Browning A- bolt ???

T

Tim Neitzke

New member
Ok guys ...........
I have been trying to deceide on a rifle brand for a .300wsm. I am a Rem 700 fan! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif How ever they do not offer what I would like. Have looked at many Kimbers and there quality is hit and miss!!

Browning has caught my eye again, A-bolt Medallion.
I have heard many good things about them.
Just wondering what you guys think? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif Are they as relieable as a 700 action? How about trigger adjustment?
please respond with experience ,not here say!

Thanks.....Tim /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I have shot a number of 300 WSM's in savages (my next door neighbor has several in that caliber) and their accuracy can't be beat. The accutrigger is the best factory trigger in my opinion. If you want pretty then.....

To me pretty is a ragged hole.
 
I currently own 1 ABolt, recently sold another, and have fired/sighted in close to 3 dozen over the years. Only 1 of those wouldn't shoot sub-MOA out of the box with factory ammo, and that was one chambered in .300 WSM...and it shot 1.25".

I prefer Rem 700's for long range varmint work, but for a big-game rifle, the ABolt is my go-to gun.

Mike
 
My dad has about a half a dozen Browning Abolts and they all shoot average .75" groups or better stock with handloads. He also has one in a 270wsm. I like all of his Brownings. The trigger is decent new as is, better than the Remingtons recently. His oldest is almost 30 years old and he has hunted with it at least half of those years. The only trouble was a small part holding the clip to the floor plate.
 
I have two Browning A-Bolts (300 Win Mag with Boss and .204 Varmint Stalker) and two 700's (.270 BDL and .233 VLSF). I preder the feel of the 700's - probably because that is what I have used the longest - but the accuracy of my two Brownings has been been better over a wider range of ammo than the Remington's. I also like the shorter bolt throw, the detachable mag's and especially the location of the safety on the Brownings (you can slide it off quietly with one thumb which is nearly impossible on the Remington).

Overall I think I'd give a slight overlal edge to Browning, but they are both great guns and I dn't think you can go wrong with either. Savage's are apparently really accurate and most guys who have them seem to love them, but I can't get over how they look and feel. I know that seems ridiculous, but to each his own I suppose.
 
The a-bolt cant be beat. The trigger adjustment is second to none, it can be adjusted by simply removing the trigger guard, 2 screws there, then using a small screwdriver to adjust the pull to whatever you want. Mine are at 2.5 lbs, and there is absolutely no creep. Love the short 60 degree bolt throw, no one other than weatherby has one like that, (weatherby is actually shroter-54 degrees) so all in all you will love the gun. For the classic look, the medallion is great, also in the 300 wsm is the M-1000 eclipse laminated stainless, beautifull gun, I have an eclipse in 270. However, one thing to consider, the short mags dont have a great reputation for accuracy, so be carefull.
 
I have an Abolt medallion in 270wsm with the BOSS system on it, I love it the trigger is smiple to adjust its shows you in the owners manual. Mine with handloads and the BOSS set right is the most accurate deer rifle I have, my next best is my BAR in 300 win mag. Hope this helps A Bolts are great rifles.
 
I have to join the chorus as well. I like Browning A-Bolts. I consider them a cut above the Remington, Winchester or the Ruger. And they are generally as accurate as a Savage. I have absolutely no negative experiences with any Browning I've ever owned.
 
My son owns an A-bolt in 223wssm and I handload for a buddy with a 300wsm A-bolt. As has been said, very nice rifles, very easy to get to shoot straight, easy trigger adjustment. All in all, a quality rifle.

Fred
 
I've got two A-Bolts, one in .308 & the other in .260 Remington. LOVE THEM! I also own two Savages & yes they shoot very good. To me, the A-Bolt is the best factory hunting bolt gun out there and the Savage is the best factory bench rifle that the average guy can afford.
I can't say anything negative about the Remington 700 but I do know that their quality has been hit or miss the last few years.
As a side note, my best 3-shot group (with 120gr. handloaded ballistic tips) with the .260 came to .71" @ 100yds. I'm still working on loads for the .308 but so far the best has been .94" @ 100yds.
Almost forgot, AVOID the BOSS system. It's incredibly loud and while it is functional you really don't need it for a hunting rifle.
 
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I use an A-bolt Medalian for big game, it's very light yet very accurate. I have the BOSS on my, althought it's not a necessory, but I do get varmint gun like accuracy out of the 20" pencil barrel. I have taken it from the coast to the Rockies and 4 trips to Canada, taken 6 spiecies of big games and it's never failed me. Through the years the original walnut stock has seen the best of all weather conditions, last year I gave her a facelift and beded her in a McMillan fiber glass, she probably will remain this way till legacy. Oh, did I mention she is easy on the eyes, too.
 
Got 4 A-bolts. the clip, short throw, best accuracey for
out box rifle myself, with factory ammo. But love the saftey.
 
If you want accurate then stick with the model 700 Rem. I new people who had A-Bolts and one had a firing pin break with less than 150 rounds threw it. I just can't do browning anymore since they went to Japan made. My dad was always a browning fan with belguim made, once they left and went Japan I was done with them.

The rem 700 is the most popular bolt action rifle known and for good reason.
 
I Have never owned an A bolt, I have shot several and been around friends with them. Remington, Winchester, Ruger, Browning all make great Bolt guns, much better than the average user!! I dont think you can go wrong with any of them on average. Of course everyone builds lemons and phenomes.
My beef with the A bolt is the magazine, it seems to me Browning has managed to combine the worst features of the detachable and opening floor plate mags of bolt guns.

You have a magazine, so the shells are not just loose in your pocket, to lose and/or harm somehow BUT you must attach it to the floor plate, instead of just loading the rifle, so it is not more convienent or faster than the standard floor plate magazine.
I prefer either a detachable magazine or a floor plate type.
anyway thats one reason why I don't buy them.
Carl
 
one other thing, I have remmy's winchester's and weatherby's, and I will take the browning over any of em. Better bolt, safety, ease of bolt removal, etc. I havent seen production quality drop since they left Belgium, I know several people that cant get over a jap gun, but they have WW2 on their mind. I cant fault them, but the guns are still as good.
 
Quote:
I Have never owned an A bolt,
My beef with the A bolt is the magazine, it seems to me Browning has managed to combine the worst features of the detachable and opening floor plate mags of bolt guns.



I do own A-bolts, two in fact. A 22 Hornet and a 25/06, both Left Handed. I love the magazines, I think it combines the BEST features of a detachable mag and opening flooplate.

The mag is attached and can't fall out (as has happened to me with a Rem 760 when shooting at a bear). And it provides a fast reload if needed, just remove the empty mag, snap the spare mag in and close the floor plate.
 
Quote:
My beef with the A bolt is the magazine, it seems to me Browning has managed to combine the worst features of the detachable and opening floor plate mags of bolt guns.



I also liked the removal mag idea when it first came out on the 700, that was until my cusin lost the mag on a elk trip, we back tracked and look for it for 2 days with out any luck, his repeater was a single shot for the rest of the trip. I have many guns with hinged floor plates, there is nothing wrong with them, just needs a little extra attention when unloading from the bottom.
 


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