Wingmaster vs Bps Hunter - the differences

[NewZealander]

Firstly as a new member I'd like to say what great and well run forums. The wealth of information is fantastic and has proved very useful. I recently went down the path of replacing my 3 inch interchoke 870 Wingmaster with a Browning BPS. I am a pump action fan after years of shooting with auto's - not the usual transition I know but after being forced to use a pump action a few years ago I've never looked back.

After a lot of time spent looking for info between the above shotguns there was not a lot of information on direct comparisons so I thought I would share my experiences. I should add that I am a dedicated waterfowler and pheasant shooter here in NZ and my preference is for woodstocked guns. I also shoot sporting clays 2 or 3 times a year - mainly for pre duck season practice.

Anyway the goods...

My Remington 870 Wingmaster was a beautiful, great handling shotgun. However after 2500 rnds, half of which were magnum loads, the gun still jammed on certain brands of ammunition right from new (the breech block actually locked in the barrel. A friend who has the express version has had similar problems. We have both now sold our 870's and replaced them with 3inch Browning BPS hunters. These guns are exceptionally smooth straight out of the box and to date we have not had 1 malfunction with any type of ammo. We do not find the bottom eject a handicap but a plus.

personal ratings:

Asthetics - Wingmaster better
Mechanics - BPS better
Finish - BPS / Wingmaster on a par
Weight - Wingmaster (Although the heavier BPS is more comfortable to shoot 3inch magnums)
Handling - BPS / Wingmaster on a par
Innovation - BPS (backbored, invector + which does make a significant difference to patterns, bottom eject etc). BPS sighting plane suits me better.
Reliability - BPS

In my opinion the Browning Pumps are extemely well built and in terms of quality and value on todays market offer more bang for your buck than the 870 wingmaster. Please note that I am not knocking remington 870's (they have been around for a long time and will continue to be) I am just sharing my experiences and observations. Hope this helps someone and once again thanks for a great site.

 

[Lone Star]

Thanks for your post. Not only is the topic VERY interesting to me, it's always good to hear from shooters in other countries.

I've owned both guns, but the Browning was an early one, and the action was a bit sluggish. I understand that Browning improved it. The Remington I now have (Wingmaster) has been reliable in 12 ga., but a 20 ga. one jammed when new, and never worked right. I sold it to a gun shop that should have fixed it before selling it. Shells kept backing out when I shucked the action, jamming the gun. The 12 ga. has been okay so far.

My 20 Ga. Lightweight was probably just a bad example.

Can New Zealanders own autoloading shotguns?

Lone Star

 

[Lone Star]

Thanks for your post. Not only is the topic VERY interesting to me, it's always good to hear from shooters in other countries.

I've owned both guns, but the Browning was an early one, and the action was a bit sluggish. I understand that Browning improved it. The Remington I now have (Wingmaster) has been reliable in 12 ga., but a 20 ga. one jammed when new, and never worked right. I sold it to a gun shop that should have fixed it before selling it. Shells kept backing out when I shucked the action, jamming the gun. The 12 ga. has been okay so far.

My 20 Ga. Lightweight was probably just a bad example.

Can New Zealanders own autoloading shotguns?

Lone Star

 

[Oldnamvet]

I have also had both but had no problems with either. I do like the BPS since it can be handled easily by either left or right handed shooters with the safety up top. Vision problems have forced me to begin learning to shoot left handed which influenced my decision to go with the BPS. On good days, I can still switch back to right handed. Eventually I hope to be equally good either way. Any other switch shooters out there?

 

[NewZealander]

Hi Lonestar
Thanks for your comments. I may have been misleading in my comments "forced to use a pump..." this was due to my auto being in the gunshop at the time with the retailer lending me an old winchester 1300 to fill in why the auto was being fixed (SKB 3000). In NZ we are allowed to use semi automatic shotguns and they are the norm for waterfowling especially as we have allowed unrestricted magazine capacity in most fish and game regions in recent years. Pump actions are not as common in NZ - is this the same in the USA?
Cheers
NZ'er

 

[Kelem]

I would rather the WM personally but then I use an 870 for clays and game to quite good effect. Also a Kiwi.

Cheers

 

[mountainclmbr]

I have a 12 ga pump and like it over autoloaders because I think the pump action makes it less likely to fire subsequent shots too quickly.

 

[ArmedBear]

Curious:

What are the prices like outside the US?

Here, I think the Browning costs a fair amount more than the Remington, and in any case is harder to find.

I've never had a Remington round that didn't feed well in an 870. Inexpensive Winchester game loads can do exactly what you describe. Most other rounds, and Winchester AA loads feed perfectly.

I just quit buying cheap Winchester game rounds. But my next gun was a Browning, though not the BPS.

 

[NewZealander]

NZ Prices appx:
Pump
870 express 3inch $700 (very common)
Wingmaster 3inch $1500 (only available by order)
BPS 3inch $1000 (only a few imported each year)
Nova $1300 (common)
Stoeger $650 (common)
H&R Pardner $500

Auto
1187 LC $1600
Gold Hunter $1800
Fusion $2000
Evolve $2250
Benelli M2 S 90 $2400
Berreta 391 std wood $2300
Berreta extrema 2 kick off $2700

As you can see the middlemen are doing alright over here even when exchange rates are considered!! -

Cheers
NZer

 

[Bodine]

Net Guns...

Can you guys buy guns online at any of the various Shotgun Sites ??? And have it shipped to you ??

 

[Kelem]

Easy to buy from the UK and if the right gun ie DT10 or the like then bargins to be had.
K guns are cheaper here than any where else in the world so im to believe, base P Gun costs about 10K no options.

Not possible to buy from US without FFL, Cabelas won't even ship chokes anymore :banghead:

Cheers

 

[SwampWolf]

New Zealander: I agree entirely with your synopsis with one exception. In terms of the admittedly subjective aesthetics area, I much prefer the looks of the Browning.

 

[waterhouse]

I've owned both. My dad always used a BPS, and the fact that the gun ejected down was great when he was next to me in the duck blind. He never used the feature much, but the BPS also has the ability to change the shell in the chamber without feeding a new round from the magazine tube.

They are both great shotguns. I prefer the 870 due to the easily available aftermarket parts (like shorter barrels if you want the gun to do double duty for field/HD), but it is hard to go wrong with either.

FWIW, I prefer the looks of the Browning, but I would have a hard time saying anything is more reliable than the Wingmaster.

 

[ARTiger]

I've owned a Browning BPS Field in 3 1/2" for the last 6 duck seasons - I also occasionally hunt snow geese and Canada's with it. It's also shot it's fair share clays and I can now hit on a double most of the time with it.

Before I bought the BPS I used an 870 for about 10 years.

Both guns have always performed at 100% reliability any time - all the time in a wide range of conditions.

That being said, my old 870 now wears a magazine extension, shorter barrel and pistol grip and lives under my bed whereas the BPS goes on every hunting trip.