Browning BPS
Browning Arms Company · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1977
Also known as: Browning Pump Shotgun, BPS-SGF
Overview
The Browning BPS (Browning Pump Shotgun) is a pump-action shotgun introduced in 1977 and manufactured by Miroku in Japan for the Browning Arms Company. Its design traces directly back to John M. Browning's bottom-ejection pump shotgun patents, which also gave rise to the Remington Model 17 and the Ithaca Model 37. The BPS is distinguished by its bottom-loading and bottom-ejection system, which ejects spent shells downward through the underside of the receiver rather than to the side, making it a truly ambidextrous shotgun equally suited for right- and left-handed shooters. It features a top-tang thumb safety, dual forged steel action bars for smooth and reliable cycling, and a receiver machined from a solid block of forged steel. The BPS was offered in every standard shotgun gauge -- 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, and .410 bore -- making it one of the most versatile pump shotgun platforms ever produced. The 12 and 20 gauge models feature Browning's Invector-Plus interchangeable choke system with back-bored barrels for optimized shot patterns, while the 10, 28, and .410 bore models use Standard Invector chokes. Notably, the BPS was the only 10-gauge pump-action shotgun ever manufactured. After 47 years of continuous production, the BPS was discontinued in 2024.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3515 g (124.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1238 mm (48.74") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Pump Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 25 N (5.6 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 4 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tubular |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12 ga, 12 bore
- 20 Gauge — also known as 20 ga, 20 bore
- 10 Gauge — also known as 10 ga, 10 bore
- 28 Gauge — also known as 28 ga, 28 bore
- .410 Bore — also known as .410, .410 bore, .410 ga
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Top Tang Safety, Trigger Disconnect
- Features: Bottom Ejection, Dual Steel Action Bars, Forged Steel Receiver, Invector Plus Choke System, Back Bored Barrel, Inflex Ii Recoil Pad, Magazine Cutoff, Silver Bead Front Sight, Ventilated Rib, 3 Inch Chamber, Ambidextrous Design
Variants
- Browning BPS Field Composite — Synthetic Stock
- Browning BPS Hunter — Hunting
- Browning BPS Stalker — Hunting
- Browning BPS Trap — Competition
- Browning BPS Micro Midas — Compact
- Browning BPS Field Waterfowl — Waterfowl
- Browning BPS Upland Special — Upland
- Browning BPS-SGF (Special Gendarmerie Francaise) — Tactical
- Browning BPS 10 Gauge — Magnum
Service history
Operators
- French Gendarmerie Nationale · adopted 1994 · as BPS-SGF
Production
Production years: 1977-2024
Manufactured by B.C. Miroku in Japan for the full 47-year production run. Available in six gauges (10, 12, 16, 20, 28, .410 bore) across dozens of configurations.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 2024
Notes
The BPS includes a magazine cutoff feature consisting of a rotating ring at the rear of the magazine tube, allowing the shooter to switch between 'R' (repeating) and 'S' (single) modes. In single mode, the bolt can be cycled to eject a chambered round without feeding the next shell from the magazine, allowing the shooter to swap ammunition types on demand. The 3.5-inch chambered 12-gauge models were built on the larger 10-gauge receiver frame, which contributed to their heavier weight but improved recoil management with heavy magnum loads. The French Gendarmerie Nationale adopted a tactical variant designated BPS-SGF (Special Gendarmerie Francaise) in 1994 for law enforcement operations. The BPS was manufactured exclusively by B.C. Miroku in Kochi, Japan throughout its entire production run.
Background
The BPS was the first pump-action shotgun ever marketed under the Browning name, despite John M. Browning having invented the pump-action shotgun concept over 80 years earlier. His original bottom-ejection designs went to competitors -- the Winchester Model 1893 and Remington Model 17 -- before Browning Arms Company finally built their own pump gun using his Model 10 blueprints. The BPS was also the only 10-gauge pump-action shotgun ever produced.