If you've been hanging around the clay circuit lately, you've probably heard people buzzing about the fabarm elos n2 rs trap and for good reason. It's one of those shotguns that manages to bridge the gap between "entry-level" trap guns and those high-end, custom-fitted Italian beauties that cost as much as a used car. I recently had the chance to put a few boxes of shells through one, and honestly, I walked away thinking that Fabarm might have found the sweet spot for the serious amateur shooter.
It isn't just a regular Elos with a fancy name tacked onto the end. The "RS" stands for "Reduced Stock" or sometimes refers to the refined side-plate aesthetic, but in the context of the N2 Trap line, it really signals a move toward a more specialized, adjustable platform. Let's dig into what actually makes this gun tick and why it's showing up on more and more gun racks at local trap clubs.
That First Look: Aesthetics and the Triwood Finish
The first thing you notice when you pull the fabarm elos n2 rs trap out of its case is the wood. Now, if you're a purist, you might have mixed feelings about Fabarm's "Triwood" process. Essentially, it's a high-quality walnut that has been enhanced with a digital process to make the grain look like a Grade 5 or 6 piece of wood. It looks stunning. It has those deep swirls and high-contrast lines that usually come with a much heftier price tag.
But it's not just about the looks; the finish is also quite durable. Since it's a semi-synthetic process over real wood, it handles moisture and scratches a bit better than a traditional high-gloss oil finish. The receiver has a clean, matte black finish with some subtle purple accents that have become a bit of a trademark for the N2 line. It's modern without being "tactical," which fits the trap field perfectly.
The Magic of the Adjustable Rib
One of the standout features of the fabarm elos n2 rs trap is the Micro-Metric 3D adjustable rib. For trap shooters, this is a game-changer. Most standard over-unders have a fixed point of impact (POI), usually set around 50/50 or 60/40. But as any seasoned trap shooter will tell you, everyone's eyes and shooting styles are different.
With this rib, you can actually change where the gun shoots relative to your point of aim. If you like to see the bird floating way above your beads, you can adjust the rib to give you a 70/30 or even an 80/20 POI. The adjustment is simple and stays put once you lock it down. I've seen guys spend thousands extra on aftermarket ribs to get this kind of adjustability, so seeing it come standard on the N2 RS is a huge plus.
The rib itself is tapered, which helps your eye transition quickly from the beads to the target. It feels natural. You don't feel like you're fighting the gun to find the bird; the gun just seems to point where you're looking.
Handling and Recoil on the Line
When you actually get to the line and start calling "pull," the fabarm elos n2 rs trap really starts to show its true colors. It's a dedicated trap gun, which means it's got some heft to it—and that's a good thing. Weight is your friend when you're shooting 100 or 200 rounds in a single afternoon. At around 8.5 pounds (depending on barrel length and wood density), it soaks up recoil like a sponge.
The balance is surprisingly neutral for a gun with 30 or 32-inch barrels. Often, trap guns can feel "barrel heavy," making them feel sluggish on those hard-angle targets from stations one and five. The N2 RS, however, swings smooth. It's got enough momentum to prevent you from "stopping the gun," but it's not so heavy that you feel like you're swinging a piece of lead pipe.
I also noticed the trigger pull. It's crisp. There's very little creep, and the reset is short. When you're trying to time a fast-rising clay, the last thing you want is a spongy trigger, and Fabarm definitely got the memo here.
The Technical Bits: Barrels and Chokes
Let's talk about the "guts" of the gun. Fabarm uses what they call TRIBORE HP barrels. Instead of a traditional bore, the barrel is bored with a long, slow taper that transitions into a cylindrical zone before hitting the chokes. The idea is to reduce friction and pellet deformation, which theoretically leads to more consistent patterns and better downrange energy.
Does it work? Well, I'm not a ballistics scientist with a high-speed camera, but the breaks I was getting were "smoke balls." When you center a target with the fabarm elos n2 rs trap, there isn't much left of it. The gun comes with a set of Exis HP hyperbolic chokes. These are extra-long chokes that use a curved internal profile rather than a straight taper. Again, it's all about protecting those lead pellets so they stay round and fly true.
The 3-inch chambers mean you could technically use it for other things, but let's be real—this is a trap gun through and through. The ejectors are strong, too. They'll kick those spent hulls well clear of the action, which is satisfying, though you'll want to make sure you aren't pelting the person on the next station.
Finding the Perfect Fit
The stock on the fabarm elos n2 rs trap is fully adjustable, which is non-negotiable for a serious trap gun these days. The 4-way adjustable comb allows you to move the cheekpiece up, down, left, and right. This is crucial for getting your eye perfectly aligned with the rib.
The length of pull is standard at about 14.75 inches, but the recoil pad is easy enough to swap or shim if you need it longer or shorter. The grip is a bit more vertical than a standard sporting clays gun, which is what most trap shooters prefer because it allows for a more relaxed wrist position when the gun is pre-mounted. It feels "locked in" when you tuck it into your shoulder.
How It Compares to the Competition
Look, we all know the big names in the $2,500 to $4,000 price range. You've got the Browning Citori 725 Trap and the Beretta 690 series. So, why pick the Fabarm?
In my opinion, it comes down to the features-per-dollar ratio. While those other guns are fantastic, you often have to step up to their "Pro" or "Unsingle" models to get the kind of rib adjustability that the fabarm elos n2 rs trap offers out of the box. Plus, Fabarm is 100% made in Italy, and their quality control is top-notch.
There's also the "cool factor." Everyone has a Browning or a Beretta. Showing up with a Fabarm usually starts a conversation. It's a bit different, a bit more modern, and frankly, I think the Triwood looks better than the mid-grade walnut you often see on the "B-guns" at this price point.
A Few Minor Gripes
No gun is perfect, right? If I had to nitpick, I'd say the safety is a bit stiff out of the box. It's a non-automatic safety (which is what you want for a target gun), but it took some breaking in before it felt smooth. Also, while the Triwood is beautiful, it is a "finish." If you're the type of person who wants the "soul" of natural oil-finished wood, the N2 RS might feel a bit too "manufactured" for you.
Lastly, the case it comes in is functional, but it's a standard plastic hard case. For a gun of this quality, a slightly more premium luggage-style case would have been a nice touch, but that's really splitting hairs.
The Bottom Line
So, who is the fabarm elos n2 rs trap for? It's for the shooter who has outgrown their field gun and wants to get serious about trap without spending five figures on a Krieghoff or a Perazzi. It's for the person who wants a gun that can grow with them—a gun where you can tweak the rib and the comb as your form improves.
It's a solid, well-engineered piece of equipment that handles beautifully and looks the part. If you're looking for a dedicated trap over-under that punches way above its weight class, you really owe it to yourself to give this one a look. It's reliable, it's adjustable, and most importantly, it's a blast to shoot. See you on the 16-yard line!