Author Topic: browning a-bolt questions? (Read 1136 times)

thelaw · « **on:** September 06, 2004, 06:25:17 AM »

interested to hear the pros and cons on the a-bolt rifle? also, wondering is it a problem with the cartridge length to seat bullets in the .7mag adn .300mag. to the rifling and still have them function in the box magazine? what about trigger adjustment? i've hear a lot of good about the brownings just wanting to see what you guys think.

Spess · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2004, 10:56:29 AM »

Pros-
1.Silky smooth action with a 60 degree bolt throw for quick follow up shots.Very different bolt design,erogonomic design fits great in hand.
2.Easily adjustible trigger, no gunsmith needed. Comes from Factory with a crisp 4 lbs trigger pull.
3.Removeable magazine that stays attached to gun until you pull it out. Doesnt fall out like A-Bolt 1 mags. Much better design.
4.Barrel comes free floatedand glass bedded at the recoil lug and rear of the reciever.
5.Tang safety. Some people love these, nice feature on a rifle.
6.Post type swivel studs are stock.
7.Boss system is an option. Very nice for the person who doesnt reload, or like recoil.
8.Comes drilled and tapped foe scope mounts.

Cons-
1.Safety must be off to pull back bolt.
2.Price is a little higher than other big brands, but the quality of these firearms also surpasses the others brands in may peoples eyes, and is well worth the extra money.

These are the pros and cons, I dont know how to answer your other question, but if you can get over the cons, you will own one of the finest rifles made and will look forward to years of enjoyment with it. I hope this helps in your decision, and as you can see I am a big fan of Browning rifles, this is why I am a third generation owner of their fine firearms.
P.S. I own an A-Bolt Stalker II W/Boss in 30-06 and can't bring myself to get another rifle because this one will do it all for anything I will ever huunt.Good Luck.

Buffalogun · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2004, 04:44:39 PM »

thelaw,

Spess sums up this rifle very well. As far me, there is very little to dislike about the A-BoltII Browning. My rifle is a Composite Stalker w/20" barrel chambered to the 7-08 Rem. and has the Boss system. I like the palm-swell in the grip.
My rifle is very accurate. I use the 139g Hornady over 43g Varget for a little over 2,750 fps. and .75" groups are the norm. This is a six pound rifle. If I load Nosler Ballistic Tips, the cartridge is a tad too long for the magazine. So, if I were to load these, I'd snip off a little of the tip. It won't hurt.

Buffalogun

Dand · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2004, 05:48:54 PM »

I once had the pleasure of working with a .338 Win Mag A bolt. The thing was beat up looking and had a thrashed looking Leupold Scope on it -dented, scratched, bluing worn off and no turret caps just a batch of electric tape wound all over it. But with 250 gr Remington factory loads I put 3 shots in about 1 1/4 inch first time I shot it at 100 yds. And I did it a couple more times after. Was very impressed. Pretty comfortable to shoot too. I never thought I'd be interested as the bolt handle and receiver cosmetics seemed gimicky - but accuracy is VERY interesting what ever the arm looks like.

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2004, 06:40:53 PM »

Brownings are GREAT rifles in just about all ways, but the one con, for me, is when I shoulder one, it feels like a stiff, awkward, chunk of wood compared to other rifles such as the Remington 700BDL and the Ruger M77 MKII...If the Browning A-Bolt fit me better, I would buy one in a second....If it fits you and you are comfortable with it, the Pros far outweigh the Cons...this is a personal thing and in no way a problem with Browning, after all they make guns for people, not me. :grin:

I have shot quite a few Brownings and all have been pretty accurate overall.

Stay Safe. Happy Hunting/Shooting.

Daniel · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2004, 04:30:28 AM »

My problem with the A-bolt has to do with the stock design also. I just didn't like how it felt. I ended up selling mine to a friend who later sold it to his brother.

I have a question about the Browning safety. Does anyone know if the safety blocks the firing pin? I know the Remington safety doesn't and that's one of the reasons why I won't own a 700. Just curious because I've got a son needing a rifle and I want to buy him one that has the type safety that blocks the firing pin.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2004, 07:57:33 AM »

To clear up a couple things---The A-Bolt I's have the EXACT same magazine system as the II's----no mag drop with either of them.

The safety interlocks with the firing pin when engaged.

Yes---they are good guns.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2004, 01:09:12 PM »

Hey there A-bolters,

I have an A-Bolt in a, what else, 300Win. Mag. I bought the rifle in close to new condition, and although it doesn't shoot as well as I would like, the only miss in eight trys WAS my fault.

This rifle is stainless with the composit stock and in my time of life it is a joy to just hunt with little thought for a nice piece of wood and blued metal.

Even with the 26" barrel, it just seems to be "there" when the critters present the oppertunity.

It also has the slickest bolt I have ever used.

The one question I would have, concerns the quality of the barrel. As indicated, the rifle does not do as well as I would like, giving some good groups, but with no consistancy.

During one of the cleaning sessions, I had a light in just the right position and was surprised to note the amount and depth of the machine marks. These marks are around the barrel bore rather then running the length of the bore.

As you can imagine, this makes for a bore which likes to collect jacket material and is hard to clean

If I had bought the rifle new, I would probably been in contact with Browning about the possibility of a replacement.

I have, since the discovery of the barrel's condition, fire lapped the barrel w/40 rounds using the LBT compound. This did smooth out the maching marks to slight degree, but my guess is that it would take in excess of forty more to rounds to get it to anywhere close to good. No real change in groups.

I have thought about doing additional fire lapping, however, after slugging the bore I am not sure I have enough metal to do so and still have metal left for a good bore.

Anyone out there run into this condition on your A-Bolts, and if so any suggestions.

Keep em coming! :wink:

gunnut69 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 13, 2004, 07:58:54 AM »

If a barrel is so rough as to collect metal fouling I would indeed call Browning service. They have been more than helpful the few times we had reason to contact them. Be prepared to send them the weapon and realize they will most likely have it for a month or more.. Still one should give them a chance to fix a poorly made weapon..

The trigger on the Abolt and abolt II is adjustable for pull weight and takeup(sear engagement), it is NOT adjustable for overtravel. I seems to have a link to the striker which is the reason the safety must be off for the bolt to function..

wild willy · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2004, 03:04:32 PM »

I had a left hand .300 Mag A bolt that was the same way rough and fouled badly I bought it new in 89 or 90 somebody stole it a couple years ago so its somebody else's problem

bchannell · « **Reply #10 on:** September 14, 2004, 02:50:47 AM »

The Browning safety locks the trigger, blocks the firing pin and locks the bolt. I consider this to be a perfect design, and can't understand all the whoopla about having take the safety off to empty the gun. As long as it pointed in a safe direction, there's no problem.
I have yet to see an Abolt that didn't shoot well. I know they're out there, but I've not run across one. I had a 7mm-08 that was a super shooter, WHEN it was broken in. It took a little shooting to finally settle in and shoot, but when it did, it shoot great. Maybe a rough bore, who knows.
I can't say I like the looks of the pot metal on the gun, but I also can't say I've ever had any trouble with it either. About the only complaint is the paint wears off and I think it looks horrible. They sure don't have the durable blued steel of other makers, but it's only cosmetic.
As far as seating bullets is concerned, of all the Abolts I've seen so far, including a new 243WSSM, it looks like Browning has done their homework. All were able to seat bullets out to the lands, and still fit in the magazine, except one bullet, the Nosler Ballistic Tip. NBTs are too long for that, and I would not be surprised if some other bullets with plastic tips wouldn't cause the same condition, but I did not try them. If you mainly use soft point bullets, rather than the premiums, then I'd guess all will be ok. The way mine shot with plain ole Sierra bullets, it was hard to justify using the more expensive ones.
All in all, the Abolts are slick, with a very nice bolt, which is long enough to get a hold of easily, the usually feed pretty well, even though my neighbors 243 WSSM won't feed from the mag at all, it seems Browning forgot to machine the feed ramp, the bullets hit a flat wall. But that's a manufacturing omission, not a design fault, and I'm sure Browning would fix it immediately. It's just that the gun shoots so fantastic, he's afraid to send it back for fear they'll simply replace it. He just uses it single shot.
They're fine rifles, and the stock fits and feels pretty good on the synthetics also, so go for it and don't look back.
All that from a guy who doesn't own a single one of them. I like them, like how they shoot, just don't care for the looks of the metal. I know it's crazy, but I just never bonded with any one of them I ever had. I'm a Ruger fan, which in some circles equates to being crazy, but mine shoot fantastic, so I'm happy. I also own and like Winchesters, Tikkas etc, so I'm not married to any one brand, and if I were forced to spend the rest of my life hunting with an Abolt, I wouldn't be upset at all. Wellll, maybe a little pissed, but I'd get by.

coboconk · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2004, 01:23:05 PM »

I have owned an A-bolt since the mid eighties and have never had a problem with or complaint about the gun. Mine is 30-06 and taken many deer from 50-250 yards with out a problem.