Browning BPS Hunter

G

gaseousclay

New member
so I may have raised this question before and I know there's no shortage of threads on the praise of the Browning BPS Hunter, but i'd like for you guys to weigh in and offer your opinions. I know BigJimP, oneounceload and a few others have said good things about this shotgun and its virtues.

I had looked at this shotgun a couple years ago when I was looking to buy my first firearm. rifles eventually piqued my interest and I now have a Browning A-Bolt Hunter and a Winchester 9422. I'd like to add a shotgun go my list, mainly an all-around gun that I can use for HD, trap shooting or target practice. I like the bottom eject feature and the build. I had looked at the Winchester 1300 but don't like that the barrel is made of an alloy. I want a steel barrel and receiver on my gun and the quality to match.

I have no idea where to begin with fit. I'm 5'11" and don't know if I should get a 26", 28" or 30" barrel. I was thinking I could split the difference and get a 28" barrel. Can any of you offer some insight as to how to determine fit? Do I have to physically shoulder one to know if it fits me or not?

Thanks
 
The concept of "Fit" ....if the gun "fits" you ..."it hits where you look" in terms of its Point of Impact. There is no fixed rear sight on a shotgun ...but your eye - when you mount the gun - becomes the rear sight. All of the stock dimensions on the gun ...the angle of the comb on this gun - the drop at the comb, drop at the heel, length of pull, etc...are all part of the "Fit". If the combination of the drop at the comb, where your face meets the comb, and length of pull, etc ...for the amount of clothing you shoot with ( a vest over a T shirt ) vs a sweater and a heavy coat in winter...causes your face to move up or back, just a little on the comb....that in turn causes you to raise or lower the muzzle just a little as you mount the gun...all of that affects "Fit". Its pretty hard to tell ...if a gun "Fits" you unless you have a lot of experience - and know precisely what stock dimensions "Fit" you - but standard angled comb Browning stocks fit many shooters pretty well.

The good thing on the Browning stocks ...is their "cast" neutral - so they don't favor either a left or right handed shooter...so that's a plus.

Most retailers can't tell much of anything about fit....and barrel length is irrelevent to Fit.

You know I like this gun / I still have 2 of them ....and I think it will "Fit" you --- or for very reasonable expense - maybe a change in the recoil pad ...or maybe a stick on pad on top of the comb...it can be adjusted to "Fit" you.

I like the Browning Hunter model BPS in a 28" barrel...to me, its the right combination of weight, balance, length of sight plane...that makes a very good all around gun. In a 26" barrel ...the gun for many of us ...tends to get a little "whippy" ...vs smooth on follow thru which is really critical on flying targets.

Its not a heavy gun ....but even as big as I am ( 6' 5" and 290 lbs ) in a 30" barrel it gets a little clumsy feeling to me...almost like its nose heavy ...and they used to make it in a 32" as well...which is really nose heavy to me.

As a first shotgun ...I think the smart choice is BPS Hunter in 12ga and 28".

A note on barrel length ....a semi-auto or pump gun with a 28" barrel is about the same overall length as an Over Under with a 30" barrel. The extra 2" on the pump gun - is because the receiver is longer on the pump than it is on an O/U. A 30" O/U or a 28" pump are considered - kind of - the common one size that fits most general shotgun uses. HD ...it might be a little long ...but its for "Home Defense" ...not "Tactical Fighting" ...the BPS even in a 28" is still a good Defensive shotgun ...probably not an optimal "Fighting Shotgun" ...but you're not clearing bad guys out of a run down 5 story apartment building...you're using it, maybe, for Home Defense. Personally my primary Defense weapon ...is a handgun / shotguns of any barrel length ...are not something I would consider optimal for home defense / not to start a fight.../ I just don't think that needs to be your focus. Buy a shotgun that will allow you to do lots of things with it ...
 
Last edited:
While I personally prefer the ergonomics of a Wingmaster, I also don't think there is a better designed or built pump anywhere than the BPS. I don't care where it ejects, and I just don't like loading thru the magazine. But I am not a lefty either.
I had 3 BPSs and they never missed a beat If you like the feel of one, I don't think you need to have any concerns relative to buying one. I think the 28" handles the best, but that's just me.
 
Even though I'm primarily a Browning guy ...because their guns fit me ...I also like the Rem 870 Wingmaster....and I think the Wingmaster and the BPS are on a par in terms of quality / but I think today the BPS is still a better buy. I'm not a big fan of the lower end 870's ( not to start a fight - because they are popular)...like the 870 Express models.

If I were to list a 3rd pump gun to look at....for whatever reason ...I'd look at the Benelli Nova series.

Browning in their BPS line of guns ...also makes a Trap gun ...with a 30" barrel and a parallel comb stock ...which I think will eliminate most Fit issues.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=011B&cid=012&tid=242&bg=x

They enhanced the receiver a little bit...the 30" barrel - the parallel comb..makes it a nice gun / a buddy bought one recently ( for around $ 700 ) and its been a solid gun for him ...he's since had an adj comb cut into the gun by Jack West in Oregon...so maybe another $ 175 in it or so ....and like me, he has lots of guns ...but he just wanted a pump gun / because somedays we like to put the O/U's away ...and just shoot pump guns for the heck of it. BPS Trap is worth a look as well....

The BPS Hunter has a 3" chamber ...and BPS Trap has a 2 3/4" chamber so they are different guns in that sense...( remember shells are measured at their "Fired" length ...you cannot safely shoot a 3" shell in a 2 3/4" chamber because the crimp will not open sufficiently...making it very dangerous. So check the chamber specs on your guns....most of my 12ga guns are 2 3/4" and I don't find it to be an issue ..even in the field / with so many different shells out there today / of course I reload as well ....but finding good 2 3/4" shells if I travel - is not a big deal these days.
 
Last edited:
thanks for the advice, guys. does the BPS have a changeable barrel? what about the aesthetics? while browsing gunbroker.com I noticed that there were some BPS models that had the gloss walnut stock, whereas, the current line seem to have a satin walnut finish. Is the gloss finish a sign that it's an older model? Or, is this only reserved for certain versions of the BPS, like the upland or trap models?
 
Current models have the satin finish ....and its been that way for at least 10 yrs...so yes, if they have the gloss varnish finish ...it is probably a gun that is over 10 yrs old.

Changeable barrel...?? yes, every pump gun I've ever seen - has a barrel that comes off for cleaning, etc...so its changeable / but another barrel may cost you $ 250 or more ..../ most of us don't change barrels on shotguns...

The current BPS Trap model ....has the satin finish as well / and so does the current BPS Upland model ...

A lot of the Browning models ...in their O/U's as well ...have gone to satin varnish finishes...or some have gone to oil finishes ( which are probably varnish as well ) - hard to tell. Products like Watco's Danish Oil ...a widely available finish in cans ...sold all over the country I think...is really a Varnish as well / although its a very light and not very durable varnish - so names on finishes are a little deceptive.

If you can get a serial number ...you can date a shotgun using the codes on the Browning Web site.....you can also date a gun based on the Browning choke system it has in it ....Browning went to Invector Plus chokes in the early 90's when they went to backbored barrels / Browning first introduced the older Invector chokes in 1983 ....prior to that - the barrels chokes were fixed. Not all Browning models were switched the same year...but if the gun has Invector chokes its an older gun ....if its Invector Plus its a newer gun...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top