Pump shotguns- Who is manufacturing the best?

[Blockcaver]

Good call sending your M12 to Art’s, probably no place knows them better these days.

Now that the BPS is discontinued if I had to buy a new pump gun an Ithaca would probably be my only consideration.

But before doing that I’d be much more likely to hunt down an old Ithaca, a Remington M31 or M17, or another M12. If you wanted another M12 the late production Miroku M12s are super nice and probably your best chance at finding a new or nearly new gun.

The Miroku built 20 & 28 ga M12 repros are nice, very well built shotguns. I’ve owned one of each ga, one called Winchester and the other Browning. Only things I hold against them is weight and barrel lengths at 26” only. The 20 ga weighed about a 1/2 pound more than my 1935 M12 solid rib, weighing in at over 6#14oz and got sold. The 28 ga is even heavier at 7#2oz. Still have it and enjoy shooting clay targets occasionally with it.

The actions are very slick, but trigger pull is a tad heavy at over 6#s on them, but crisp.

I’d find an original in 20 ga with a 28” modified choke, either solid rib or plain barrel if I was looking. 16 ga is great but there is not really anything but hunting ammo readily available for them, and non tox is very scarce. No issue if you reload.

 

[sndmn11]

@RyanT26 your thread prompted me to get a stock adapter for my youth 870 20g and some fancy chokes.

 

[RyanT26]

Follow up: I got my model 12 back from Art’s today. Pictures don’t do it justice, I am very happy with it. Bluing looks great and they did great on the stock. The cycling of the action is considerably tighter than what it was.

Also found a Model 37 20ga with a fixed modified barrel a few months ago at an auction. Between these two, I should be good for quite a while.

 

[Blockcaver]

Ryan, very nice pair of pumps! Enjoy them....made to hunt!

 

[GetOutside]

Gotta love the bottom eject on the BPS. Makes for quick cleanup of spent shells when they are sitting at your feet.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Gotta love the bottom eject on the BPS. Makes for quick cleanup of spent shells when they are sitting at your feet.

You’re supposed to clean those up???

 

[GetOutside]

lol leave it better than you found it

 

[Ringbill27]

Grew up with mossbergs and they always worked well. Shot/handled many rem 870 never likes the feel or the locations of the slide release and safety compared to the mossbergs. Retired my mossberg 835 and replaced with a Win SXP which I never got used to the “speed pump” always short stroked the second round. Opening morning of duck, twice I short stroked to very easy follow-up shots. Traded it off that day on a win SX4 and never looked back.

 

[KurtR]

Grew up with mossbergs and they always worked well. Shot/handled many rem 870 never likes the feel or the locations of the slide release and safety compared to the mossbergs. Retired my mossberg 835 and replaced with a Win SXP which I never got used to the “speed pump” always short stroked the second round. Opening morning of duck, twice I short stroked to very easy follow-up shots. Traded it off that day on a win SX4 and never looked back.

First new gun i ever bought was a mossberg 835 ultimag saved all summer and bought it. Hunted twice with it felt like a fence post and swung like old heavy pipe hated the safety location. Sold it back to the place for a case of shells and a 870 for back up to the wingmaster. Shows how shotguns are so user dependent.

 

[Ringbill27]

First new gun i ever bought was a mossberg 835 ultimag saved all summer and bought it. Hunted twice with it felt like a fence post and swung like old heavy pipe hated the safety location. Sold it back to the place for a case of shells and a 870 for back up to the wingmaster. Shows how shotguns are so user dependent.

It was the first gun I bought as well. Love it. Loved where the safety and the slide release was. I put 10000+ rounds through it in the 20 years I used it.

 

[Or.hunter]

I started off with a late 60’s early 70’s Remington 870. No rib, just a gold bead at the end. Full choke 30” barrel. Loved that gun. Next was the original Benelli nova. Still shooting that gun. It’s been flawless.

 

[medvedyt]

bps are great up to the the time you need to clean them. the remington wingmaster 870 for that is really hard to beat. talking about the old version can t tell for the new ones.

 

[bdome]

Hard to beat an 870 in any caliber. Don’t know about the most recent introductions though. I always liked the Browning BPS but also found it too heavy and clunky.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

BPS, I own 2, a 20 and a 12. I love the fact that they are ambidextrous (bottom ejection, tang safety) as my wife shoots left handed. They have been both been solid for 30-40 years.

 

[Bowtie747]

Not saying it’s the best, I bought a new 870 in 20 gauge and it’s been really nice so far. Sending it off tomorrow to get cerakoted. Thinking about picking up another with a full stock and longer barrel. Mines a youth.

 

[MallardSX2]

get a Winchester 1300.

 

[Crewsn]

Winchester model 1300, for the last 26 years. Never an issue, none. I’ve put at least a few thousand rounds through that thing dove and duck hunting over the years. 2 years ago I picked up a Winchester SX4, excellent auto and zero issues as well.

 

[Davyalabama]

Yeah, pumps -- let's talk. I think you did great!!!!!!!!! I kill a turkey every year with my uncle's model 12, dad's old A5 and uncle's 1100, then start over -- so, I'm generally killing 2 with the 12 and 2 with the 1100 --- those old guns just point for me so well. The A5 isn't a slouch either.

Good luck finding Winchester longbeard xr in 2 3/4, but I use their XX load and it's fine. I do use lead, see what your guns like -- 4-5-6. I shoot 4's, always have, works for me.

If you are anything like me, you will learn to take your grandfather and father on those hunts with you --- That model 12 in the hand, early in the morning, I can sit here and imagine it now. The way she looks leaned against a tree in the predawn before a gobbler fires off.

Oh my goodness, I am so overwhelmed, thank you God for the life I have had, and the one I have now, the people you have brought through my life, family now and family past. You've been so, so good to me. I lift your name Jesus, the name ...... ..... Gotta go now fellows, I have another I need to talk to for a bit.

 

[Smkn_brl00]

I understand pump shotguns are often thought as cheap entry-level guns into some point they are. Looking for a pump in a 20 gauge. I would prefer wood and blue steel.

Are the new Remington 870s as quality as they once were. Anybody who’s handled the Field Master or Wing Master is there enough difference to account for the extra money.

Looking at Ithaca 37 as well, haven’t been able to find one to handle though. I had a BPS years ago and it always felt like it was clunky.

Older wingmaster is hard to beat, browning BPS are smooth and nicely finished, but the fastest and smoothest pump I’ve shot is my older Winchester 1300 speed pump