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Friend had two Brown A-bolts that shot tight groups after adjusting the BOSS. A 300 WSM and a 223. He would buy ammo cans full of 223 at a gun show then tweak the BOSS to get optimal accuracy for that lot of ammo. For those who hate the noise there was a CR version that had no holes. I have no idea where one could be purchased but I would think anyone with access to a lathe could make one. https://www.browning.com/news/tech-terms/boss-rifle-accuracy-system.html
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1). They work.
2). They are ugly as sin.
3). They are louder than hell.
Agreed, however, I'm surprised with the popularity of suppressors that the BOSS rifles haven't done a complete 180. Think about it, they're threaded, and would make a suppressor "tunable". I was working at a gun shop during college when Browning/Winchester launched the BOSS. Browning gave us a "deal" on blued/syn BOSS A-Bolts. Any chambering from 223 up through 338Win Mag for I believe it was $315. I bought one in 300Win and it shot everything very well with minimal tuning. Eventually I sold it and bought a M70 SS Classic in 300Win that I still have, sans brake, and it shoot every bit as good as the A-Bolt did. I bought a 2nd M70 SS Classic from a friend that originally had a BOSS. I had it cut back to 23" and re-crowned. It too shoots well and is quite a handy package.
Last edited by horse1; 03/20/22.
I can walk on water.......................but I do stagger a bit on alcohol.
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I may have one of those "Control Recoil" devices sitting around from a stainless B.O.S.S. if anybody is in need of one, gratis of course.
_________________________________________________________________________ “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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I have a no-hole adapter on my A-bolt, but it is three times longer than it needs to be. I just want a thread protector-not a 4” tube screwed on the end of the barrel. Why Browning has to complicate everything is beyond me. A good machinist could possibly modify it, but I have been sitting on having this done for 20 years. The rifle was a Christmas gift from my wife and that is the only reason it is still sitting in the back of my safe and not someone else’s problem.
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I have a no-hole adapter on my A-bolt, but it is three times longer than it needs to be. I just want a thread protector-not a 4” tube screwed on the end of the barrel. Why Browning has to complicate everything is beyond me. A good machinist could possibly modify it, but I have been sitting on having this done for 20 years. The rifle was a Christmas gift from my wife and that is the only reason it is still sitting in the back of my safe and not someone else’s problem. Browning made the BOSS CR (Conventional Recoil) end that long so that the tuning between the brake and the CR remained constant.
I can walk on water.......................but I do stagger a bit on alcohol.
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Yes-I understand the objective, but my rifle shoot 1” groups with the “devise” removed and with the threads exposed. I have experimented using duck tape as a makeshift thread protector, and it did not adversely effect the accuracy of my rifle. It is a 300 Win mag, so cutting back to 22”and re-crowning the barrel also does not work for me.
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I bought an Abolt 270 in 1991 and eventually burned out the barrel on it. A friends dad had a 270 Abolt with BOSS that was virtually brand new that he wanted to make into a 25-06 so I bought the barrel off of him and had it installed.
I only shot it once or twice after installing. No tuning involved. I shot two handloads that I had on hand and both shot sub MOA. Very accurate. I was interested with other rifles and put it in the back of my safe and it has been sitting there ever since. I keep meaning to shoot it more but other projects get in the way. It is a very light recoiling little set up.
I don't have any complaints about it, but I shoot guns with brakes on them in the field and use ear plugs so I guess I am used to it.
THE CHAIR IS AGAINST THE WALL. The Tikka T3 in .308 Winchester is the Glock 19 of the rifle world. The website is up and running!www.lostriverammocompany.com
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I bought mine new in ‘95 and it has been my go-to since 30-06. A-bolt stainless Get rid of the muzzle brake and go w the CR version Shooting touching clover leafs ain’t ugly I switched to a suppressor in 2013 or so, I am surprised too that the BOSS hasn’t taken off as a suppressor host, as it can be tuned
If someone says to cut it off they are not in-tune with what it does (pun-get it?).
Mine is tuned with 165g Supeformance Hornady running chrono’d 2900fps (20” barrel) shooting 2-3” groups at 400y thru the suppressor With the suppressor there is no kick
They tell me I am supposed to switch to a 6.5 creedmore but I am not sure why…. Not for accuracy velocity trajectory or recoil compared to my current situation
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I may have one of those "Control Recoil" devices sitting around from a stainless B.O.S.S. if anybody is in need of one, gratis of course. I can probably use it, do you know what it came off of? I know there are a few different versions...
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I have had one in .30/06 since I bought it new in 1996. Followed the instructions and had the rifle shooting 5 shot one-hole groups at 100m in an afternoon. Tuning it to different loads has proved just as easy, and if you write the setting down you can easily return to it.
Yes, the original BOSS is ported, and like all muzzle brakes that makes it loud, but mine's a BOSS-CR so that is not an issue.
Being able to tune the rifle to a load, rather than having to try different loads to tune them to the rifle, is a brilliant bit of thinking IMHO, and far outweighs any trivial concern about looks. I think that it is a great pity that the idea didn't catch on.
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I may have one of those "Control Recoil" devices sitting around from a stainless B.O.S.S. if anybody is in need of one, gratis of course. I can probably use it, do you know what it came off of? I know there are a few different versions... I had a 22-250 and a 300 WM. If I had to guess, I would guess it came off of the 300.
_________________________________________________________________________ “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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I have a model 70 in 22-250 with the BOSS with both the brake and the solid end. I bought the rifle mainly with the idea of rebarreling it, because I have no real use for a 22-250. In the little bit I've shot it I've found the BOSS annoying and worthless. On solid question no one could answer is how much of a change in the BOSS setting is needed to make a difference.
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The first day I got mine, 2nd 5shot volley, 1/2” 5shot group off of a so-so rest, with factory ammo, 9 power scope
This is in the mid-90’s when the magazines were full of articles about bedding ur rifle and a much different set of expectations for an off the shelf factory stock rifle and ammo
The downside is if you are shooting some ammo that isn’t in the browning factory charts you could go thru a bucket full of ammo to find the sweet spot
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Most people like myself that had or have them will tell you they shoot good so in my humble opinion its just a matter of personal taste as to if you can live with that on the end of your barrel. I got mine given to me and I wouldn't have bought it given a choice. I dont have threaded barrels on any of the other rifles I have purchased and likely wont have. I just dont care for the look of them. Some guys are more geared toward utility. My guess is if you are one of those guys that views his rifle a tool only you can get a great deal on a great shooting rifle with a BOSS system on it.
Life can be rough on us dreamers.
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Have a A-Bolt medallion in 7mag that i got in the early 90's when the BOSS system first came out and as others have mentioned, it is loud as hell. However, I also have the CR as well (conventional recoil). There is no POI change from swapping from on to the other while at the range. So when I'm at the range shooting a good bit, I use the ported brake, when hunting, I use the CR for those just in case moments, if i forget my ear plugs. The only issue you may find is that the newer ammo off the shelf doesn't correlate to the older setpoints. It will give you somewhat of a starting point, but that's it. And if you reload, then its about the same.
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My only experience with them is when the guy on the adjoining hunting property touches off a round with his, I know exactly which rifle he is using.........
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My departed neighbor (RIP) bought a Model 70 in .30-06 at Cabela'a about 15 years ago and that rifle shot very well indeed. At the time I had a yearning for a Model 70 in .30-06 and they seemed to be pretty elusive, but I finally found one that had the BOSS on it. I had no interest in shooting factory loads and I went to work on it and struggled mightily for months trying to get it tuned to a load, but it seemed to be an exercise in futility. I finally found a new Classic in .25-06 and ordered it and put mine up for sale. In the meantime I had loaded up some more trial loads, so while the new rifle was on order I took the BOSS equipped rifle out for one more spin and wouldn't you just know it...it shot. That very afternoon I got a call on the rifle and the man really wanted it and I really wanted the new Model 70 classic, so I met the man and he took possession of it. I've always wondered.
While I still had that rifle I found the brake to be extremely obnoxious and ordered the CR device for it. It worked. I think Midwest Gun Works still sells them.
During my struggles with the .25-06 I searched for all the information I could find on tuning the BOSS, hoping it would help me get lucky. Here's some copy-n-paste of what I dug up (note that the data are different between A-Bolts and BARs):
(sorry, I am having difficulty with the formatting of this info)
Question: I have a Browning rifle with the BOSS. What is the "Sweet Spot" setting for my firearm? Answer: The following are suggested "Sweet Spot" settings for Browning rifles that have the optional BOSS (Ballistic Optimizing Shooting System) . New loads and bullet weights may need different settings. This chart is only a guide.
Suggested "Sweet Spots" Caliber Bullet Weight Ammo Manufacturer A-Bolt Average Sweet Spot* BAR Average Sweet Spot 375 H&H 270 2.3 375 H&H 300 4.5 338 Win. Mag. 250 Federal 6.75 4.25 338 Win. Mag. 230 Winchester 5.25 338 Win. Mag. 225 Federal 5.25 0.5 338 Win. Mag. 210 Federal 4 1 338 Win. Mag. 200 Federal 3.25 3.25 325 WSM 220 Winchester 1.0 325 WSM 200 Winchester 10.0 325 WSM 180 Winchester 9.8 300 Win. Mag. 220 Winchester 6 300 Win. Mag. 200 Federal 3-3.5 3 300 Win. Mag. 190 Winchester 4 300 Win. Mag. 180 Winchester 4 300 Win. Mag. (for A-Bolt II M1000 only) 180 Winchester 9 300 Win. Mag. 180 Federal 8.5 3 300 Win. Mag. 178 Remington 1 300 Win. Mag. 165 Hornady 1 1 300 Win. Mag. (for A-Bolt II M1000 only) 165 Hornady 3 300 Win. Mag. 150 Winchester 9 9 300 Win. Mag. (for A-Bolt II M1000 only) 150 Federal 1.5 300 Win. Mag. 140 1 300 Win. Mag. Fail Safe (Black Talon) 4 30-06 Springfield 220 Winchester 10-10.5 7 30-06 Springfield 180 Hornady 10 5.25 30-06 Springfield 180 Federal 5 5 30-06 Springfield 175 Federal 7.2 30-06 Springfield 165 Federal 2 30-06 Springfield 165 Winchester 2.5 30-06 Springfield 165 Hornady 3 3 30-06 Springfield 150 Hornady 3 2.25 30-06 Springfield 150 Federal 1.5 2 300 WSM 150gr. BST Winchester 1 0.5 300 WSM 180gr. PP Winchester 1 1 300 WSM 180gr. FS Winchester 3 10 308 Win. 200 3.25 308 Win. 180 Federal 5.25 5 308 Win. 168 Hornady 4 3.5 308 Win. (for A-Bolt II Varmint only) 168 Hornady 4-4.25 308 Win. 150 Federal 2.5 2.5 308 Win. (for A-Bolt II Varmint only 150 Federal 2.5 280 Rem. 165 Remington 6 280 Rem. 150 Federal 2.5 280 Rem. 140 Federal 4 7mm Rem. Mag. 180 Federal 5 7mm Rem. Mag. 175 8 5 7mm Rem. Mag. 168 Hornady 3 7mm Rem. Mag. 165 Federal 6-6.5 6 7mm Rem. Mag. 162 Hornady 5.75 5.75 7mm Rem. Mag. 160 Federal 5.75 3.5 7mm Rem. Mag. 160 Nos. Part 4 3.5 7mm Rem. Mag. 150 Federal 2-3 2 7mm Rem. Mag. 154 Hornady 5.75 5.75 7mm Rem. Mag. 140 2.5 1.5 7mm Rem. Mag. 139 Hornady 2.5 2.5 7mm Rem. Mag. 120 Hornady 1 1 7mm WSM 140gr. BST Winchester 1.25 6.5 7mm WSM 150gr. PP Winchester 4 0.5 7mm WSM 160gr. FS Winchester .5 0.0 7mm-08 Rem. 140 2.0 7mm-08 Rem. 120 1.0 7mm-08 Rem. 130 1.8 270 Win. 150 Federal 6 4 270 Win. 140 Remington 3-3.5 3 270 Win. 130 Federal 2.5 2 270 Win. 100 Remington 1 0 270 WSM 130gr. BST Winchester 1.25 2 270 WSM 140gr. FS Winchester 2 7 270 WSM 150gr. PP Winchester .3 8 260 Rem. 140 .5 260 Rem. 120 2 25 WSSM 85gr. BST Winchester 1 25 WSSM 115gr. BST Winchester 1 25 WSSM 120gr. PEP Winchester 0 25-06 Rem. 122 6 25-06 Rem. 117 Federal 6 25-06 Rem. 100 Hornady 3.5 25-06 Rem. 90 Winchester 2.25 25-06 Rem. 85 B Tip. 2.6 243 WSSM 55 gr. BST Winchester .5 243 WSSM 95 gr. BST Winchester 1.5 243 WSSM 100 gr. PP Winchester 6.3 243 Win. 100 Winchester 5 2.5 243 Win. 80 Federal 3 2.25 243 Win. 85 223 WSSM 55 Gr. BST Winchester 8 223 WSSM 55 Gr. PSP Winchester 10 223 WSSM 64 Gr. PP Winchester 9.5 .223 Rem. 55 Federal 7 223 Rem. 53 Federal 6.5 223 Rem. (for A-Bolt II Varmint only) 40 Winchester 4 223 Rem. 40 Winchester 4 22-250 Rem. 55 5.5 22-250 Rem. 52 Winchester 4 22-250 Rem. (for A-Bolt II Varmint only) 52 Winchester 5 22-250 Rem. (for A-Bolt II Varmint only) 40 Federal 4 22-250 Rem. 40 Federal 2.5 More information on the BOSS can be found here. A video demonstrating the BOSS can be found here. If your question still remains unanswered, please call our Consumer Department directly at: 800.333.3288 or 801.876.2711
Last edited by RiverRider; 03/21/22.
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America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.
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These settings are specific to Model 70:
BOSS Sweet Spot Settings Cartridge Bullet Weight Ammo Manufacture Model 70 Sweet Spot* 338 Win. Mag. 250 Federal 6.6 338 Win. Mag. 225 Federal 5.5 338 Win. Mag. 200 Federal 3.5 300 Win. Mag. 220 Winchester 3.6 300 Win. Mag. 200 Federal 2.8 300 Win. Mag. 180 Winchester 0.2 30-06 Spfld. 220 Winchester 9.6 30-06 Spfld. 165 Hornady 2.0 30-06 Spfld. 150 Federal 1.8 7mm Rem. Mag. 165 Federal 6.4 7mm Rem. Mag. 150 Federal 2.2 308 Win. 180 Federal 5.5 308 Win. 150 Federal 3.1 270 Win. 150 Federal 2.5 270 Win. 130 Federal 1.1 25-06 Rem. 117 Federal 6.3 25-06 Rem. 90 Winchester 3.1 25-06 Rem. 85 B. Tip 6.3 243 Win. 100 Winchester 5.2 243 Win. 85 3.1 22-250 Rem. 55 4.0 22-250 Rem. 40 Federal 2.5 *Average "sweet spots" represent the starting point in achieving top accuracy from your BOSS equipped Model 70.
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My only experience with them is when the guy on the adjoining hunting property touches off a round with his, I know exactly which rifle he is using......... Brakes don't make guns "louder", they just redirect the noise and make it seem louder to those in close proximity. Your neighbor could almost certainly remove the BOSS, and it would sound exactly the same. Basically, touching off a round when you're on the next property over? No difference. Touching off a round and you're on the next bench over? Big difference.
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Everything old is new again. There's several companies selling barrel tuners now.
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