BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

I'm wanting a 12 gauge 3.5" for waterfowl upland and maybe turkey and deer in the future. I know I need an all around gun but am wondering if the bps is worth the extra money, i've pretty muchdecided on an 870 super magnum in black with a 28"barrel, a local dealer has a new one for $330. I can pick up a bps for more, but not sure if it's worth it. I'm also wondering about whether or not to get it in camo, kinda worried about the camo scratching off. Also, remington is offering 30 bucks back and browning is offering 75 off a 3.5 bps..

thanks

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

My opinion is that the BPS is the best pump shotgun made today, and one of the best ever made.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

I agree with the above. All are good guns no doubt about it, but in my personal opinion the BPS is just a better gun. However like said it does cost more. I think the Nova's are about the ugliest gun ever made, but they function well.

If it matters to you the 870 is made in the USA. As are mossberg.

Have you considered Mossberg? Their magnums are pretty nice.

Paul

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

First off I don't care for the Nova. Awkward, slow, and heavy to me. The bps and 870 are both good choices. If you get the 870, either pay the extra for the wingmaster or get a camo'd model, because their finish is way easier to keep clean than a black express model. I don't think you get your moneys' worth out of browning guns. They're good, just too much for what you get. By getting an 870 you get way more aftermarket options, chokes etc; but with the browning you have bottom ejection to make collecting spent shells easier. Probably a toss up for you--see what you like in both guns, and which balances better for you.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

I agree. My father has an 870 express... and it's a good gun also. There's more 870s out there than any other shotgun.

Browning BPSstarts about $400 new... These are more in line w/ the Remington Wingmasters in the fit/finish dept such as high polish blueing and nice wood (Walnut)... which run $500+. So the Browning is actually cheaper than a comparable Remington. The 870 Express is a cheapened gun w/ cheaper (beech?)wood and a cheap no polish blue job... which tends to rust easily.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

I've owned all the guns you mentioned and its a no-brainer. BPS

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

I went back to another gun dealer, and I'm probably going to go with him, he's the remmington mechanic for about a 400 mile diameter, and he fixes just about everything free. My goal is to spend no more than 450, and he qouted me a 870 super mag 28" black synthetic and a pattern master for 450 including tax. I could not get the pattern master and get the 30" waterfowl 870 for 410 from him I guess, but i've been told that i pretty much need a pattern master for waterfowl. Is30" to long forpheasant/dove hunting?I like the nova and browning, but i'd feel like i'm paying an extra for the name. Also the browning is more complicated with it's bottom eject and that's just more to go wrong, and Im just plain not fond of the nova. I understand that it's more work to keep the black gun clean and rust free, but i've been told that the camo can scratch off. thanks for all the help.

kris

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

Whoever told you that you need a patternmaster to shoot waterfowl is smoking something.. Out of my Brownings and Benellis I shoot the standard IC choke tube (which is a mod wihen shooting steel shot), and they both pattern like a dream. I used to have an 870 and it didn't pattern any steel shot worth a darn, so maybe your friend was right telling you to get a patternmaster choke for an 870....LOL

Also - My shotguns all wear 24" barrels, except for my Citori (28") and one of my BPSs (26").

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

First of all, thanks for all the input, it's very helpful. I'm leaning towards the camo shadowgrass version of the 870 supermag with a 30 inchbarrel. I keep thinking i'm pidgeon holing myself by getting a 30" and won'tbe able to hunt upland game with it easily. But the shadowgrass only comes in a 30" for the 870 and the dealer told me they aren't making the camo version of the supermag with the 26 or 28 inch anymore. Is 30 just to much for upland, or should i just suck it up, by the 30 inch and then get a shorter barrel for upland/turkey and whatnot? Again, thanks for all the help.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

You'll be fine with a 30". I do most of my hunting with either 26 or 28 inch bbls, and have no trouble at all.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

Rant mode on...

Well you've obviously got a Remington guy bending your ear.. so I'll let that one fly. But if you ever get to shoot/hold a BPS.. you'll see the difference. The BPS is just built better. It doesn't rust if wherever you touch it. Can't tell you how many brand new on the shelf Remingtons I see on a daily basis that are rusted where everyone graps them. Never seen it on the Brownings... that are sitting right next to them.

My BPS w/ a 28" barrel and a Browning/Winchester turkey choke will out pattern my fathers 870 w/ a 28" barrel and Jelly Head choke by about 15-20 pellets... no matter what shells we put through it.

Who says it's more complicated to have the shells eject out the bottom? Well it may be since Remington can't figure it out on their new autoloader that was supposed to be out months ago... but still isn't available because they're having issues w/ it.

Rant mode off.

Pick whichever one you are more comfortable with... in the end if it makes you happy then that's all that matters. But if you buy the Remington.. don't ever shoot the BPS... because you will start kicking yourself in the arse repeatedly.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

While I like browning, my buddy has a Special purpose turkey gun in 870 mag and it's a nice gun. Comes with screw in chokes so you can pretty much do anything you want with it. He did get a cantilever deer barrel for it though. It's driving him nuts that it's not camo though;).

And barrel length really doesn't have that much to do with performance or patterns. Most modern loads will burn all the powder in any conventional length barrel. It has more to do with how the over all gun feels and swings when you shoot it. If you plan on hunting in heavy cover or where you need to get the gun up really fast you might prefer a shorter barrel than a longer one. My A-5 stalker only has a 21 in barrel on it and I really like it.

Paul

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

I bought a 870 Super Mag Synthetic 3 years ago new for $289. That price of $450 is way too high IMO.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

BPS hands down. The only thing that I would compare mine to is the old WingMasters.

And go with a 24'' or 26'' barrel. The only thing the 30'' will do is be harder to get around in the woods and heavier. With today's chokes the pattern from a 24'' will be the same as a 30''.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

buttonbuckmaster...the price of 450 was including a patternmaster and all tax. The gun itself he said was 340 or so. I know i can probably find it a little cheaper, but he is the remington mechanic for a couple hundred mile radius. Where did you get you 870 for 289 at, walmart used to sell them around that price, but you can no longer get a supermag in 26 or 28" there anymore.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

No, I bought mine from a dealer. Still too high, even at $349. Remington has a warranty, so what difference does it make if he's the gunsmith for Remington? He'll have to fix it regardless of where you buy it. I'm just trying to help you save a few bucks. Walmart can order you pretty much any gun you want, just because its not in the rack doesn't mean that you can't get it from them....and I'm not a fan of Wallyworld.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

I would go with the 870. If you want to spend a little more you can get it camo. I like the camo because it doesn't rust. I have an 870 3 1/2. and it is the best gun for the money. I have one that is blued and not camo. It is rusting a little but a little rust won't hurt anything. If you get camo it won't rust. I got my express super magnum for $265. In my opinion it is the best all around gun. I can use it for any type of hunting I want.

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

I've been to walmart and looked at every gun they can get, in their little catalog, and i can't get and super mags in a 26 or 28 that is synthetic or camo. sk74ford, where did you get your gun at? Because every gun dealer i've talked to is at least 329 for a 28" super mag in synthetic. thanks

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

Since you are stuck on the 870 here is what I would get.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=56789325

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

kj22, I got my gun at Whittaker's Guns in Owensboro, Kentucky. I was there about a month ago and my brother got an 870 super mag camo for $329. They had a 26" blued synthetic for $299 and you got a $30 rebate. My brother got a rebate on his too and it only cost him $299. Whittaker's is a hunter's candystore. They have a wide variety of guns at a very low price. They have a website but they never update it and it's not very good. But the store is awesome!

RE: BPS, 870, Nova...which to choose???
 

BPS if you want and can afford the best......Id take a mossberg over a REM any day