bought used browning bps 12g, sore spots?

[edfardos]

1991 browning bps is in a 10 day waiting period. While I'm cooling off, are there any sore spots to look for on this firearm? I ran a snap cap through it three times at full speed and it cycled perfectly. Anything else I should be looking for, or is the bps generally bullet proof? This is my first shotgun.

HTTP://sierraglider.com/craiger/shotgun (pictures)

Thanks,
Edfardos

 

[Kendal Black]

Nothing made by man is infallible, but it is one of the very best attempts so far. Keep an eye on parts wear and routine maintenance and someday someone will say "This was Great-Grandpaw's gun, and I still shoot it on the Fourth of July."

 

[edfardos]

Very well said! I wanted a used rem 870 wingmaster but was enamored with the browning bps. The breach face had been exposed to a couple leaky primers, but there was no erosion. Slide rails had surprising little wear in the blueing. Bore/chamber was a mirror finish. Oil was old and caked up a bit. Cosmetically a 90% as can be seen from pictures, but if somebody here knows of common problems, please let me know.

Thanks guys!

Edfardos

 

[98Redline]

Your gun is exactly the same as mine. I haven't seen too many with the receiver roll marks of the hunting scene.
I have had mine since about 1987 or 88 and have put countless thousands of shells through it. Everything from Rem Gun Clubs to Breneke Rotweil 3" mag slugs and scores of high brass turkey loads.

Not once.....not once has it failed to go bang or to properly feed/eject a shell unless I f'ed up and short shucked it.

It is just a touch on the heavy side but for reliability like that, I can put up with just a little weight. IMHO it is by far one of the most reliable and maintenance free shotguns out there.

 

[Master Blaster]

I have the trap model with the elaborate hunting scene rollmarked on both sides of the receiver. Mine is high polish blue 30 inch barrel, magazine cutoff for singles s or repeater R. The floating rib doesn't like to hold the screw for the hiviz sight and I replaced it with a bead and that came off too. Bought mine used for $400 a couple years ago. Its a good trap gun.

 

[edfardos]

98Redline - that's a reassuring vote of confidence thanks. I dated mine as a 1991 model, so they're likely exactly the same as you indicated.

MasterBlaster, I noticed the trap models get the day-glow sight. After I got home I was kinda worried I got a trap model (looking to shoot skeet), but the sticker on the box indicated "Model: Field", which, from what I can tell, distinguishes it from "trap".

Like I said, I'm a shotgun noob, but otherwise experienced with centerfire firearms. Do you guys have a preferred detail strip procedure? My first test shots will be at the skeet range 200 miles from here, so I want to give it every chance to work out-of-the-box so to speak.

thanks again!

edfardos

 

[Master Blaster]

They are challenging to detail strip. Common wisdom is don't. Mine has not needed it. Clean the barrel and wipe out the receiver and bolt face. Light lube and you're good to go.

 

[Fred Fuller]

a preferred detail strip procedure?

Don't... There's not even an easy field strip for it, other than removing the barrel. See http://media.browning.com/pdf/om/bps_00401_om_s.pdf for a manual, if you didn't get one in the box.

My only BPS is a 12 ga. Upland Special, also bought used. Has more external wear than yours but still mechanically sound as a vault door. I wish it had been a 20, but at the price I couldn't turn it down.

See http://www.browning.com/products/ca...itle-name/BPS-Upland-Special-MID-012216-l.jpg for a picture

 

[loose noose]

Master Blaster, why don't ya just put a small bead of blue Loctite on the that front bead, I'll bet it won't come off with a lot of use?!

 

[berettashotgun]

Being a excellent mechanic ( in my mind ) I took the BPS down all the way; spent a LOT of time -4+hrs- getting it back together all the while noticing it was fairly clean - and about 10 years old.
I rinsed and repeated several times ; several years ago. Wanted to make sure I had the hang of it. Haven't tried since.
Not recommended IMHO.

 

[wgp]

A few years back I owned both a 12 and a 20 ga BPS, both the short-barrel upland special version. They were a bit heavy but ran flawlessly and I liked the tang safety and bottom ejection. I sold them because I found I did not like the short barrel configuration, and I moved to autoloaders and O/Us. Still would recommend the BPS if you want a pump.

 

[PabloJ]

Well put together shotgun and very useful for: wildfowling (the over-bored 3.5" is among best pump action goose guns out there), turkey hunting, plus HD. Non shiny versions are preferred for wildfowling and turkey hunting. Unless one is mound of muscle like 'Brawny Man' next to worthless if you need to carry gun a lot for rough shooting small birds, rabbits and such.

 

[oletymer]

Brownells sells a tool that holds the shell stops in place making the trigger assy. install a snap. I bought the trap model when they first came out. I completely tore it down once a year and the whole process takes about 35 to 40 minutes.

 

[gamestalker]

They are a bear to strip down for a full cleaning, but you get used to it and better each time through. I used to get a lot of customers in the shop bring them in for reassembly, all the time.

GS

 

[Virginian]

I greatly prefer the ergonomics of a Remington - don't like having to load thru the magazine. I don't care where the safety is or where it throws shells, and I do not believe there is a better designed and built pump gun anywhere than the BPS if you prefer them. I had three and never a bobble of any kind.
If you want to take it all the way down, you can get Brownell's tool or get a couple of strips of 0.002" shim material. Makes shoehorning the trigger group in a snap.

 

[Master Blaster]

Master Blaster, why don't ya just put a small bead of blue Loctite on the that front bead, I'll bet it won't come off with a lot of use?!

Yep did that with the replacement I bought from Brownells. It lasted about 6 outings and the allen screw wouldn't hold in the hole anymore! I ordered a bead from Browning and it was too large for the hole, took them 10 months to send it BTW, as it was "out of stock" and I just got it two weeks ago. I have been using a magnetic one and that has worked fine.

 

[edfardos]

Great info guys thanks!


10 days elapsed, so it's now safe for me to shoot clays. The bps worked perfectly! Shot right where I aimed it, which was at a clay 30% of the time.

Edfardos