Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Speaking of the old A-bolt

I worked for a top gunshop around 1996. I remember all the great sales and deals we had on Browning A-bolts. I was younger and thought I was Jack O'Connor and laughed at all of the novices and newbies that bought them.

Years later I realized how good they were. The barrels were floated, triggers not bad, decent synthetic stocks, and really nice walnut ones.

But mainly they would freakin shoot. Everybody we sold to bragged on them it seems. I saw groups shot with a 7mm Rem.Mag. that I couldn't believe.

I wish I had a stainless synthetic hunter model, and a Walnut Medallion. Very cool rifles, and a deal back then.

I hear what your saying, I want a Medallion in 7mm-08 myself.

I own a few (22 lr, 22-250, 223 WSSM, 270 WSM and 325 WSM) and they’ve been fantastic. The 223 WSSM and 270 WSM are two of the most accurate rifles I own.

If you knew how many we sold in a year it would surprise you. They're lots of them out there. You never see one on here. That says something.

Were those A-bolts built in Japan by Miroku?

How would the current line of X-bolts stack up against those A-bolts?

Safe to say, I think, that Browning sells good stuff; a good bit of it stuff they make themselves. I sometimes don't care for the metro-sexual styling of some of the newer stuff, but that's just a reflection of my "vintage". I have three rifles made by Miroku for Browning, two Low Walls and most recently a 92. The quality is as good as any I've seen, and better than most. I still prefer the Belgian-production versions of A5 shotguns and SA-22 rifles, but it's mostly a matter of tradition and also the color of the French walnut they wear. I've also seen several references in print about the high quality of Miroku barrels. Have to agree with that, based on my small sample.

I don’t currently have an A-Bolt, but I wouldn’t hesitate to have another. The one I had was stupid accurate and very well made - the twist is the only reason I don’t still have it.

Interesting about the OP’s experience on sales. Our LGS used to push and sell lots of A-Bolts in the 90s and early 2000s - though they were never on sale, rather full MSRP; which was much higher than other comparable models at the time.

I have a stainless A-Bolt II in 6.5 SE. I have repeatedly shot very small groups with it and my 2 X-Bolts in 223 and 30-06. Word has it that Miroku hand chambers the A-Bolt II's and the X-Bolts. I don't doubt it. The insides look mighty fine looking thru the Teslong. RJ

Mine is accurate also.
(257 AI)
Just wish they had a better trigger system.

Back when I started moose hunting I used a Browning BBR in 300 Win Mag. Be nice if I still had it, but I digress! A-Bolts, A-Bolt II's, X-Bolts have all come and gone, not because I didn't like them, just how I am. A small core of guns will never leave, others get moved to try something else. Can't afford them all at one time!

Rare bird... nice!

ckat, It is a White Gold Medalion, one of 50 chambered for the Swede. I still have the beautiful fancy walnut stock that it came with. As soon as a got the rifle I put it in a McMillan Sako Classic Hunters Edge stock. It's a fine hunting rifle. I mostly hunt Roe deer over here in Romania with it. RJ

Way over-complicated triggers prone to failure in rough going. I have seen more in-field failures with them than all other makes and models combined. And that involves far fewer a-borts... several failures were with posters from here. Most common failure has been corrosion in the wire link in the trigger. It seizes and rifle will not shoot.

No issues with Browning, own and use quite a few of their other guns, even own an A-bort in 375 H&H.

Hmm I didn't know that.

Have never seen the trigger issues you describe all the A-Bolts I have worked on have had better than most triggers. I have seen many of the original A-Bolts with button rifled barrels that look as good as a custom barrel, on the other side I have seen some A-Bolt II barrels that were horrific. very inconsistent.

When you speak of A-Bort you must mean the AB3..............WOW what a POS !!!!!!! Browning really missed the boat with this one, has nothing in common with an A-Bolt or A-Bolt II except the Tupperware stock

I can see the A-Bolt bashers have found this thread. Go on ahead. Us owners/users of A-Bolts know better, that they are absolutely fine rifles. RJ

Sure did enjoy hunting the Whitetails with a Micro Medalion A-Bolt in .284. That little thing was a bit sassy shooting max load 140 Game Kings. Longest shot was 430+.
Currently have 257 Robt AI A-Bolt that clover leafs 100gr NAB at 150yds.
Jim

I’ve had my Brother in laws A Bolt SS .270 he got as a teenager (guess early 90’s) for several years. It’s killed some deer and I really like the weight, short bolt lift etc but damn if I can shoot good groups with it plus the recoil is sharp! Still it’s a cool rifle and appreciate being able to use it past few years. I fixed a failed magazine spring and upgraded to a Leupold VXIII a few years ago. Makes a nice climbing or walking gun. He hasn’t been screaming to get it back but it will be a pass down to his boys I’m sure.

Pardon me for interrupting, but did you just say that recoil from a .270 Win. is sharp?

Sure did. And while I’m relatively inexperienced compared to many I’ve had the opportunity to shoot plenty of larger caliber guns that handle recoil better than it. I think it just doesn’t fit me well but others complain about it too including the actual owner of the rifle who decided he enjoys his dads old Browning A Bolt .270 with the BOSS. That thing is a laser!