Difference between Browning A Bolt and Browning X Bolt

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crash60

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Hunting season is already on us here in BC, and I was wondering what the difference is between the two models. I'm looking for a rifle in 300WSM to hunt with and I'm partial to Brownings. Your knowledge and experience is always respected. Thanks in advance.
 
The Abolt has a removable magazine which attaches to the bottom metal when it is dropped open. It can also be reloaded through the top. Some like this arrangement but more don't. I have owned two Abolts, one in 3006 and one in 280. Both shouldered and handled well but don't take my word for it, try one for fit and balance for yourself. The triggers on Browning rifles are a good bit wider than most which makes the pull weight seem lighter than it likely is, at least for me. Both of my rifles were quite accurate and handled most factory ammo well, that is they weren't very ammo sensitive. I gave the 3006 to one of my sons and he loves it. The Xbolt was designed to be less expensive to manufacture than the Abolt. Most Xbolt owners here say nice things about their rifles but I have not handled or fired one so I won't comment. Try both and make up your own mind. I'm sure others will have more to say.
 
I have only handled the X-Bolt. I do like the drop-out mag and the rifle shoulders better than an A-Bolt for me. Softer recoil pad as well.
My go-to is a .280 A-Bolt I bought in 1993. It shoots all ammo accurately except the Rem 150 factory load, best I got there was 1.5 MOA. I actually LIKE the A-Bolt mag ststem but i never liked the stock. The geometry was just wrong for me and I could not shoot the rifle accurately offhand; it had more recoil and muzzle jump than most .280's I had shot. I bought a Boyd's stock finally, and it is a treat to shoot now.
I'm a traditionalist and prefer the A-Bolt aesthetically to the X-Bolt but I too am a fan of Browning's bolt guns.

Who remembers back before Remington made the 710, and Browning was the rifle everyone maligned on the net? There are still a couple people who think calling it the "A-Bort" is clever.
 
They did a small production run for their A-Bolt ...25th anniversary, it was available at the SHOT show a year or two ago. Only in a couple of calibers I believe. I saw a left over one for sale this past spring...I called and the guy said it was gone... :0(

I'm an A-bolt fan...a big one.
I / we love them, don't care for the X bolt's much at all. Handled a few...shot a couple....just not the same for me at all !

I had a 270 stainless stalker...one of the original run (wooden stocked and a black kinda crinkle finish) they unveiled it in 84, and I got mine in 85 from Brad (WSS in Calgary)....had that one for 25 years....accuracy was waning a bit, sooo...I sold it for a Tikka target 223 ~~~~sighhhh~~~~~ a few weeks later, I wanted it back...it's the ONE rifle I regret selling the most :bangHead::bangHead:
Currently we have a 7mm Rem Mag,(son)... 300 WSM / boss,(me)... 270 win / boss (youngest daughter)....all stainless rifles. Stock designs seem to fit me well and the magnums doesn't seem to recoil near as bad as the Rem 700's in the same calibers.
It's only one opinion, but it's mine..lol....Kevin
 
I have an X-Bolt, and was considering an A-Bolt and Winchester m70 at the time of purchase.

The A-Bolt didn't really seem to have much going for it over the x-bolt(to my eyes), with a higher price tag:
-X-Bolt trigger is very good, maybe a bit better than A-bolt.
-Not a fan of the A-bolt magazine system. The xbolt mags, despite being plastic are pretty nice. Mags are flush with the stock which is a plus to me.
-X-bolt is a bit awkward to single-load.
-Stock on the X-bolt fits me very nicely. I have the wood but the plastic stocks have a nice texture to them.

A-bolt might look a little better in a fancier grade stock, but there are more handsome bolt-actions out there than either of the brownings.
 
Who else thinks the new a-bolt 3 or ab3(whatever they're calling it) seems a lot cheaper than the original a-bolt and a-bolt 2? I own an a-bolt 2 medallion in .338 win mag and another a-bolt 2 in .300 wsm and both of them have the boss system. I've handled a few of the new models and I wouldn't trade either of my old a-bolt 2 for the new style.
 
Browning makes guns that look good and always have nice wood. The Browning's cycle smoother then a Savage. I like the look of the Browning over a Remington. And the ones I have used have shot accurately. In my experience I can say that once sighted in can be relied upon in the field. If you want to step up a notch get a Sako.
 
Bustercluck said:
Who else thinks the new a-bolt 3 or ab3(whatever they're calling it) seems a lot cheaper than the original a-bolt and a-bolt 2? I own an a-bolt 2 medallion in .338 win mag and another a-bolt 2 in .300 wsm and both of them have the boss system. I've handled a few of the new models and I wouldn't trade either of my old a-bolt 2 for the new style.
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The AB3 is Browning's offering in the budget category.... it's meant to be cheap. You can get them for under $500 when you combine a sale and mail in rebate. Half the price or less then an Abolt-2.
 
crash60 said:
Hunting season is already on us here in BC, and I was wondering what the difference is between the two models. I'm looking for a rifle in 300WSM to hunt with and I'm partial to Brownings. Your knowledge and experience is always respected. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

not much diff really, it's kinda like getting a new girlfriend, the love and excitement is strong at first and then it settles down and stays steady forever after. You really can't go wrong with either one!
 
X bolt you can open the bolt with the safety on,A bolt you can't. Not a fan of the winged hinge plate and clip on removable mag.I prefer the plastic drop out mag on the Xbox bolt. I have an older 25wssm SS A bolt and a new carbon fluted X bolt in 270 win.
 
i guided in northern quebec browning engineers and they had both with them.

they were taking a lot of time in the evening to clean the trigger and safety group of the xbolt and a little less on the a bolt.

for me that tells me a lot when those guys are cleaning every night a stainless rifle that meticulous.
 
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