Browning A-Bolt

[bobert]

Browning has always been known for quality, so why is it that the A-Bolt is never mentioned in the same breath as accurate rifles or actions? I'm thinking of buying a varmint rifle in .223 Rem.
bobert

 

[kelbro]

I have owned two A-Bolts. Both very accurate. Still have one, a .270 without the BOSS system.

 

[panhandle]

My Browning A-Bolt Micro Hunter in 22 Hornet is my favorite ground squirrel rifle. Light and accurate. Good question and I don't have a good answer for you. I have looked at them several times but chose other rifles because of their barrels were pretty short and light weigth and was looking for a heavier barreled rifle. My Hornet works great for squirrels because it is nice and light. For p-dogs I prefer a stouter rifle. I do have two other Brownings in 7WSM and 300WSM.

 

[7stwhunter]

I think a large portion of it is just the fact that,correct me if im wrong) the barrels are presses into place instead of being threaded making them a bear to rebarrel

 

[savmako]

I had an a-bolt in 300wsm, loved it very smooth & high quality, but i sold it. refused to hunt with a gun where the saftey locks the bolt, just doesn't seem safe! The new x-bolt would be my choice.

 

[jb]

savmako how does a locked bolt with safety on make a gun unsafe? do you put your finger on the trigger while moving safety off to open the bolt? i won't hunt with a bolt gun that does not have a bolt lock as i have seen several times hunters try to fire with bolts partly unlocked or opened. if a partly unlocked gun should fire it may much worse than a missing a shot at game.

 

[bobert]

My Browning A-Bolt Micro Hunter in 22 Hornet is my favorite ground squirrel rifle. Light and accurate. Good question and I don't have a good answer for you. I have looked at them several times but chose other rifles because of their barrels were pretty short and light weigth and was looking for a heavier barreled rifle. My Hornet works great for squirrels because it is nice and light. For p-dogs I prefer a stouter rifle. I do have two other Brownings in 7WSM and 300WSM.

Hi panhandle. Thanks for making the effort to reply. I checked the Browning web site, and they make a Target rifle with a heavy 223 barrel that is 27" long. However, it has a 1-8 twist that would require 75-80 grn bullets. I haven't yet gone into who makes Varmint bullets of that weight. bobert

 

[RJinTexas]

A 8tw barrel will stabilize lighter bullets it will just spin them faster and result in slightly less fps then a 12tw. I have both and my 8tw will stabilize 40 & 50gr bullets as well as my 12tw.
It's next to impossible to pick up use custom gun parts such as stocks, used barrels, triggers even a picatinny base has to be custom made and all new stuff for a Browning must be custom ordered and you'll pay through the nose for it if you can find anyone to make it. Less expense, ready available parts drive the market, that's why there are many custom action 700 clones.

RJ

 

[243jimb]

I too have several A-Bolts and used to ponder this too. I believe the answer lies in the fact that the underside of the A-Bolt action is somewhat "complicated" by that I mean not smooth and cylindrical like a Remington for example therefor making them a little more tedious to bed. Also the trigger group is more integral to the action, very few replacement triggers are made for this rifle and not needed perhaps?
Jim.