You guys will talk me out of it?

[Canuck Bob]

The arrival recently of a 9422 filled the gap in my gunsafe nicely. However I don't own a shotgun.

Browning-BPS-Upland-Special-MID-012216-m.jpg

I look at options and wonder but this model keeps jumping out at me. The 20 gauge Upland Special. Waterfowl doesn't interest me but rabbits, upland game, and home protection does. My wife surprised me a bunch recently by engaging me in a conversation on home security and firearms. She actually told me to stock up on ammo!!! This is out of character for her.

I like the style, short barrel, and wood stock. The more tactical looking options don't seem to connect with me. They do finally offer a 20 gauge rifled slug gun and that interests me a bit. Anyone know if that barrel would be a quick fit to this receiver, can't see why not but been wrong before.

12 gauge is perhaps more sensible. 20 gauge works for me because my daughters will eventually use it and in the back of my head is a plan to gift one to each of them when they are older. It sits well with me to know when I'm gone my girls will have a handy shotgun in their house and they are handy with it.

Also we live in bear country and carrying a 444 is often just too much for a camp gun. This little thing will carry nicely and nothing seems to grab a guys attention like a racking pump.

[Shasta]

I love the Browning BPS because it has bottom feed, bottom eject, and a tang safety, making it very friendly for the left-handed shooter as well as the right. I hunt waterfowl using either my 12 gauge 3" or my 10 gauge 3 1/2" BPS, both with the black synthetic stock.

I think that 20 gauge Upland will be perfect for what you have in mind!

SHASTA

[Marvin S]

Can't say for certain on the bbl swap but I had one foolishly sold it. They are the slickest little pump guns made.

[Marlin32]

pumps are far from my favorite, and don't own one.
Look at the BPS Upland in 16ga also, for same reasons as the 20ga.
Bottom fed, I like that, so is the Model 37.

Brother's wife has the youth model 20ga, I have shot it, I would classify the BPS as one of the better pump guns out there, but then again, not my area of expertise.

[Dave]

That would be a great gun. The 20 gauge really shines on small game and birds.

[Canuck Bob]

I forgot to mention I'm a lefty. Time to scout around and see what stock is in Alberta. If one is found a wait to post-hunting season might save a few bucks.

[Griff]

I tend to recommend the 12 guage over the 20, especially for slighter sized folks... The 12s are generally built on larger, heavier frames, with more metal and weight to them. There is a much larger selection of reduced recoil loads in 12 than there is in 20 and that, plus the extra weight, generally means less felt recoil.

[Sixgun]

No, we are not going to talk you out of it. On the contrary, you should buy it.

I look at shotguns as tools and as a tool, it's mighty hard to beat a Remington 870.

Like Griff said, get the 12.----6

[barbarossa]

I have one of the new made Ithaca 37 in 20 guage with a 26 barrel, it is a quality piece and it is my go to gun for upland birds.

[RIHMFIRE]

i am partial to remingtons and bereta...but the browning is a very good gun....
I'd rather have a belgium made than a jap version though....

870 rems have xtra barrel choices too, and are easy to get

[Tycer]

That would be a great gun. The 20 gauge really shines on small game and birds.

YES! For the reasons Griff likes the 12s, I like the 20s. Lighter, smaller and the 20 has less shot and powder and recoil. Yes, there is a larger variety of factory loads for the 12, but I roll my own anyway.

[Rusty]

Not long ago I bought an 870 youth in 20 ga. I had the wife in mind but she has yet to heft it. That little thing is sweet. It comes on a smaller frame that
the 12 and is just plain handy with a 21" bbl.

[AJMD429]

It ain't a levergun.

These are - http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=50842...

Prolly a bit pricey though.

So, I guess you're forgiven if you buy it. Just don't shoot it more than your leverguns.

[Blaine]

I'll keep the 870 12ga Tactical for SD/SLUGS/buckshot etc. I'll be using the 20/410 for everything else. I'll bet anything I've got with the shotgun, 410 would have been plenty. .....

[piller]

Due to you being a lefty, the BPS sounds like it would be good. I have used both 12 and 20 gauge for quite a while. My son is recoil sensitive and he likes the old Remington 870 Wingmaster 20 gauge I passed down to him and he tried my Mossberg with the ported barrel in 12 gauge and said it was too much. That was with AA loads. Nope, for kids the 20 gauge is the way to go. My daughter, SightHunter, likes her 20 gauge and she loves to shoot my Guide Gun and has fired a Merkel Double Rifle in a 9.3X something caliber that is used for elephants. She is not recoil sensitive and she still prefers the 20 gauge since it is lighter and she can swing it better.

[Buck Elliott]

For whatever reasons, I find a pistol grip stock makes a slide-action gun more comfortanle and controllable.. I prefer a straighter, more open grip on double guns; especially those with double triggers..

Browning's guns are well-engineered and masterfully manufactured, regardless of where they are made.. The ubiquitous, utilitarian 870 pales in comparison..

20-gauge guns are generally lighter and trimmer that 12s, and would be my choice for younger shooters, especially girls. I may be an old-school throwback, but I seriously lament the diminishing choices in my preferred 16-gauge.. Too bad the various marketing departments shunned that perfect combination into near oblivion..

[Chuck 100 yd]

I like the 20. Good choice! Nice gun!!!

[.45colt]

Just this past Monday I traded the 12ga Browning BPS I bought new in 1986 or 87. 26" barrel. I had 4 chokes for it. it was too heavy to be a good upland gun, the buttstock was thick and full, and the trigger had a lot of travel/ creep in it. I will be going back to an 870 Wingmaster or new Ithaca 37. If I were to get another Browning it would be a 20 ga. Good Luck.
The Guy at the Cabelas Gun library made me an offer I couldn't refuse. .

[BigSky56]

Bob get a 20 ga they will work fine, I use one for upland game, a ithica 37 or a brning pump are handy. danny

[Woodsman]

Interesting timing. I just bought one of those at the Gander Mountain in Winston-Salem about a week ago.

I looked at a large number of 12 and 20 gauge scatter-guns. I looked at pumps and semi-autos mostly, but a number of O/U and SXS doubles too. In the end it was a choice between the Browning BPS Upland Special 20G and a Benelli Ultra Light 12G.

I wanted something light, with a short 22"-24" barrel, that shouldered quickly and pointed well, that had a decent trigger and (here is what made the decision for me in the end) that represented good value for my dollar(s). I, like you, am intending it for small game. So the 20G vs 12G thing wasn't really a factor. I could have easily gone either way.

Absent that last factor I probably would have picked the Benelli, since all around I liked it more. However, it cost more than double what the BPS cost and the "value for my money" idea just stopped me cold. The BPS is the best value in a pump-gun out there, and honestly... maybe across categories too. My BPS is absolutely without flaw in fit & finish (and I'm pretty detail-oriented about that), sports surprisingly nicely figured walnut furniture and a deep, deep blue, meets all my handling criteria and promises to rock the house when I take it up to hunt rabbits, squirrels and sundry upland game at my lease in southern Virginia in a few weeks. It cost the same as a Glock with a set of night sights, but it'll still be wood 'n walnut beauty in 30 years when I give to one of the grand kids I hope to have by then!

Talk you out of it? I think not. ;-}


Woodsman

[EdinCT]

One of my friends had the 12 BPS and it was a fine shotgun. It also shot some of the meanest 00 buck patterns I ever saw. A few years back I fondled the BPS in 16 gauge and the only thing that saved me from buying it was finding shells for it locally. I already had a 870 youth 20ga in the house and couldn't justify it. I somewhat regret not buying it.

[Old No7]

...However I don't own a shotgun.
...I look at options and wonder but this model keeps jumping out at me. The 20 gauge Upland Special. Waterfowl doesn't interest me but rabbits, upland game, and home protection does...
...I like the style, short barrel, and wood stock. The more tactical looking options don't seem to connect with me. They do finally offer a 20 gauge rifled slug gun and that interests me a bit. Anyone know if that barrel would be a quick fit to this receiver, can't see why not but been wrong before.
...This little thing will carry nicely and nothing seems to grab a guys attention like a racking pump.

I love the BPS Upland Specials ! ! !

Both of them -- as I have one in 12 and in 20 gauge too.

Some guys will often tease me about the "Short barrel not hitting as hard..." and I always go "Huh?" and invite them to go stand out at 30yards, and then I'll move up 4" or 6" to make up the difference, and we'll see how they like it... No takers yet!

I love the Browning BPS because it has bottom feed, bottom eject, and a tang safety, making it very friendly for the left-handed shooter as well as the right...
...I think that 20 gauge Upland will be perfect for what you have in mind!

I agree with all those points, and they slick up well with use too.

If you put an upland special next to an over/under, you'll find they're about the same length (only more action, less barrel -- but see my comment on barrel length above), and they sort of have the same handling, in my opinion. They are a little heavy, due to the stout construction, but mine carries and points just fine.

To me, the straight grip ("English" style) makes it super for jump shooting and for quick shots, like on grouse in the woods; maybe not-so-great on looooooooong passing shots, I'll agree. It's not a great sporting clays gun, but I have fun and do OK with it when I do get to do that.

Dis-assembly is easy enough, reassembly can be a chore (as there's a pin that the trigger group rotates on when coming out,so you have to get it right going back in), but with the internet and online "how to" videos today, that's a lot better than what I had 20+ years ago. I have had my 12 for 30 years or so, and the 20 for maybe 20 of those.

Let us know if you get it!

Tight groups!

Old No7

[samb]

Bob, A good friend of mine in Canmore bought a pistol gripped wood and blued, youth model BPS 20 Gauge for his wife. I only handled it, and found it pointed beautifully.

[Bridger]

I love my regular BPS in 20 gauge.

[Ji in Hawaii]

I used to own the 12 gauge version of that, very nice design and high quality scattergun that you won't regret buying. Love the clean looks of the ejection port-less steel receiver, the bottom ejection being a great idea, and the tang safety the perfect location. I'm certainly not gonna talk you out of it.

[Borregos]

I have both 20ga and 12ga but with the pistol grip, they are great guns to use, bottom feed and eject to my mind is a great feature
Hope I didn't talk you out of it Bob

[Canuck Bob]

I think the 20 is the gun. Now I need to track one down and try it for fit and handling.

samb, I do wonder about the pistol grip. i prefer my 444 to my Win 94 for rifles. However when I was a kid I hacksawed the barrels off my SXS to make it a bunny gun. It worked great because the straight stock and handy size allowed real quick snap shooting at cottontails and my backside hurt for a week when my Dad saw my gunsmithing!! I find that the smooth swing of a longer barrel is not an issue for me, never could hit a duck or goose often enough to make hiding in a muddy field worth it.

I looked into the Rem but found a thread about the new ones and some changes to the internals. I really like the Winoku products for quality. They do have a lefty version. In the end I have not forgiven them for what they did to Marlin and may never.

[Woodsman]

The English, straight grip is one if the things I like best about my new BPS Upland Special. It allows shooters with different hand sizes, like my wife and daughter, to hold it according to personal fit rather than to have to hold it at the pistol grip and reach from there to the trigger. It also feel to me like it aids in a faster mount.

Woodsman

[3leggedturtle]

Canuck Bob; I am left handed, have shot Mossberg 500, Rem 870, Brwning A-5's, Rem Mod 11 and Rem 1100's with no problems. I always wanted a lefty shotgun but don't shoot them enough to justify it. Tho a LH 1100 in .28 or .20 could really tempt me on a weak day. Came close to a Stagg Arms LH AR-15, but bought 2 levers instead of it 3leg