Lefty 870 or BPS?

X

X_shooter

New member
I usuallly don't ask for opinions, but here it goes...

I have been thinking about a new shotgun. I have always wanted a left handed pump gun and have a few bucks left over from taxes this year. I can get a left handed 870 Express for around $350 or a Browning BPS for around $500. The BPS seems a bit more finished, but you can't deny the long 870 history either. I am sure both would be around longer than I. I am kind of intrigued by the top tang safety of the BPS since i am used to the same location of my over/under.

I was wondering in terms of quality, which was better? Actaul owners with real experience please. No anecdotal opinions. If all else is the same, is it worth the extra $150 for a set of chokes?
 
My 2 cents and a pheasent

I have an old hamy down 870 and never had a problem I even used it to paddle my boat once. But I would stay away from the new remmys seems like theve been goin down hill. I've held the bps but never shot one I like the looks but not the weight.

best of luck

added: I would recomend looking into used ones as pumpguns get better with age in most cases.
 
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Well if you like tang safetys, check and see if Mossberg makes a lefty in the 500 model. They are excellent shotguns and are less pricey than the Browning & perhaps the Remington.
 
X_shooter
You specifically mentioned the 870 Express and if it were my money, I would not even go there. Now, the WingMaster would be a different story. There is just a world of difference between an 870 Express and the BPS. You will encounter too many problems with the Express. I could list the potential and real problems but it would be a long post.

Historically I am a Remington shotgun man but I have bought my last express. ....... :mad:


Be Safe !!!
 
a lefty 870 is nice but very mission specific. The BPS has a nicer finish and is truely ambi with the bottom load/eject.

BPS is a good choice...you may want to look at an Ithaca 37
 
Im a lefty, own a BPS, 870 and a mossberg 500.

The BPS controls are by far the easiest and most natural to reach, the 500 would be second, the 870 takes practice.

The BPS is by far the smoothest pump Ive ever used.

Do it once, do it right, get the Browning.
 
Right~handed, left eye dominant, shooting off the left shoulder. I use both BPS and Rem Exp. Both work but the BPS is going to get it done in style.
 
i am left handed and only changed one shotgun to a left hand safety a winchester model 12, only because the safety is ahead of the trigger guard. to use the right hand safety on the remingtons and ithaca,s, as i bring the shotgun up i pust the safety off with my middle finger,leaveing my trigger finger free to enter the trigger guard and fire when ready. and i am just as fast as a right hander to mount and shoot the shotgun. it is realy easy to do,try it you may like it. eastbank.
 
For me, it the BPS all the way.

I've had BPS's in a 12ga and 20ga - for over 30 yrs ..../ and I'm not saying an 870 is a bad gun - it isn't / but I do think the action is smoother on the BPS - and the location of the safety is a plus if you're using it for hunting ( not a factor for clay target games ).
 
Thank you for the many valuable replies.

I have checked around. There are not many lefty model out there in my price range. Special orders seem to jack the price up. I like the BPS and it comes with three chokes. I was thinking top tang safety would feel closer to my other shotgun (less to remember) and I don't have to modify anything.

I am just kind of giddy finally having a chance to finally buy a left handed gun. The 870 seemed like a dependable choice, but I am hearing aviod the lower end of the line and the newer models are lacking the quality of the old 870s.

I did own a 37 featherlight for a year. I loved that gun. I replaced the safety with a williams after market to operate left handed. Everything was good until one day while unloading after a day in the field I pulled the trigger and it went click. I realized the safety was still on and freaked a little. I tried to replicate the condition and it would fire about three out of five tries. I changed out the safety back to a righty and sold it.

Many thanks for the advice. I'll watch for other replies, but it looks like the BPS might get the edge at this point.
 
I am a lefty. I call for a duck camp. I abuse shotguns. Despite the bad rap the 870 Express gets, I have found them to be very dependable and I have overcome the rusting issues of the express finish and the tendency to jam.

I have owned numerous 870's and BPS's. The BPS is more refinned but it is heavier. It is also complicated, complicated to take apart. If you duck hunt like I do, you will need to do more than the cursory field strip a minimum of twice per season.

The 870 Exp is easy to completely disassemble. It is extremely easy to work on. Aftermarket stocks and forends are easy to install. Nothing in the shotgun world handles like an 870. IMHO, the BPS handles like a 2x4 compared to it. The length of pull is 14" on an 870 with a thinner grip. The BPS is 14-1/4" with a thicker grip----it makes a difference when you layer like I do.

The newer Express finish is much better than it was. The barrels don't even compare. For all the bad press Remingtons get these days, the factory modified screw in choke is excellent. Browning Chokes tend to pattern on the tight side.

Using Rem Oil spray, I soak all metal parts on my 870's for two to three sessions essentially all day long. When the parkerized type finish wicks it in, I spray some more on. By the start of early teal season, they bead water like carnuba wax. I have not had a rust issue in five years. It is essential to clean the trigger mechanism out at least once per season and that will remedy the jams. If you do need to replace parts and I have never in decades, you can do it yourself. You cannot with a Browning.

Here's one of mine rigged for duck hunting with a Claw sling, Cabela's Modified Choke for Hevi Shot, and a factory Remington black plastic youth stock with a 13" LOP for my short rear end that works nicely with layered clothing.

the 12 ga. 3.5's hardly kick. The 12 ga. 3" models simply do not kick. My 11 y/o shoots this one with ease. If you get one, feel free to PM me and I will be happy to help out. I shoot right handed models so if one of the hunters I call for, has a malfunction, I can hand them mine and keep calling.

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Clear your mind when you go to the gun store. Handle both the 870 Exp LH and the BPS and then tell me what you think. If you like the BPS, go for it. They are good shotguns and you will be well served. The 870 just feels so much better to me and over the years, I have become an 870 mechanic by default for maintenance and modification never for repairs. I have owned five and never had to send one back to the factory.
 
From what I have read on this forum, other forums, and youtube, jamming is a very common problem for the 870 express. My daughter shoots trap and my husband and I did a tremendous amount of research before we bought her a gun. She wanted an 870 because she had been borrowing an older version of one. After reading a lot of information we bought an 870 Wingmaster. It is a beautiful gun, with a beautiful finish, and let me tell you the action is like butter. She hasn't had one jam, but the difference is that it was double the 870 express' price. Well worth it though in our opinion, but it was pretty hard finding a store with one in stock. A lot of dealers thought that the express was the same thing as the wingmaster. It's too bad that Remington won't resolve the problem with express. They are giving themselves a bad name. We paid about $650.00, but it's a gun that she'll have for the rest of her life and with everything that we've read, it'll be a reliable one.
 
I can tell you what causes most of the jams----either components that have burrs on them, the action bars are out of alignment or the trigger mechanism gets gunk in it and it causes the slide release not to work properly. I can take an 870 Express apart new out of the box and tell you if it has a tendency to jam. All the above mentioned issues are easily fixed.

I think the BPS and the Benelli Nova as well as the new Ithacas are well made weapons but I think people need to know with a little attention, the Express 870 can be one of the best shotguns money can buy.

I had to learn it since at one time an 870 Express is all I could afford. I now use them out of preference. Once I get one set up, they are bullet proof for hunting. You get what you pay for. I buy the base models with the wood stocks and set them up like I want them. After I am done, I have maybe $400 in one and I will put it up against any shotgun made in terms of longevity and handling. Sure, there are nicer and better shotguns out there. I just get a kick out of setting up 870 Express shotguns. When the autos are hanging up and spitting extractors in the duck blind, mine just keeps on keeping on. I have semi auto Brownings but they stay in the vault.

Either way, X wins. I would not rule out the Ithaca 37 now in production. If I get another shotgun, it will be a Model 37. They are easily set up for Leftys and they are the platform the BPS is derived from but IMHO, the finest handling pumps in existence.
 
C-girl, like Mark Twain's demise, reports on Express problems are greatly exaggerated.

In the last couple years I've handled and shot over 25 Expresses, some bought that day. Zero probs.

Some I haven't handled and shot seem to need a bit of chamber polishing, some need to be fed non generic ammo (Winchester Bulk Pack seems to be the major offender) and ALL need to have the cleaning procedures outlined in the manual followed before and during use.

Some just need to have smarter owners.

As for the OP, the BPS is a fine shotgun. It's harder to take apart and a little heavier than an 870, but it's a smooth shucking Forever Gun you'll pass on for generations.

Get the one that FEELS best.....
 
Thanks for the info, Dave. Good to know. I'm happy to hear that. Maybe we over-bought, but she's happy with it and I'm sure it'll last her a lifetime.
 
You're very welcome, C girl.

There's 4 Wingmasters here, two from the 50s and two from the 70s, and a 20 gauge Express from the early 90s.

All are absolutely reliable, though I admit that none have more than 20K rounds through them, so maybe more testing is in order.

All shuck well, but the 20 gauge Express is not as slick as the others.

Yet.

A few more thousand rounds will fix that.

..."it'll last her a lifetime"......

Her Great Grandchildren may use it and think it's still tight.....
 
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