Browning BPS Shot Show Special - info requested

[B!ngo]

Hello,
I'm a left hander and have been searching for a left-hand friendly 12 gauge shotgun for some time. I'm particularly interested in the BPS line of shotguns because of their documented quality and ambi design.
I'd like to find one shotgun that could do double duty for HD and hunting (and perhaps clays) if at all possible but realize that that may be a difficult compromise.
(BTW, please don't comment that many left-handers happily use right-handed firearms. Been there, done that. Thx.)
I happened upon my local gun shop and they had in stock something that I had not seen before. It was a Shot Show offering from Browning comprised of a black/polymer stock 12 gauge BPS with a 20" HD barrel AND a 26" (might be 28") barrel with three chokes. Seems completely ideal for my interests but before I buy (they had two in stock) I thought I'd ask the experts for opinions.
BTW, I cannot find any trace of such a Shot Show kit which has me a bit confused - though Browning may be the worst on line marketing company I've ever run across. So it may be a real item, but not well documented.
Comments or opinions are most welcomed.
Thx,
B

 

[HB]

Great gun, only one I use for serious hunting. The fit is perfect on me where as on an 870 I am staring into the grip. It is very difficult to take apart but you should never have to if it is properly taken care of.

HB

 

[rule303]

As you have already mentioned, Browning probably makes more variations that aren't shown in their catalog than the ones that are. Excellent shotguns, and a good value considering the quality you are getting. I have hunted with a 10ga BPS for the last 15 years in some very harsh weather extremes, and have yet to experience a failure.

 

[Fred Fuller]

I have half a dozen 870s with 28" vent rib RemChoke barrels and 20" rifle sight smoothbore slug barrels or 18" bead sight barrels that I've put together over the years... hard to beat the combination of a longer VR barrel and a shorter smoothbore slug/defensive barrel for working guns IMHO. And a package deal from scratch makes it even easier... probably cheaper too.

If the price is right and you like it, don't walk away the second time...

 

[beatledog7]

I'm a lefty who shoots long guns righty, and I still prefer the BPS over any other pump gun. And yes, you can load a single shell directly into the chamber-You didn't ask, but someone will probably point out--incorrectly--that you can't.

I have a 20" 5+1 polymer stock smooth bore for HD, and 28" smooth bore with 5 chokes, and 22" (I think) rifled, all 12-ga. All great guns, never a failure, and never a spent shell in anyone else's area. They fall right at my feet.

 

[drcook]

Only the BPS and the Ithaca 37 (and Chinese knockoffs) share the bottom ejection. The Ithaca's safety needs to be swapped for a left handed safety, while the Browning is already suitable for either. The Ithaca safety is available from Ithaca Gun and costs just a little over 10.00

To find a new combination like that in an Ithaca would be well over 1000.00 seeing as how the basic gun is 850 plus out the door and then another couple for the barrel.

I found this new in box Ithaca 37 combination for 895.00 so you would have transfer fees and shipping. It is an older gun.

http://www.shootersxchange.com/detail.cfm?recordID=83804

I think that BPS is an excellent combination and would serve you just fine.

I was looking at BPS's early this yr/last winter for a 16ga gun and I couldn't find the one I wanted in stock anywhere in the country, so I bought myself a couple older Ithaca 37's.

The ones I handled were pretty cool guns (BPSes) and as I said, if I had found the BPS in stock, it would be here at the house instead of the Ithacas.

By the way, I have a field / slug barrel 12ga combo from Ithaca and really like it. Is is one produced back in the 80's.

Remember the old saying about a bird in the hand...

 

[Virginian]

I am an 870 kind of guy when it comes to pumps, but my buddy has been using a BPS HARD for 30 years with zero issues, and I had 3 BPSs that never bobbled once. It is as well designed and built as any. If you get the set with two barrels, or just get a 28" barrel model with Invector chokes and then buy a second barrel it should serve you well, although I think you will find a pump at clays an additional challenge.

 

[PabloJ]

Hello,
I'm a left hander and have been searching for a left-hand friendly 12 gauge shotgun for some time. I'm particularly interested in the BPS line of shotguns because of their documented quality and ambi design.
I'd like to find one shotgun that could do double duty for HD and hunting (and perhaps clays) if at all possible but realize that that may be a difficult compromise.
(BTW, please don't comment that many left-handers happily use right-handed firearms. Been there, done that. Thx.)
I happened upon my local gun shop and they had in stock something that I had not seen before. It was a Shot Show offering from Browning comprised of a black/polymer stock 12 gauge BPS with a 20" HD barrel AND a 26" (might be 28") barrel with three chokes. Seems completely ideal for my interests but before I buy (they had two in stock) I thought I'd ask the experts for opinions.
BTW, I cannot find any trace of such a Shot Show kit which has me a bit confused - though Browning may be the worst on line marketing company I've ever run across. So it may be a real item, but not well documented.
Comments or opinions are most welcomed.
Thx,
B

It's suitable for HD, deer hunting (with correct barrel or choke for buck shot or slugs), turkey, wildfowl plus some sport shooting, but worthless for upland game shooting due to excessive weight and poor handling qualities.

 

[CopperFouling]

I happened upon my local gun shop and they had in stock something that I had not seen before. It was a Shot Show offering from Browning comprised of a black/polymer stock 12 gauge BPS with a 20" HD barrel AND a 26" (might be 28") barrel with three chokes.

Those were a run from about three or four years ago, if I recall correctly. Browning did make some more recently in .410, but not 12 gauge. The 12-gauge versions are pretty hard to find.

The BPS has a slick action. My friend has one (with a longer barrel and wood stock), and it's a good shooter.

 

[B!ngo]

Thanks for the feedback. All very positive. I'll give them a call tomorrow and place a deposit on the set.
Thx,
B

 

[Milkmaster]

The BPS is a well made proven design for years now. Mine has the best finish of all my pump guns. I wouldn't hesitate a bit on the BPS if it suited my needs.

 

[VA27]

I saw one of those BPS 'defense' guns on the rack at the LGS a year, maybe two ago. I'm still kicking myself for passing on it. Get it!

 

[SwampWolf]

It's suitable for HD, deer hunting (with correct barrel or choke for buck shot or slugs), turkey, wildfowl plus some sport shooting, but worthless for upland game shooting due to excessive weight and poor handling qualities.

While I agree that the BPS is on the heavy side for toting it comfortably all day in typical grouse and woodcock habitat (as is the Remington Model 870 and most other guns with steel receivers-Ithaca's Model 37 excepted), I don't think the BPS handles any less well than most other pump shotguns that I've ever used-and I've shucked plenty of them over the past fifty years or so, including the Remington Model 870, the S&W Model 3000, the Marlin Model 120, the Ithaca Model 37, the Mossberg Model 835, the Benelli Nova, and the Winchester Models 97, 12 and 1300.

 

[Mitlov]

Southpaw and BPS owner here! Don't know anything about the shot show special, but I LOVE the gun. It's totally ambidextrous--neutral stock, neutral feed and ejection, neutral safety. If anything, the side release is easier to operate left-handed than right-handed. Shoots straight and has good build quality. I've got a BPS Hunter, 12 gauge, 28" barrel that I use for trap and skeet. It's easy to load straight into the chamber once you learn the trick.

I shot a 25 straight at the trap range with it after six months with the gun (and six months shooting experience in my life), so I think it handles just fine. I've just recently started shooting skeet with it, and I think the gun handles well there as well.

It's a heavier gun than an 870 and the slide needs to travel farther, but if those aren't issues for you, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

 

[John Peddie]

I have 3 BPS and one M37.

BPS for the webbed feet (heavy, less recoil, and you only have to carry it to the boat (how we hunt anyway).

37 for the rest. easier to carry, and maybe a bit slicker.

I'd only change the 37s safety to top tang to make it perfect...

I'm tight handed, but grew up with a double / top tang.