browning a-bolts. are they known for being accurate?

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skeetlee

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i really dont remember to many people talk about browning a-bolt rifles. are they a quality rifle? whats the accuracy normally like with them? lee
 
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Browning Varmint 243 WSSM
5 at 100yds with my handloads
 
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I have had a Browning Composite Stalker (25-06) for about 14 years. For an out-of-the-box rifle, It is a tack driver with 100 gr. Speer BTSPs. I love this rifle. It's accounted for 5 Wyoming antelope, a mule deer, whitetail deer, a Corsican ram, two turkeys, and a few groundhogs and crows. The only downside to it is the trigger is not as light as I prefer. I can generally shoot 3-shot groups like below regularly when I do my part.

25-06Target1.jpg


2506Target2.jpg
 
Lee,
A-bolts are typically among the most accurate rifles out of the box. Button-rifled barrels with chambers cut to the minimum SAAMI specs..
A certain user will be along shortly to tell you how crappy the A-Bolts are, and while some of his points may have merit that some don't give a crap about (or need to worry about), even he can't deny that they're exceptionally accurate rifles.
 
My 22-250 Varmit Stalker shot better out of the box better than any other rifle in my safe. Dime size 5 shot 100yrd groups were no problem to obtain.
 
I have a bolt varmint stalker in 243 wssm that will sling lead down range rather nicely. If i do my part it will keep the winc. supremes 55s in the 1/2" area. The brownings are very nice rifles, accuarcy and the 60 degree bolt throw is a very nice plus
 
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A certain user will be along shortly to tell you how crappy the A-Bolts are, and while some of his points may have merit that some don't give a crap about (or need to worry about), even he can't deny that they're exceptionally accurate rifles.



And who might that be?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
The person you speak of is a knowlegable fellow, but it's obvious that something happened in his childhood involving an A-Bolt that left an awfull scar.
Can't imagine what could have been that traumatic, but it had to be something terrible. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

Oh yea...Back on topic. I have one, and I bought one for my grandson. They're a little quirkey, but most are accurate.
 
I know of 4 different A-bolts. 3 are big game that shoot a 1.25" or occasionally better at 100 yards. Another is a .204 that a friend of mine has. It does 1" and I think he and his dad shrank it down a couple of times. All 4 are using factory ammo, so yes they are accurate.
 
I have a .223 Medallion, Varmit with the Boss, barrel removed to put on the Tactical.20 barrel. It has a couple 100yd groups that measure 250-270. Just over a quarter inch. I have a couple from 300yds that were one inch groups, but most are 1.5" groups at 300yds, when barrel is clean, before 25-30 shots.
I really like the short bolt throw and the detatchable magazine that holds five rounds.T.20
 
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I've had a grand total of one A-bolt and it would be best described using RePete's definition of "quirky." I tried a bunch of different bullets, powders, and primers and finally found two different weights of bullets that shot decent. I've never had to put that much load developement into finding a decent load with any other rifle I've owned. I always felt somewhat handicapped because some of the hunting bullets I really wanted to use wouldn't shoot well(2.5"-3" groups) in the A-bolt Stainless Stalker. I blame part of it on the Stainless Stalkers flimsy stock. That thing was an absolute joke for rigidity. While the rifle did have some nice things about it, it wasn't enough to make want to keep it. When I sold it, I found out A-Bolts don't seem to hold there value in these parts like a Rem, Win, or Ruger.
 
Browning generally have been very good for me. I own 2, an A-bolt and a BAR.

I can only speak for the A-bolt I have. It is a 25.WSSM with a Houge over molded stock and one of my favorite rifles. It shoots more than acceptable group with factory ammo (less than MOA), handles good, and the action is fairly slick. Only copmplaint is that it is a tad barrel heavy.
 
I own 2 A-Bolts. One is a 7mm Rem Mag (the most accurate rifle I own, and I own ALOT), and a 25 WSSM.

My 7mm will shoot 1.25" groups at 300 yards, at 100 yards they are usually in the .4" range.

The rifle isn't quirky at all, both of my a-bolts have shot everything I've loaded for them equally as well. When I first started playing with my 7mm, it shot the 139gr SSTs so well I didn't want to change. Then I tried the 140 Accu Bond, then the 160 Accusbond, then the 160gr TSX, the the 175gr Partition, all the way back to a 120gr TSX. It shot all of them equally as well, with the 160gr Accu Bond being the most accurate load I've ever fired from that rifle.


The 25WSSM I haven't gotten to play with much yet. It shot the factory 115gr Combined Technology BTs around 3/4", and now I have all the loading gear, and alot of bullets to try. So this summer I'll update on that.
 
YES!They are known for that very thing. Right out of the box, they come glass bedded and fully floated. This was shot with an "A" Bolt Hunter in 204 at 100 yds, naturally.


204target-1.jpg
 
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Lee,
A-bolts are typically among the most accurate rifles out of the box. Button-rifled barrels with chambers cut to the minimum SAAMI specs..
A certain user will be along shortly to tell you how crappy the A-Bolts are, and while some of his points may have merit that some don't give a crap about (or need to worry about), even he can't deny that they're exceptionally accurate rifles.



I've not found A-bolts to be "exceptionally accurate". I've also not found them to be inaccurate. I'd say they shoot just fine, but no better on average than a Remington, Savage, Howa/Vanguard, or Tikka, that are priced less or the same.

It is their design and mettalurgy I have problems with. They are the absolute last bolt gun on earth I would ever consider using under harsh conditions on a regular basis. You will never see police, military, PH's, or guides carrying an A-bolt, for this reason.......
 
Was thinking here, Tom. You may have a point about that some don't care or worry about some of the A-bolts shortcomings. There are a bunch of guys that say they have used them for years and are happy with them. For the average Joe, or someone who doesn't use his rifle all the time, or only a couple times a year, they may be fine.

For someone who does, and actually depends on their rifle to make a living or stay alive, the A-bolt is simply more prone to failure than any other bolt gun out there.....

Once again, I am all A-bolted out, and done with this discussion........
 
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