B.O.S.S.

[dkhamner]

I have decided on the Browning Bar Safari in .308. They come with or without a BOSS on it. Looks funny but heard it helps with recoil and makes it loud as a Howitzer. What exactly is a BOSS and will it effect the gun?
Thanks

[bigwilly11189]

B.O.S.S. stands for Ballistics Optimizing ____ System I think, can't remember exactly. What it attempts to do is in effect tune the barrell to the load you are using versus tuning the load to the barrell which many reloaders do. It tunes the barrell harmonics so that the barrell is in the same plane/line when initially fired versus exiting the barrell. Picture this, as you pull the trigger the explosion of the round and the bullett traveling down the barrell causes the barrell to move up and down.If you tune it right the barrell will be in teh same line as when you pulled the trigger thus leading ot greater accuracy. The B.O.S.S. comes with the muzzle break version which I love for the range and then it also comes with the CR (Conventional Recoil) attachment which does the same thing as the muzzle break in terms of tuning the barrell but doesnt have any ports, so I use this when in the field. The owners manual will give you an idea of where/how to set the setting to but if you want to get really accurate you will need to spend some time fine tuning it. But once set you can have different settings with different loads if you keep track in a log. For instance, say I have a 180g CoreLok and the setting is 8.0, I might then use a 165g Federal NP and the setting might be 3.0 and both should be just as accurate.

Some people hate them or don't like the looks while others love it. I love mine. Yes the 300winnie does have a nice bark but you're wearing ear protection and I always ask to setup away from others if possible when I'm using the muzzle break. There are bench rest shooters that use a system just like the BOSS and others that dont. People say that if you reload there is no point, but to each their own. I'm sure you can find many threads on teh subject.

[stalkingbear]

Do you reload? If you don't reload,by all means get the boss. If you do reload,there's not much advantage to it other than for muzzlebreak because you'll work up an accurate load. Basically it does the same thing as working up a load except different method. I would however also get the "CR" module for it too. TheCR means conventional recoil and still offers the accuracy enhancing qualities of the boss but without the earsplitting boom of a muzzlebreak. As a matter of fact,I'm pretty sure the newer rifles are furnished with both modules from factory.

[bigwilly11189]

Stalkingbear, yes as per my reponse above, all new a-bolts come with both the muzzle break and teh CR attachment, don't have to purchase it. If you buy used you can buy one online.

[stalkingbear]

He's talking about the bar rifles but I'm sure that coming with both modules would apply to bar as well as a-bolts.

[.25MOA]

Everything these guy said in here is dead on, but having set up a few BOSS rifles (which when used with the CR swap when hunting I am a fan of btw), one thing I will add is that it takes a good bit of range time to really tune in one of these things right. Between barrel heat and fouling your looking at a min of probably 3-4 range trips and a few boxes of ammo to REALLY set it up. But that being said, Ive NEVER tuned a BOSS A-Bolt II that wouldn't go consistently under 1 MOA. You throw some well put-together handloads in the mix and consistant .5" is common. Good luck with whatever you go with!!

[stalkingbear]

You're absolutely right about that! Also you have to figure in cost of ammo/reloading componets today. The boss equipped rifles that I've set up turned out to be extremely accurate IF you go to the time/trouble/expense of setting it up right.

[bigwilly11189]

It does take range time as stated above, but you're going to be shooting it not keeping it in teh safe right . I had mine setup for some Rem Core-Loks and got really nice groupings, but then switched to Federal Vita-Shoks in 150grain I believe and am in the process of tuning it for that load, slowly as that is an expensive round in the Federals. I'm a little P.O. at myself b/c in my most recent move I lost what settign I had for the Core-loks that I had written down, but I have an idea of where it was. In all its an accurate gun and if you're not varmint hunting don't worry too much about the tuning at first as it should be accurate enough for medium/big game hunting without tuning...so there is no rush. Enjoy.

[burningrav]

Those of you that have spent time tuning one in for your specific loads could any of you recommend the best setting you've found for something like the Remington Core-Lokt 150 grain bullets? I have a 7mm rem mag in Browning A-bolt. I've got the BOSS set at around 3 at the moment since that looked like the best number to start with from the recommended settings chart.

[stalkingbear]

All I can tell you is that my 7mm rum w/140 gr ballistic tips and max charge the setting was I believe 8.3.