Any opinions on the Browning BPS series?

[speedydave]

Are these any good or should I just stick to Mossberg 500s and Remington 870's?



http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=011B&cat_id=012&type_id=244

 

[Dave McCracken]

The Search feature will show a couple recent threads on these.....

 

[sixgun MAK]

I bought one about 5 weeks ago. Already, it's been to the gunsmith twice! It totally failed me on a South Dakota pheasant hunt. Would not feed or eject. That's with Federal, Remington, and Winchester ammo. The gunsmith had to file parts to get it to work. IMO, a new gun shouldn't need any parts filed.

I WILL NEVER BUY A BROWNING AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kentucky_smith]

Love Brownings but it's not an Ithaca, somehow they made it too heavy and bulky

 

[viking499]

Have an older bps and it has always been perfect. But as Kentucky said, it's no Ithaca. Grab it more often. Would buy a used one before a new bps.

 

[okienate]

Shooting Brownings for the last 15 years. Have always found them to be reliable and have never had issue to send them back, or to a smithy, for any work of any kind.

My BPS is smooth and fast as far as pumps go. I've either owned or borrowed 870's, Mossberg 500's and Benelli's. They are fine guns, and some passionate owners really bash on the Brownings.

IF you can actually find one of the BPS High Capacity guns, you're lucky. They are impossible to find here in Oklahoma City. I've never owned the particular model you're referencing, but am pretty sure it's based on the same platform as all the other Browning pumps.

Don't let the one-hole thing scare you off either. When I went to a Home Defense Shotgun class, the instructor had no idea how to handle the Browning. In the event you run out of ammo, reloading and pumping to get the first round into the chamber requires the same actions for one or two holers, except for the traditional shotgun, you have to contort your arm/hand over the gun, or under as seems to be preferred, to "drop" the first round in. In a class of 30 folks, nobody could reload as fast as I could with my Browning. (Maybe they were extra slow? Not sure, but the old wives tales about slow and unreliable handling as a defensive shotgun designed to knock on the Browning has never hit home for me.)

If you find one, and it "fits" you and your needs, I say go for it. The nice thing about a Browning (in my experience) is that you can get near to what you put into it (financially) should you need to sell it a few years down the road. Not seeing that with the Walmart-volume, cheap Mossberg and Remington shotguns these days.

 

[theCZ]

I love my 410, 28, and 20ga BPS, but I do realize the limitations. For a non lefty I feel the slide release is in an awkward place. The wood on my shotguns are better than almost all the 870 Wingmaster's I've seen, and the action is VERY smooth. At least in the subgages, they are cheaper than a Wingmaster by quite a bit.

That said, if you want an easily modded shotgun, don't buy a BPS. Some people don't like the way you have to load it, but I see folks with autos that turn them over to load the magazine anyhow, so honestly what is the difference? I can't say for the 12ga BPS, but on all mine it's easy to turn it over, push the slide a small way forward to allow the ejection bars to drop up, drop a shell down, load it, and then another in the magazine. For me it is easier to load two for skeet this way than the way most people drop one in the hole, then turn over to load shells in the magazine.

I don't have any long term experience with any of my BPS shotguns, but I've experienced no problems thus far, and with a little weight here and there I've shot my best skeet scores to date with them.

 

[speedydave]

There is one at the local gun shop for a little less than MSRP. It costs about the same as similar offerings from Remington and Mossberg.

 

[ArmedBear]

It depends on what you think of pumps.

If you're the kind of guy who thinks of pumps as fine firearms and will scour the countryside for a nice old Model 12, and pay more for it than a new Wingmaster, then the BPS might interest you. Or you might want to try and get a nice new lightweight 37, or a vintage one in good condition. But the BPS, priced well below the Wingmaster, is that sort of shotgun, and is actually a good deal for a pump in the "fine firearm" class.

If you think of a pump as an inexpensive, durable working gun, and don't want to spend too much on the gun, accessories, parts, etc., and furthermore the gun could end up lost in plough mud before February comes, it's sure hard to beat the 870 Express or various Mossberg offerings (500, 535). The BPS won't do a thing they won't do.

I've shot and hunted with a guy who loves his BPS and the way it balances. Some of it is personal preference. Some shooters really like the handling of the Mossberg 500, or the 870. Either the 500 or 870 is easier to load single at the trap range, but they do throw empties at your buddies in the field.

 

[mosesv2]

I have that very gun and I absolutely love it. I also hunt ducks & geese with a BPS. I have never had any issue of any kind with a BPS. My brother has been using the same one for 25 years & he has never had any issues either.

If you are a lefty (I am) the BPS = pump shotgun nirvana.

 

[Dagwood]

I have a BPS 20g. that I've put about 700 rounds through (not a lot,I realize). No issuse w/ it and I do like the bottom load/eject. My wife shoots a Mossberg 500 youth (short stock) 20g. and has put at least 3000 thru it w/ 0 issues. Dan

 

[stalkingbear]

bps

In my opinion,the bps is the BEST currently produced pump shotgun on the market. I have had several in addition to those coming to my shop(none for repair-customization). The ONLY pump is better is the winchester model 12 however aew no longer being produced.

 

[fearless leader]

Strickly as a hunting/sporting fun gun, I liked it a lot.
I borrowed a BPS with an english straight grip. It was a dandy little gun. It was lighter than my shotgun, but I didn't weigh it, and it worked for me (which means it made ME look good), felling everything Warren could get in the air. I wish I could afford one.

 

[stalkingbear]

Bps

As a matter of fact,the bps does have features that rem/mossberg don't have(backbored,etc),and stock design is better so in direct side by side comparison with rem and mossberg,you'll have more self confidence and be able to hit better with a finer gun.

 

[fmnnc]

I had an Ithaca back when I was in the military over 30 years ago. When I got out and went to college I sold it (needed textbook money). I kick myself in the "A" everytime I even see the word Ithaca. Later, I purchased a BPS because I really liked the bottom ejection, just like the Ithaca.

I've fired many a shell from it over the past 20+ years and have never had a problem. Same with my Auto 5 in 20 gauge. Not sure if they are building them like they did 20 years ago as I seem to have heard some of the Browning stuff is made in Japan now. I don't mean that as a negative. Hell, if they do with the gun industry what they did with cars, you should get a great gun.

 

[MCgunner]

I like 'em a LOT. I'm a duck hunter and heavier is no problem for me, just more to absorb 3" mag recoil. I'm also a south paw and the BPS is the perfect south paw gun, tang safety and all. It's a smooth, smooth action. I would buy one, but there's not a danged thing wrong with my mossberg, either, and I don't know if I'll ever wear it out. It, like the Browning, has has the tang safety. Another thing I love about both guns is the fact that there's no shell elevator in the way to pinch my thumb on a cold day when I'm shovin' loads into the magazine. I think of the BPS as duck hunting pump gun perfection and the Mossberg as the po-man's version. When I bought my Mossberg, it was a bit more of a bargain than the BPS. The BPS seems to be more affordable now days. I'd get a camo finish, more durable in the salt marsh. My Mossberg's camo finish is tough as nails. Was lookin' it over the other day and I can still find no rust. 20 years in salt marshes and I've shown the thing very little love. I reckon I really don't need another pump gun.