Browning BPS Vs. 870 Wingmaster vs. something else

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Jason_W

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My next gun is going to be a sort of all purpose shotgun. One that I can informally shoot trap with sometimes, hunt all manner of small game, waterfowl, and turkey should the opportunity arise, and throw a shorter barrel on for HD purposes if need be.

I'm going to stick with a pump since I've been hunting with one since I was 11 and I'm pretty sure I'd try to rack the nonexistent slide on a semi-auto at this point.

I'm interested in a step up from from guns like the 870 Express and the Mossberg 500. Not that there's anything wrong with the Express or 500 (I have a 20 ga 870 Express that has a lot of good memories attached) I'm just at a point in life where I'm willing to pay a little extra for fit and finish.

I grew up in a Remington household, so a Wingmaster is a definite option. The Browning pumps are a possibility, but I'm not typically a fan of back-bored guns. Are there any other options to consider on this quality/aesthetics tier? Ithaca makes nice looking guns, but I don't think I've ever seen one in a shop.
 
It should be BPS vs. Ithaca 37 made in Ohio USA. While new Ithaca 37 is true classic and best components are used in its construction I would pick Wingmaster 870 with Light Contour 26" or 28" barrel. The new Wingmaster is lighter better handling gun per gauge with respect to the other two choices.
 
Both are nice shotguns (and two of the very few steel-receivered repeating shotguns left-the Ithaca Model 37 being another; if that matters to you) but I much prefer the Browning. Imo, it's better built and finished and I like the tang-mounted safety. Bottom ejection (like the Ithaca, having the attendant advantage for the upper receiver being closed to water, dirt and debris) is just icing on the cake. But most importantly, the Browning handles and points better for me- though might be the opposite for you.

The good news is, you won't go wrong with either choice.
 
Local Cabela's had (may still have) 20ga Ohio made upland 20. It is in pretty good shape with ugly aftermarket plastic tactikool stock. The sale price is reasonable $451.20. Not bad gun if one doesn't mind 7lb 20ga 3" gun. Incidently 20ga BPS is usually same weight.
 
Both very good shotguns. I prefer an 870 or Ithaca 37 over the BPS, but mostly because as jaguarxk120 pointed out, they are heavy!

Jason_W said:
I'm going to stick with a pump since I've been hunting with one since I was 11 and I'm pretty sure I'd try to rack the nonexistent slide on a semi-auto at this point.
Click to expand...
:rofl: I do that with semis all the time. Just like thumbing the 'safety' down on Glocks and such......
 
The BPS is nice but god they're heavy

Have a recent production Wingmaster---no its not the gun of the 1970's but in some ways nicer---namely the LC barrel and choke tubes and I have no complaints----and a definite step up from an Express or Mossberg.
 
Jason, I'd recommend that old Remington time after time.... in the life of that Wingmaster (whether brand new or fifty years old...) you'll be hard pressed to find the level of barrels and parts anywhere else.... The best part is the older it gets the better it will work.
 
I own a Rem 870, an Ithaca 37, a BPS, a win Model 12, and a Win 1300. I like them all and enjoy the choices each presents.

The 870 is the meat and potatoes choice and does everything Ok. My body likes the dimensions on the Remington 870.

The Ithaca 37 is the one I choose when I might be carrying it for a while. It is lighter weight which also means the recoil can be felt a little more.

The BPS is the best finished shotgun I own. It is beautiful & shoots flawlessly. It weighs a little more, but for trap that is a good thing!

I own the model 12 because it is the best pump shotgun ever made in my opinion. I shoot it for fun, but I don't want to carry it in the woods and skin it up. My model 12 was made in 1929. Too bad the model 12 is not made anymore.

Some here would not like the Win 1300 because it has an aluminum alloy frame, but it shoots and functions without fault. I would still choose it and the others over any Mossberg I have used. My body does not like the ergonomics of the Mossberg shotguns for some reason.

BTW...Why limit yourself to one choice? Time allows additions to be made :) Good Luck!
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You are already familiar with the 870 platform , that is what I would get . The Browning is pretty though and so is the Wingmaster .
 
I have a 70s 870 WIngmaster - but as pointed out, only 2-3/4 chamber. Silky smooth action - love it. I took it to an indoor range the other day just to make some noise :)

They have the same stock engraving as the one pictured above, which is now only found on the "American Classic" which new sells for $400 more than the Wingmaster.

Not sure what year the 3" chamber was made standard, might have been around 1986. I think the early 3" chambers were marked Magnum if you see a used one. I'm fine with the 2-3/4 shells for my purposes.
 
goldpelican said:
I have a 70s 870 WIngmaster - but as pointed out, only 2-3/4 chamber. Silky smooth action - love it. I took it to an indoor range the other day just to make some noise :)

They have the same stock engraving as the one pictured above, which is now only found on the "American Classic" which new sells for $400 more than the Wingmaster.

Not sure what year the 3" chamber was made standard, might have been around 1986. I think the early 3" chambers were marked Magnum if you see a used one. I'm fine with the 2-3/4 shells for my purposes.
Click to expand...

For most of my purposes as well. However, I would like a 3" option if a hunting opportunity arises in which larger shot sizes are required (goose, for example). The little extra room is nice when it comes to large shot. It's a "rather have it and not need it than need it than not have it" sort of deal.
 
I have always liked the 870 (and have owned several in many configurations), but the longest shot on a pheasant I ever made was with my Dad's field grade Model 12 16 gauge 28" full choke at 65 yards. Lucky maybe (I was a skeet shooter), but it is lighter than the 870 and swings better, almost to a default (easier to stop the swing on a 12 than an 870).
 
Had a couple of Wingmaster shotguns (12 and 20 gauge) back in the late '70s. Added a 20" deer barrel with rifle sights to the 12 gauge and pretty much had all my shotgun hunting/home defense needs met with those two guns. Don't think I could match the overall fit and finish of those two, at least not with anything Remington is currently making in the Express line-up. Would have to move up to the Wingmaster or Classic versions to get the same level of quality that I had before. I would also look at what Browning has to offer with their BPS shotguns. Really liked the straight grip stock of the 20 gauge Upland Special.
 
I was browsing bass pro today and noticed that the BPS models they carries had a matte, satin finish as opposed the slick shiny kind. They were about $100 less than the shinier models.

Does anyone know if there is any mechanical difference between the two?
 
i own and shoot most american shotguns and a few old world shotguns, but i am a remington man. eastbank.
 

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