Browning T-Bolt - New
- Thread starter almo
- Start date
I got my new T-bolt a few weeks ago, but only managed to get some scope bases for it yesterday. Today was my first chance to shoot it. For those who are looking to scope theirs, but don't like the matte-finished bases that Browning apparently wants you to buy for this nice gloss-finished gun, a set of Leupold bases for a Rem 541 (#50028) fit perfectly and match the gun's finish nicely.
This is a really nice-handling, lightweight rifle. It has a few plastic parts (triggerguard, magazine well, magazine clip) but still projects a feeling of quality. I scoped it with an old B&L Balfor four power, a very compact scope that sits well on this gun. No adjustable objective, parallax set for centerfire rifles, blah, blah, blah. Sue me.
The only ammo I had on hand was Remington Subsonics, Winchester Powerpoints, and Remington Thunderbolts. All three shot into 3/4 inch @ 50 yards, the Subsonics maybe slightly tighter than the others. This was off an old kitchen table set up behind the barn, with sandbags. The trigger is very crisp, no slop at all, but a tad on the heavy side. It's gold-coloured in typical Browning fashion. The adjustment screw located forward of the trigger makes very little difference to the pull. This is my one major peeve with this gun.
The magazine is plastic, a very complicated-looking affair. It has a cool little thumbwheel doohickey that allows you to preload the spring so that cartridges just drop right in with no tension. It's easy to load the standard way as well, pushing each cartridge in against spring tension. The magazine seems to be well built and has none of the cheap, flimsy feel of some plastic clips. I hope that it holds up over time, and I don't think that spares will be inexpensive. It releases and re-inserts easily. Pushing a loaded mag into the mag well when the bolt is closed requires a bit of effort.
The action is huge fun to play with. I never had one of the original T-bolts but always wanted one. I must have cycled this thing several hundred times while waiting for the scope bases to arrive. I still get a kick out of watching it work. It started a bit stiff, but very smooth and superfast to operate.
The wood on mine has a fair bit of figure in it, but several that I looked at were quite plain. It seems to be worthwhile to look at a few to find a good-looking one. The stock is very comfortable to use, at least for me.
I have a couple of Brno's and a Sako Finnfire that will outshoot this gun so far, and several others that have no trouble matching it, but I expect that a little experimentation with different ammo will improve its accuracy a bit. Even if it doesn't, I am quite happy with it as is. It is a classy little rifle that I would recomment highly.
I also see that Browning is apparently bringing out a heavy-barrel version with a Monte Carlo stock this year. Maybe more accurate, but certainly less elegant.
John
This is a really nice-handling, lightweight rifle. It has a few plastic parts (triggerguard, magazine well, magazine clip) but still projects a feeling of quality. I scoped it with an old B&L Balfor four power, a very compact scope that sits well on this gun. No adjustable objective, parallax set for centerfire rifles, blah, blah, blah. Sue me.
The only ammo I had on hand was Remington Subsonics, Winchester Powerpoints, and Remington Thunderbolts. All three shot into 3/4 inch @ 50 yards, the Subsonics maybe slightly tighter than the others. This was off an old kitchen table set up behind the barn, with sandbags. The trigger is very crisp, no slop at all, but a tad on the heavy side. It's gold-coloured in typical Browning fashion. The adjustment screw located forward of the trigger makes very little difference to the pull. This is my one major peeve with this gun.
The magazine is plastic, a very complicated-looking affair. It has a cool little thumbwheel doohickey that allows you to preload the spring so that cartridges just drop right in with no tension. It's easy to load the standard way as well, pushing each cartridge in against spring tension. The magazine seems to be well built and has none of the cheap, flimsy feel of some plastic clips. I hope that it holds up over time, and I don't think that spares will be inexpensive. It releases and re-inserts easily. Pushing a loaded mag into the mag well when the bolt is closed requires a bit of effort.
The action is huge fun to play with. I never had one of the original T-bolts but always wanted one. I must have cycled this thing several hundred times while waiting for the scope bases to arrive. I still get a kick out of watching it work. It started a bit stiff, but very smooth and superfast to operate.
The wood on mine has a fair bit of figure in it, but several that I looked at were quite plain. It seems to be worthwhile to look at a few to find a good-looking one. The stock is very comfortable to use, at least for me.
I have a couple of Brno's and a Sako Finnfire that will outshoot this gun so far, and several others that have no trouble matching it, but I expect that a little experimentation with different ammo will improve its accuracy a bit. Even if it doesn't, I am quite happy with it as is. It is a classy little rifle that I would recomment highly.
I also see that Browning is apparently bringing out a heavy-barrel version with a Monte Carlo stock this year. Maybe more accurate, but certainly less elegant.
John
- Location
- AB foothills
Hey Almo 
Hiwallhunter
New member
- Location
- Thunder Bay,N.W. Ont
Browning T-Bolt {original left hand with aperture}
Hi guys.
I was lucky enough to run into an original in almost minty condition last week. This one is a 1967 which apparently was the first yr. lefties were produced. It really likes PMC "Moderator" and CCI Standard ammo. Quarter inch group at 20 metres on indoor range. This one has a nicely figured walnut stock, a 5 round magazine [metal!] and a real sweet straight pull action. I looked at these in 1967 and "neglected " to buy one then. I have no idea how many of these [lefties] are out there but I'm sure glad I ran into this one. I have not seen the new rendition yet but it looks nice as well. This will be accompanying me on sm. game outings for sure!
Anybody know anything about the originals ?
Hi guys.
I was lucky enough to run into an original in almost minty condition last week. This one is a 1967 which apparently was the first yr. lefties were produced. It really likes PMC "Moderator" and CCI Standard ammo. Quarter inch group at 20 metres on indoor range. This one has a nicely figured walnut stock, a 5 round magazine [metal!] and a real sweet straight pull action. I looked at these in 1967 and "neglected " to buy one then. I have no idea how many of these [lefties] are out there but I'm sure glad I ran into this one. I have not seen the new rendition yet but it looks nice as well. This will be accompanying me on sm. game outings for sure!
Anybody know anything about the originals ?
I have had an original for 40ish yrs, always a great shooter, finally found a factory 10rd mag to replace the one my bro lost for me.
Have sold a number of the new ones, nothing but positive feedback except for the cost of the new mags, really like the target version.
Have sold a number of the new ones, nothing but positive feedback except for the cost of the new mags, really like the target version.
Hiwallhunter
New member
- Location
- Thunder Bay,N.W. Ont
Browning T-Bolts original
Hey 4x4! The one I have now [just rec'd the reg. slip yesterday] was made in Belgium. It looks like a bunch of Brownings made in the '60's had a problem called salt stock?? This one shows nothing like that-it's almost perfect. I looked on the Browning site because I'm trying to find out when in '67 this one was made [if that's possible] . I'm given to understand this was the 1st year for the lefties. Also you say you have a ten rounder?? Do they make them for the lh version?... And how much are we talking for one? I'm going out to my club to shoot her again today.
Hey 4x4! The one I have now [just rec'd the reg. slip yesterday] was made in Belgium. It looks like a bunch of Brownings made in the '60's had a problem called salt stock?? This one shows nothing like that-it's almost perfect. I looked on the Browning site because I'm trying to find out when in '67 this one was made [if that's possible] . I'm given to understand this was the 1st year for the lefties. Also you say you have a ten rounder?? Do they make them for the lh version?... And how much are we talking for one? I'm going out to my club to shoot her again today.
I picked up the 10rd brand new for $75 at the leth gun show, ya I know thats way to much but was brand new still in factory box and I had to have it
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
I bought one last year, absolute tackdriver, mags are a little expensive.
topped it with a leupold fx111 12x, on glossy millet rings. Fine rifle.
topped it with a leupold fx111 12x, on glossy millet rings. Fine rifle.
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
the trigger is easily adjusted using the set screw.
Hiwallhunter
New member
- Location
- Thunder Bay,N.W. Ont
Browning T-Bolts...magazines
Yikes!!!! 4x4!!!! $75.00 .... what are they trying to do here?? Tie the cost of a mag to the gasoline spot market?? Boy that kinda rich. But if that's the going price... I'd like to get a 10 rndr. at some point. Nice to hear the new ones shoot well too. The "T1" I just got came thru the Vermilion Bay gun show a couple of wknds ago. It came from the West ...somewhere in Manitoba I think. Nice piece, collectable and shoots real tight! It'll accompany my B-80 20 ga. this Fall for sure!
Yikes!!!! 4x4!!!! $75.00 .... what are they trying to do here?? Tie the cost of a mag to the gasoline spot market?? Boy that kinda rich. But if that's the going price... I'd like to get a 10 rndr. at some point. Nice to hear the new ones shoot well too. The "T1" I just got came thru the Vermilion Bay gun show a couple of wknds ago. It came from the West ...somewhere in Manitoba I think. Nice piece, collectable and shoots real tight! It'll accompany my B-80 20 ga. this Fall for sure!
series1000
Member
- Location
- Vancouver Canada
my buddie just bought one the other day. we took it out shooting on friday and found it to be generaly a tack driver with any ammo, we used yellow jackets, windchester 40grain x-perts, cci mini mags, winchester 40grain dynapoints and we found that the federal 36grain were the worst at any distance.
Hiwallhunter
New member
- Location
- Thunder Bay,N.W. Ont
Browning mags.
Thanks RobertMcC re: mags for the T-Bolt. I see they fit both right and left hand versions. I think I'd have to do some grinding for my application. Seeing as they're from the states - any problem with importation?? I think so since 911...
Thanks RobertMcC re: mags for the T-Bolt. I see they fit both right and left hand versions. I think I'd have to do some grinding for my application. Seeing as they're from the states - any problem with importation?? I think so since 911...
Thanks RobertMcC re: mags for the T-Bolt. I see they fit both right and left hand versions. I think I'd have to do some grinding for my application. Seeing as they're from the states - any problem with importation?? I think so since 911...
Nope, I ordered 15rd mags for my Marlin, Also ordered rimfire mags from them all the time.
Hiwallhunter
New member
- Location
- Thunder Bay,N.W. Ont
Browning mags
Thank you!!!
Thank you!!!
