I owned a few, 270, 270 WSM, 300 WM, I didn't mind the magazine system, I found the stocks didn't fit me, the one I had in 300 WM was probably the most accurate hunting rifle I ever owned off the bench, I like the low bolt and the safety location.
Thoughts on the Browning A-Bolt and A-Bolt II?
- Thread starter Aabradsh
- Start date
Big Fan here- ergonomically and feel.
i longed for one when they first came out back in the day, my mate had a 30-06, another a 270... i never got one until a 300wsm in Abolt ii blued with gold trigger-- booted me too much, sold it.
Years later i really wanted a Left Handed gun, an a 30-06 LH Abolt II popped up...
i modified it a bit, as its on the slightly heavier end of my ultralight preferencebut i cut down to 20 inch barrel, fluted it, an driled heaps of holes in it.... the magazine is Heavy itself- and the Bolt is Real Heavy itself... we drilled holes in it too.
anyway, its handy an i love the Abolt for bush guns, using them, scratching them, not really worryin about them...
out of curiosity what was the weight you gained in the story?
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Honestly, I love the old A-Bolt and A-Bolt 2s. The AB3 is not nearly what the original 2 were. I have 2 currently, both left handed. One is an a-bolt 2 micro hunter left hand in .22 hornet (I've owned 7 other hornets now) and is hands down the most accurate 22 hornet I have ever shot. The 2nd is a stainless stalker version in .280 rem. Very light, very accurate, I replaced the trigger spring in both with a YoDave one and it solved my issues quickly. And personally, I like the mag system. It's not great for running down deer in the flat prairies (you know, bombing down back roads, bailing out of the truck, trying to land a hail marry), but it is wonderful to use when hunting in the bush.
I have been shooting an A bolt II stainless in .300 win mag since the mid 90'S. Extremely accurate with pretty much all factory ammo I have run through it, no issues with the Trigger and have put a Timney trigger spring in it to lighten it up somewhat . I personally prefer the hinged magazine system.
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- Location
- Yellowknife, NWT
My go-to rifle since 1993 has been an A-Bolt in .280 Remington.
It's very accurate for a factory rifle; it will shoot any factory ammo except the Rem 150 Cor-Lokt into an inch and handloads into a half-inch. The Cor-Lokt will shoot about 1.5 MOA.
I like the 60-degree bolt lift, and I like the removeable mag, especially in cold weather. The bolt is a little bit rough compared to a Savage 110 or Rem 700.
I wasn't enamored of the stock trigger; it was good as was, but I swapped in a Timney spring and now it's very good indeed.
I did not like the factory stock much; something about the stock geometry vs how I'm built, combined with a very stiff recoil pad, made the rifle recoil quite sharply for a .280 Rem. So after using the rifle as-is for 20 years, I bought a very nice Boyd's Platinum stock in Claro walnut that solved that issue, and made the rifle a bit prettier, as well as providing wraparound checkering on the forend, which I prefer over the panel checkering of the original stock.
At one time, a LOT of people used to bash the A-Bolt on the Internet (I STILL see people who think calling it the "A-Bort is clever and original) but that has largely gone away. The same thing was prevalent in print back when a ton of shooters considered the Rem 700 a poor substitute for the Mauser 98 or pre-64 Model 70. I recall in an old Gun Digest an article where the writer likened building a beautiful custom rifle on a 700 action as "making a silk purse from a sow's ear."
I've owned only one other A-Bolt; a 7mm-08 that was likewise accurate, and the recoil was not noticeable to me. I sold it only because I preferred my .280 and knew I'd take it hunting over the 7mm-08 every time.
I'm finding myself shooting less and less, and I'm getting rid of most of my firearms, not that I have so many. But that A-Bolt is a never-sell rifle. Accurate, dependable, and relatively lightweight. And in a chambering I can use for all my hunting except for small game.
It's very accurate for a factory rifle; it will shoot any factory ammo except the Rem 150 Cor-Lokt into an inch and handloads into a half-inch. The Cor-Lokt will shoot about 1.5 MOA.
I like the 60-degree bolt lift, and I like the removeable mag, especially in cold weather. The bolt is a little bit rough compared to a Savage 110 or Rem 700.
I wasn't enamored of the stock trigger; it was good as was, but I swapped in a Timney spring and now it's very good indeed.
I did not like the factory stock much; something about the stock geometry vs how I'm built, combined with a very stiff recoil pad, made the rifle recoil quite sharply for a .280 Rem. So after using the rifle as-is for 20 years, I bought a very nice Boyd's Platinum stock in Claro walnut that solved that issue, and made the rifle a bit prettier, as well as providing wraparound checkering on the forend, which I prefer over the panel checkering of the original stock.
At one time, a LOT of people used to bash the A-Bolt on the Internet (I STILL see people who think calling it the "A-Bort is clever and original) but that has largely gone away. The same thing was prevalent in print back when a ton of shooters considered the Rem 700 a poor substitute for the Mauser 98 or pre-64 Model 70. I recall in an old Gun Digest an article where the writer likened building a beautiful custom rifle on a 700 action as "making a silk purse from a sow's ear."
I've owned only one other A-Bolt; a 7mm-08 that was likewise accurate, and the recoil was not noticeable to me. I sold it only because I preferred my .280 and knew I'd take it hunting over the 7mm-08 every time.
I'm finding myself shooting less and less, and I'm getting rid of most of my firearms, not that I have so many. But that A-Bolt is a never-sell rifle. Accurate, dependable, and relatively lightweight. And in a chambering I can use for all my hunting except for small game.
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hey mate,
So its a little Blurry but i took photos of most of it...
it started out heavy with a 3-9x42 zeis terra and steel QD rings on alloy bases............... an standard Abolt config.
i got it chopped an FkD with , gunsmith, mat and myself combined effort
I'm going to have to one day get a standard 30-06 abolt replica and weigh both bare just to see that for myself.
total overall i "lost" with changing the setup was great but the actual loss of material was more $ per grams i care to talk about right now ha ha
gong thru the album heres some photos
scope before
scope after
rifle before
rifle after
now im not confident this is correct- which is a grey area - The rifle above has the #### drilled an a cut barrel too i rekon...
i have this photo but i dont think it has a magazine......
Bolt before
bolt after
trigger before
After
i wrote it down somewhere.... i also lost a few grams in the magazine.. cos i broke half of it aswell .. i plan on tryin to frankenbok a spring deal in there or somrthing one day.... just needs to hold 2, plus one in the spout.
from memory gun was in the 3.9-4kg range, my ruger was the heaviest with same scope it was 4.4kg off top of head.... my kimber is 3kg max with 3-9x40 burris ff2, so the Abolt is a bit more but not as much as say- a normal abolt.. lol
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so with that somehow wrong imo, there is 270 odd gram lost in scope swap-
and the bolt (12g) trig gaurd (5g) floorplate (minimal g) magazine (say
Il edit cos i found other photos.........Original.. 3.8kg
Final now days with the magazine i was harpin on about * i still rekon this isnt spot on
Other photos would indicate its 2.87kg with just alloy bases..... + 346grams for scope and rings = 3.2? so i duno, its midnight , that done me head in. haha sorry for the spam.
and the bolt (12g) trig gaurd (5g) floorplate (minimal g) magazine (say
Il edit cos i found other photos.........Original.. 3.8kg
Final now days with the magazine i was harpin on about * i still rekon this isnt spot on
Other photos would indicate its 2.87kg with just alloy bases..... + 346grams for scope and rings = 3.2? so i duno, its midnight , that done me head in. haha sorry for the spam.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Lots of people have already said it...the A-Bolt/A-Bolt II are excellent rifles that have a great reputation for being accurate. The low angle of the bolt easily clears low mounted optics, though it does require more force to open the bolt/#### the striker due to the change in bolt-lift/cam angle. That being said, it's much ado about nothing. The actions cycle smoothly and drop bullets where they belong.
The complaint you hear often is a lack of aftermarket support. This is true. They are not a Model 700. But when you look at everything that isn't a Model 700, the support from the aftermarket pales in comparison. So whether it's a Winchester, Weatherby, Browning, Howa, Blaser etc, you're still going to have a limited number of aftermarket triggers, stocks etc. That argument is a bit silly.
The A-Bolt is more complicated mechanically than some others and the detachable magazine system is kinda different, but there is nothing in the design that makes me especially worried. My brother has had a Stainless A-Bolt since the mid-90s and it runs like a top and is extremely accurate. I have a 25-06 custom built on an A-Bolt II and I can't complain at all about it.
So at the end of the day, I wouldn't hesitate to buy an A-Bolt or A-Bolt II. You couldn't force me to buy the AB3. They're not even in the same family.
The complaint you hear often is a lack of aftermarket support. This is true. They are not a Model 700. But when you look at everything that isn't a Model 700, the support from the aftermarket pales in comparison. So whether it's a Winchester, Weatherby, Browning, Howa, Blaser etc, you're still going to have a limited number of aftermarket triggers, stocks etc. That argument is a bit silly.
The A-Bolt is more complicated mechanically than some others and the detachable magazine system is kinda different, but there is nothing in the design that makes me especially worried. My brother has had a Stainless A-Bolt since the mid-90s and it runs like a top and is extremely accurate. I have a 25-06 custom built on an A-Bolt II and I can't complain at all about it.
So at the end of the day, I wouldn't hesitate to buy an A-Bolt or A-Bolt II. You couldn't force me to buy the AB3. They're not even in the same family.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I should have kept me A-Bolt II Stainless Stalker W/BOSS in .375 H&H that handled & shot very well fer me. 
Mine is an A-bolt in 325 WSM with B.O.S.S., as has been noted ,the ergonomics were well thought out and executed. I had my black synthetic stock epoxy painted moss green with black spider web. The colour is a near match for the green Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40 scope I installed. 1/2" 3 shot group at 100 meters. Great rifle! As an aside the B.O.S.S. allows the shooter to tune factory loads as opposed to reoading to tune the ammunition.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
There was a Composite Stalker in 8mmWSM at a local gun store for a very reasonable price. I just couldn't convince myself that I could make use of it.
Londonshooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
I'm a little late to the party but the Abolt I in 30.06 has been my go-to big game rifle for 25 years. I've had a dozen "back-up" rifles and they come and go, but I don't foresee anything taking over the #1 spot. Dead knuts accurate no matter the ammo, 60 degree throw, smooth as silk bolt, not recoil-heavy for the caliber, what's not to love? I've had a lot of success with it and thinking a back up is really not necessary because this one is so reliable. Not hard on the eyes, either.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2286445-Browning-A-Bolt-II-SE-300-WSM
Here is a pretty one if your still undecided.
Rob
Here is a pretty one if your still undecided.
Rob
I finally found one at a half decent price! Got an A-Bolt I hunter, in 30-06. This one is sporting a walnut stock with rosewood forend tip and grip cap, blued steel, and a plastic BROWNING butt plate. If anyone has an idea on a rough age for this guy, it'd be appreciated.
Going to top it with my Leupold Vari-X III 2-7x33 and head to the range Friday morning to sight it in and do some ammo testing. I'll likely handload for this rifle, but won't have time before this coming deer season.
I appreciate all the input from people, these forums are always very helpful.
Going to top it with my Leupold Vari-X III 2-7x33 and head to the range Friday morning to sight it in and do some ammo testing. I'll likely handload for this rifle, but won't have time before this coming deer season.
I appreciate all the input from people, these forums are always very helpful.
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
I like the look of the A-bolt 1 medallion with the rosewood forend tip and grip cap. The bolt had blackened flutes sort of like a weatherby. Nice looking rifles.
ey man, Nice one... photos obviously, to prove to the nutters of your purchase
an some gun p0rn...good choice on the scope,i really love my 2-7 albeit x28 on my Abolt II.. i just carted my shorter barrelled 30-06 (same as above with the holes) an found it to be perfect fit an weight for me now.
im seriously considering a 2-7x33 like your say.... i think it be way easier using different loads , with a CLICK system , not a slde
but i can only find the scopes sol as "Freedom rimfire" 2-7x33... is this the same or na?
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
