Browning or Benelli

[CscottsSS]

Gonna purchase a new shotgun to use for a variety of things, but mainly turkey and leisure shooting. I've narrowed it down to either a Browning or Benelli, both pumps. What do you recommend and should I go with a 12 or 20 gauge.

Either the Benelli Nova pump in synthetic or maybe advantage max

or the Browning BPS Hunter, what I basically want is an all-around Shotgun that is reliable, durable and can be used for many different purposes.

Thanks for your help :)

[trust me]

Both have good reputations. The BPS has the safety on the top tang. Differrent, but pretty handy.

[pb]

The BPS is a nice gun, Can be used by righties or lefties, son has used a 20 for 15 years(he's a lefty) and shoots it very well. I just bought a used 12 and it shoots very well. I have never fired a Beneli pump but it also has a good rep and you can get a recoil reducer for it.

[gun hunter]

I have a BPS I bought about 10 years ago and use it for everything from skeet to turkey.Wouldnt take anything for it.

[CscottsSS]

hmmm.. 3 votes for the BPS out of 3 replies. Looking like the obvious choice so far. Thanks for the replys fellas.

[tominator]

I have had a Benelli SBE for about 7 years. I've waterfowled with it, turkey hunted with it, upland hunted with it, and shot trap and sporting clays with it. It has been covered in mud, soaked in rain and snow, covered with 1/8 inch freezing rain. The only time it has let me down, I was shooting clays and using the cheap Winchester 100-packs from Wal-Mart. And that was the first and last time it failed to fire and feed whatever, and I mean whatever I feed it for the occasion. Performance Worth The Price. To me not just a slogan. A buddy of mine has a Nova and has had the same good luck that I have.

[Dev]

I have a new SBE 2 and I swear by it. That gun will not let you down or give you any head aches. If you're options are open look at it. It was a big purchase for a college student, but it will pay for itself quickly. Good luck with the new gun.

[Fairplayky]

Have a Nova and am not satisfied. The trigger pull is much too hard. Get the BPS.

[SigSauerLPB]

This is a really tough call. Definately swing for the 12ga. no matter which brand. Shoot both of them, work the action, do a list of pro's and con's, get the one which works best for you. BUT let me make you aware of a few things to look for when testing: Look at the loading and ejecting function of the BPS, it is the old Ithica style that loads and ejects underneath, I dislike this feature, it does not allow for quick loading although it does compile your empty shells nicely at your feet. ALSO, I do not like the feel of the Nova, I dont like forearms with much move in them, the BPS will be stiff and sturdy, the Nova's I have picked up tend to rattle and such, personal preference really. I will say this, the Nova can easily be converted to a great deer slug gun. I have absolute confidence in my Benelli but go play with them, look at the mentioned features, and good luck.

[Born to Hunt]

My vote would be for the Browning...just an opinion. I think they are both great shotguns. I actually like Beretta better than either of them. Beneli's Montefeltro is a gem to carry.

[daking]

BUY AMERICAN! Try an Ithaca 37. Mine never fails, shucks the empties out the bottom like the Browning and is a general all-around good gun. Deer barrel shoots just fine.

Seriously, you cannot go wrong with either of the two Killer B's. I just like my Ithaca.

Terry

[trust me]

Daking,
Ithaca went bust...again. The 37 is a fine shotgun (have two) but the Browning is essentially the same design but with two action bars. You know how our 37s have that irritating forearm rattle? The Browning isn't supposed to have that with the twin action bars. Also, the Browning safety is on the top tang. I've never tried a Browning, but I'm sure they're brute strong and well made.

[jeremys]

I've owned both and in my opinion the Benelli is far superior, I have a M1 turkey and a SBE and looking for a 20ga. Nova at the moment. I had alot of trouble out of my BPS jamming, I'm not a big fan of the the bottom ejector.

[mmayes]

If it were me I wouldn't even consider the Benelli pump. I would be looking at a BPS. The Benelli guns remind me of a mossturd shotgun w/the rattle. The BPS is a much better gun. This coming from a SBE shooter.

Mayes

[Bray]

STAY AWAY FROM THE BENELLI. I was in the same exact position last turkey season. I looked and looked and compared and looked some more. I found that every Benelli PUMP i picked up had a terrible forearm rattle. I could just see myself walking through the woods at daylight going CLANK RATTLE CLANK. In my oppinion Benelli makes the finest automatic shotguns in the world and absolutely love the montefeltro, but their pumps don't even compare to a Browning/Ithica Action. I was able to find a Nice camo Ithica 37 Turkeyslayer at a very reasonable price. I can say that I am completely satisfied and would love to own the 37 deerslayer. But I am also 100 % sure that I would have loved the Browning just as much. Check out the Benelli and notice the rattle. I am sure that it will not even be an option aftwerwards.

[quackrstackr]

What the heck does a forearm rattle have to do with the functionality of a shotgun?

Compare the difference in reliability between the bulletproof Nova and a problematic BPS and the difference in taking one down for cleaning... you'll never consider a BPS.

If you think the forearm clanking in the predawn turkey woods is a problem, you must float on air or have the stealth of an Apache.

BPS for sure have a better fit than the Nova.. but they are not as reliable and an absolute bear to take apart and reassemble.

If the absence of noise is your benchmark for a shotgun, go with a double barrel of some sort.

[pb]

Since when is a BPS not reliable? Been using one for 15 years with no problems. Only shotgun I ever had that would shot anything you put in it including Aguila mini shells.

[quackrstackr]

I can point you to a forum with easily 20 times the members of this site where I have seen every type firearm debated, including these two just a couple months ago.

The number of people claiming that their personal experience of BPS's being unreliable sort of shocked me as well. There were a staggering number that dumped BPS's for the Nova and never looked back. I'll admit that I've never owned a BPS but I have hunted with people that did and have seen failures with my own two eyes. There's a poster right here in this thread that had problems with one. Just because you've never had a problem from yours in 15 years doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I have yet to hear one reliability complaint about a Nova since they've been out, far from it actually. The only complaint I've heard is "the forearm rattles" or "it's ugly"... so what if it works. I don't buy duck guns to be trophy pieces. They are used hard all season long, get washed off in the water when they're full of mud and will eventually get cleaned after season is over. When they get worn out, I get rid of them and buy another. Try taking your BPS apart in a duck blind to clean the crud out of it...;) I can take a Nova completely down in about 30 seconds and put it back together just as quickly.

I also haven't owned a pump yet that failed to shoot whatever I put in it, including mmayes favorite mooseturd. There are folks out there that love those as well, and I have to admit that I owned an 835 that was probably the best patterning shotgun I've ever owned.

I would buy whatever fits you best and you can operate well. If you keep it clean either of them should serve you fine. Aesthetics and side or bottom ejection are all personal preference.

The 870 Supermags are good guns so long as you don't get one with the rough chamber, which can be fixed pretty easily as well. I've got one of those that has never missed a beat.

[moreammoplz]

Benelli is the way to go. I have a BPS in 3.5 inch 12 GA and it is a boat anchor. WAY to heavy. Browning shoots okay, but I hate to carry it.

Nova's shoot great and I like the recoil rods they have for the stocks.. I saw them in Lexington for around $300 can't beat that.....

[Tha' Hat]

Go for the BPS. I've never seen one that didn't work. I've been hunting with a BPS 20-guage since I could walk, and I use a BPS 10-guage quite a bit when duck and goose hunting. Get a synthetic model, because I still cringe when I see that pretty stock getting dinged up. But I've never had a malfunction or problem of any kind, and mine have been underwater, in the mud, stepped on, frozen and dropped. No problems yet. Contrary to what Sig boy says, they're the fastest-loading pump shotgun I've ever seen. Just thumb those shells in and keep shucking.

That said, they are a booger to take apart and reassemble when cleaning.

[born2hunt]

go with the benelli, thats what ive had for three years and never had a jam, it shoots great and throws an awesome pattern with the factory chokes. i ll never shoot anything else.

[SigSauerLPB]

....Contrary to what Sig boy says, they're the fastest-loading pump shotgun I've ever seen. Just thumb those shells in and keep shucking.

That said, they are a booger to take apart and reassemble when cleaning.

In fear of posting a long thread, I didnt even get as far as the disassembly of the Browning Piece of S*** (BPS for short). Originally I had intended my comments on the topic to be unbiased and I presented shortcommings of both models as well as strong points. Unfortunatley I was in a nasty fist fight with THA' HAT one time and he has held a grudge ever since. He slaps like a girl and even pulled my hair, figures...he drinks pinocoladas. Naw just kidding, he's probably the best friend I've got but he is a staunch Browning fan and will overlook any of their flaws despite a voice of reason.
Seriously though....like I've said, shoot both guns, get the one you like.
Baker-out.

[pb]

quackerstackr, point me towards that forum that discusses all the bps problems.

[150PandY]

I have a benelli M1 camo and I love it. I have had it for about 5 years and never had a problem. I have used it for turkey, sporting clays then doves then turkeys again then rabbits all in the same season without cleaning and never had a problem. Probably shot 1000 rounds that season. Love it, it pulls up like an extention of your arm you dont even know its there.

[jeremys]

Well see if this tells you anything....I traded a BRAND SPANKIN' NEW Browning Upland Gold Hunter for a used Benelli M1 camo 20ga..it feels better than my M1 SteadyGrip!!!! Benelli's are expensive but after you shoot one you'll never ??? their worth...

[ducknbuckhunter]

my avatar says it all, but berreta is a nice gun, heck the duckman swears by browning, what ever floats your boat