Browning A-Bolt--no good?

[getitdone1]

Recently some of us were saying we could get by real well with only Browning guns. Rifles, handguns and shotguns.

From what I hear there's lots of people who can't stand the Browning A-Bolt guns. I have two of them and wonder what's so bad about them?

Anyone?

Don McCullough

[TedH]

I've never owned one, but wouldn't be opposed to it. I was shooting at the range the other day next to a guy with an A bolt in 222. He was shooting some very small groups. Nice looking rifle too.

[Terry Murbach]

THERE IS NOT A GUN EVER MADE I CANNOT FIND FOLKS TO SAY THEY CAN'T STAND THE SIGHT OF IT.
ME...I ALWAYS FIGGER AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED , "WHO GIVES AN FRA WHAT THEY THINK ANYWAYS ???"

[getitdone1]

THERE IS NOT A GUN EVER MADE I CANNOT FIND FOLKS TO SAY THEY CAN'T STAND THE SIGHT OF IT.
ME...I ALWAYS FIGGER AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED , "WHO GIVES AN FRA WHAT THEY THINK ANYWAYS ???"

Terry, totally agree. My concern is if the A-bolt has serious flaws, and someone can prove it--plenty of other guns I'm ready to buy to take their place. So it's facts rather than opinion I'm after.

Don

[Nath]

Certainly a good looking rifle. A guy I know use to have one in 22-250 years ago now.
I was not to impressed with the trigger and the mag but apart from that,,,,,

The trigger was most probably capable allthough,,,,,

Nath.

[geobru]

I was under the impression that the A-bolt at one time was considered to be the most accurate out of the box rifle made.

I was hunting with a friend who had one in 300 magnum with the boss system. I spotted a deer that was outside of my comfort zone, so he took the shot. I was spotting for him. The first shot was low and the second shot hit the deer in the neck, which is where he was aiming. We knew it was a long shot, and estimated it to be 525-550 yards. When we looked at the aerial photo, we measured it at 650 yards. I have to say that this guy is somewhat of a shootist, and regularly takes deer and elk at distances at which I won't take the shot due to my self imposed limitations. I watched him shoot sub-moa groups at 200 yards over the front of a pickup truck. I don't think he sees anything wrong with his A-bolt!

[BigSky56]

Don, I believe the gripe people had with the abolt was that the bolt was a nightmare to tear down and put back together again such as in a thorough cleaning or in R&R a part in the bolt. danny

[Boreman]

I have a 1989 Browning A-Bolt Medallion in 338 Win Mag.I have absolutey no problem with it. Not only is it a beautiful rifle,it is MOA accurate. Nice rifle !!!!!!!!!!

[iceman]

I had one in 270 win. I put a williams peep sight on it and it would consistantly hit clay pidgeons at 200 yards if i did my part. It was a treat to carry and shoot. It got to be boring so I sold it not that long ago. I bought it used to have a long range rifle, of course I shot my largest deer with it at around 25 yards. Nothing bad to say about them.

[pharmseller]

When my dad didn't want to carry his German-made Weatherby Mk V .300 Wby Mag (which he bought new at the PX in Germany while stationed there in the early 1960's) he detailed me with finding its replacement. He wanted a stainless .30-06 with a short bolt throw, light weight, synthetic stock, detachable magazine. I did some research and picked Browning's Stainless Stalker. Reliable, accurate, and affordable.
My brother liked it so much he bought two, one for himself and another for his boy.
It's generally a tossup on who outshoots whom at the range, although they are competing with me and my Weatherby Ultralightweight in .30-06!

P

[getitdone1]

My reason for asking about the A-Bolt is I recall some time ago a member in this group said he had some bad luck with his A-Bolt in Africa. Thus, he wanted no more to do with them. Forget the details. Hope he'll respond to this post.

I have a 243 and 375 H&H. Like'em both. 375 now has a Limbsaver pad but have not shot it since it was installed. It has a long 26" bbl but pretty light for this chambering. I found the 243 to be plenty accurate. Have a 6x24 scope with small dot reticule on it. It's stainless. My first stainless gun of any kind.

Ready to load some 300 gr solids for the 375. Penetration tests will follow. Shooting this gun from the hip made for a handful! They say healthy people love a challenge.

Don McCullough

[2ndovc]

My ex-Father in law had an A-Bolt in 30-06.

I don't think I've ever seen a
more accurate rifle out of the box.
A real tack driver!

jb

[Shasta]

My attraction to the Browning A-Bolt is the fact that I wanted a stainless steel bolt action that featured a synthetic stock and was available in a LEFT-HANDED version. Several manufacturers offer this, but the short 70 degree bolt throw and detachable magazine of the Browning A-Bolt sold me.

My first one was a .300 Winchester Magnum purchased as a used gun. I chose the .300 because I held the hope of some day going elk hunting. The elk hunting never panned out for me, but I did use the .300 for six Blacktail bucks and one Pronghorn antelope. It proved a bit much for such small-sized game animals.

I sold the .300 and bought the same rifle in a brand new .270 version. It is without a doubt the most accurate new, out-of-the-box rifle I ever owned. It is a real keeper in my opinion.

Browning A-Bolt no good?


SHASTA

[Last Spike]

My experience with a LH Browning A-Bolt II Stainless Stalker in 30 aught 6 is that it has always put the bullets exactly where I aimed. A few deer and a moose can attest to it's effectiveness.

[Modoc ED]

I've always thought the Browning A-Bolt was a good, solid, rifle. Isn't the A-Bolt the platform used when Browning introduced their BOSS system?

[Last Spike]

I believe so, but it was also added to the Winchester Model 70 line as well. Think the Winchester line was later, but I'll defer to the Model 70 experts on this one.

[Triggernosis]

I've owned and operated an A-Bolt in .270 for over 20 yrs. and it has taken over 100 deer. However, the A-Bolt design does have some flaws that I'd be glad to discuss if you'd like me to.
BUT...I'm keeping my A-Bolt!

[Swampman]

The Remington Model 700 is the most accurate production rifle in the world. I've never seen one that wouldn't shoot MOA or better right out of the box. I think I'd buy a Howa over a Browning. Japan is Japan.

[getitdone1]

[quote="Triggernosis"]I've owned and operated an A-Bolt in .270 for over 20 yrs. and it has taken over 100 deer. However, the A-Bolt design does have some flaws that I'd be glad to discuss if you'd like me to.
BUT...I'm keeping my A-Bolt!

Triggernosis,

Be glad to hear about the A-Bolt's flaws. I now have 3 the last a really nice 22 mag rimfire.

Don McCullough

[firefuzz]

The Remington Model 700 is the most accurate production rifle in the world. I've never seen one that wouldn't shoot MOA or better right out of the box.....

Twenty years ago I would have agreed with you, but the boys from Savage are giving Big Green a run for their money today. And I've seen several dozen 700's that wouldn't shoot 1" out of the box, I've made some pretty decent money over the years rebedding and floating barrels on Remington 700's, got two here at the house right now for that treatment, that wouldn't stay in a 4" circle for 5 shots at 100yds. The most consistantly accurate "out of the box" gun Remington ever made was the 788 and it's been out of production for some time.

The most accurate hunting weight .300WM I've ever owned, or seen for that matter, would put 5 shots thru one ragged hole you could completely cover with a dime at a 100yds. Not just one photo group, dozens of them...witnessed by several people. The rifle was an out of the box Browning A-Bolt with a synthetic stock. A buddy of mine wound up with that rifle during my first divorce. I've offered him a rediculous amount of money for it back and he just smiles and tells me I'm in his will.

The A-Bolt may have some flies on it, but no more than any other production gun. I'd buy another one in a minute.

Rob

[Boreman]

The A-Bolt is GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!
I have AB Medallion in 338 Win. It is a very accurate rifle at 1 MOA,It is a beautiful rifle and it is fun to shoot and very versatile. What's not to like about it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Markbo]

I can't say that I have ever spoken to anyone that specifically disliked the A-Bolt other than the fact they didn't have one.

[Old Savage]

A friend has a 375 H&H that he brought out to try some almost full power cast loads with. He shot a .27" group with it as I measured it and put it away. It is a stainless steel model.

[medicdave]

I have a Varmint Stalker in .223 and a Hunter in .22 Hornet, and both are shoot the lights out one ragged hole grouping guns. Had a couple in hunting calibers that were all MOA or less rifles. Excellent rifles.