good price to quality mix for a competition trap gun
- Well balanced, moves smooth, and feels good in the hands
- Crisp trigger that broke right around 3 lb 8 oz
- B-Fast adjustable comb, palm swell, and adjustable trigger shoe
- Quality action that ran flawlessly
Cons
- Shot close to a 50/50 point of impact, flatter than I like for trap
- Our forend developed a slight crack after filming (Beretta fixed it promptly)
- The laminate and orange graphics won’t be for everyone
Who should buy it
If you’re looking for an over/under trap gun that’s built for competition, but you’re not into the crazy high-dollar options, the Beretta 688 Performance Xtrap is a great place to look. At about $3,900, it gets you a competition-ready gun without having to step up into 694 territory.
Just make sure it fits you, and put it on paper before you assume where it shoots. If you need a high point of impact right out of the box, or you can’t get past the laminate look, you may be happier with something else.
Final verdict
I thought the 688 Performance Sporting was a great gun for the money for sporting clays, and I tend to agree the Beretta 688 Performance Xtrap is a great gun for the money for trap. It’s well balanced, it moves smooth, and it has a quality action and a really good trigger. Like any trap gun, it comes down to whether it fits you, feels good, and shoots where you want it to.
If you own one, where does yours shoot on the pattern plate, and have you had any issues with the laminate stock?
