Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum Shotgun Recommendations?

Snowwolfe I grew up shooting the Win model 12, & Rem 870. Both you can half cycle action to unload chamber. Then close action unloaded chamber or leave it open. When I first got my BPS and loaded and unloaded it had several bad jams with double fed ammo. Operator error but prefer a action I am used to.
Plus the BPS are heavy in comparison.

if you don't need 3 1/2" shells that go with a m2.
budget it and sell some stuff if needed, you won't regret it.

Will shotguns such as the Benelli SBII really handle anything from 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 inches without a hiccup?

Is the only difference between the SBEII & M2 the ability to shoot 3 1/2?

Mostly. Consider the M1 Super 90 over the M2 if money is an issue. Good left-handed M1 Super 90s can be had for less than $1K.

I forgot to mention the bottom ejecting Ithaca Model 37. It is sweet to shoot and is tough as nails.

Visited a LGS today and handled a BPS. Man oh days that is the smoothest pump shotgun I ever handled.

An Ithaca 37 with a left hand safety installed is a true left hand gun. I have a 20 gauge that I bought after my 12 gauge Ithaca 37 was stolen while I was away at college in the early 1970s and a 16 gauge that I rescued from a pawn shop about 4 years ago. Both are slick as snot and both have left hand safeties.

I second the Ithaca 37. Have 2 a 12 and a 16 gauge . My 12 gauge Ithaca is actually lighter than my 20 gauge BPS both with 28 in. barrels. Keep in mind that the newer Ithaca's are heavier than the old ones. I think the Browning is a very well made shotgun but when it comes to handling it doesn't even come close to my 16 ga. Ithaca made in 1950.

My son loved my Model 37 20 gauge so much that he bought the first 37 in 12 gauge that he found. He and his buddies used to get together on weekends and shoot clay pigeons. He always beat them using my 20 gauge and them using their 870s and Mossberg 500s. They finally figured out that it was the gun. They would all shoot the 37 until it got too hot. My son still beat them though.

How do you lefties like the bolt release on the Ithaca 37 to me it feels awkward.

Older BPS have barrel cut off which allows for easy unloading of the chamber. I'm also very fond of a tang safety. In my opinion, it is far easier and faster to any safety in and around the trigger guard.

I agree a tang safety is hard to beat but the safety on the Ithaca is fine once you are used to using it. Think it is better than the Model 12 which is located on the front of the trigger guard. As far as the bolt release it releases automatically upon firing so I don't see it as an issue at all. But as I said in an earlier post I think the handling qualities of the older Ithaca far exceed the Browning. Plus the Ithaca's have always been made in the USA !

12Ga BPS have the balance of a Groundhog on the end of a pitchfork. 20s are fine.

Light and quick? The old Ithaca Featherweights.

Best balance of the bunch? Model 12 16 ga, but not a lefty.

Remington 870's in 12 Ga are heavy for all day carrying. 20's are sweet. Find an old Wingmaster 870. Run from the others.

Autos? Benelli or Beretta. Wouldn't buy a Remington 1100 for half the price if you planned on using it more than a little.

This is what I recommend^^^ Bottom eject is perfect for leftys. I have the Deerslayer II for slug hunting here in Iowa and it's great. My turkey/pheasant/coyote shotgun is a Benelli Vinci. Doesn't seem to ever bother me or eject in my face. Both guns are great.

Friend of mine shot a Model 12 until he lost his right eye and had to learn to shoot left handed. He bought a BPS and used it the rest of his life. I liked it so much I bought one for myself.

A BPS is heavy - but no heavier than an 870 with a 3" chamber. The BPS I like best is the Upland Special with the 22" barrel, because it balances a great deal better than the longer barrels. You can get the US in 20 ga too, and it weighs about 6.5 lbs, which is just about as light a gun as I can shoot well (I'm a fairly big guy).

No problem with trigger guard safeties - but I have used tang safeties for many years and habitually reach for the tang when the bird takes off.

I'm not left handed, but I've owned some shotguns. I would buy a BPS over an 870 or a Model 12 (I've owned both). FWIW

12Ga BPS have the balance of a Groundhog on the end of a pitchfork. 20s are fine.

Light and quick? The old Ithaca Featherweights.

Best balance of the bunch? Model 12 16 ga, but not a lefty.

Remington 870's in 12 Ga are heavy for all day carrying. 20's are sweet. Find an old Wingmaster 870. Run from the others.

Autos? Benelli or Beretta. Wouldn't buy a Remington 1100 for half the price if you planned on using it more than a little.


^^^^^
this

My 12ga BPS Upland is pretty dang light...Good handling too. I like it a lot, and have zero problems loading or unloading. The stock is a bit odd for use with my slug barrel, but I kill a lot of deer with it, so I guess it works!

I had a 12ga Browning BPS, which felt like 2x4.

The BPS 20ga feels like it handles a lot better IMHO.

Have other south paws notice that most 12ga o/u are mostly made for rights while the 20gauge stocks seem more neutral cast?

Good shotgun, but it stomps you with 3.5" loads.