Browning A-bolt Target Rifle Reviews/Help me pick a 223

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csteeves

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I am looking to expand and pick up a 223. I will mostly be using this to kill paper at what I hope to manage out to 5-600 yards, though I imagine I might engage a few gophers/yotes as time allows me.

I currently only only weatherby vanguards but unfortunately weatherby refuses to make a .223 or 22-250 with a heavy bullet appropriate twist. So I guess I need to depart from my tried and true vanguard deluxe formula. I hate buying cheap rifles that feel like I could break them. I have no problem with inexpensive rifles, just cheap ones.

I do not reload, and looking at my work, there is absolutely no way I will be able to in the next 5 years. Can I shoot factory ammo with any degree of reliability or am I wasting my time trying to target shoot with factory ammo?

Is the Browning a-bolt Target rifle a good pick for this? I am looking at picking one up NIB for slightly more than a 1000 dollars. Should I be looking at something else?

I really appreciate the input.
 
If you are willing to spend the money for accuracy buy match grade ammo, that will do until you have time to reload, take a look at the Remg and the Savages they have some fine rifles also, I am not farmiliar with the Browning at all. Try going to a gun shop and touching a few different makes and models, in the end the better the fit the happier youll be with it.
 
I would investigate into the barrel on the A-Bolt, it is very hard (or some would say impossible) to remove and replace. If you target shooting with it, you will eventually wear it out. At least with something like a Remington it can be changed easily. Besides that my A-Bolt (in 300WM) was like a laser, easily Sub MOA.
 
I have a Browning A-bolt Target in .308. It's a nice looking rifle. The adjustable cheekpiece and palm swell are nice. I like it well enough but I have a couple of issues with it:

1. The forestock is very short, so it doesn't give you as long a 'wheelbase' for stability on a bipod that you get with most target stocks. To solve this I went with the biggest, widest, lowest bipod I could find (rempel).

2. The single set trigger gave me a lot of grief. I couldn't get used to it. Its 9-14 ounces and the trigger literally jumps away from your finger. Every group I tried to shoot would seem to have one shot flung wide as the trigger would break when I didn't expect it. As no one makes aftermarket triggers (or anything else for that matter) for them, if you want to swap it out you have to find a factory trigger. Browning wants about $200 for one, so I went used and got lucky, as they are not so easy to find. The factory standard trigger is very crisp and has short travel but the spring is a bit heavy so a common upgrade is a lighter spring kit from Timney. The one I got already had a timney spring installed. It's 3 lbs. I think, but Timney also offers a 1.5 lbs. spring as well.

Having said that, I did some load testing last fall and found a load that gave me about .5 MOA at 300m. I was happy with that.

Haven't shot it since, but the range opens in May and I'll be getting out and putting some rounds though it and see how this trigger is going to work out. I expect it to be good.

If I were to do it again, I would not buy the Browning. Their customer service sucks and there are other rifles out there that are cheaper, that have more aftermarket upgrades available, and that are sold in higher numbers so there are more people to draw experience from.
 
AdrianM said:
I have a Browning A-bolt Target in .308. It's a nice looking rifle. The adjustable cheekpiece and palm swell are nice. I like it well enough but I have a couple of issues with it:

1. The forestock is very short, so it doesn't give you as long a 'wheelbase' for stability on a bipod that you get with most target stocks. To solve this I went with the biggest, widest, lowest bipod I could find (rempel).

2. The single set trigger gave me a lot of grief. I couldn't get used to it. Its 9-14 ounces and the trigger literally jumps away from your finger. Every group I tried to shoot would seem to have one shot flung wide as the trigger would break when I didn't expect it. As no one makes aftermarket triggers (or anything else for that matter) for them, if you want to swap it out you have to find a factory trigger. Browning wants about $200 for one, so I went used and got lucky, as they are not so easy to find. The factory standard trigger is very crisp and has short travel but the spring is a bit heavy so a common upgrade is a lighter spring kit from Timney. The one I got already had a timney spring installed. It's 3 lbs. I think, but Timney also offers a 1.5 lbs. spring as well.

Having said that, I did some load testing last fall and found a load that gave me about .5 MOA at 300m. I was happy with that.

Haven't shot it since, but the range opens in May and I'll be getting out and putting some rounds though it and see how this trigger is going to work out. I expect it to be good.

If I were to do it again, I would not buy the Browning. Their customer service sucks and there are other rifles out there that are cheaper, that have more aftermarket upgrades available, and that are sold in higher numbers so there are more people to draw experience from.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I really appreciate the input.
 
Tikka Varmint 8 twist 223
Savage HB with 9 twist - my fave as a base
Rem HB 9 twist

If your long term goal is to modify, then Rem/ Savage is a toss up. Just look at where you want to go for parts, then choose the action to get you there.

Tikka is one of the most accuracy factory rifles and that 8 twist ensures all the good heavy 22cal bullets will work. 75 to 82gr are ideal. if the rifle fits you, you will not need to change anything

Jerry
 
Mystic Precision said:
Tikka Varmint 8 twist 223
Savage HB with 9 twist - my fave as a base
Rem HB 9 twist

If your long term goal is to modify, then Rem/ Savage is a toss up. Just look at where you want to go for parts, then choose the action to get you there.

Tikka is one of the most accuracy factory rifles and that 8 twist ensures all the good heavy 22cal bullets will work. 75 to 82gr are ideal. if the rifle fits you, you will not need to change anything

Jerry
Click to expand...

I will soon be working up some loads to try in my new Savage 10 Precision Carbine .223 using Sierra 69 gr. HPBT match bullets. First thing though, will be a careful break-in with Winchester 55gr. "White box" stuff to get the brass and get a feel for the girl.

After that, the fun begins.;)
 
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