Browning Customer Service

[jmd]

Has anyone bought a Browning and had to deal with them for any reason? How are they? I'd like to hear some experiences.

 

[M-61]

Has anyone bought a Browning and had to deal with them for any reason? How are they? I'd like to hear some experiences.

Experience is really old but first class service on a 1886 lever action in 45-70. Stiff action. 6 weeks later and it came back with a smooth as silk action. It was a new purchase and was repaired at no cost. It was however a long time ago.

 

[jmd]

Good to know at least. I've never owned one, but I recently picked up a new xbolt varmint special. Once it arrived I was terrified after seeing huge gouges in the throat. My smith said I was a bit paranoid, but completely understood where I was coming from. I mean who pays good money for sloppy work like that? It looked like a large chip got caught on the pilot for the reamer & spun around tearing up the bore in the throat. Multiple gouges in the rifling.... I couldn't get any decent answers from them as to whether or not it would be re barreled. I'm hoping the whole thing doesn't take too long. I just got nervous when I ran across some bad stuff from guys sending their shotguns back for work.

 

[jcline]

I bought a Browning Target stainless in 308 two years ago. I tries everything to get this gun to shoot but couldn't get anything but about a 1.5" group at 100 yards and it only got worse from there. I sent it back to them with all the load data and specs of what I had tried. They said it was within their specs at 1.5 MOA or less. they fired it at 50 yards and the group was well over an inch but they said it shoots great. I told them that a Browning when I was coming up was a great gun but with this I am wondering what happened to them.

 

[jmd]

Not so promising news I guess. I hope I don't have a mess on my hands. Those things aren't cheap. It shot one load okay, but I was still upset up their work. I was concerned it would severely degrade the value if I ever decided to sell or trade it. I hope the fix it properly & don't take too long

 

[SmokinJoe]

I bought a Win M70 Extreme Weather 308 a couple years ago which had a pretty bad groove in the neck of the chamber from a chip getting caught in the reamer or something. Sent it back to BRACO per their instructions, and they sent me a complete new rifle. It took them a month or so to get it through their system, but new rifle is all I could hope for in a production deer rifle. Really like that gun. Hope this is helpful, Joe

 

[Charles]

Thirty years ago I sent a Diana grade over and under back to Browning because of the salt wood stock after they received the shotgun they sent me a letter saying I was not the original owner and it would be 1700.00 dollars to rework it. I sent them a check and a letter stating my feelings and some pictures of the shotgun in my possession earlier than the date they said someone else owned it. Long story, but in a couple of weeks I received a letter from Browning with an apology anmy check, they said the shotgun would returned in 6 months Came back it was a beauty could not have been happier. Will always praise there warranty department.

 

[K22]

I have the following:

Browning A Bolt Varmint Stalker 223 - extremely accurate (1/2 moa range) but marginal trigger - forearm on stock too short making carry with sling very off balance, had to install a barrel band.

Browning X Bolt Composite Stalker 223 - sub 1 moa accuracy - trigger better than A Bolt but still not perfect - had a trigger job done on it.

Browning X Bolt Hunter 243 - sub 1 moa accuracy - needed trigger job - would not adjust below 4 lbs.


Never used their customer service. In my opinion the Tikka's are a better value.

 

[Rustystud]

I bought a new Browning bolt action late 60s. Put it up un fired in a dry gun cabinet at my dads. Came back from SE Asia, went to Alaska too work on the oil line. Came back and went to college. Graduated from college and went to work in another town. Went to my dads and picked the Browning up. I noticed some rust at the wood line. took it out of the stock and it was eaten up with rust under the stock line. I wrote to Browning and gave then the model and serial number. They told me to send it back to them so I did. After six months I got a letter saying it could not be fixed (salt wood) and for $795.00 they would replace it. I asked them to return my rifle, they refused saying it was a liability issue. I had a lawyer write them a demand letter to return my rifle. The returned my rifle and "I taped the barrel and action and glass beaded the rust off. I painted the glass beaded part and the stock with epoxy paint. I sold the rifle and swore I would never buy another Browning.

Nat Lambeth

 

[jmd]

Hum.... Now I'm getting concerned. I have a feeling they won't be able to swap out the barrel that easily because I doubt they have any heavier contours laying around in MO. I originally wanted a Tikka T3 Varmint, but EuroOPtics said they wouldn't see any for months. I then came across one of these Xbolt varmint specials in .223. I had a hell of a time tracking down a .22-250 & had to have it. I bought it, and a week later EuroOpitcs had the Tikka I wanted. Oh well. For the most part I like the Xbolt better, but I don't like the trigger. I really hope I'm not victim to another one of Browning's horror stories. It sounds like even the positive experiences aren't great. Who tries to tell a customer that they didn't buy the gun new when they don't have any records stating otherwise??? Oh and 5month turn around???? I'm hoping this thing gets turned around, but the they are already disappointing me. Who takes over a week to open a box???

 

[Cort]

I am of the opinion to never buy a stock rifle. I may start with a used, stock rifle but, by the time I replace the stock, the trigger and have the barrel upgraded, it is hard to call it a stock rifle. My "new" rifle shoots like I want it to shoot. It is cheaper to go stock but by the time I have upgraded or replaced all the critical parts, there isn't that much difference in cost versus a quality custom.

Cort

 

[jmd]

Cort,
I hear you. This the first stock rifle I've purchase in a long time. I couldn't build it for a grand so I figured why not? Well I never heard anything bad about Brownings so why not? Well now I know why not. The same reason I stopped buying guns off the shelf. You don't get what you pay for in a lot of cased. Shame on me I guess

 

[22BRGUY]

I have the following:

Browning A Bolt Varmint Stalker 223 - extremely accurate (1/2 moa range) but marginal trigger - forearm on stock too short making carry with sling very off balance, had to install a barrel band.

Browning X Bolt Composite Stalker 223 - sub 1 moa accuracy - trigger better than A Bolt but still not perfect - had a trigger job done on it.

Browning X Bolt Hunter 243 - sub 1 moa accuracy - needed trigger job - would not adjust below 4 lbs.


Never used their customer service. In my opinion the Tikka's are a better value.

What he said + a bunch!

 

[jmd]

The verdict is in. Browning customer service is terrible. It only took them 2 weeks to open a box and log the gun in. Based on their online tracking the gun had been through repair & went to shipping in less than a day. I called to see why they weren't doing anything. I was told they weren't sure if anything was done because they don't document anything all because it gives anti gun grabbing lobbyists ammo. Are you kidding me?? Who runs a company like that????? Oh and then I was told the gunsmith rejected it & it needed repaired, but some how they had an "administrative error" occur which put it in shipping. Well 24hrs later the rifle is back in shipping. I'm beyond boiling over at this point. I'm not sure how I'll control myself on the phone tomorrow when I have to call back. This was my first factory gun in awhile, my first Browning, and more than likely my last Browning ever.

 

[jcline]

I bought a Browning Target stainless in 308 two years ago. I tries everything to get this gun to shoot but couldn't get anything but about a 1.5" group at 100 yards and it only got worse from there. I sent it back to them with all the load data and specs of what I had tried. They said it was within their specs at 1.5 MOA or less. they fired it at 50 yards and the group was well over an inch but they said it shoots great. I told them that a Browning when I was coming up was a great gun but with this I am wondering what happened to them.

How many different bullets, powders, and primers did you try?

Can't say the gun won't shoot if you only tried one bullet or tried multiple bullets with only one powder, etc.

I tried about 15 different bullets and 7-8 powders. I have no issue making my other 308 shoot or the 30 BR in competition. This gun just wont shoot!

 

[jmd]

After dealing with them on the phone & being told contradicting information I don't know how many times they offered me a .308 BAR to replace my xbolt varmint special stainless in 22-250? Uhm no thank you. That BAR isn't even close to what I wanted. They told me to email my receipt for a refund on the rifle. Good news!!! It will only take them 30 to 60 business days to cut me a check.