The Remington Spartan guns are actually Russian made guns made by Baikal, formerly consigned by European American Armory...Frankly, they're still the same quality as they've always been, rather low. They're absolutely bombproof, and great work horses, but they're not exactly what you'd consider "fine firearms". I've handled two spartans and several of their former versions in the Baikal/EAA label, given a little work (best done by a competent gunsmith-but not impossible for the average tinkerer), they can be made to shoot rather smoothly.

But, the finish is still not astonishing, it's good enough and does what it's supposed to do, but it's not very "impressive" to look at. It does it's job at keeping the gun from rusting, it just isn't applied with appearance in mind.

You might take a look at Stoeger shotguns. I've had a few stoegers, I believe their low end O/U can be had for $300-350 at most shops around here, their top of the line model that I bought a few years back only cost me $655--their stainless model is a little more expensive, but I don't really like stainless steel barrels in a trap gun, too much glare to contend with.