local gunshop has a used a-bolt for a really good price imo ($225) It's stainless, has a 26' tube on it they only scratch on the metal is up by the crown (i'd cut about 4' off and recrown or just get a new barrel) and a factory stock with marks from a trucks gunrest ( I'd either buy a quality syn or put it in a piece of walnut) I've never owned a browning rifle, either has anybody that I shoot, hunt with, so I have no personal experiance. I know some guys don't like them, but I've really never heard why.
It's kind of a cult sport for the internet wunderhunters to bash A-bolts. I don't own any but hunt with several guys who do own them and every one loves 'em. They are without a doubt the most popular rifles to be found in my area. I've never seen one that didn't shoot decently and generally there's not a lot to do to them to make them hunt ready out of the box, just mount a scope and go shoot. They're put together well, you don't have to deal with the crappy QC issues like scope mount holes drilled crooked in remington M700's, barrels screwed in crooked on M70 winchesters, or 14# triggers on Ruger M77's. That rifle was about $750 new so at $225 it's a steal assuming it's in good shape. If you don't want it then buy it anyway, put it on gunbroker for $500 and double your money.
local gunshop has a used a-bolt for a really good price imo ($225) It's stainless, has a 26' tube on it they only scratch on the metal is up by the crown (i'd cut about 4' off and recrown or just get a new barrel) and a factory stock with marks from a trucks gunrest ( I'd either buy a quality syn or put it in a piece of walnut) I've never owned a browning rifle, either has anybody that I shoot, hunt with, so I have no personal experiance. I know some guys don't like them, but I've really never heard why.
Haven't read the thread past the first page; looks like it's gonna get sporty.
Couple comments... .338 runs great from 22"-23" so no worries there. Second, my pard Jerry has rode an Abolt hard and put it away wet for going on a couple decades now, including Alaska a few times... he flat loves that rifle.
I don't think you can go wrong with it at that price. Buy it, keep it if you wanna, if you don't then do like Jeff_O said and move it and make money on it. I expect you could prolly get $3-400 dollars for it on Gunbroker without having to move mountains. Then you could buy a Kimber or a Remington or Savage or a Model 70 or a T/C or a Handi-Rifle or a Ruger or a slingshot or somethin'.
Exquisitely turdlike in all of his many manifestations!!
...yeah, let's take the V-8 out of the truck and replace it with a V-6 so it will "handle better". Do you really think you or anyone else is ever going to notice any "handling" characteristic improvement by shortening the barrel?
A'yup.
Shortened my 26" .338 to about 22.5" and the difference in handling is pretty dramatic. Couldn't stand it at 26", love it now.
I lost so much horsepower that the same come-ups on my turret still get me hits at 600 yards at 22.5", same as at 26".
There is NO GOOD REASON for a .338 to be 26". None.
My A-Bolt in 300wm has always worked great for me with no complaints. It punches .75MOA holes in paper out to 500 yards when I do my part and has killed a few animals too ..
well I'm back from the gunshop, I himmed and hawed about it and he finally said give me 200 and I'll through in a couple boxes of remington shells... I drove away quickly
throwing an old redfield 4x on it and giving it a quick once over If it shoots a group of 2 inches at 100 and doesn't blow up it will be fine for aprx 160 clams
Man alive! That was a deal! Your a lucky guy! Nothing wrong with the Brownings I have shot over the last 20 years.
I was at my local sporting goods store today, and they had some Brownings in stock. I handled one a bit, but it just didn't give me a warm and fuzzy. Not saying there's anything wrong with them, just saying they don't feel right for me.
Exquisitely turdlike in all of his many manifestations!!
