[axeman_g]

Anyway.... I was picking up a new Browning BPS Hunter 12g 28" today. I was really excited as this was my first new shotgun in a long time, I usually buy used guns. So there I was looking over the complete package when a random shopper came sidling over, looking over the box o' stuff laid out on the counter.

"Nice shotgun... what gauge?" was this guys opening question.

"It is a 12g... Browning BPS." I volunteered so to head off any further commentary while I am attempting to examine my new purchase and organize my thoughts.

"Hmmm... great gun... never shot one, but I have heard they are really solid." Joe Duckhunter (as I was begining to think of him) stated in such a way that I almost could feel the "you know... a Beretta is a much better..." comment boiling on his tongue, waiting for the perfect moment to be delivered so as to insure my humiliation was permanent.

"Well... what is the chamber length?" he asked.. I will honest, I did not expect that question. So, while trying to figure out where he was going with this line of quesitoning, and actually thinking maybe he wasn't going to be a total tool, I replied with a friendlier tone...

"It's a Hunter Model with 3" chambers and Invector...." I started to reply.

"3 inch!" he exclaimed. "Why would you buy a 3" Browning, don't you know that with Brownings you can only shoot shells sized for the chamber. So you will only be able to shoot 3" shells in that gun... no 2 3/4 shells in that gun... it wont be safe."

I stood there.. mouth agape and slowly let out a ...."uhhhhhmmmm OK."
I had nothing, it was so absolutley nonsensical I was stunned.

Well, Joe Duckhunter just shook his head and tsk tsked me but dropped this little jewel as he walked away... "Silly if you ask me.. why wouldn't you just buy a Beretta."

I couldn't stop laughing, after I banged my head on the counter about 100 times that is. Had a great laugh with the saleman and headed out with my first brand new shotgun in about 7 years.

Then during the ride home... Joe Duckhunters comments kept coming back to me...."Cant shoot 2 3/4 shells in it!" ...."Cant shoot 2 3/4 shells in it!" ...."Cant shoot 2 3/4 shells in it!". I tell you it was a long 60 minuted drive.

So you all please talk me off the ledge.... I KNOW I can shoot 2 3/4 inch shells in a 3 inch gun, and that so doing so in this gun should be no problem... right???? I mean ... it says 2 3/4 and 3" shells only right on the barrel.:rolleyes:

[AndyC]

Talk you off the ledge? Nope, 'cos... you shoulda bought a Beretta :D

[HB]

Yes. I bought one in 2001 and it is amazing. Much smoother than an 870 or mossberg. I've got about 2000 2 3/4 trap loads through mine and only 3 or 4 3 inchers. Needless to say, I'm still alive.

HB

[highorder]

you can shoot the little 2 1/2" ones if you can find them :)

[Cougfan2]

Stupid is as stupid does! My momma always said, "Life is like a box of 12 ga. loads, you never know what you're gonna get"! :banghead:

[Dave McCracken]

He can not only vote and hold public office, but he can breed.

That's the scary part....

[3pairs12]

But you shouldn't shoot 31/2's though. Tsk Tsk. Damn Brownings.
Seriously though congrats on the new gun.

[volfandan]

The guy may have just been running his mouth without having a clue what he was talking about......not uncommon in gun shops! My only explanation is that maybe, just maybe, he was mistaking it for a semi-auto.

Now, a lot of semi's that are chambered for 3" won't cycle with low brass 2 3/4.....just high brass and 3". Maybe he just wasn't a shotgun guy and was just running his pie hole based on a conversation he'd halfway overheard about semi guns chambered in 3".

[Robert Hairless]

Seriously, though, if you'd bought a Beretta you wouldn't be asking. :)

[Gingerbreadman]

What he meant was that you can only shoot 3" shells manufactured by Browning.






Just kidding...

[Marshall]

Worry not. I shoot 2 3/4" shells all the time in my BPS. Enjoy your new Browning!

[kentucky_smith]

The guy is right, you should have bought the much-superior Beretta pumpgun.

[axeman_g]

ok...ok... now this whole thread started as a relaying of an idiotic comment from in individual that actually believed you can only shoot 3" shells in guns chambered for 3". I am not serious in my question or the affirmation requested. I think it is HILARIOUS that he said what he said, that it kept coming back to me on my drive home AND the predicted Beretta comment.

Please dont be Joe Duckhunter and tell me I should have purchased a Beretta... If I wanted one I would have purchased one. But since they suck....

[Marshall]

axeman_g ,

Go to Beretta's site and look for pumps.

[Ceemack]

Should've asked the guy to help you pick out a Beretta pump.

Some of the dumbest things you'll ever hear are spoken in gun shops. Pay no attention.

[Nagant]

I agree .... I have heard some just plain ridiculous things come out of the mouths of patrons at gun shops. And from folks who I would think would know better. I'm not sure if they think other people are stupid or what... I wouldn't go run my mouth and spout all kinds of stuff I knew was total crap. Of course, some of the most ridiculous garbage comes from the owners of shops. "yeah, 8 dollars is a GREAT price for a pack of 10 7.62X54R!" :scrutiny:

[Geno]

I think you should buy what you want, especially because it is your money. I had two BPSs...one a slug barrel and one a shot barrel. I know, I could have bought just one. But for the price...I bought two. They were more smooth than my Wingmaster. Enjoy it.

Congrats!

[littlegator]

LOL - now that it's all said and done though, where's the pics? Tsk tsk. :)

[Hokkmike]

"3 inch!" he exclaimed. "Why would you buy a 3" Browning, don't you know that with Brownings you can only shoot shells sized for the chamber.

Where did he come up with this?

[Dirtypacman]

Quote:
"3 inch!" he exclaimed. "Why would you buy a 3" Browning, don't you know that with Brownings you can only shoot shells sized for the chamber.

Where did he come up with this?

His best buddy that works at the gun store.

[Jack2427]

You bought a great gun! I have 3 of them, a Buck Special, the Uplander with a straight grip stock, and more recently a tactical model with the full length magazine which will relieve the Buck Special of HD duty-maybe it will just add another SG to the HD arsenal.
Great actions and all but bulletproof, and along with Ithaca the lefty's dream.

[BruceRDucer]

"3 inch!" he exclaimed. "Why would you buy a 3" Browning, don't you know that with Brownings you can only shoot shells sized for the chamber. So you will only be able to shoot 3" shells in that gun... no 2 3/4 shells in that gun... it wont be safe."--Ditz

You shoulda said:

"Yes, but the factory is supplying this with a free CUSTOM INTERNAL CONVERTER, as a special sales promotion. With this, I can shoot both 2 3/4", 3" AND the new 4" Super Magnum shells. You should ask the salesman about it.":neener::neener::neener:

[john917v]

Bruce, you forgot to mention the 8" super-mega-deluxe ninja-star-firing shells. Axeman, you should have let him know that he was wrong, especially since he decided to be a rude know-it-all. "Why don't you just buy a Beretta?" Why didn't he just mind his own business?

[Fishman777]

I wonder if this genius knows that beretta doesn't make pump shotguns.

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

There's stupid people in gun stores a lot, I've noticed.


I was buying a bunch of FMJ for my new kimber, and a guy next to us (with a magnificent mullet, I might add) started reprimanding me for buying FMJ.

"Joo Need to buy Hallow Poind, they're bettar."

I swiveled around and said, "Is that so?

Well, I'm breaking in my gun, so I don't need cheap hollowpoints, and if I would get hydra shocks or Cor-Bons if I was going to go that route."

He then stood there, with a stupid look on his face, and said, "uhhhhh" then walked away.

I hate this city.


I also had a guy tell me that my Mossberg 590's receiver would melt if I put too many rounds through it in one sitting.

[308win]

You should have told him that all you need to do is reverse the friction ring; if that didn't elicit a you are a moron look from him you would have known not to worry on the way home.

[W.E.G.]

Shoulda told him, "I'm only going to use it to rob banks, and I don't plan on actually shooting anybody."

[axeman_g]

hahahha....

Some very good retorts here... but I was so dumbfounded I was left speechless....

Weather cleared and sun is shining this morning. I am going to the trap range at noon. Range Report to follow.

[berettashotgun]

I like the BPS shotguns, have a 10ga,12ga(s) 3 & 3.5", and also have a BERETTA PUMP shotgun.
They DID make them, just not anymore, if you don't count the benelli.

[Virginian]

There was a time, not too, too, long ago, that if you went to buy a new shotgun, the salesman would try to talk you into an Ithaca (1970s), or a Beretta (1980s), or a Benneli (1990s). Had 20 reasons why it was better than what you were looking for.
I got my favorite (non-S x S) shotgun in 1963, a 12 gauge Remington 1100. The only close real challenger in all the years was an 870. I have had Berettas, Brownings, Mossbergs, Winchesters, and 11-87s, and shot Benellis and Ithacas. All have come and gone. They all worked just fine, I just preferred the feel of that 1100. And, when you think about how you shoot a shotgun, if you are any good, the feel is the main thing. And it is what feels good and works for you that matters. And we are all different lots of times. It is decidedly not who has the best ad copy this year. It never ceases to amaze me why people try to talk someone who is looking for a specific gun into something else. If they ask, that's different, but with guns for some reason you don't have to ask.

[CZguy]

I also had a guy tell me that my Mossberg 590's receiver would melt if I put too many rounds through it in one sitting.

Well, da :D everybody knows that. :D

[dagger dog]

There's one in every crowd !

[BigGunsMoreFun]

You should have told "Joe Duck Hunter" in a very serious voice with a stern look on your face "Everybody knows you can shoot any size shell in a Browning with a 3" chamber. You just have to remember to adjust the supervisor adjustment knob for the proper size shell first." :scrutiny:

Enjoy your new gun. Also enjoy the Joe, Duck Hunters. They have their purpose. How would you know you are an intelligent gun owner if you never ran across the Joe, Duck Hunter idiots. Besides, they are good for a laugh and great stress relievers heh?

Molon Labe,
Joe (Not a Duck Hunter)
:D

[kmrcstintn]

awesome gun...got my first USED Browning BPS (3" sucka) this year; nothing touches it; later bought a used Mossy 835 to keep up with the boys for my first waterfowler season next year...I can't seem to get a good choke/load of 3 1/2" steel together; might just leave the Mossy in the safe for blasting fun and rely on the 3" chambered BPS & really big BBB shot loads

[silverlance]

A guy's story here about how an old geezer was convinced that he had ruined his gun because he took at shot at a bird that he knew was too far away for his gun - and STRAINED THE BARREL - still wins the cake.

[inkhead]

Rather than get angry while holding a firearm, why not take the time to politely educate him? It sounds like you were defensive the second he noticed your purchase.

[CCW1911]

The last thing anyone wants to hear after plunking down their hard earned money is " you shoulda got a " out of the local gunshop "expert". Unsolicted opinions are usually worth what you paid for them. That one rates way up there as the stupidest one I've heard.

The Browning pump is an excellent choice and you will enjoy it. I think I would have told him that my brother in laws cousin, who works for Browning, had got one of the secret 20mm conversions for me, and I wasn't worried about puny 2 3\4 shells. Ross