Browning BPS Stalker or Remington 870 Express

[Norseman]

Browning BPS Stalker 12 Ga 26",  OR... Remington 870 Express 12 Ga 26"?  Which would you buy, or wouldn't.  Please give me logical reason either way, and I would really appreciate it.  Looking forward to your replies.  The decision on buying one or the other is depending on you!

[2eagles]

Easy choice.   BPS!  The Express is a cheap knock-off of a Wingmaster.


Now if you were asking to choose between a BPS and a  870 Wingmaster, I'd choose the Wingmaster.  Simply the best pump ever made.
And yes, I own both guns and hunt with both.

[hunt-m-up]

Easy choice.   BPS!  The Express is a cheap knock-off of a Wingmaster.


Now if you were asking to choose between a BPS and a  870 Wingmaster, I'd choose the Wingmaster.  Simply the best pump ever made.
And yes, I own both guns and hunt with both.

2eagles nailed it. The Express is poorly finished all the way around, be prepared for surface rust and refinishing the stock in 6 months. The Wingmaster is a work of art. I've owned and shot all three, like the Wingmaster best, but the Browning is very well built and has a following.

[cwlongshot]

I have owned two BPS shotguns... I am NOT so approving of them. But is truth it was years ago...
 
I bought a 12 Ga used as a "Duck Gun", It was banged and dented, it already had a hard life. But shot well when it fed... Ironically, I sold it to buy a new Remington Express and haven't looked back.
Later I wanted a trim light 20 Ga. I bought a Browning Citori... Beautiful gun, but I could not hit the broad side of a barn with the top barrel... I sold that to a friend for a good price and bought a trim light Browning BPS 21" barrel 20 GA. I shot it very well and it sure was purdy.  But the pump was very stiff and never smoothed up.. I sold that for a Remington Special Field 20 Ga with a 22" barrel and a action as slick as goose grease. My lone complaint about it is barrels are NON existant... but it shoots and functions perfectly.
 
SO, IMHO,  If you can get a smooth functioning BPS you will have a very nice, good looking firearm. But if your like me, Good looks are appealing, but functionality gets the work done. Buy the Remington and never worry again. Take the extra funds and buy some shells to practice and take your lady friend out for a good time. It's a win win...The Remington 870 wrote the book on pump action shotguns, buy the Remington... I have a number of them, old Wing-masters, old Wing-masters, Special Purpose, Super Express  and a couple Special Field models. ALL function smooth, feed perfectly and shoot like a house afire. As Jim Shocky says, I stake my life on my Rem 870. Its that good.
Oh and a wipe of OIL with every use will stop rust.      That first Express has seen about a dozen SALT WATER duck seasons before my dog passed away. Its got plenty of bangs and nicks and a couple spots where rust started but you will not find any rust on it. Even on the mag tube where its bare steel!
 
CW

[chefjeff]

I own both,but the BPS is more lefty friendly,due to top tang safety.

[cwlongshot]

I own both,but the BPS is more lefty friendly,due to top tang safety.

And bottom eject!

[2eagles]

The last two posts mean absolutely to a right hand shooter and do not address the original question.  I don't approve of switching the safety on an 870 to be lefty friendly for a left hand shooter.  I watched a near disaster once when a lefty with changed safety loaned his shotgun to a right handed shooter.  The guy couldn't understand which way was safe. 


A lefty can learn to use a right hand safety.  And be just as fast on a quick shot.  I am living proof!  LOL   

[Hank in Indiana]

The Rem 870 breaks down fast and easy for cleaning. I'm not familar with the stalker but I have some experience with an Ithaca 37 which is a Browning design bottom eject. It doesn't break down as easy but it is a fine weapon.

[OK hunter]

I own both,but the BPS is more lefty friendly,due to top tang safety.

This is big to LH shooters like me.  I also like how it ejects empties straight down and not in my blind partner's face.