A-Bolt firing pin trouble?

Kilo Charlie

Kilo Charlie

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I noticed in another thread where someone's A-Bolt developed a weak firing pin spring. This is the only problem I've ever had with an otherwise great-handling and accurate rifle. Is this any kind of A-Bolt issue? I see the same thing happened to someone Rembo knows. Anyone else heard of this? I had just always assumed I left the rifle cocked all one winter or something....maybe not.
 
I had one (mod 70)come my way that someone had slathered oil all over it gumming up the firing pin spring resulting in a sluggish pin fall. Some solvent or deisel fuel, I can't remember which fixed the prob.
 
I have two different hunting partners, who have complained about their A-bolts firing pin freezing up on them hunting in the winter time, there are two happy deer out there running around today becuase of it!
 
I have never heard of this being a common problem with A-bolts.
It is a common malfunction with any dirty, or gummed up firing pin or one that gets damp then taken out in the cold.
 
Thanks gents, for the replies. I have an A-Bolt that used to VERY occasionally fail to fire, though it indented the firing pin. Maybe one shot in a hundred. A new five dollar spring fixed it.
 
This was a very common problem on a-bolts 20 years ago. Whether or not it is still as common I can't say since I no longer do general gunsmithing in a large center so I don't see the numbers of rifles I used to. Perhaps Browning has addressed the problem or perhaps not. Regards, Bill.
 
always always clean my a-bolt with nitro solvent & blow/wipe dry before hunting starts.hasn't failed me yet.it's a 280 a-bolt ss/s.nothing works like a thorough cleaning!!!! a few minutes in the basement now will save you a from a lot of NIGHTMARES!!! lol
 
Leeper said:
This was a very common problem on a-bolts 20 years ago. Whether or not it is still as common I can't say since I no longer do general gunsmithing in a large center so I don't see the numbers of rifles I used to. Perhaps Browning has addressed the problem or perhaps not. Regards, Bill.
Click to expand...
I read this and I thought, hey the A-bolt has not been around THAT LONG... then I realized it was introduced in 85... Thanks for reminding me how old I am Bill:mad: ;)
 
Leeper said:
This was a very common problem on a-bolts 20 years ago. Whether or not it is still as common I can't say since I no longer do general gunsmithing in a large center so I don't see the numbers of rifles I used to. Perhaps Browning has addressed the problem or perhaps not. Regards, Bill.
Click to expand...

The ABolt I had experience with was purchased new by it's owner in the late eighties...not surprsing...
 
Purchased mine new in '93. The inside of the bolt is and was quite clean. I may get one of the Blitzschnell heavy springs from Brownells as a six-dollar insurance policy. Five years since I replaced the factory spring and I had one round fail to fire last time at the range. Could have been a bad handload, and a second shot fired it. Problem hasn't resurfaced, but considering how cheap and easy a new spring is to install.....
 
Another problem with the A-bolt. The palm swell is weird and You can buy a savage that'll shoot into the same holes as it for half the cost, then acually pay for a decent scope. Never had a problem with a savage, they aint purty but they do nice work, kinda like me
 
I certainly could get a Savage, and I do like them, but not enough to drop the A-Bolt, unless Savage makes a rifle
-in .280 Remington
-with a 60 degree bolt lift
-with a tang safety.
Seriously, I've been considering a stainless rifle, and the Savage in .308 is one I'd look closely at. But for all we say that loks aren't that important, I think looks have helped kill the Rem 600, Savage 340, and, mercifully, the 710. I'm kind of surprised the A-Bolt hasn't seen more stock redesigns; I've never thought of my old Hunter model as a pretty rifle.
 
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