Browning BPS

[270Shooter]

Thoughts? Pros? Cons? Patterns?

I am left handed and it seems like a pretty high quaility shotgun from what I have heard.

[ecnclan]

Have a couple of friends that use them.  Seem to be great quality on all fronts. 

[superdown]

I just bought a 20ga upland special bps. I got it for $480 out the door from sportsmans in federal way. They still had a standard bps in 20ga when i got mine. I haven't shot it yet but it feels nice, it is light and not as clunky like the rems and the mossbergs. Bluing and the wood was equal to if not a little bit better than the 870 wingmaster that was right next to it especially for the money. I am also a lefty. It has a nice speed unload feature by pressing the left shell stop so you don't have to cycle all the rounds before unloading. It also comes with 3 choke tubes unlike the 870 i bought. It also can shoot steel i am not sure which other makes can.

[big ed]

in my book you can't go wrong with a browning that mostly what i shoot for every thing.

[Gutpile]

I have 3. One 3 1/2", one 3", and a 10 ga. They are the best pump shotguns made IMO. Over bored barrels give great patterns. I grew up shooting 870's but switched to browning when they outlawed lead for waterfowl. We decided on Browning to get a 3 1/2" chamber which Remmy didn't offer at the time.

My next purchase may be a 20 gauge BPS.

Go for it. You'll love that shotty. I guarantee it.

[gasman]

I got one that i would love to trade for a double barrel 12ga.

[Slider]

I have had a 12 gauge and Loved it!!!

[Intruder]

270... not sure if it was you or some other lefty on hear that I had mentioned the BPS to.  Great gun, especially for a left hander... tang safety, bottom ejection.  Not sure if they still offer it but some of the models had a magazine cut off which is kinda a nice feature.  If you've shot pumps before bottom ejection may take a little getting used to... nothing bad about it, just a little different.

The other gun worth checking out is the model 37 Ithica.  Super nice too with similar design (one they bought from John Browning himself, I believe).  Safety is on the trigger (or used to be) but it was convertable if memory serves.  There were some quality issues in the 37s made in the early 70s to 80s... nothin serious from what I understand just a bit cheaper materials in some parts.  The company went out of business and then they were purchased.  They are now made in 0hio and are probably the nicest pump made today.  They are a little spendy though...

All in all the Browning is one very fine shotgun though and you'll likely have it for the rest of your life.  One bit of advice.... no matter what gun you go with make sure it fits you when you shoulder it.  You should be able to look right down the rib without seeing anything but the bead(s). 

[270Shooter]

THanks for all the thoughts guys.

I have shot an ithica 37 20ga before, very nice gun.

Right now I have 2 O/U's a 20 and a 12 guage, but I am looking for something I can take in the mud and maybe kill a turkey with someday too.

They say that these guns are "back-bored" on the browning site, so does that mean that they are over-bored? I am not really sure.

I dont mind the weight becuase this would be strictly a waterfowl gun, my 20 guage will do upland.

[jackelope]

THanks for all the thoughts guys.

I have shot an ithica 37 20ga before, very nice gun.

Right now I have 2 O/U's a 20 and a 12 guage, but I am looking for something I can take in the mud and maybe kill a turkey with someday too.

They say that these guns are "back-bored" on the browning site, so does that mean that they are over-bored? I am not really sure.

I dont mind the weight becuase this would be strictly a waterfowl gun, my 20 guage will do upland.

back bored is probably the more widely used term...just another measure taken to manage recoil a little bit. their browning golds are all back bored too....mine are anyway.

[Chopaka81]

   I am a left handed shooter too. I selected that shotgun because it is LH friendly. I have had a lot of guns come and go over the years, but I have hung onto my old BPS for 29 yrs now. It is an original version, I have 3 barrels for it, all fixed chokes, full, modified, and IC. I have fell out on the Skagit mud flats, submerging the complete shotgun in salt water twice. I dismantled it after each incident and soaked the Action in Kreoil both times and it still functions like a million $$.
   I have had guys who are 870 fans complain that it is to heavy. Yes it is heavy, but then it does take a beating when I have seen 870's explode. I have had my shotgun hand a wad once and unknowingly I fired a second full house #4 duck/goose load. My BPS did not blow-up and it is no worse for the wear. I have seen the pieces of 870's after hanging a wad and firing a second 3dr trap load on trapshooter.com.
   I would never recommend that you knowingly blaze away with a hung wad, but at the same time this is an experience I have had, and I know that I can trust that old BPS shotgun.
   Bottom line, you have to be will to take care of your shotgun in order for it to last. If I had not cleaned it regularly after use (and abuse) it will become useless piece of junk or worse...
Don

[Bofire]

 :)You have "seen 870's explode"  ? really, how many? why?
and the Browning was not hurt at all in the same situation? hmmmmmmmmmm
my BS meter is twitching
Carl

[jackelope]

i think i decided he said he saw pictures of it happening on trapshooter.com

[Bofire]

 :)I looked around, my BS meter is in full  BS mode, please show me your proof.

[Gutpile]

Hmmmm