Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Browning A-Bolt Opinions

Nice animals, Dan

I have owned two. Both were fine rifles for an uninformed hunter who didn't know what crap they were. In fact, they even killed deer. The A-Bolt Medallion 7 Mag that I owned killed a bunch of deer. I also know a farmer a couple hours from here that has killed over 300 deer with his A-Bolt Stainless Stalker since he bought it in the early 1990's.

I had a composite stalker in 308. After reading about the accuracy I figured give it a try. It sounded like everything I wanted,short bolt throw, factory bedded, synthetic stock, blah, blah, blah. Killed one or two deer with it, just never warmed up to it, traded it and don't miss it.

The bedding was a spot of hot glue at the lug. I plucked it out in about 30 seconds with a knife. The stock flimsy. The trigger didn't adjust as good as I can make a Rem-Walker trigger and had/have the above mentioned reputation for breaking. Even after stiffening the stock and actually giving it a proper bedding all five or six of the factory loads I tried were in the 2" - 3" range for 3 shots at 100 yards. But, to be fair, the only handload I ever tried in it was 1" groups and I could keep them under 4" at 300 yards from a bench. I never tried to improve on that load just because I had pretty much lost interest in the rifle by that time.


Dave.

I have an A-Bolt Stalker with the digi-camo DuraTouch stock in .300WSM. It's a sub 1" gun, handles very well, is relatively light weight, and has given me no trouble. It will remain in the collection.

I have had a browning A-bolt in .338 Winchester mag since 1987. The early ones were lighter weight. I have several other rifles including weatherby, Remington, Winchester and now Tikka. But the gun that I always took to Africa was my A-bolt. I have killed many deer and elk with it also. It is very accurate and lightweight and I always have confidence when packing it. It is the one gun I would never get rid of.

Bought a stainless 260 almost 15 years ago. Light, accurate and didnt have to dick with the trigger. Hunted in all kinds of weather in several states, no issues at all with it.

About the best factory action to use for a custom build. No truing needed, trigger adjustment can be done in 10 minutes for under $1. Short bolt lift. Tang Safety. I have a 7mm RUM built on an A-Bolt and there's nothing not to like about the action.

I would like to build a .243 on their titanium action.

Wow. You have to be kidding me.

Is there anybody here who is capable of actually discussing/comparing A-bort design? Like say the bolt and it's parts, or the trigger group? Maybe the magazine? Without getting their panties in a wad, of course.

"I have one, it shoots, and I killed 5 deer with it" just doesn't do it for me.

IMO if you had to have a rifle for survival in harsh conditions, it would be at the bottom of the list.....

I've not homesteaded in the AK bush the past 5 years, but my A-Bolts have worked fine for me.

I'd think the average X-Bolt would compare very favorably to the factory Remington 700 you'll see on the rack today.

Ever ask yourself why the X-Bolt even exists?

Look at the parts I mentioned above. Now look at the X-Bolt compared to the A-bolt. Notice anything?

I worked in a good local gun shop for 20 years, and it had a gunsmith in house that did fantastic work. We sold a few Brownings, and though I don't like the ergos, when a customer asked seriously if they were any good, I would take him in the back, to the repair shop that housed a couple hundred guns at any given time...and ask him to find one in the racks needing repairs....


We never did.


They have always had a good reputation for shooting well, and I sold one to a pard who has used the schitt out of his, no problems.

Hope this helps.

Have never seen one go kaput or even need any work done on it other then maybe adjust the trigger. I have owned 2 of them and an X bolt and never an issue, That said I don't own either anymore.

What WOULD that customer have seen sitting in the repair racks, if he cruised through there consistently?

Had a synthetic stalker in 300 WM. very accurate, no problems, killed a bunch of pigs with it..

Got bored with it and traded it off.

I have the same. I liked the feel of the factory stock but it seemed to have some flex in the forearm so I replaced it with a bell and Carlson. I love the thing and it features. Completely reliable and has shot some incredible groups.

Hawk Driver - do you have any loads you would like to share?

I have two. A 7mm-08 bought in 2002 and a 243 WSSM purchased in 2004. Both are accurate (3/4 MOA or less for 5 shots), lightweight, and function reliably. The only issue I had was with the WSSM magazine. It struggled to feed rounds longer than factory 95 Ballistic Silvertip cartridges, but was remedied with a couple of small shims. It's not a DG rifle so I don't worry about the issues.

The 7mm-08 is a Hunter II model and has the shiny stock. The WSSM has a satin finish and a 21" barrel. My only gripe is the shiny stock.

My A-bolt II with BOSS was the most accurate rifle I've ever owned. I just sold it because I got tired of the aesthetics of the BOSS.

My daughter shoots a .260 micro hunter. It's light, accurate and works flawlessly.

You wont believe me, but here goes:

Weatherbys...not Vanguards...Mark Vs

Kimbers

Quite a number of New Haven Winchesters, QC sucked then

Home Made "Sporters"

And a smattering of Salvages, Remingtons, and a Ruger once in awhile, though the Rugers were usually there through pure abuse.

Yep and many of them were only dropped off for repairs in the week or two just before the BG season opener, but those rifles had needed work since the end of the prior BG season. Amazing how those gunsmiths have been blessed with the patience of Job...