input on browning bps

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brownout

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Im looking at getting a new hunting shotgun. Was thinking of getting a newer 870 which is a proven gun. I was wondereing what people with experience with the browning bps think of it. What is the quality and dependability like? Its a little higher price but looks good with nice wood and blueing. I would also consider a used wingmaster but they are hard to find now at a reasonable price.

Thanks, Cody
 
They are probably the best finished pump gun on the market right now, possibly tied with the new Ithacas. They run a bit on the heavy side compared to an 870, or Mossberg. I have hunted waterfowl with one for 15 years now, and never had a malfunction. The bottom ejection is nice for hunting in a blind or boat with other people, and I like the location of the safety and action release better than the Remington, of course that is just my personal preference.
 
I'm pretty well sold on the 870. But if I were to use any other pump the BPS would be at the top of my list. I've had one, liked it well enough, but everything operated different than the 870's I owned. Safety location etc. Nothing at all wrong with them. I just didn't want to have 2 different systems to cause confusion when I got ready to shoot.

If you want walnut/blue the BPS is cetainly a better buy. New Wingmasters are $800+ at Walmart. I'll pay a little more and get a Benelli or Beretta semi before spending that much for a pump.
 
The BPS is as well designed and built as any pump anywhere. I had 3 of them and they never missed a single beat. But, I do not like having to load thru the magazine without having to turn it over and fiddle with anything. Highly impractical with geese leaving the decoys. I prefer the ergonomics of a Wingmaster to anything else.
 
either the BPS or 870 Wingmaster will serve you well. I personally prefer the 870 Wingmasters, sleeker and quick handling...
 
The Wingmaster was and is the best pump gun ever offered. The 'Light Contour' barreled ones are very good handling guns. It is far superior then the BPS.
 
I choose BPSs over other pump guns because they're Brownings. All steel receiver, solidly built, reliable, and good looking. Tang safety and bottom eject are plusses.

I own three and have never had a failure.
 
While I do not like bottom feed/bottom ejection system my only shotgun is Ithaca 37. It's best $250 I have ever spent on a shotgun. With exception of few models Ithaca is all steel Lock und Barrel. The trigger unit of BPS is 'pot metal' but as mentioned above it is a Browning and FAITH sells mounds of inventory.
 
the Ithaca Model 37 only has a single extractor and action arm. Heck, even a Mossberg 500 has both those bases covered.
 
My 12 gauge BPS had the smoothest pump action ever when I bought it, with the least amount of rattle. It was equaled only by the new Ithaca Model 37.

In less than 6 months the BPS barrel and receiver had rust spots all over them. The shotgun had been kept in a safe, and was clean and oiled. Nothing else in the safe has rusted, before or after. On the Internet I found similar complaints and warnings about some Browning shotguns.
 
well I have shot an early 80s wingmaster and liked it a lot. also was looking at the gun store today and was looking at an ithica 37 featherlight with 26 in barrel 3in shells. looks hardly used and was thought to be an early 80s gun. I have heard the quality control was pretty bad on the late 70s and early 80s ithicas but just curious on some opinions. they want $375 for the ithica.

I wish the bps shotguns were a little cheaper and I would probably own one.

Thanks for all the input
 
A late 70's, early 80's wing master is about as good as it gets as far as pump guns go. They can be had all day for $300-$400 and you're grandchildren will enjoy it too.
 
I've never cared much for the BPS personally. While working in the firearms retail industry I saw more BPS's with problems, than most any other SG. They are beautiful, no question about that. But they have had a number of recalls, they are not as simple to break down, and parts and repairs are far more costly and difficult to work on.

For me and my family, we choose to go with 870's in various configurations. My Son and I each have an old Wingmaster, and they are indeed a very nice looking SG and as reliable as it gets.

I also have an old Ithaca that is so very nice looking. But it has had it's problems and is anything but reliable. I won't even discuss the cost of parts when they can be found.

GS
 
I like Mossberg 500s and Rem 870 Wingmasters. Get both, one for a separate purpose so you can justify owning both?

My Mossberg is for waterfowl and clays.

My Wingmaster wears a 20'' slug barrel with rifled sights for foster slugs, buckshot for deer and defense.
 
Ithaca

the Ithaca Model 37 only has a single extractor and action arm. Heck, even a Mossberg 500 has both those bases covered.
Click to expand...
Yep....doesn't stop it from being the best pump gun ever made.
Pete
 
CaptainChaos said:
All my M37s have two extractors but they do, indeed, have a single arm.

Regards,

Mark.
Click to expand...
I have never seen or heard of single action bar on: Ithaca 37, Winchester 1897/12 or old Remington 31 being broken. I would bet the surface area of dual arms on Mossberg at thinnest section has less surface area then single arm of an Ithaca 37. The Ithaca is far, far superior then Mossberg 500 series. The custom shop Mossberg from Pedersen Arms was another matter. The top of the heap Mossberg was called Model 4500 if I recall correctly and more then equal it's daddy called Remington 31.
 
Lots of opinions here. The Model 12 and the Ithaca both have a lot of fans, but Remington ran them both off the reservation, and then Mossberg joined the fight to make sure they stayed gone. The Ithaca is now being made under I think the fourth bunch of owners, and the current guns are well made, if you like Ithacas, but whether they will make it long term is anyone's guess.
I sold guns for 25 years and never saw one issue with a BPS or a Wingmaster.
 
Virginian said:
Lots of opinions here. The Model 12 and the Ithaca both have a lot of fans, but Remington ran them both off the reservation, and then Mossberg joined the fight to make sure they stayed gone. The Ithaca is now being made under I think the fourth bunch of owners, and the current guns are well made, if you like Ithacas, but whether they will make it long term is anyone's guess.
I sold guns for 25 years and never saw one issue with a BPS or a Wingmaster.
Click to expand...
The 870 Wingmaster was and is the best all around pump gun ever made especially nice in
Euro style or 'Light Contour' configuration. I would like to try out stainless Swedish pump gun contraption with center top ejection feature, but have only seen them in pictures.
If I wanted powerful wildfowl pump for goose pit or turkey hunting use I would take serious look at the 10ga BPS 'Stalker' (cheaper to market PBS with plastic stock).
 
I had a little 20 guage straight gripped bps. I allways thought it was the nicest pump shotgun i ever owned. Had to part with it along with a bunch of other guns back years ago when i got divorced to pay off the wife. Wish i had it back right now. Personaly i liked it better then my 870s. bang for the buck award though has to go to mossberg. Hard to beat a 500 for what they get for them.
 
PabloJ said:
I have never seen or heard of single action bar on: Ithaca 37, Winchester 1897/12 or old Remington 31 being broken.
Click to expand...

When I took up shooting, using my late father's M37 DSPS, it took me a mere eight shots to break it. It wasn't the arm itself that broke, but it was fixed to the steel forend liner with just two spot-welds and one of them hadn't "taken". So, for thirty years, it had happily worked with just a single weld until Captain Chaos came along..

It's now been MIG welded up both sides of the bar, so that won't happen again. :)

As I understand it, they now use *four* spot-welds instead of two. (The gun that I broke was made in 1983.)

Regards,

Mark.
 
Great gun! Ive had one for twenty-something years in 10ga. Mostly used for geese and some duck hunting when all steel shot shells were crap.

They do weigh in kind of heavy, even in 12ga. And loading through the magazine when cripples are quickly getting out of range can be an issue at times. Overall I have been very pleased with mine for its intended purpose.
 
Lloyd Smale said:
I had a little 20 guage straight gripped bps. I allways thought it was the nicest pump shotgun i ever owned. Had to part with it along with a bunch of other guns back years ago when i got divorced to pay off the wife. Wish i had it back right now. Personaly i liked it better then my 870s. bang for the buck award though has to go to mossberg. Hard to beat a 500 for what they get for them.
Click to expand...
Actually these are very easy to beat. Walked into second-hand Sakaba 100 20ga extractor gun made for Ithaca with 26" 1/4-3/4 choked barrels. It is far superior upland gun for just about $200 more. It will make fearsome HD gun with that Raybar sight and 2&3/4 Nr. 1BK loads. With this sagging economy pretty soon they will be giving good quality knockabout SxS shotguns away. That is great news for me.
Sakaba is great name in gun making business as they started with front loaders in mid 19th century is I remember correctly.
 
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