Author Topic: Browning A-Bolt (Read 901 times)

expense4 · « **on:** December 28, 2004, 04:37:21 AM »

I have noticed a lack of commentary on the Browning A- Bolts. What say you,brothers?Has anyone experience with the BOSS? The sales fluff sounds pretty good.I'm contemplating a 25-06 to play with in '05. Any observations,rants, bitches,etc. are really appreciated.

Will_C · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2004, 05:59:53 AM »

There seems to be a love-hate air about the A-bolts. I bought a .243 just about two years ago, and I truly like the rifle. I have shot .5" 3 shot groups with my varmint load, and .90" 3 shot groups with Nosler Partitions that I loaded for deer season. I like the swing away magazine, and while the trigger was acceptable, the addition of the Timney spring kit brought it down to 2.75lbs., with no creep. I wish the gun was not so "pretty", as I can't bear to carry it while driving deer. The finish is "soft", as I have accumulated a few scratches just from bench work and woodchuck hunting. All in all, I am very happy with mine, and may be adding a larger caliber soon.
Will

deerman12 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2004, 07:02:51 AM »

I paid big money for a 300 mag with a BOSS when they first came out. Yes, it did shoot good 3/4-1 inch. It was a pain in the a-- to adjust the BOSS and worry about it being tight. My main objection was the BOSS added 2-3 inches to overall length and the muzzle blast was MASSIVE!
I traded it a few years ago for Remington model 7 300 SAUM and have never looked back.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2004, 11:16:45 AM »

The BOSS equiped rifles have the SAME barrel length-----what happens is that you lose 2 inches of useable barrel length.

Gregory · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2004, 11:56:36 AM »

I have a non boss 25/06 LH stainless stalker I bought new in 1990. I'm very pleased with it.

Only complaint is I wish it had a 23" or 24" barrel instead of a 22". I love the removable hinged floorplate a very clever idea I'm surprised others haven't copied. The gun fits me like a glove.

Buffalogun · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2004, 03:47:38 PM »

expense4,

I have a Browning Abolt II Composite Stalker Carbine w/Boss, chambered to the 7mm-08 Rem. I have only one negative comment about this rifle, but I feel the same about all synthetic/matte rifles. I think they are ugly!

Now here are the reasons I like this rifle. It's a dandy deer rifle! It fits me very well! Unlike some, I haven't found the Boss system to be a problem, and I handload my ammo. I can remove the Boss from the rifle and replace it with no change in accuracy or point of impact. With 139g Hornady's, .75" groups are standard.

The Boss on my rifle is the "conventional recoil" weight, without the holes. It produces no increase in noise and gives the standard recoil.

I have to disagree on the barrel length. My rifle is billed as having a 20" barrel, which it does! The Boss adds about 1.75" to the 20" barrel, for a total overall length of about 21.75".

I have pulled this rifles trigger twice this year and the results are a 145# 6-pt. and a 100# doe. I can't complain. You can't have mine!

Buffalogun

Florida Jim · « **Reply #6 on:** December 29, 2004, 01:21:04 AM »

I have two left handed Stainless stalkers. One a 300 Win mag with a boss, the other a 375 H&H without a boss. I'm very pleased with both. If you reload, I feel the "Boss" is not needed. I like the extra barrel length you have without the boss. My 375 shoots as good as the 300, after adjusting a load for it. I also have a few Remington 700's I feel the Browings are the best out of the box rifles. I had to work on the Remingtons to get them to shoot good. My left hand short action 308 varmint has such a long throat tha I'll probably either rebarrel it, or set the barrel back and rechamber it. Both the Brownings were very tight out of the box.
I'm still looking for a left hand Winchester model 70 in 375 H&H!!

Todd1700 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 29, 2004, 01:57:04 AM »

I have a Browning A-bolt in 7mm-08. (No boss) I like it a lot. I would buy another one. It's accurate, the trigger isn't bad and I really like the hinged floorplate with the detachable magazine.

Big Paulie · « **Reply #8 on:** December 29, 2004, 05:14:25 AM »

An additional point. I have heard that if you don't like to use the swing-down floor plate and detachable magazine, you can simply top load the rifle like any other bolt action.

Kingfish · « **Reply #9 on:** December 29, 2004, 09:12:05 AM »

I have a A-Bolt II Hunter in 7WSM with a glossy wood stock that's very easy to ding up. I like my rifle just fine but have put the timney trigger spring and a limbsaver recoil pad on it. Mine has a slim 23" (no boss) barrel and the floorplate is OK if you want to use it. I really like the short bolt throw on the A-Bolts that doesn't almost hit your scope. Mine has been accurate and I plan to keep it.

Bill