A-Bolt hunter

Having owned an A-bolt,I hated the magazine system and the tang safety.On the positive side,it appeared to be well made.
 
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Don't have any experience with this rifle.
I'm hesitating between a A-bolt hunter in .308 and a marlin 336c .30-30 rifle for deer hunting. No moose hunting envisioned.
Realistic ranges will be 100 yards in moderate bush.
Just can't decide which rifle to get.
What are the advantages / disadvantages of these guns ?
 
Go for the .308. It will do alot more for you in the long run than the 30/30. Pointy bullets and better balistics go hand in hand.

The A-Bolts are good rifles. They are accurate, fit well, and reliable. The weak link is the mag set up, but it's not a huge deal. I like the 60° bolt.

BTW .... The Leupold 2x7 fits perfectly on a short action A-Bolt. I have one on my 22/250.

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I am on my 3rd A-Bolt now.

The first two were junk plain and simple. This latest one however has not caused any problems whatsoever. The fact that it prints 2 1/4" groups at 300 yards is a bonus! :D
 
I hunted with a win. 30-30 model 94 for years, shot many deer with it, but in thick bush country. Just sucks when you do see that nice buck out past 100yrds and you know you have no chance. I now use a 308 because I hunt more farms now, and I love it, its a great caliber, shoots nice and flat and long and not much of a kick.
 
RevolverRodger said:
Don't have any experience with this rifle.
I'm hesitating between a A-bolt hunter in .308 and a marlin 336c .30-30 rifle for deer hunting. No moose hunting envisioned.
Realistic ranges will be 100 yards in moderate bush.
Just can't decide which rifle to get.
What are the advantages / disadvantages of these guns ?
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Get both! :D

you will more than likely love the A-bolt II. I liked the original A-Bolt. Got my first 200yard deer with a .30-06 A-Bolt Medallion. Great rifles, but on a deer rifle I can't stand a straight comb.
 
I have an A Bolt II .270 and I still use it as a back-up for hunting, and it has taken many deer in its time. Great rifles, never had a single problem with it and very accurate. The magazine system is fine once you get used to it. And if you need more than four shots - its too far away. :rolleyes:

I would take an A Bolt II in .308 over the 30-30 for deer (although I still like my 30-30 for short range with open sights).

Alternatively, if you don't like the magazine on the Browning, get a Tikka T3 Lite Synthetic in .308. About the same price.
 
I may be the exception here but I have a A-Bolt medalion in 300 win mag.

I bought this rifle new about 20 years ago and I love it as much today as I did 20 years ago.

It has never lets me down and it speaks with authority every time I ask it too!

I would not hesitate to buy another one.

Buy the rifle that appeals to you and enjoy it.
 
The .30-30 on a Marlin lever with a 4x scope would make a nice deer rifle for the range you described. But the .308 would be a better choice. I had a Browning A-bolt hunter model in .30-06 with iron sites. It was a nice rifle & accurate to boot. I'd get a Browning in .308 over the Marlin .30-30. ;)
 
NAA said:
The .30-30 on a Marlin lever with a 4x scope would make a nice deer rifle for the range you described. But the .308 would be a better choice. I had a Browning A-bolt hunter model in .30-06 with iron sites. It was a nice rifle & accurate to boot. I'd get a Browning in .308 over the Marlin .30-30. ;)
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Agreed

I have an A Bolt Hunter in 270 WSM.

Some people love the mag set-up, some hate it. All preference.

Never had a jam and I have used it plenty.

Feels great, shoulders great, shoots MOA.

I like the tang safety.

Highly receommended rifle.
 
I had one for a while in 300 WSM, for some reason I could never love it. Every time I pulle the trigger it went bang and it was very accurate, I shot 5 deer with it last fall and then sold it here.
 
martinbns said:
I had one for a while in 300 WSM, for some reason I could never love it. Every time I pulle the trigger it went bang and it was very accurate, I shot 5 deer with it last fall and then sold it here.
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Just different tastes I guess. With my former bad luck with A-Bolts I was leery of buying another but in the end reasoned that it would be an easy sell if I didn't like it. That little rifle turned out to be just what I was looking for. It is short and trim and very easy to pack but has an honest 400 yard+ reach. The only "bad" thing about it is that in such a light rifle the 300 wsm can beat you up pretty good at the bench if you don't have a good grip on it. ;) That rifle has "scoped" me three times now and I think I am starting to get a permanent depression over my eyebrow. LoL
 
I've got a custom built on a stainless action in 25-06. So far I'm enjoying it. They shoot well and I like the low bolt lift. Keeps my hand clear of the scope.
 
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