Browning BPS vs. Reminton 870 Wingmaster

I have a BPS, and I am really happy with it. I am a right hand shot, my young lad is a left soo it works for both of us very well. I like the bottom eject and the top tang safety. We looked at the remington also, but the fit was not the same. I know when we went looking for a shotgun a lot of the advise was get to a gun shop and check'em both out. Form, fit and function, (ok maybe dollars too) will all play in you choice.
 
I read the first 2 pages of this thread, not sure if you have decided yet, but ill give my 2cents on these 2 guns.

I owned a mossberg 500, it was time to get another gun. The mossberg was a great beginner gun, for $500 out the door, 3 barrels you can't go wrong, but I shoot a lot of skeet as well as hammering redwings and grackles, so after about 4000 rounds it was time to upgrade.

My friend bought an 870 the same time I bought the mossberg. And I never liked it. The action has always been stiff and takes a ton of effort to rack. It just didn't feel right when I brought it up to shoot.

The first time I picked up the bps I fell in love. It just fit me so good, I'm 5'8 and I have absolutly no problem with the length, or where the pump is.

After shooting both of them, I still prefer the bps by far, the 870 I feel is more rugged, and rigid, the bps has more class, and will be just as reliable.

One nice feature about the bps is you can load shells in the tube, half wrack a shell, so when something flys by you just slide the pump forward and shoot, no worries about the shell falling out


I'd take the bps hands down
 
I read the first 2 pages of this thread, not sure if you have decided yet...

well...after this weekend when i decided a new bed was a priority (bought one)...







...and my wife decided (and thoroughly convinced me) that a washer/dryer was a priority (we bought both...she seriously never asks for anything, so when she DOES ask for something...she'll get it)...








...I realized i won't be getting a new pump gun for this season.

next spring when i get my yearly bonus i'll be able to cap off this EXTREMELY informative thread by actually voting with my $$$.

Thanks a lot everyone for your input.

cheers :)
 
I have both

I have had both in 20 gauge and currently own both in 12 gauge, the wingmaster is a nice gun, the BPS is a fine piece of work, ya its heavier, but so much nicer to handle and more solid feeling to me.Its finish is beautiful and the wood pretty nice, although, I have stipped the wood on my bps 20 gauge in favour of an oil finish which is way nicer.Either shotgun will last years, the bps in my opinion just works better and is built better, it is tougher to disassemble but once youve done it, its no big deal.Browning gets my dough on this
 
What is your intended purpose for the gun?

*** And the Search function by default only searches back one week. ALWAYS hit the 'Advanced Search' key and change the date setting to go back further.
 
there are things i like about both bps the tang saftey, i like the wieght a bit heavier but i like it, bottom eject great for in the blind
remington been around for years, reliable, smooth meaning the wingmaster.
 
Which ever gun throws up better. Which one is the quicker shooter for you. I have an 870 express and love it. My friend has a BPS and loves it. Sholder the guns and which ever one is quicker for you, you should buy.
 
Not much more to add.
If you like a raised rib, the BPS has the edge - The Wingmaster's rib is lower profile.
I've shot both and I like both, but as others have mentioned the tang safety and bottom eject are the best in the blind.
 
A few years ago I was in a similar dilema. The 3 I narrowed it down to were the BPS, the 870 and the Benelli Nova. After handling all 3, I walked away with the Nova. Just seemed to fit me a little better. I also like the fact I could eject the shell in the chamber without feeding the next round through. That has come in handy a few times.

Fred
 
I've handled both and shot both and carried both and honestly there is just not enough difference between them mechanically to justify all the discussion. In the end fit is the thing and I think the drop at comb is less on the Wingmaster than the BPS so if you fit one you cannot really fit the other. I line up high (looking down on the sights) on the Wingmaster every time.
 
i love both my 870 and BPS. I prefer the bottom eject and tang safety of the BPS but the forearm rattles. the 870 is a real workhorse though.

tough call.
 
As i mentioned earlier, I won't be able to swing any new firearms until next spring (yay for yearly bonus).

i shouldered the wingmaster, bps and nova recently. loved the feel of the nova, and both 870 and bps were close as well.

tough call.

and i know this maybe shouldn't matter, but i HATE the looks of the nova. thats the only downside. i love the wood on the other guns.

at least i've got time to think about it :)
 
You can read these post all day and you will get nowhere fast. for every 100 that love the BPs another 100 will hate it, and vica versa.

They are both great guns, very very clean track records. Although they have a couple small differences, they are all strictly preferential and the end result is the same...BANG.

HOWEVER! they both feel completely different. The BPS is physically bigger that the 870 in most dimensions. This is definitely not a good or bad thing, but if you are a remington rifle guy, you may find the palm swell on the BPS quite large in comparison to the remington. The fore grip is also slightly larger.

The size and dimension differences are unarguable facts, the only way you are going to be able to make up your mind is to have your local shop place both of them on the counter in front of you and let you shoulder each gun.

One will "feel" right. That's the one you buy, regardless of the brand.

Please take this advise as I am well experienced in both these shotguns. I owned a BPS Hunter 3" and 28" barrel for 1 year. I bought it because it was cheaper than the 870 Wingmaster and everyone that I talked to said it was the same quality. After a year with the BPS I sold it and lost a few hundred bucks in doing so. The gun did not fit me at all, not enough drop in the stock and I found myself looking down at the top of the rib when shouldered. I couldn't hit clays or ducks on a regular basis and it was really annoying for me!

I wen't and shouldered a Remmy 870 Wingmaster 3", 28" barrel and found it came to my shoulder naturally and I had a way better sight picture. 2 years on the clay range and duck blind and I am way happier with the 870. It is my only waterfowling gun and comes with me to every duck blind and goose field each fall. I love my 870 Wingmaster and I will have it for the next 50 years!

You can argue all the pro's and con's of each of these guns, take it from me when I tell you they are both awesome shotguns! Both guns had alot of quality and class to them and with a little care would last a lifetime of hunting and shooting. They are however very different fitting guns and if you choose one without shouldering and spending some time with them first, you may make a big mistake.

I was once the guy asking this very same question, and I didnt feel like listening to the guys that said to shoulder each first then decide. It cost me a few hundred dollars for that mistake. LEARN FROM ME!!!
 
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i did shoulder them (several times) in the fall, and i shouldered them again on saturday, when i finally put money down....



























...on the Wingmaster.

took it out yesterday and ran about 50 shells through it. I'm REALLY happy with it, and look forward to using it for the rest of my life.

thanks for all the info guys, i am glad that i got so many responses in this thread, and hope it was helpful for a few other folks who've read it.

cheers and happy (and safe) shooting!
 
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