I fondled one a few days ago bolt seemed stiff but a pretty gun my dad had a old school A bolt from the 80s any thoughts it was reasonably priced

Browning's entry into the already flooded budget rifle market. One of the nicer rifles in that category, but also one of the higher priced ones.

Don't confuse it with the older A-Bolt and A-Bolt II. They were Browning's flagship models of the time. The flagship model is now the X-Bolt. Evidently Browning's marketing dept was smart enough to keep the A-Bolt name around on the new budget line in hopes that buyers would assume they were getting the quality level of the older A-Bolt line, just at a lower price point. That's not the case. It's a completely new rifle that was designed from the ground up to compete in the budget market that the majority of new gun buyers seem to be drawn to.

Not saying it's a bad rifle, it just doesn't compare to the older A-Bolts.

Tutelage is dead on. My 30 year elk hunting buddy has an original abolt in 7mm rem mag. Never a problem with that rifle and it is very accurate. A couple years ago he bought a ab3 in 30-06. They are very different rifles. He gave the ab3 to his son and is now using his original abolt. Just a sample of one. Ymmv.

I could be wrong, but I think the AB3 is related to the Winchester XPR in terms of basic design. I've never owned an AB3, but the XPR that I owned had a noticeably heavy bolt lift. I don't know if it was just that particular rifle, or if applies to all XPR and AB3, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

I wish I could get a AB3 in 350 Legend for Michigan

Accurate assessment.

I have an early 90's A-bolt 2 medallion in 7 mm rem mag with a boss. The bolt is just a slick now as when it was given to me. Problem is I wish that I could find a decent after market stock for it. The wood stock has its battle wounds and I leave it in the safe for now. And I agree with the above statement as well.

I was at the range a few years ago and 2 members were shooting their A-Bolt 3's at 200 yards and producing tiny groups. They were tickled with their rifles.

Ford vs Chevy

That said, I have 4 ABolts that i bought new when they came out. They are all crazy accurate and have the BOSS

SD,

B&C produces the Medalist stock for Abolt long actions. I would consider it to be a good replacement.

That's where you are wrong.........Browning does not market these rifles as A-Bolt 3's. They are called AB3's...........
Closer to ABortion3 than an A-Bolt, they have NOTHING in common with the original A-Bolt or the A-Bolt-II other than Browning marketing them. the biggest POS Browning has ever put their name on, but they had to have something to offset the overpriced X-Bolt

I'll have to look into that and take it out to shoot more

You need to cut down on the coffee intake.