anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

Has anyone bought & fired a Browning abolt lately? I am looking to add another "longie" to the Biscuit chuckwagon. I am looking for a flatter shooting round than my 45 70. :-) I am considering lots of cartridges right now.... I like barrels at least 24" long and weight is not an issue. I like the lines of the Ruger #1, but not 8 pound triggers.

I like the way my Tikka handles that my son will be getting for xmas, but I have this dislike for plastic after toting an M16 (hoch-tui!) for 26 years so far. I realize plastic works but it is so UUUUUUUGLY!

Do those composite wood stocks ever separate like old plywood?

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

The modern laminated stocks will not come apart and are stronger than is solid wood.
I recently owned a Browning ABolt in 300RUM. I did not like the caliber and I sold the rifle. The ABolt was okay.
For me, the best looking rifle is the Winchester Super Grade. The wood is solid and very pretty on many of those. Get one in 7mmWSM, you won't be sorry.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

I have an A-bolt in 7mm-08 and a variety of Ruger #1's at my disposal...

The A-bolt is extremely nice when it comes to the angle of the bolt, it is 60 degrees the smallest of any bolt rifle on the market. I have to admit this is not a target gun, but more than accurate enough to kill anything. I like the finish on the barrel and the stock I have is pretty nice. I don't like how much the mag plate sticks out from the bottom of the gun.

My father is the biggest #1 fan you will ever see... I think he has over 20 now, his current favorite is his .25-06. The number one has the advantage of being extremely short barreled, because you basically have no action with the falling block. As for the triggers you can get relatively inexpensive drop ins from Natchezs or Brownells... Or pick up an older one, their triggers aren't bad. I personally like the look of the number one and the fact that it is a no nonsense hunting machine. It is kind of a hallmark of a good hunter, we only need ONE shot!

My one problem with composite stocks is they don't have checkering... I find this especially annoying on the forend where I feel I cannot get a good grip. Other than that they are supposed to be better with climate variations than standard wood.

The Tikka is a nice gun, but I think the A-bolt feels smoother in is a little better fit/finish, but is more expensive.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

I have a Browning A-bolt light weight stalker in 308. I love it. The trigger is a bit heavy but it is adjustable and I am going to have a gunsmith adjust it for me. It shoots great it is a little on the light side so even though its just a 308, the recoil gets your attention.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

If I fall for one of these, I will probably either take my chance with the medium heavy varmint stalker in 25 wssm (that's rolling the dice!) or 1000 eclipse in a 270 wsm. Hate car antennas for barrels.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

I had an A-bolt Medallion. It looked nice and that was the end of what I liked about the rifle. It was hard to load compared with others and when I called Browning with some other questions about the rifle, the jerk on the other end acted like Browning had done me a favor making a rifle for me to buy.
It's long gone and I bought a CZ and am extremely satisfied.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

I have a Abolt Medallion in .270 win. i LOVE the gun.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

My .223 is a composite stalker. I have had nothing but good luck with it. The barrel is floated nicely, the grip fits my hands well, and it is accurate with a variety of ammo. I topped it with a Nikon buckmaster 3x9 and it has stayed accurate after a couple of hundred rds. A couple of dozen dead varmints can't be wrong!!!:)

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

Hmmm the A-bolt I probably would buy an older one but nowadays I cant really push myself to buy a gun that is manufactured in Japan

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

Jake, I had a older A-Bolt in 25-06.I have always loved that caliber .I did not like that rifle .It really was not the rifles fault.I am some what of a trigger freak. First thing I do to one is work or install a new trigger.Browning's have a patent on their triggers so you have to get a smith to fix them( A- Bolt II's have the adjustable).Also I did not like the bolt .Nothing wrong I just thought it was ugly as hell.Other than that it shot really well .Probally would have done better if I would have kept it and fixed the trigger.BTW you should be proud to support fine company's like COLT and MATTEL..............LOL;) I still like the A-1 model cause I never used the newer versions.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

Never owned a Browning A-Bolt that did not shoot, I think the reasons they shoot well are the 3 lug bolt, tight quality control and accurate barrels. I have rarely if ever heard a problem with an Abolt that warranted it to be returned to the factory. US manufacturers could do well to emulate the Japanese mfrs that build these guns. I have never kept any Abolt for a real long time and here are the reasons and they are all design reasons.

1. Magazine system/floorplate..just something else to go wrong or drop

2. Non field strippable bolt...this is the worst offender of all NFSB's

3. big gap between barrel and foreend that is unsightly and a good
hiding spot for dirt,pine needles and leaves.

4. Trigger is so and so and has to be adjusted by a Gunsmith since the trigger adjustment screw it has is only there to tease you and even
then not comparable to Remington/Wincheter/Sako/Tikka.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

So, oldelkhunter, just to clarify, by non field strippable bolt does this mean you can't take it apart at home? Sometimes I am out in really cold conditions, and make sure any excess summer weight lube is out.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

Yep, can't take it apart. I spoke at length to browning about this and they were not very concerned. I don't think they get a lot of returns on these guns so you'll be ok .

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

Sure glad you said something. I will have to give that some thought.

Sometimes I go out in the cold, (maybe its cabin fever, or adventure, or my thick head....,) and once many years ago I couldn't get the safety off of my .45 Government. Fortunately, I was able to get back in, thaw out & do complete disassembly and clean up. Lesson learned about using light oil.

Just seems bizarre. Someone had to put the thing together. You'd think it could be taken apart. Thus, this thing would have to lead a gentleman's life.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

I got a Browning A-bolt Micro hunter in 7-08 last year. I'm getting to like it more and more. I've been tinkering with various bullets, powders etc. trying to get the most out of it.
I think I found what it likes after many sessions to the range. My Brownings fav load is 42 gr of IMR4064 behind a 139 gr Hornady SST and using Rem 9 1/2M primers. Today I took it out and shot 2 - 5 shots groups at around 1 1/4" and 2 under an inch. The one group had 4 bullets touching with one just a little "off".
A rifle this light that shoots this good. I think I may have found a new "pet" rifle, possibly even replacing my Rem 700, .270.
I love its handling, bolt throw, nice wood to metal fit. Its a well made rifle.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

HighDesert, I was right there with ya a few years ago. I bought a used medallion for 450 dollars, and took it out of the box straight to the range. Shot 3 groups with it averaging around 1.1" groups at 100 yards. Trigger didn't need adjusted, bedding was great. I was sold. Now I have 2 or em.

RE: anyone buy a browning abolt lately?
 

Biscuit.. BigCountry really works for Browning and gets his guns on a trial basis for evaluation. He pays nothing for them at all:D