Need Help...

[cblewis]

I need help... I can' t decide on the manufacturer to get. I do know I want a 280 cal. I have it narrowed down to Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker and Ruger M77 Mark II All-Weather. I' ve held both and the both fit perfectly. Both are in the price range I want. Both are very decent quality. The only difference is about $80-$100 depending on where I get it.

Can someone please say something pro or against either one of these rifles to help me out. I' ve been tossing this around for weeks now. Still can' t decide.

[Vapodog]

In my opinion the A-Bolt is a far better quality rifle than the Ruger.....congrats on the .280 choice...it' s as good as they get.

[BCEncorePA]

cb,
Both are quality firearms with almost completely different features. I love the mauser actions of the rugers. They are tough as nails. I also like the three position safety. The browning has an awesome idea with their swing down, yet detatchable magazine. It also has a very short bolt throw(60 degrees). The browning will probably also have a lighter trigger pull out of the box. The palm swell on the stock is nice if you are comfortable with that feel. However, the prices I have seen are quite different from what you mentioned. I see the ruger for the 499.99 range and the browning synthetic stalker for 699.99 to 739.99 range, a big($200) difference. The browning is also made in ***an, the ruger made in the USA just a thought. Like i said two totally different rifles. Decide which features(since they both fit the same for you) you like better and go for it.

[cblewis]

Sorry BC, when I quoted prices I made the mistake of quoting the Browning with a blued barrel. I think I' m leaning towards the Browning at this point but I have a few more questions...

Is the Browning' s trigger adjustable? What actually does the 60 degree throw mean. How much different is the Ruger bolt throw? I do like the Ruger' s safety(3 position).

Browning has a twist rate of 1:10" and Ruger' s is 1:9.5" . How will this effect accuracy when handloading. Which one will have more stability?

One more question. What exactly does Browning' s BOSS do? I know it reads ballistic optimizing but how? And is it going to make it any more accurate than without the BOSS.

[dodger02]

No need to get the BOSS, IMO.

From Browning:

What is the BOSS?
Browning' s Ballistic Optimizing Shooting System (BOSS) is a patented breakthrough in rifle accuracy. When any rifle is fired, the barrel goes through a series of vibrations as the bullet leaves the muzzle. The variations of these vibrations greatly affect the accuracy of the rifle. Controlling these vibrations will greatly control the accuracy of the rifle. Browning' s BOSS allows you to control the vibrations of your barrel so you can shoot groups you didn' t think possible.

How the BOSS works.
The BOSS simply tunes the vibrations of your barrel. This allows the bullet to leave the barrel the split second it is stationary. Your BOSS manual has a list of settings for each caliber and bullet weight. Adjusting your BOSS to these " Sweet Spot" settings allows you to find the instant your barrel is stationary. The result is accuracy never achieved before by an out-of-the-box rifle.

It also reduces recoil. Too loud, though.

The Browning has a 60 degree bolt throw: when you reach up to chamber a round, the bolt need only be moved up 60 degrees (shorter than other rifles). The distance upwards that the bolt handle must travel is reduced, resulting in quicker, and I believe, more natural cycling of the bolt.

I liked the feel of the Browning' s bolt better than the Ruger (quicker and smoother). I chose the Browning in .270.