New BPS, Old Wingmaster

[Sandwedge]

Hi friends -

I've been looking for a nice pump. I can get a Browning BPS quite readily. 12 GA, 28 inch. Nice weapon all around. Or a used Wingmaster. But I can't find a new Wingmaster! Oddly, the used Wingmasters are usually pre-screw in chokes so it's a fixed choke barrel which I presume I can just swap out at some point with a newer barrel.

I'm new to the shotgun world, are there other options out there? Is there some secret store that has all the Wingmasters in stock?

And would you do the BPS or the Wingmaster? Just curious!

Thanks

Sand

[chuckdc]

I would prefer an old Wingmaster, just because the parts availability is so much greater. Now, if I were a lefty, that would change because the BPS is more ambidextrous with the bottom eject. I think the WM is somewhat smoother in operation, but not so much that it should make a whole lot of difference.

[stevec223]

Wingmaster with choke tubes... Buying a old fixed choke 870 ok ,,, but the new barrels expensive... Even a used barrel on e-bay not cheap... I have seen new rem wingmasters at bass pro in manteca.. Call around,, they are out there but just here and there... Cheers..

[jmust1991]

BPS for me, I think it's a better built gun, smoother action, will last forever.

[stonefly-2]

wingmaster for me, better built gun, smoother action & known to last forever. i bought a new barrel for one of mine and i would rather have a bps than any gun without choke tubes.

[.300 Weatherby Mag]

I bought a BPS instead of another new wingmaster.. I've owned three new Wingmasters all built since Remington was taken over in 2006.. They've all had teething problems and one was ultimately replaced by Remington because it was a lemon.. They were such a disappointment compared to the 1961 Wingmaster I grew up shooting... Its annoying to spend $700 on a shotgun and have to send it back to Remington multiple times before they get it to work properly.. I tracked down and bought back my old Wingmaster after having nothing but poor luck with the new ones.. The Browning Pumps I've purchased recently have been absolutely flawless...

I love the 870 Remington.. My experience has shown its crap shoot as to the quality you will get with a new one..

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I would prefer an old Wingmaster, just because the parts availability is so much greater. Now, if I were a lefty, that would change because the BPS is more ambidextrous with the bottom eject. I think the WM is somewhat smoother in operation, but not so much that it should make a whole lot of difference.

Slightly off topic, but I picked up 2 Police trade in Wingmasters (prob 70's vintage) and they put my much newer 870 Express magnum to shame. I cleaned them up and test fired them and they became my new HD guns. It would almost be worth paying new gun price for a used Wingmaster just because of the quality of the older builds.

[Sandwedge]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like I can't go really wrong either way... except perhaps with a new Wingmaster. That is a bit sad, another bit of Americana slides downhill.

[anti]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like I can't go really wrong either way... except perhaps with a new Wingmaster. That is a bit sad, another bit of Americana slides downhill.

Yeah, I'd go with the BPS in that case. Not only to try something new, but for that price you're going to want something quality that's going to function fine out of the box... not saying all Remington shotguns are bad... I have a slightly older 11-87 Special Purpose that has been serving me well so far since I bought it here on CGN.

[Cuda440]

My brother just bought a BPS engraved a few months ago- its only available from gander mtn but for some reason its actually about $150 less than the non engraved version http://www.gandermountain.com/modper...gun&i=GM420161

After tax, shipping, transfer and dros, it was still about $50 less than picking up the non-engraved BPS from BassPro. It really is a nice solid gun that has run flawlessly since he got it, and he mostly shoots sporting clays where he has to pump it really fast for doubles. There hasn't been any feed or extraction problems at all.

I have l;ess experience with the 870, but I have shot a few old wingmasters that were great and a few new express' that jammed a lot. Not sure how a new wingmaster might treat you.

[bsg]

my money likes the older Wingmaster.