Any BPS model in particular that you're looking at? I would shy away from the hunting models, since that much barrel would be more hindrance than help.

Other than that, exactly what input are you looking for? It's a shotgun. Shotguns are fine home defense weapons.


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They are very well made. They are very reliable and would make a find defensive shotgun.

The only potential issue would be if you are uncomfortable with the bottom ejecting. It pretty much prevents loading directly into the chamber in any practical manner, if that is something you are interested in. Also, the aftermarket support for it is thin compared to the omnipresent 870 or 500/590 guns, if that matters to you.

 

Any BPS model in particular that you're looking at? I would shy away from the hunting models, since that much barrel would be more hindrance than help.

Other than that, exactly what input are you looking for? It's a shotgun. Shotguns are fine home defense weapons.


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Upland 22 inch barrel. I'm good with that length.

 

They are very well made. They are very reliable and would make a find defensive shotgun.

The only potential issue would be if you are uncomfortable with the bottom ejecting. It pretty much prevents loading directly into the chamber in any practical manner, if that is something you are interested in. Also, the aftermarket support for it is thin compared to the omnipresent 870 or 500/590 guns, if that matters to you.

That is a real positive endorsement thank you. I seem to recall that if you slide the forearm from the rear position just a little forward the steel guides move out of the way enough to do a direct chamber load if the gun is upside down.

 

That is a real positive endorsement thank you. I seem to recall that if you slide the forearm from the rear position just a little forward the steel guides move out of the way enough to do a direct chamber load if the gun is upside down.

That may be true, that's why I said this:

"It pretty much prevents loading directly into the chamber in any practical manner."

I don't know if what your proposing(unshouldering the gun, flipping it over, moving the bolt to the exact position needed, pushing a single round into the chamber, closing the action, flipping the gun back and reshouldering it) is more "practical" than simply keeping the gun shouldered, loading a round into the magazine in a normal manner(by feel) and then working the action.

I used those "weasel" words on purpose..........:supergrin:

 

Its a good shotgun and even with a hunting length barrel it will be fine for basic home defense. The bottom ejection doesn't bother me a bit as I grew up hunting and shooting Ithaca Model 37's. Like any weapon you just need to be fluent in the manual of arms for that particular design.

There isn't a bad guy in the world that would know the difference between being shot with a load of buckshot from across the room from a super tactical all black 870 or a BPS.

BPS has been around a long time and its earned a good reputation for reliability. Parts are no problem...Browning still supports the platform.

 

There isn't a bad guy in the world that would know the difference between being shot with a load of buckshot from across the room from a super tactical all black 870 or a BPS.

LOL An 870 police or 590 A1 will cause the badguy to faint from the shock of awesomeness of the gun pointed at them.

I'll take classic wood and blue over the tactifool configurations.

 

Their dedicated HD pump holds 5 in the mag tube, tang safety, synthetic stock.
20-inch bead sight and cylinder bore. Solid as any 590/870 made.

 

In the early 1980's Browning made a dedicated "riot" pump gun with 18-inch barrel and wood furniture. It was a flop as the LE market was dominated by Remington and Ithaca (not so much by Mossberg in those days). Now, this version is quite collectable.

 

Probably a good gun - I had one once but traded it for a Remington 1100. I stick with Remington because parts and accessories, like barrels, magazine extensions, stocks, etc., are MUCH more plentiful and much cheaper than for any other brand.

For home defense, I'd buy a $150-200 used Remington 870 Express before I'd buy a BPS.

 

In the early 1980's Browning made a dedicated "riot" pump gun with 18-inch barrel and wood furniture. It was a flop as the LE market was dominated by Remington and Ithaca (not so much by Mossberg in those days). Now, this version is quite collectable.

A new riot version would be nice, but it is not an option.

I'm considering having a long barrel cut shorter to arrive at the same thing.

 

Probably a good gun - I had one once but traded it for a Remington 1100. I stick with Remington because parts and accessories, like barrels, magazine extensions, stocks, etc., are MUCH more plentiful and much cheaper than for any other brand.

For home defense, I'd buy a $150-200 used Remington 870 Express before I'd buy a BPS.

I understand the versatility argument. However, I am keeping it wood stocked and don't have a need for a magazine extension. I want a simple barrel. I don't see a barrel disadvantage with a traditional vent rib 18" to 20" and a bead sight.

 

The BPS is solid to be sure, just like the Ithaca M37 is and they're stupid reliable, very smooth and amazing guns (both the BPS and M37)

That being said, would never choose either over something like an 870 or 500/590 for defense. Both the Browning and Ithaca load and eject from the bottom. Neither has an ejection port on the side to easily port-load the gun (this is a giant issue for a gun with such limited capacity - all shotguns have limited capacity). With the BPS, as mentioned, you can roll it over, fineness the action back a bit and manage to slip a shell into the chamber, takes practice and even then a lot (relatively) of time, nothing like dropping a shell through the side of an 870 or 500/590. The Ithaca just WILL NOT take a shell through the bottom into the breach (not saying you can't do it, just that it'll take a few days to get it done). All that on the table, the Ithaca 37s and BPS are AWESOME guns, just not anything I'd pick over a good gun with a port on the side, that is an absolute must on a defensive shotgun (as is a good white light).

...and since we on the subject, a bit of "encouragement" for y'all to start a good M37 collection.

...this is from a while back, but you get the idea.
These guns are simply amazing, they're a ton-o-fun and
can be found very inexpensively.

As for a BPS, this one is kinda a "work in progress" 10ga...

...kinda like lookin down a 10ga sewer pipe.

Anyway, for a home defense shotgun, get a good gun (that you can easily port-load) and a good white light on it.

 

I have the 22" barrel on mine right now. Swings like an adult sized .22

 

Well, my girlfriend has a BPS Defense model she brought over for me to fix. Somehow it was jammed up with an expended shell in the chamber. Anyways, taking it apart was easy but with no manual (not like the manual from Browning is a treasure trove of information in this are in the first place) it was a little more tricky. But I got it back up and working and she likes it so that's the big thing. In a way, I can see where it works for her. She's cross-eye dominant (right handed but left eye dominant) and shoots as a lefty. The tang safety on the top works better than a cross-bolt safety design and the bottom ejection doesn't have hulls flying past her face. Loading will always be problematic though as you can't easily access the chamber for a "select slug" drill but if you want to keep it loaded with buckshot and rely on that load alone, it works alright. Myself being a right handed shooter though, I don't care for it. The slide release button is easy to manipulate for a lefty but is way too small and poorly located for a right handed shooter. My middle finger that works great with a Mossberg can't reach the button without doing some major contortions. If I want to reach my trigger finger all the way through the trigger guard, I can depress it easy enough but going across the trigger like that is a big no-no with a loaded weapon so yeah, that's an issue if you are a right handed shooter.
All-in-all, it's a well built shotgun that is a pretty decent choice for a left handed shooter as long as you don't forsee yourself doing a lot of load changes and can live with the extremely limited aftermarket parts. I know Nordic makes an extended magazine tube for the BPS but that's about the only thing out there that I have found for the BPS. However, as a true fighting gun, I think there are better choices out there (Remington, Mossberg, Benelli, used Winchesters, Kel-Tec, Ithaca, etc,) that make a better fighting gun than the Browning BPS.

 

I recently bought a BPS with the 20" barrel and extended magazine for HD. All I want to add is a white light.

Today I put a 20 ga. BPS on layaway for shotgun games and hunting. Both are well made and the 20 ga. satin finish stock has a bit of grain to it.

 

I like your style.