How come no one ever made the BPS tactical?

[goon]

I have handled Browing BPS Stalkers on occasion and if they are anywhere near as solid as they feel they must be one hell of a gun. I haven't ever read or heard anything bad about them but I was still wondering why no one ever made them "tactical".
I mean you got Remington, Mossberg, Winchester, etc all going all black with ghost ring sights and accessories, why not the BPS?
I am asking this because I have been kicking around the idea of buying one and having the barrel hacked off at 18.5 inches or of getting an aftermarket barrel for it. I have found 24" barrels for them with rifle sights and I don't think it would be too big of a hassle to get it cut down and have the front sight put back on.
Any ideas on this one?

 

[Owen]

Browning won't do it, because they are avoiding the tactical/self-defense market. They see themselves as a sporting goods company, not a defense contractor.

 

[Jack2427]

I own a number of "tactical" type shotguns and use them professionally. For HD I use my BPS Buck Special, w/24" w/rifle sights, with a butt cuff for extra ammo. If I ever have to use it for real at home, I'll be just another sportsman who grabbed whatever he had available to defend himself-no "evil" guns, no atmoshpere of a guy just waiting to off some misguided youth, just 00 where it is needed.
It is just as good as any of the tricked out stuff I have seen, and a lot less offensive to the gun unfriendly people who may later be called upon to judge your actions, either criminally(unlikely) or civil suit(very likely). Even has Babmi engraved on the receiver.
The BPS is a really good weapon(I also have an auto 5 for tactical use-most underrated).

 

[goon]

The main reason I am looking at the Stalker (matte finish and synthetic stock) is that I know where to find one for $250. I think that is a very good price on it. I just put an AK on layaway yesterday and I bought a Security six a couple weeks ago or I would already have it.
Does the BPS have the rib like the Stalkers do? I notice that the rib starts on the reciever. I am thinking that a BPS barrel would fit but it would look strange if it didn't "line up".

 

[Dave McCracken]

The big reason the BPS isn't taking the "Tactical" world by storm is answered by one word and 3 numbers....

Remington 870....

There's naught the BPS can do that the 870 doesn't that warrants the extra dinero needed to get one.

I like the BPS. Handling anapex's a couple weeks past reminded me of its quality and performance. Works like a Model 12/870 hybrid, IOW, a lot of shotgun.

Friend and fellow Mod Corriea is working on a 3 gun legal BPS 10 gauge. Before getting all excited about the possibilities, remember he's big enough to have his own Zip Code. I would like to see him in action with it, though I'd have to think about it if he offered it to me for a test drive...

 

[KarbineKrazy]

except it is bottom eject which is something the 870 will never be.

I would buy a BPS w/ an 18.5 inch barrel and mag extension. I think they look damn cool and they are hell for stout.

I even think someone is making a side saddle for them.

 

[bad LT]

Jack2427: Bonnie and Clyde used Auto 5's - seems preety tacticool to me.

 

[KarbineKrazy]

actually, Remington M11s from what I have heard.

I have a m11 w/ a mag ext and a 19.5 inch barrel and rifle sights... can you say gangster?

 

[Wags]

Dave McCracken is correct, Browning chooses not to compete in the shotgun tactical line since the Remington 870 pretty much has it locked in. Don't think I'm saying they are the only choice, they are not, but anything for a tactical shotgun availiable will be at hand. There are more sportsman than tactical shotgunners where the money is spent concerning the Browning line.

But you have me thinking about a tactical BPS. A 18.5" barrel and 3" chambered gun would make a nice home defense shotgun. Your very limited on accessories for the BPS in this role.

 

[arcticap]

The main drawback to a tactical BPS albeit minor, is the loading method. Since it doesn't have an ejection port on the side with an exposed elevator, you can't just toss in an extra shell and rack it into the chamber, I believe it has to go through the magazine first. This makes it difficult to chamber a single round in a pinch if needed, and may be considered a design handicap.

 

[waterhouse]

because my BPS is too darn pretty to toss around.

plus, if I ever shot an intruder, the police would probably take whichever gun I used as evidence, and then I'd lose my spot on the left side of the duck blind, reserved for me because the BPS is bottom eject i'd rather they take one of my rusty old 870s.

 

[goon]

So it isn't any fault of the gun or the design? Just that the competition already has the market?
I haven't ever shot one but they seem really solid to me.
I am thinking that if I can swing the $250 for the BPS Stalker I will get it and then have a smith shorten the barrel and put the bead back on it.
Since I just layed away an AK and bought two handguns within about the last month though, I may not be able to pull this one off.

 

[El Tejon]

Maybe 15-16 years ago I remember Browning made a run of BPSs with all black polymer furniture and we (Galyan's) sold them 18" barrels with rifle sights. Sold like hot cakes (Indiana is shotgun for deer state).

Back then all this was orchard. I had an onion tied to my belt, which was the style at the time, I took the ferry to . . . .

Why would Browning attempt to compete in a saturated market? Move the image upscale and squeeze price up.

FWIW, I have always thought that the MkII BAR would make a decent tactical rifle with tweeking. But, why bother?

 

[ktd]

Browning at one time did offer the BPS Police model, kind of like the old Ithaca's, 18 in-ish barrel and a short magazine. I think it just had a bead. I have an article on it somewhere. let me know if someone needs a picture for "proof" that it existed.

ktd

btw, about Bonnie and Clyde, they were Rem 11s, but the Rem 11 is a copy of the Browning Auto5.

 

[mjolnir]

Charlie Askins used to keep a sawed off BPS for home protection...for what that's worth.

It's the most solid feeling pump on the market due to tighter tolerances...not much slop, feels like most everything else Browning makes/markets....of high quality...machined steel receiver by the way.

Has the top-mounted safety, like the Mossberg, but of steel, unlike the Mossberg; safety doesn't protrude nearly as much as the Mossberg's.

Manual of arms is identical to the Ithaca 37, which was for many years used as a police shotgun...so much for "design flaw."

It's just a matter of perception and Browning's intended market, but the BPS is a fine as any other shotgun out there for fighting use.

 

[anapex]

To elaborate on what Articap said about loading singles. It can be done, I've used both of mine for trap where I have to load one at a time. To say doing it is awkward would be an understatement. If you have the slide the whole way back moving it forward a 1/4-1/2" will take pressure off the lift and allow you to push it up. You can then hand feed a round up and in to the chamber. I've gotten somewhat decent at doing this but I would HATE to have to do it under pressure. Other then that a BPS is a great solid shotgun with a slide release in the right place and a safety I can live with .