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OK, I will say it! I love my A-Bolt!!! I have a few rifles and the A-Bolt is the one I grab the most.

People are just resistant to anything different than the Remington 700 or Winchester Model 70 they have been handling. The A-Bolt feels different. So does a Tikka, or a Steyr. You don't see them being hot rodded into workshop rifles, either.

Reminds me of driving a 1968 Porsche 911 Targa around SC back when there was only one dealer in GA and one in NC. People told me how strange it looked, with a sour look on their faces. After a while, they caught on.

Talked to my smith about the sling swivels being so close to because of the 4" shorter stock. He said to put a barrel band on (in the white) would require the barrel to have to be refinished at the tune of $250 for the job. Or he could put one of those half circle (blue) swivel clamps on for $35. I want something done for three reasons : 1. With the swivels this close when shouldered the barrel sticks as high over my head as a 26 inch rifle. 2.Because of this top heaviness when slung the rifle wants to fall away from my back at the top. 3. I hate the look of all that pipe on what is supposed to be compact , light rifle. What would you guys do ?

You guys are killing me here. I have Browning A Bolt II in 7mm-08 that I'm thinking about trading a guy for a like new S&W 629 with 4" barrel. There's nothing wrong with the rifle, its just that here in Ohio I don't have much use for one. Now you've got me thinking I should jut hang onto it. Oh what to do?

are you interested in selling the rifle birddog1..........blake

Will you handle and shoot the pistol more than the rifle ? Do you ever hunt with the rifle ? Will owning the pistol pose a problem with being able to keep it safely away from little ones at all times. Mark

I'll agree on the FN action Browning, they are hands down better rifles than the new A-bolt. I am fortunate that my Dad
left me several of these NIB plus some with the FN brand.

However I will give the A-bolt credit, it is an accurate rifle out
of the box, as my brother in law has two, both 30-06 and they
are very accurate, less than MOA at 100 yds.

Deans

Typical criticisms you here of A-Bolts are "overengineered", can't field strip, too much pot metal, too shiney, and made in Japan. I don't know anyone in person who has one and is unhappy with it. You read "horror stories" on the internet about gunsmiths who claim they repair A-bolts more than any other rifle (My 'smith, who is quite good and locally well known, can't confirm it but you see it on the 'net). If you hunt Africa, something in the atmosphere will make the gun fall apart in your hands (even if it doesn't, you will face certain death from the first nasty critter you see just because you're virtually defenseless carrying an A-Bolt). Related to this, A-Bolts are not CRF so their purely amatuer status and, God knows, you don't want that. Also, the barrels are impossible, difficult, or no different than any other rifle (depending on who you ask) if you wish to swap barrels.

I'd not hesitate to own one myself. It's definitely not an fn Safari, that's true. But not many rifes ever made live up to that comparison. So I'd hardly knock the A-Bolt for not meeting that standard just because it's marketed by--at least in name--the same company.

My son has one in 270 WSM. It is a MOA rifle with Federal 140 gr Accubonds, and needed nothing to get there. And it is a very easy rifle to shoot accurately.

I have one, a classic Abolt FLD hunter in 300 WSM. It was probably the easiest rifle I've ever had to find an excellent load for, exactly one attempt, 168 gr barnes TSX, 67 gr of H4350 and a CCI magnum primer, shot into an inch three shots at 200 yards, I killed 5 deer with it this year. I don't find the rifle unattractive at all, mine has a low lustre finish, everything fits together very well, it's light, I installed a limbaver, mounted a scope and went hunting.
The clip system I can take or leave, the stock marked up a bit more than I expected, but then I hunted pretty hard with it, dry September weather, pouring rain, heavy snow, zero didn't change at all.
These are all great things, that being said the rilfe doesn't talk to me the way my Sako's do.
Nothing wrong with Abolt's unless you WANT to have to play around with every functional part of the gun when you by it. If this process is really important to you make absolutely sure you don't buy a Browning, or a Sako/tikka you will be dissappointed.

Agreed! I'd sooner shoot than tinker any day. And I also have a tikka, and if I had enough money, I'd have a Sako as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yes, No, No. I would get more use out of the pistol. It would come in handy when patrolling my 130 acres on my ATV . The rifle has never been hunted with, its just a safe queen. The gun will be locked in the gun safe when not being used.

I had it listed for sale here, got one offer but the buyer backed out. So I offered it to a guy on another site for his SW 629. He's only fired 20 rounds through it. If it falls through I'll let you know.

Love my 7mm Stalker w/ Boss. I wanted the black stock, not some shiny wood stock I'd have to worry about in the field. I wish the SS models came in a dark finish otherwise I would have gotten one. The Boss is really loud though. Anybody know if Browning will give me a CR to retrofit in place of the brake on it now?

I think you can buy a CR from most of the Browning dealers. All the new ones come with both the ported and CR BOSS. IIRC, wholesalesports.com used to sell them for about 35 bucks depending on calibre and configuration.

I bought my browning CR for 12.95. Well worth the money though.

Big difference between US and Canadian prices on that part, then. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I have an A-Bolt Hunter in 7mm WSM, and will agree that it was easy - maybe too easy - to find a load it liked (RE-19 and the Hornady 140 Interbond).

Tang safety - I already have a Ruger 77 with a tang safety, so I have no problem with that.

60 degree bolt lift - That let me mount my Leupold with low rings for a better cheek weld.

Detachable box mag - nothing is more convenient, especially if you are anal about climbing a treestand with an unloaded rifle.

Eye appeal - here I'll have to say, 'To each his own.' Kind of like wives/girlfriends. You may like dumb/pretty, or smart/homely. Some fortunate guys can get smart/pretty, and then some poor ba$tards get dumb/ugly. But pretty is as pretty does, and I like my A-Bolt. Hell, if I was rich, I would own nothing but Serengettis, Dakotas, Echols, etc.

Painless -

That is one nice looking rifle - even if it is a Browning! And the .300 Dakota chambering is one I would love to have as well! Or would once I got over choking on the cost of brass.