Anyone Else Getting Disgusted With Browning??

When I first got into the sport, Browning and Weatherby had the reputation of being pricey and elitist (only rich city guys had them, we farmers had our basic Remingtons, Winchesters, and $35.00 .303s that killed stuff just as well); both seem to have "lowered" themselves to hit a more popular price point. I admit I am intregued with Weatherby's Vangard series and their sub MOA guarantee, and may one one at some point, but Browing has no special appeal at all.

Likewise, the "Browning" branded ammo has been getting less than stellar reviews at my club; but there is still brand loyality. One person actually is going to dump their pistol because it is a bad gun, there can't be anything wrong with the ammo.

Marketing....
 
Meroh said:
When I first got into the sport, Browning and Weatherby had the reputation of being pricey and elitist (only rich city guys had them, we farmers had our basic Remingtons, Winchesters, and $35.00 .303s that killed stuff just as well); both seem to have "lowered" themselves to hit a more popular price point. I admit I am intregued with Weatherby's Vangard series and their sub MOA guarantee, and may one one at some point, but Browing has no special appeal at all.

Likewise, the "Browning" branded ammo has been getting less than stellar reviews at my club; but there is still brand loyality. One person actually is going to dump their pistol because it is a bad gun, there can't be anything wrong with the ammo.

Marketing....
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Brownings popularity is what has turned me off. I may be a bit younger. I have only been in the sport for about 4 years. The damn stickers on everything, people who cant change a tire, shoot a gun or skin a critter rocking camo everywhere with the browning logo. All that nonsense turned me off of it huge! I remember asking my 19 year old sister and her friends at the time what Browning is? What they started making? They all responded with a clothing manufacturer and cloths...

I have never had any interest towards any of their firearms. Up until the new hells canyon speed... Not enough to buy it when looking for a new rifle. Enough to pick it up though! The entire name is a marketing ploy to go with their new Hell canyon speed line of camo cloths...

Now as for Weatherby. Even as a new shooter reading up on them I knew I liked what I was reading. My first bolt gun was a vanguard in 300 win mag... Shot great! I have owned 5 now I do believe... Loved them all! I think they offer the best bang for your buck if you are a "gun" guy. Who can appreciate the small things they add like sub MOA, two stage match trigger, adjustable and the craftsmanship is much higher quality then a lot out there... Now if you are a guy who goes "It hit paper! That will drop a deer!" Your axis will be just fine.
 
Rey said:
Isn't that just the normal xbolt medallion? They do make them non stainless. Unless there are more differences between the two that I'm aware of.
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A-Bolt Medallion...http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/a-bolt/current-production.html

X-bolt Medallion...http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/x-bolt/current-production/x-bolt-medallion.html

X-Bolt White Gold Medallion...http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/x-bolt/current-production/x-bolt-white-gold.html
 
Meroh said:
When I first got into the sport, Browning and Weatherby had the reputation of being pricey and elitist (only rich city guys had them, we farmers had our basic Remingtons, Winchesters, and $35.00 .303s that killed stuff just as well); both seem to have "lowered" themselves to hit a more popular price point. I admit I am intregued with Weatherby's Vangard series and their sub MOA guarantee, and may one one at some point, but Browing has no special appeal at all.

Likewise, the "Browning" branded ammo has been getting less than stellar reviews at my club; but there is still brand loyality. One person actually is going to dump their pistol because it is a bad gun, there can't be anything wrong with the ammo.

Marketing....
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You can still get some darned fancy X-Bolts and Mark V's, but let's face it - the market (and money) is is entry level stuff. It gives hundreds of thousands of young and new shooters the opportunity to get into the sports at a very reasonable cost. Also, while corners are being cut on some aspects, these guns are extremely good value. I have a 308 SPS Varmint that will very easily do .5 - .75 inch groups with handloads. When I was a kid, such a rifle probably did not even exist - at least not in a production rifle. I have a Mossberg 4X4 in 300 WM that does around an inch at 100. Pretty awesome performance.

Personally, I love the look of a good, deep-blued walnut-stocked bolt rifle with jeweled bolt, but in practical terms, a stainless, composite-stocked (quality stock, though - not entry-level stuff) rifle is much better.
 
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.


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I have this exact same rifle chambered in .300 Weatherby Magnum. I absolutely love this rifle. It's one of those guns that will be passed down from generation to generation.

I feel that at one point in time there was really only wood available to make a rifle stock; now technology has made other materials available that are more durable and lighter. There's a certain nostalgia with a wood stock rifle...like the days of yore....any modern day rifles that have a nice wood stock usually come with a hefty price tag.
 
SuperCub said:
Buyers aren't buying what they used to buy either. What would you think they should be selling instead?
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I hear ya SuperCub,.. It's only common sense that a company is going to lean towards what makes them the most money,.. but it would be nice to see a few more options once in awhile in the traditional style line up. I'm not saying for them to put out a full on constant production,.. but just once in awhile give us a little old school flavor.
 
Tabacco Brook said:
I hear ya SuperCub,.. It's only common sense that a company is going to lean towards what makes them the most money,.. but it would be nice to see a few more options once in awhile in the traditional style line up. I'm not saying for them to put out a full on constant production,.. but just once in awhile give us a little old school flavor.
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You can get the Mossberg Patriot in a wood stock at a reasonable price. I've never handled on, but as I said above, I have a 4X4 that is a really great shooter. There are also the Zastava's and the Sabatti's.

That being said, I don't believe I've ever had a wood-stocked, traditional, bolt gun that would shoot nearly as well as even the entry level guns.
 
Papaclaude said:
You can get the Mossberg Patriot in a wood stock at a reasonable price. I've never handled on, but as I said above, I have a 4X4 that is a really great shooter. There are also the Zastava's and the Sabatti's.

That being said, I don't believe I've ever had a wood-stocked, traditional, bolt gun that would shoot nearly as well as even the entry level guns.
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Those Mossberg rifles are absolute Shyte... they should never come up in a conversation about "old school quality."

Don't waste your time and money.
 
hoytcanon said:
Those Mossberg rifles are absolute Shyte... they should never come up in a conversation about "old school quality."

Don't waste your time and money.
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I did not say or imply that they were old school quality. Just that if someone still wants a wood-stocked, blued rifle, there are a few alternatives to the 4-digit ones. As far as Mossbergs go, I only have the 4X4 (Pre-LBA). It cost around $500 with scope. I knew I wasn't ordering a Sako. I was ordering a cheap gun that, by all accounts, was very accurate out of the box. What did I get? An inexpensive rifle that shoots extremely well. The scope came off, and is sitting on a 22, where it is doing good work. Would I recommend it? Yeah, without a moment's hesitation, with the caveat that you are getting an entry-level rifle with a plastic mag and trigger guard, as well as moulded-in sling loops. In car terms, it's a Canada Value Package Grand Caravan. You want a high end van, get a Toyota Sienna at more than twice the price. Want a serviceable vehicle that will get 7 people reliably for years to come? Get a Caravan.
 
How has the quality of Sako lately? I have fallen in love with the 85 Bavarian Carbine in 6.5X55 but I can't find any info if they use plastic parts. For $2000+ I hope not but thought one of you might be in the know.
I'm thinking this will be a spring purchase.
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Some sako 85 have ejection problems. The brass hits the scope and can fall back in the action. It was a problem for a friend of mine and once he started looking into it, it seems to be pretty common
 
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Wonder what is more profitable to produce - a tupperware stocked, cerakoted 6.5 creedmoor - or a walnut stock blued steel 358 Win ? Laugh2
 
Papaclaude said:
I did not say or imply that they were old school quality. Just that if someone still wants a wood-stocked, blued rifle, there are a few alternatives to the 4-digit ones. As far as Mossbergs go, I only have the 4X4 (Pre-LBA). It cost around $500 with scope. I knew I wasn't ordering a Sako. I was ordering a cheap gun that, by all accounts, was very accurate out of the box. What did I get? An inexpensive rifle that shoots extremely well. The scope came off, and is sitting on a 22, where it is doing good work. Would I recommend it? Yeah, without a moment's hesitation, with the caveat that you are getting an entry-level rifle with a plastic mag and trigger guard, as well as moulded-in sling loops. In car terms, it's a Canada Value Package Grand Caravan. You want a high end van, get a Toyota Sienna at more than twice the price. Want a serviceable vehicle that will get 7 people reliably for years to come? Get a Caravan.
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Great, but how does that rifle have anything to do with this thread? This is about "quality" wood and blued "old school" style rifles... and there is nothing of quality in a 4X4 or Patriot.
 
Tabacco Brook said:
Is it just me or is anyone else getting disgusted/tired of the weird, spacey, plastic crap, bolt actions that Browning keeps bringing out year after year?.. Isn't it time to give that crap a bit of a rest and offer some nice traditional and different wood stock designs,.. such as some medium to high grade oil finish wood,.. maybe more Monte Carlo raised cheek piece options, or just raised cheek piece, or whatever,.. just something different, more options in traditional styling. Sure, some of the composite stuff is nice and very useful, I have a Stainless Stalker that I really like, but enough is enough with all the plastic. Another thing I would like to see is some different chamberings besides the plane old vanilla flavors. I will say it is good to see some of the new cartridges being offered such as the 6.5 CM, 6mm CM, 26 and 28 Nosler,... but it would be nice to see a run of 358win, or 35Whelen, or 338Federal once in awhile. I've been a loyal Browning customer all my life but I'm starting to lose interest.
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A man should be loyal to his wife, but you don't have to be loyal to one make of firearm. Hell, there is more than Browning in today's gun market, there is endless amounts of great quality firearms; firearms in cartridges that you have mentioned. The Winchester Model 70 has really improved in quality, identical to the pre 64.
 
todbartell said:
Wonder what is more profitable to produce - a tupperware stocked, cerakoted 6.5 creedmoor - or a walnut stock blued steel 358 Win ? Laugh2
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And therein lays the crunch... as long as companies make more profit on shytey guns than quality pieces, they will move in that direction. However, there will always be quality craftsmen making beautiul pieces, but the gulf in price point will increase exponentially as the large producers race to the bottom and the craftsmen realize that they offer something vastly different and are not at all in competition with the Brownings and Remingtons of the world.
 
hoytcanon said:
Great, but how does that rifle have anything to do with this thread? This is about "quality" wood and blued "old school" style rifles... and there is nothing of quality in a 4X4 or Patriot.
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My intent was simply to point out that if someone is enamoured of blued, wood-stock rifles, there are alternatives to spending over a grand on a gun: the Patriot (like it or not, it is an option), Zastava's and Sabatti's. But no, you will not get Weatherby MkV or Sauer quality at $600-$700 bucks.
 
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