Browning BPS
- Thread starter dak0ta
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oldwheelieguy
Member
This is kinda funny. I am left handed too. Wanted the BPS for the bottom eject and it was a "Browning". So I got a 3 1/2 Bps for duck hunting. Well all can say is it was made in Japan and if it got a little unburnt power flakes and a little dirt it would not load the second or 3rd rounds on a sometimes based. This went on for a few years while my buddys 870 just never miss fired. So I went and got a 3 1/2 870 super mag for half the money of the BPS and it is what I still use. Go figure. My .02 cents. I just wish the BPS was what it was supposed to be, but it's not. IMO.
I still think the Ithaca is the bad a$$ pump!
I still think the Ithaca is the bad a$$ pump!
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Southpaw 02
Member
If weight is an issue I think you might not care for the BPS as well. It has a longer slide action as well.
Since the M 500 is a right hand eject I tend to not like it,but I don't care for the shell ejecting across my line of sight and other reasons.
The M 37 IMO would be the way to go. Just have the safety changed to left hand.
Since the M 500 is a right hand eject I tend to not like it,but I don't care for the shell ejecting across my line of sight and other reasons.
The M 37 IMO would be the way to go. Just have the safety changed to left hand.
Southpaw 02
Member
The safety position on the M500 not the issue in fact it is in the same place as the BPS.
The safety position on the Ithaca 37 is cross bar like the 870.
The reason I use bottom eject or left hand eject guns I witnessed a catastrophic failure on a right hand eject gun. The good news is that no one was hurt. The shooter happened to be right handed.
One of the guys with me actually said that it was a good thing that he wasn't left handed. After he said it he happened to look at me, and he quickly looked away.
The M500 is a right hand eject gun.
The safety position on the Ithaca 37 is cross bar like the 870.
The reason I use bottom eject or left hand eject guns I witnessed a catastrophic failure on a right hand eject gun. The good news is that no one was hurt. The shooter happened to be right handed.
One of the guys with me actually said that it was a good thing that he wasn't left handed. After he said it he happened to look at me, and he quickly looked away.
The M500 is a right hand eject gun.
aHFo3
Member
I've never used a BPS, but as a lefty, it is my dream pump shotgun. Wheelie, your experience makes me wonder. I own an old M37 that I recently had repaired. The Ithaca uses a single side connector to go from the slide handle to the bolt. Bps' have dual arms, like most other pumps. After having to repair the Ithaca, I am still thinking BPS.
Milkmaster
Member
I am sorry Oldwheelguy had bad luck with his BPS. I have not found such failures with mine. I own both the BPS and the 37. The big differences between the two for me is this....
The 37 is lightweight and great for carrying around. The downside to the lighter weight is the recoil. A 37 can get hard on the shoulder if you shoot it a lot during the same day. The BPS is heavier and therefore has less recoil. You can shoot it all day and not suffer any disfigurement
The downside is that it gets a little heavier after carrying it around in the woods a while.
As far as performance, both guns put the shot down range for me no problem. I love them both and have never had an issue with either. I will say that the trick to the 37 or the BPS is to make sure you are not short stroking the guns when firing. They feel different ergo wise, but I once measured the stroke and it was the same as an 870 on my BPS. Between all of my pump guns, the BPS has the best finish.
Good Luck!
The 37 is lightweight and great for carrying around. The downside to the lighter weight is the recoil. A 37 can get hard on the shoulder if you shoot it a lot during the same day. The BPS is heavier and therefore has less recoil. You can shoot it all day and not suffer any disfigurement
The downside is that it gets a little heavier after carrying it around in the woods a while.As far as performance, both guns put the shot down range for me no problem. I love them both and have never had an issue with either. I will say that the trick to the 37 or the BPS is to make sure you are not short stroking the guns when firing. They feel different ergo wise, but I once measured the stroke and it was the same as an 870 on my BPS. Between all of my pump guns, the BPS has the best finish.
Good Luck!
John Peddie
Member
I too have both a 37 and a BPS.
37 is good to carry, and points instinctively-better than any other gun I've owned. Really dislike the crossbolt safety, as I grew up with the top tang style on a double.
Mine pre-dates lead shot ban, so can't use for ducks. If you're comfortable with the safety, the new ones should be a dream.
BPS is heavier, but has the safety where I like it. True, the action has a slightly longer slide movement, but I've never had a problem with it. I have shorter than average arms, but I tend to work a pump pretty hard.
Only times I've ever hung up a shell was trying to be too gentle ejecting unfired ones. You can't baby a pump gun, and don't need to.
37 is good to carry, and points instinctively-better than any other gun I've owned. Really dislike the crossbolt safety, as I grew up with the top tang style on a double.
Mine pre-dates lead shot ban, so can't use for ducks. If you're comfortable with the safety, the new ones should be a dream.
BPS is heavier, but has the safety where I like it. True, the action has a slightly longer slide movement, but I've never had a problem with it. I have shorter than average arms, but I tend to work a pump pretty hard.
Only times I've ever hung up a shell was trying to be too gentle ejecting unfired ones. You can't baby a pump gun, and don't need to.
oletymer
Member
I too have both the BPS and 37. I bought the 37 in 1969 and the BPS in 1979. Neither gun has ever had a problem of any kind.
bob9125
Member
I have both a 20 and 12 in the BPS. Needless to say, I am sold on the features, fit and feel of the BPS. You get a lot for your money with a BPS.
SwampWolf
Member
You could own every 870 ever made-and still "need" a BPS (I hope it's clear that I'm exaggerating a little here). They're that good of a pump-action shotgun in my estimation.
They're that good of a pump-action shotgun in my estimation.reckless carolinian
Member
I like the 37, even though I can't stand the cross-bolt safety. The BPS just feels so gol-darn clunky, especially after a 37. If the 37 just had a tang...(hint,hint, Ithaca)
chas08
Member
I've had a BPS 10ga. for 20 + years or so. I had the malfunction oldwheelieguy described happen once on a goose hunt in a sandy field. It proved out to be grit behind the magazine shell latch. It hasn't been a recurring problem. The added length of pumpstroke on the 3.5 Browning reciever tends to make me short stroke it now and then, but it's all in what you get used to. I would say mine has been very dependable overall.
oldwheelieguy
Member
Again, if my BPS was clean it worked great! But sometimes you go on a several day hunt shooting many many rounds and thats when the BPS would start it's inconsisant behavior. I can drop the 870 in the mud and it still worked. It might just be my bad luck but I will sware to it from my experiance.(Been shootin ducks for 43 years).
MCgunner
Member
If you don't like the weight of the 870, you're not likely going to appreciate the BPS, either. They also have a steel receiver which is heavy and changes balance. I do have fond memories of a 16 gauge Ithaca M37 featherweight in my youth, but it had a crossbolt safety. It was not the best for the southpaw. I shoot southpaw due to an eye dominance problem, so yeah, that's a concern of mine, too. I like the BPS, but duck guns can get away with being heavy. I own, however, a M500 Mossberg and have been using them for the last 30 years. The ergos are awesome, ejection doesn't bother me, don't even notice it. Even if I shot right handed, i'd prefer the tang safety. The ergos are just miles better on the Mossberg as opposed to the 870 and the gun is lighter and balances more weight forward.
JMHO and YMMV
JMHO and YMMV
tactikel
Member
had a BPS 20 ga and a 870 Special Field, the BPS felt heavier, for grouse it was slower, I sold the BPS, kept the 870. Between the 37 and BPS it is the 37 no doubt. Points better, feels lighter, its' smoother to pump; already had a Browning. BTW I am right handed.
OP
OP
dak0ta
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvM4GmBAfYY
This video shows how you can load a shell directly into the chamber and bypass the mag tube. So don't listen to ppl that say the lack of a side ejection port makes it slow.
This video shows how you can load a shell directly into the chamber and bypass the mag tube. So don't listen to ppl that say the lack of a side ejection port makes it slow.
chas08
Member
Thanks for sharing that video. You "learned me" something today. I wonder if it works the same way on an Ithaca 37.
I believe the 37 works the same as a BPS.
Gun Tests did a review of the 20 Gauge BPS recently. Their example weighed 7.5 lbs, but they did say that the balance is very nice (probably due to the smaller receiver of the 20). Still, a 12 Gauge Wingmaster weighs about that, and a 12 Gauge 37 weighs less. 20 Gauge Wingmasters and 37s weigh a lot less.
I personally wouldn't choose a BPS for anything but stationary shooting. In the mountains, a pound makes a lot of difference after a few hours. Sure, I can still carry a heavier gun, but I'm just not as quick with the gun when I finally find the birds after a few hours of climbing around with it.
It's a bummer, really, since tang safeties are IMO the only way to go for upland hunting, if you have the option.
Gun Tests did a review of the 20 Gauge BPS recently. Their example weighed 7.5 lbs, but they did say that the balance is very nice (probably due to the smaller receiver of the 20). Still, a 12 Gauge Wingmaster weighs about that, and a 12 Gauge 37 weighs less. 20 Gauge Wingmasters and 37s weigh a lot less.
I personally wouldn't choose a BPS for anything but stationary shooting. In the mountains, a pound makes a lot of difference after a few hours. Sure, I can still carry a heavier gun, but I'm just not as quick with the gun when I finally find the birds after a few hours of climbing around with it.
It's a bummer, really, since tang safeties are IMO the only way to go for upland hunting, if you have the option.
Oh, I don't care for pumps much anyway, but you weren't asking about that.
The 37 is the only pump gun that just feels GREAT in my hands -- but as MC said, it has a one-way crossbolt safety. Furthermore, for that money, it's hard for me to justify buying a pump gun instead of a Montefeltro.
Some crossbolts can be switched from right to left easily (Beretta), while others can be replaced with a left-handed version (Remington). Don't know about Ithaca.
The 37 is the only pump gun that just feels GREAT in my hands -- but as MC said, it has a one-way crossbolt safety. Furthermore, for that money, it's hard for me to justify buying a pump gun instead of a Montefeltro.
Some crossbolts can be switched from right to left easily (Beretta), while others can be replaced with a left-handed version (Remington). Don't know about Ithaca.
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