Hey CGN crew. Im in the process of deciding on my first shotgun and have narrowed my search to these two. Both seem fantastic in the hands. The 870 is slightly better in price. But not enough to make the decision one way or the other. Planning to use this gun for everything. Curious if you can help sway me one way or the other. Got a birthday coming up this Saturday and planning to pull the trigger on one! Thanks for the opinions!
Browning BPS vs. Remington 870 Fieldmaster
- Thread starter JJDubs
- Start date
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
If you want a shotgun you can do everything with pick the 870, no other pump gun has as many barrel or stock choices as the 870. You can turn it into a short camp gun to a rifled slug gun or waterfowl hunting barrels, aftermarket support is large.
New production BPS shotguns unfortunately lost a few features recently in order to economize them. They no longer have chrome lined chambers, hand cut checkering or the polished blue finish from the Hunter line. Im not a fan of the new shape of their trigger guard either. If you go that route I’d suggest a used BPS Hunter.
In the past I would have taken the BPS Hunter or Medallion over the 870 Wingmaster and certainly over the express. Today, considering the new production of both, I would take a new 870 Fieldmaster over a new BPS Field…. Everyone’s mileage may vary and both are excellent and it would just boil down to personal preference. I Base my preference on owning both late 90’s BPS Hunter and Stalker, I got a new BPS Medallion in 2018 (limited production), Owned an early 2000’s 870 Express which was garbage, a late pre bankruptcy 870 Police Magnum, a new RemArms Fieldmaster, and a new RemArms Police Magnum (summer 2023 Ilion production). Both the post bankruptcy RemArms 870’s are noticeably better produced then their pre bankruptcy counterparts. Shot many wingmasters just never bought one. Also shot a plethora of old production Special Purpose Magnums, Magnums, and Police Magnums, I’d still take the new RemArms PM over all of those. Handled several current model BPS guns and wouldn’t take any of them over their discontinued ones I already own. I recently got a new RemArms 1100 Sporting 12, the fit and finish, wood, and deep blue absolutely blow the browning medallion out of the water in nearly every respect aside from checkering. What I’m getting at is, right now it’s evident that RemArms is clearly trying to go up in quality while browning is looking to expand the profit margin by going down. At this point, if buying new right now, I’d take any of the new RemArms guns over the current new production browning competing segment. That said RemArms recently announced consolidation of manufacturing at their Georgia plant, and Ilion is closed or in the process of closing. I don’t believe anyone has yet to see a Georgia produced RemArms 870. I suspect you might see a dip in new 870 availability soon, until they get producing them down south. Time will tell what those look like and how they are.
In the past I would have taken the BPS Hunter or Medallion over the 870 Wingmaster and certainly over the express. Today, considering the new production of both, I would take a new 870 Fieldmaster over a new BPS Field…. Everyone’s mileage may vary and both are excellent and it would just boil down to personal preference. I Base my preference on owning both late 90’s BPS Hunter and Stalker, I got a new BPS Medallion in 2018 (limited production), Owned an early 2000’s 870 Express which was garbage, a late pre bankruptcy 870 Police Magnum, a new RemArms Fieldmaster, and a new RemArms Police Magnum (summer 2023 Ilion production). Both the post bankruptcy RemArms 870’s are noticeably better produced then their pre bankruptcy counterparts. Shot many wingmasters just never bought one. Also shot a plethora of old production Special Purpose Magnums, Magnums, and Police Magnums, I’d still take the new RemArms PM over all of those. Handled several current model BPS guns and wouldn’t take any of them over their discontinued ones I already own. I recently got a new RemArms 1100 Sporting 12, the fit and finish, wood, and deep blue absolutely blow the browning medallion out of the water in nearly every respect aside from checkering. What I’m getting at is, right now it’s evident that RemArms is clearly trying to go up in quality while browning is looking to expand the profit margin by going down. At this point, if buying new right now, I’d take any of the new RemArms guns over the current new production browning competing segment. That said RemArms recently announced consolidation of manufacturing at their Georgia plant, and Ilion is closed or in the process of closing. I don’t believe anyone has yet to see a Georgia produced RemArms 870. I suspect you might see a dip in new 870 availability soon, until they get producing them down south. Time will tell what those look like and how they are.
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madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Steep Rock Lake NWO
Both are excellent and will last a lifetime. The 870 is lighter than the tank BPS. The BPS has a proper top tang safety which is ideal on a shotgun. You can't go wrong with either.
Darryl
Darryl
This might be enough to sway me to the 870..
The other thing is I am left handed, which makes the bottom eject and tang safety much more attractive. Lefty guns seem like they have a price hike on them!
Thanks for the detailed response! Definitely swaying me more towards 870!
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Alot of people that buy the 870 don't really use it much
They just play with it by adding every accessory they can find and post a few pictures of it.
You can't beat the BPS action for how silky smooth it is and the quality sound it makes, like a luxury car door closing
They just play with it by adding every accessory they can find and post a few pictures of it.
You can't beat the BPS action for how silky smooth it is and the quality sound it makes, like a luxury car door closing
+1 for BPS ASMR experience
You might get lucky and find a NOS BPS and not have to worry about the alleged short comings of the NEW Brownings that have been made to improve the bottom line.
The Tang Safety would be an added bonus along with the bottom eject for a Lefty (left handed shooter) with being able to retrieve the hulls.
Either way you choose... Happy Birthday !!
Rob
The Tang Safety would be an added bonus along with the bottom eject for a Lefty (left handed shooter) with being able to retrieve the hulls.
Either way you choose... Happy Birthday !!
Rob
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Personally, I like the esthetic of the BPS better
+ The safety is in the correct location
Yes, there are more barrel/stock options for the 870... but really, how many different stock/barrels do you need? (or actually use)
- I'll bet you that soon enough, you'll be using the need for a different barrel length as an excuse to buy a different shotgun... Don't worry, we've pretty much all done it.
+ The safety is in the correct location
Yes, there are more barrel/stock options for the 870... but really, how many different stock/barrels do you need? (or actually use)
- I'll bet you that soon enough, you'll be using the need for a different barrel length as an excuse to buy a different shotgun... Don't worry, we've pretty much all done it.
I like your thinking!
Anytime, being left handed you may prefer a bps. I’d look for a nice lightly used hunter. I’d be iffy about the left handed Remingtons. I’ll be the first to say my experience is limited with the left handed models. You’ll lose some aftermarket support and versatility of barrels with a left handed 870. I shoot with more than a handful of left handed 870 owners, not one has a left handed model. Hope this helps, let us know what you ultimately go with! Enjoy
