Browning A Bolt

I have an A-bolt in 300 win mag since 1982 and it will shoot sub 1" at 100 yards everyday all day long. I have an a-bolt in 257 Roberts that my wife hunts Elk with and it will shoot a 3 shot group with all touching at 100 yards. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Quote:
if abolts are no good, what are good 2muchgun...


Save your breath, friend. 2********* only likes Sako's and such...he's just upset that the Browning's will shoot with the best of 'em.

Now, Now! That is going over the line.

Jack
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'd much like it if you let Tom speak freely, Jack. The more he says, the more apparent it becomes that he knows nothing of rifles. He makes it VERY easy for me.

If I cared, I would ask Tom why he supposes that Browning has come out with the X-bolt, which incorporates a redesigned trigger, floorplate/magazine, and bolt release. All upgrades on the A-bolt. If he recalls, he'll note that these are some of the areas that I told him are sorely lacking on the A-bolt.

I would ask him, but I've long grown tired of the uneducated responses he is known to give. Maybe some day he will learn, and then we will be able to have an intelligent conversation on the subject. Right now, it is not possible........
 
Sent it back to Browning to see if they can get back on track. I hope they can fix it. I really like the way the rifle handles. Just have to wait & see. Later J.J.
 
I have never known an A-bolt to shoot groups any bigger than 1.25" at 100 yards. And that's all with factory ammo. If you need better than that's fine; at least you're guaranteed 1.25" or better. But most of us, whether we admit it or not, only need that much. After personally handling 3 different Miroku, Japan Browning A-bolts and shooting them all I can quite confidently say that if I ever get a new gun, chances are it will probably be an A-bolt. Thanks.
 
Ever take one out of the stock?

What are your feelings on the trigger and the bolt release mechanism?

How about the floorplate/magazine box?

What about the bolt design?

Or the metallurgy?

Or the fact that gunsmiths flat out hate'em?

How many custom rifles do you see based on the A-bolt action?

How about the availability of after market parts?

Why does no police or military on the planet use one?

Any thoughts?
 
Rifles are like cars, everyone has their own opinion as to which are best, and every company turns out a lemon once in a while.

BTW, I shoot Rugers, Savages, and DPMS AR's. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Last edited:
I might would try a new X-Bolt...but I'm very suspicious of a trigger guard made of plastic (oops, "polymer").
If the old trigger guards made of pot metal were prone to breakage, how could plastic be any better? Floorplate and magazine I guess I could live with, but a trigger guard? Maybe I'm missing something.

I have a feeling Browning redesigned their bolt rifles in order to produce them more cheaply...maybe the "upgrades" were coincidental.

Plastic is overtaking our society. I fear that someday I'll wake up and they'll be making fireplaces out of plastic....
 
how are they lemons? i like mine.... i find nothing wrong with the triggers... it adjust easily, and is pretty crisp. from what i have heard, the biggest reason gunsmiths don't care for them is because the barrels don't change out easily. which i can see where that could be a problem if your shooting alot.

i just don't see how you figure them to be lemons when they're shooting MOA out of the box?
 
Quote:

I have a feeling Browning redesigned their bolt rifles in order to produce them more cheaply...maybe the "upgrades" were coincidental.



That right there says it ALL.........

I'm done here Tom. Enjoy your Brownings.....
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gifA-Bolt 7 mag, .338 Mag, 7 will do 1/2 inch, .338 mag will do inch or better, if i do my part, am thinking about getting more a bolts, just picking calibers....One of the few guns that will flat shoot out of the box...and don't forget you can buy a spring kit for the trigger that will make it very nice !!!!
 
boy, sensitive topic. i have 4 guns in 280 rem, both kids and my dad shoot the 280 with me. i have a load with a 120 ballistic tip that groups 3/4 in the 'worst' gun, and 1/2 in the other 3. [same load for all]. which is the worst gun you ask, my ruger 77 stainless laminate. that poor shootin gun gave my 13 year old his first white tail buck this fall, bit of a marginal shot a little far back on the critter; never the less, a one shot kill and a memory to last for ever.[180 yards] my other three 'good' guns? my first 280, rem 700 mountain rifle, 6x36 leupold with 2 min. dot; dad fell in love with it after shooting 243 for 35 years, don't get to use it any more. my new one, rem 700 stainless laminate, 50th anniversary edition, 4.5x14 leoplod gun metal grey with .060 dot, my favorite before the remmy, browning abolt medallion with 6x42 leupold and 2 minute dot. even with my pretty remmy beside the a bolt, i still waffle on what to carry if my is going with me that day. i will have to pry that gun out of his cold dead hands to get it back. other favorite guns, a sako[2much] 222 vixen 461, 1" shilen barrel, poor gophers and yotes don't stand a chance. anchutz 1522 in 222 with set trigger, poor gophers and yotes when i feel like hiking. i guess the point is, if you have agun you can hit with, no matter what make, why knock someone elses product because it works for them? lee
 
2muchgun,

1) Yes, everytime I clean it, which is usually after a hunt.

2) The trigger is quite good. It goes down to a 3lbs pull, has minimal travel, is smooth, and breaks like glass. I really like the bolt release. It is in a handy spot, is easy to use, and has never allowed the bolt to slip out accidentaly.

3) I like the idea of having a swing out floorplate to keep it all together, or a box I can take out separate if necessary. It can work for nearly everybody.

4) The bolt design suits me wonderfully. It's comfortable in my hand, and the non-rotating bolt sleeve with the chrome looks good in my opinion.

5) I'm not sure exactly what metallurgy means, but the bore is as smooth as can be, the slightly recessed target crown is cut out well, the bead blast finish on the barrel is easy on the eyes with low glare, and all the metal fits together tightly with no jingling anywhere. What else do you want?

6) The reason gunsmiths hate them is because the Browning actions, and the rest of gun for that matter, come out of the factory so well that there is nowhere for them to be improved upon. Therefore, part of their business and their livelihood is taken away. That's why.

7) The reason there are no custom guns built off of the Browning action is because they originally come out of the factory with a great trigger, solid stocks(sythetic or wood), a great fit, and nice finish.

8) (Refer to 5 and 6.) (Not necessary.)

9) As per the police using them Remington and other manufacturers make great rifles/ shotguns, and there are many great companies to make them pistols of good quality. As per the military using Browning equipment, they don't. Actually, I think there are very few "American" products we use while in action.

Thanks for reading,

PlainsRedneckOK
 
I have an A-Bolt Micro Hunter in 243 that I really like, but just like lots of other rifles I had to do a little work to get it the way I like it. Mainly the trigger which I bought the Timney Spring Kit for and still wasn't happy. I had my smith stone the sear a bit and it's pretty good now.
Yes they are bedded from the factory, but just barely. It looks like they just throw a gob of compound under the chamber and lug and give it a squeeze. It works and is probably all you can expect for a production rifle, but it's far from a full action bedding job.
The magazine is different, but works well. It seems like a good solution for the guys I hear whining about having to empty their rifles while driving to different stands.
I liked my Micro Hunter enough that I bought my Grandson one in 22Hornet. I wanted something that would be reliable and user friendly for his first Centerfire rifle and so far it's done just that. It's also scary accurate with the Rem. Acu-Tip factory fodder. All in all it's a nice little rifle. IMO
 
You are simply wrong on several issues here, and I could type a whole page stating why, but further discussion of the A-bolt is a discussion I'd rather not have anymore. Enjoy your rifles, if they are good enough for you, that's all that matters.....
 
Hi, I recived my Browning A-Bolt 204 back from Browning. They did get in & out in a rather timely fashion. They had the rifle for 4 days & shipped it out! They sent a test target back with the gun, they measured the 3 shot group @ .566. Didn't say @ what yardage it was shot! I brought it home from the gun dealer & mounted my Nightforce scope & shot it 4 times. I did not go retreive the target shot @ 80 yards. Shot group appeared to be about 3.5", if you would consider that a group! I guess I just can't shoot this particular firearm. I took the scope off & put it all back in the safe. I think it would make a good tomatoe stake for the garden. So if anyone would like to have a Browning A-Bolt that won't shoot. It's for sale but I don't recomend anyone buy it. My first and last rifle purchase from Browning! Later J.J.
 
Though I have no experience with the ABolt in .204, I've owned two (still have one), and have zeroed probably close to three dozen others over the years.

In my experience, the ABolt is the most consistently accurate out of the box rifle you're liable to find...(disclaimer...I haven't shot a Cooper, yet... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif).

Of the ones I've zeroed for friends and others, only one didn't shoot 3 shots into less than 1" at 100 yards with factory or handload ammo. The one exception was chambered in .300 WSM, and it went into ~1.25".

I love my .270 Win ABolt, and I owned an ABolt Varminter in .223 Rem. I liked that rifle for what it was, but I prefer a heavier-bodied rifle for a benched pdog rig. I sold it to a friend as a yote rifle, and he's very pleased with it after 3 years.

Mike
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top