Browning A Bolt?

r.fallon

r.fallon

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Hi everyone I am looking to get dad a new hunting (new or used but new to him) rifle. I am trying to keep it around the $600 mark. I'm familiar with Ruger, Remington, Tikka, but I am not familiar with Browning except that the X bolts have long skinny barrels and they are expensive;). Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of the Browning A bolts? thanks RF
 
I used to own an A-bolt in 30-06 with BOSS and thought it was great!!! With the load I had developed it would cloverleaf 3 rounds at 100 yards if I did my part. I did not like how delicate and time consuming the hinged floorplate and detachable mag was and ended up selling it when something else caught my eye. If it wasn't for that I would have kept it.
 
I've been shooting an A-bolt for many years. Many folks will gripe about the floor plate, but if you read here long enough somebody will gripe about every gun for something.
If you can find the deal you like for the price you want to spend, not one of those makers on your list is bad. BTW this is the best place on the net to buy good used guns in Canada.

If you can find a stainless rifle for only a little bit more money, it may be something to think about.
 
I've owned a couple different A-bolts over the years including a Hunter model in .30-06 and a stainless stalker model in .308 Win.

One I have that's a "keeper" I've had since circa 1995. It's a composite stalker in .300 Win Mag. Will do clover leaf 3 shot groups at 100 yards with 70 gr IMR 4350 behind a good quality 180 gr JSP if I do my part.

A-bolts.... I like 'em.... ;)

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NAA.
 
I have a Browning A-bolt in .270 Hunter circa 1988....would not give it up. with 100 grain hollows and 3200 fps...it vaporizes critters. Absolutely as accurate as I can make it. fills 3/4 inch center dots at 100 yards.
 
i have a blued laminate 338 win mag circa 1988, and a stainless stalker in 3006.
both will clover leaf with the right loads, and most factory will shoot under an inch.
i went through a lot of guns before i got these two. but nowadays theres alot of
sweet shooters out there. best to let him play with a few to see what he likes.
 
I'm on my second A-bolt, had a blued stalker in .30-06, only sold it cause I have a .308 BLR and the .30-06 seemed a bit redundant...I just purchased the digicam model in .270 wsm, have yet to shoot it but I'll take an A-bolt over a lot of other guns....'course I'm a little biased for Browning, but there are reasons for that!:D
 
I have an Abolt in 22 250 and it is a great shooter. the only modification I made was putting in Timney trigger spring kit. I shoot my rifle left handed and the short bolt throw is very handy for a lefty shooting a righty rifle. I actually like the magazine system. I have some friends that have been shooting abolts for years 30-06, 270, and they have been very dependable, accurate rifles.
 
r.fallon said:
Hi everyone I am looking to get dad a new hunting (new or used but new to him) rifle. I am trying to keep it around the $600 mark. I'm familiar with Ruger, Remington, Tikka, but I am not familiar with Browning except that the X bolts have long skinny barrels and they are expensive;). Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of the Browning A bolts? thanks RF
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If I were in the market for a Japanese rifle, I would go for a Howa over a Browning. Inexpensive and great shooters. If you can't find a Howa, Howa builds the Weatherby Vanguard and was the manufacturer of the Mossberg and S&W 1500s (all pretty much the same rifle).
 
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