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I have a 9-year old A-Bolt II Medallion in .270 WCF that has behaved quite nicely. It seems that most of the folk here are less than impressed with this rifle. I�m not a �rifle loonie� by the standards of the Campfire, but I would probably qualify as at least �goofy�. I do most of my hunting and tinkering with handguns, and would qualify with honors as a �loonie� in that category.

Sooo, what�s the problem with the A-Bolt?

As a handgun loonie, I can appreciate the subjective as well as the objective so feel free to vent either.

My biggest complaint about my A-Bolt is the stock is so darn pretty I hate to use it. I�ve been toying with the idea of a McMillan, but maybe the money involved would be better spent elsewhere.

For what it�s worth: Left-handed action, Leupold 4-12x50mm AO with Leupold rings and bases. This rifle isn�t used real hard. It has about a 1,000 rounds through it � mostly wasp-waisted 130-grain soft points at plinkin� velocity (I only have 2,000 left�).

try boyds stocks for a laminate. cheap and nice to look at. might have to do some minor inletting for a lefty but what the hey...
woofer

yeah, why do browning bolts come in for such a reaming?

now, i don't own one, and don't like their looks. but a dear friend who owns one in 270 win with a syn stock wouldn't have anything else. it's got a b&l elite on it. he's dropped it 30 feet from a tree stand. it's been run over in its hard case by a car. it probably hasn't been cleaned in the 8 or so years he's owned it. he just keeps killing deer with year after year. my friend didn't like the boss, so he took it off.

it seems to me if a rifle can take a licking like that, it must not be TOO bad.
call me curious.

JOG

The A-bolt is my rifle of CHOICE <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> I got 2 30-06s, a hunter and a stainless. I just bought a .338 win syn. stalker and I'm trying to buy another 30-06 stainless. Can you tell I like the A-bolt and 30-06s <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Mark

Africa '05!!!!!!

What is wrong with the A-Bolt??
Ask a large gunshop/gunsmith which model rifle they get back more then any another? Yep............you guessed right the Browning A-Bolt.
Breakage of parts and mechanical failure rate high with them.
Extractors falling off and bolts coming out of the rifles when working it backwards are just 2 of the more frequent problems. Here is as it was presented to me when I returned my friends A-bolt for the second time to the gunsmith.
The A-bolt is not produced with heavy serious shooting in mind. The A-bolt looks to many as a nice glossy gun, most shoot well or very well right out of the box. It caters to the hunter who may fire a box of shells a year at most and that is it. And in all fairness that is the bulk of hunters out there.
Use it for hundreds and thousands of rounds and most likely, things will go on it. Yes there are exeptions to the rule and indeed some board members have used A-bolts extensively without experiencing problems. However that is not the general rule.
If you are looking for sturdiness and reliability and durability, do not buy an A-Bolt.
Neither is the A-bolt known as an action of preference for custom gun makers to be used as a platform to build something special on. That should ring an alarm bell for someone who would be looking for better then average/mediocre.
At the peril of offending more people then I absolutely need to, I like to compare the A-bolt to the Remington 1100/11-87.
Good fitting good functioning guns, but never go hunting without a baggie of spare parts if you shoot a lot.
No compared to the Browning FN Safari rifle series, the A-Bolt
is a sad replacement. However it satisfies the "market".

when people ask me about A-bolts, I ask them "how many custom rifles have you seen built on an A-bolt action?" I have never seen one. typically, the customs are built on m98s, pre-64 70s (some current production crf) and model 700s. some smiths simply will not work on an A-bolt.

shrike

I would have to disagree. Having said that I know your "mileage may vary", but I've got a friend who has 2 A-bolts. Hes had them both for 10 plus year. The wood stock one looks like its been down 40 miles of bad road, behind the truck instead on inside it. You can't hardly tell it was once checkered <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> If Johnny can't break it, well it can't be broken and he don't own many things too look at. A truck or rifle is just a tool to him and in 10 years his A-bolts have done the job.

I on the other hand have had mine a lot less, but I shot mine a lot more than Johnny, and take a little better care of it. So far with no problems. I think its more of a ford vs chevy thing. BTW I drive a '99 dodge, 4x4, v-10, 488ci, 300hp, lwb and 11mpg <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />.

Mark

Africa '05!!!!!

Bob,

I know of more than one smith I wouldn't let touch my A-bolt. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I own 3 A-Bolts {pre-A-bolt II}, a Stainless .25/06, a Micro Medallion .257 Roberts and a Hunter .284 Win. I have absolutely nothing but praise for them. All mine will shoot around a half inch with preferred factory loads and I have never seen an A-Bolt that was not precisely accurate. I own plenty of Remingtons, Winchesters, Rugers, a Weatherby, a Howa, various commercial Mausers and several more exotic actioned bolt guns. None of them will outshoot my Brownings although some will match them. Just last week a fellow at the gun shop I work at asked me what brand rifle I'd buy if looking for an accurate .338. I instantly suggested the Browning because as I say, I've never seen an inaccurate A-Bolt. I've seen tack driving 70s, 700s & 77s {and own some} but I've also seen quite a few that wouldn't shoot up to snuff {and own a couple}. My A-Bolts shoot extremely well, as have all the ones owned by my comrads and I've sold dozens of them through the years and have never seen an inaccurate one, although I'm sure they exist.

Hey SCGunNut welcome to the campfire.



If you ever want to get rid of that A-bolt in .284win I'm interested.



Mark



Africa '05!!!!!

Those who diss the Browning's are owners of Remington's. Go figure. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'll take a Browning any day.

JJHACK said that his clients have had the most problems with Browning ABOLTs.

I'll take american iron over jap crap any day.

I don't post much but I've lurked these forums for a while. Like to first say thanks for the info I have learned here.
Now, my experience with A-bolts. I have hunted with them for many years. My dad, 2 brothers, son and nephew also hunt with A-bolts. Some are A-bolts some are A-bolt II. All have been through some of the toughest weather the Colorado Rockies have to offer. Mine and my brothers hunt about 3 weeks per year. The others one week per year. They all are good shooters and none have ever malfunctioned or been to a shop for repair. They don't seem to kick as hard as some other rifles I've owned and hold their zero very well. We like them alot. My brother is going to buy one for his wife and I'm going to buy another just because. Sorry to hear others have had problems.

Dietz

Don't give me this "I'll take american iron over jap crap any day." You typed this on a computer didn't you? Do you own a car? Do you own a TV? Odds are at LEAST part of it was made over-seas! Hell, I ordered a new hunting jacket last week from Cabelas, when I got it last night the tag says "made in china". Sure I wish my A-Bolt was made here in the USA, but its not. Nether is some of the parts on my dodge truck or my wifes buick or my rca tv...... Good, bad or ugly its a world wide market.

The reason I own an A-bolt? First of all I've owned at LEAST, 4 remingtons, 4 winchesters, 1 or 2 rugers, 1 interarms mark x, 3 weatherbys and I've had 3 or 4 mild to full custom rifles built. Some time back I decided I wanted a new stainless rifle. I looked at the winchester, which was a bit heavy for what I had in mind. I looked at a sako, weatherby vanguard....I looked at having a custom built. In the end I decied I wanted a light weight stainless in 30-06 without spending $1000 or more, plus the cost of a scope. You see I want to go hunting, I want to go back to Africa, I want to go moose hunting, caribou hunting, bear hunting, antelope hunting........ to do all that I can't buy or build $1000 plus rifles. Thats when I bought my A-bolt. I got it used for $465, I put a used Leupold 2.5-8x36 scope on it and have a little over $800 in it. I took it to Africa in Sept. and spent the money I saved on trophy fees <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> My A-bolt is light weight, shoots great used and right out of the box. Unlike some rifles I've owned in the past. I like it so much last week I bought a hunter 30-06 used for $375 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Nope, no more customs for me. I'll spend my money hunting, not on rifles and until something happens to change my mind I'll buy A-bolts! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

If it aint broke, don't fix it. if the a-bolt works for you, that's all that matters. still, I never have seen a custom (or semi-custom) rifle built on an a-bolt action.

well, this business about not seeing any custom rifles built on the a-bolt frame just does not carry water.
who wants a custom gun? guys who care deeply about the GUN, with all their many, varied predilictions for what a custom gun should be.
generally, these guys think "classic." a-bolt ain't no classic. hasn't been around long enough to qualify anyhow. guys who buy a-bolts are guys like mark - hunting's the thing, not gun-crankiness.
guys who buy a-bolts just do not give a rip about competition and industrial art where rifles are concerned.
now, i don't care for the a-bolt. it has an odd profile that - to my eyes - makes the savage 110 series look bee-yoo-ti-full.
but you know what? i betcha if a custom 'smith thought he could make a buck off a-bolt-based rifles, he'd do it. but there ain't no demand. a-bolt guys are happy with what they've got. no need to change a thang.

well ill throw my nickels worth in here. I dont own an a bolt never have. A good friend does in 338. we live in alaska an hes shot deer ,caribou,sheep,moose an black bear with it. Usually one shot one game animal. He loves it, never a problem an he reloads for it. I personnally dont like the shape of the action. I do however like a tang safty, i like the magizine system, the short bolt throw. Unlike many unless your always after dangerous game positive feed , three position safety, arent needed. If you like the a bolt more power to u.

Owned an A-bolt, will never own another. The trigger broke on the thing just below the stock right in the middle of hunting season. Shot very well but a rifle is hard to shoot without a trigger. I also wonder why a piece of potmetal crap costs so much. To top it all off, they look awful.

Chuck

Using that hi-grade US steel, the Rem 700 Ti could be joined by the 700 Taconite.