Anyone Else Getting Disgusted With Browning??

Canadiankeeper said:
Sounds like you need to switch brands! Weatherby Lazerguard. Held one in person very close to not letting go. If my LGS had a browning hells canyon in 243 I likely would have left with it.. Good camo, good colors... Would of been an awesome yote rig! instead I got a stainless weatherby.


Click to expand...

You make a confusion of points here...
 
Not just Browning. Made in USA in many cases doesn`t mean anything more than made in China now. Turkey is on the rise, Japan, Czech Rep.are well established. I recently bought a Buckmark rifle the grips were warped junk out of the box, rest of stock basically had no finish and a big ugly knot in butt (piece of wood that should have been rejected) Quality control is non-existent. Look at the trash Remington pumps out...the Marlin line is garbage.
 
Another thing to consider:

We need cheap guns. My first gun that I handloaded for was a $300 savage axis in .223 (gen1 with a cheap tasco) - that gun taught me a lot of things about accuracy and marksmanship/load development that I will hopefully not ever forget. At the time I had barely enough money to pay the bills and the cost of entry was low enough that I could get a gun and a reloading setup for well under a grand. I have spent many thousands of dollars on guns and equipment since - I love a wood and blued rifle with nice figure. But, if you had asked me to spend over a grand on just a rifle at that point, i wouldn't have had the means to do it.

Cheap guns help eliminate cost as a barrier to entry for new shooters. And if they can be both cheap and accurate, that's even better! If we want the shooting sports and hunting to be accessible to newcomers, we need cheap plastic guns - we can get them hooked on the expensive stuff later!
 
I have a new X-Bolt and I was originally upset that it came with a plastic mag, but I've actually found it to be very durable and I'm with it.

The trigger guard being plastic is the only part that still bothers me, but it's nowhere near as bad as other brands like Remington and Ruger.

Even upper end brands like Sako are cutting corners.
 
ndallyn said:
Another thing to consider:

We need cheap guns. My first gun that I handloaded for was a $300 savage axis in .223 (gen1 with a cheap tasco) - that gun taught me a lot of things about accuracy and marksmanship/load development that I will hopefully not ever forget. At the time I had barely enough money to pay the bills and the cost of entry was low enough that I could get a gun and a reloading setup for well under a grand. I have spent many thousands of dollars on guns and equipment since - I love a wood and blued rifle with nice figure. But, if you had asked me to spend over a grand on just a rifle at that point, i wouldn't have had the means to do it.

Cheap guns help eliminate cost as a barrier to entry for new shooters. And if they can be both cheap and accurate, that's even better! If we want the shooting sports and hunting to be accessible to newcomers, we need cheap plastic guns - we can get them hooked on the expensive stuff later!
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone is saying there shouldn't be cheap guns..... The OP wishes for more variety of cartridges in the high end lineup..... He won't get it if cheap guns is all people buy......
 
If the market demanded rust blue and walnut then companies would be cranking out rust-blue and walnut. But that's not what the market demands, no matter how much surly old gun cranks like us might lament it.
 
Canadiankeeper said:
Sounds like you need to switch brands! Weatherby Lazerguard. Held one in person very close to not letting go. If my LGS had a browning hells canyon in 243 I likely would have left with it.. Good camo, good colors... Would of been an awesome yote rig! instead I got a stainless weatherby.


Click to expand...

hoytcanon said:
You make a confusion of points here...
Click to expand...

Sorry about that.

As for what he is after the weatherby lazerguard is a great option.

I like some of the new stuff browning is coming out with. Particularly the hells canyon. Looks great! Felt good too.
 
Holleyman said:
I prefer metal parts even if plastic will do the job. I'm willing to pay the premium and I'm sure I'm not alone.
I don't mind plastic guns being available as long as manufactures realize that a large percentage of buyers are still willing to pay for quality.
Click to expand...

Another kind gentleman who should switch to weatherby... All metal! I love it !
 
Manufacturing has never been more precise and cost effective as it is today. Machines can spit out parts with fantastic consistency, tolerances and accuracy at significantly lower costs than just a few years ago. Gun companies are doing what every other manufacturer has been doing for decades, eliminating skilled labour, ramping up technology and doubling marketing budgets year over year. Fact is, new guns made of plastic, pot metal and CNC machined parts work very well and serve the greater demand in a way that handcrafting can’t. Most gun owners want utility and only gun nuts care for nostalgia, craftsmanship and beauty.

Browning is a marketing company peddling branded products. Their products, philosophy and brand is night and day different from what they used to be.

Just be glad gun companies aren’t taking public money to stay afloat 😉
 
Buckmastr said:
It's not just browning that's making junk these days
Click to expand...

^^For the win.

I'm 28 and I fully appreciate good craftsmenship, walnut and bluing. If it was up to me I would trade every gun made after the 80's to go back to the quality of the good ol' days. Only guns I would truly miss are my glocks. Rugged cheap plastic has its place, but does not deserve to destroy the craftsmenship market.
 
Petamocto said:
I have a new X-Bolt and I was originally upset that it came with a plastic mag, but I've actually found it to be very durable and I'm with it.

The trigger guard being plastic is the only part that still bothers me, but it's nowhere near as bad as other brands like Remington and Ruger.

Even upper end brands like Sako are cutting corners.
Click to expand...

I have no problem with the composite magazine on the X-Bolt,.. I have to say it is slicker working than the steel ones, won't bend, won't rust,.. all good in my books.

As for the trigger guard being composite,.. I think you maybe mistaken about that,... I have never seen an X-Bolt with a composite trigger guard,.. all Alloy,.. Browning has all X-Bolts listed as having "Alloy" trigger guards. The BAR Mark3 has a composite guard, as do the Shorttrac, Longtrac BARs,.. and I think the A-Bolt III has a composite guard and trigger.
 
Last edited:
Canadiankeeper said:
Sounds like you need to switch brands! Weatherby Lazerguard. Held one in person very close to not letting go. If my LGS had a browning hells canyon in 243 I likely would have left with it.. Good camo, good colors... Would of been an awesome yote rig! instead I got a stainless weatherby.


Click to expand...


Yup,.. nice rifle for sure,... this is exactly what I am talking about,.. why can't Browning be bothered to put out something like that once in awhile.
 
i'm in my 60's and not a fan of wood/blue. prefer ss or coated with quality synthetic stocks. i like nice wood just wouldn't hunt with it. that said cooper builds some stunning wood handled rifles but well over $3000 now. lots of nice wood/blue rifles arround but the cost is rising. cheap plastic rifles exist because that is where the market is.
 
Plenty of used brownings for sale in the EE. And all kinds of other rifles from yesteryear for that matter. Ive only ever bought 3 new rifles in my lifetime, if I'm remembering correctly and probably north of 100 on the used market.

As for Browning, I've got 2 About 1 micro medallions that I absolutely adore, and they shoot lights out. One I will probably sell as I just really don't need 2. Also have a 20ga BSS, and now a .348 high grade. There sure are some real nice browning pieces out there, they just may not be on the shelf.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom