Shotgun for newbie

[Dot_mdb]

I've been looking to buy my first shotgun (I've been a rifle and handgun shooter 25+ years). A local dealer suggested a recent trade. The gun is a 12 gauge Browning BPS with a 26" barrel. The condition appears to be very nice with all blueing perfect and only a few light scratches on the stock. It only comes with one choke (not sure of size). The asking price is $275 which I think is maybe $30 - $40 high. Any thoughts on the value of this shotgun?

I hope to use this gun to try out skeet and trap at my club and also for general fooling around with some friends who do informal shotgun shooting. No hunting is anticipated. Not needed for HD either. Would this shotgun be appropriate?

Bill

 

[Jim Watson]

Regulation skeet throws four pairs of doubles per round of 25 targets. You will have to learn good pumpgun technique to get them. Not impossible, the pump was pretty well standard... 50 years ago; but the autos and especially O/Us have taken over among the serious competitors.

Trap wants a modified or full choke, skeet choke is very light, cylinder or improved cylinder will do. If it is the Invector screw choke, tubes are not expensive.

 

[Smoke]

For use as you describe the gun would be a good choice. You might want to investigate auto loaders too.

I like most Browning shotguns. Benelli too. WInchester makes a few nice ones also. There are others.

For general use, find a gun that "feels" good to you, handle as many as you can, pick the one that just seems to point well, that comes to the shoulder and the eye naturally. Start with that one. Whoever made it.

 

[Dave McCracken]

The BPS is a decent piece, and the price isn't too far out of line. New ones are expensive as pumps go.

Try a few more pumps out, read the floater up top on the Big Four, and take your time. With care, a US made pump will outlast you by decades, maybe generations. Choose wisely.

Autos are picked by many,but they're more complicated and expensive. I do not recommend them often as starters.

 

[Dot_mdb]

Thank you for your replies.

Last night I went back to the store and handled a number of the shotguns again. I had compared the Remington Wingmaster, the Winchester 1300 and the Browning BPS. For some reason that I don't understand at this point the Browning just fit me better. The Remington was brand new and beautiful and I wanted to love it but when I brought the gun up to my shoulder the sights were not aligned right for me.

Also and separate from the fit issue I found the middle bead on the Wingmaster to be annoying. Maybe that is just inexperience on my part or middle aged eyes which prefer not to have the complication of the middle bead.

Money was not an isue here, I just like the feel of the Browning better at this point. After some experience I will take another look and maybe add other shotguns.

The BPS that I bought was made in 1986 and has the standard Invector chokes, not the Invector Plus chokes. The dealer agreed to give me an additional two chokes to make up for the ones that were missing and also to throw in the choke wrench. He lowered the price to $250 and I just couldn't resist it. I had brought along a friend who knows something about shotguns and he told me that if I hadn't taken the gun he would have grabbed it.

It was too late for the NIC's check so I am going back today to pick it up.

Bill

 

[Dave McCracken]

The McRule....

"When all else is equal get the one that FEELS best".

Good deal and good luck.

Now, BA/UU/R....

 

[themic]

agree with dave. especially with shotguns, fit is the most important part.

 

[Dot_mdb]

Well, I picked up the shotgun and last Sunday took it to the club and got some instruction on how to go about shooting trap. I even broke a few targets with it. This Sunday I have another lesson scheduled and I am planning to buy a Mec loader. Not sure which model yet.

A grand total of 25 shots under my belt and I can't wait for the next opportunity to get out and try again.

Bill

 

[Dave McCracken]

(Big grin)....

And another shotgunner is born! Now BA/UU/R...

 

[Al Thompson]

For an area of the country that has lots of folks buying lots of BPS shotguns, there are darn few on the used SG market.

I really like the left hand friendly aspect of them and that they are an improved M37.

That was an outstanding price for Carolina, so I think you did very well.