Well I went out and bought a used rifle. The local dealer at my house had a Browning A-bolt 270 Win used for sell. It's pretty much mint condition, has a very minor scratch on the foregrip. Like so minor I didn't notice it for two days of owning the gun and have to point it out to people if I ask them to find it when I tell them it has a scratch. The internals all look good with little wear if any. I checked the serial number and it was manufactured in 2011. It came with a 8-point scope, I know not the best but at least it's something. I gave $460 for the rifle and scope.

i would say you got a better than fair deal even with out the scope. if it shoots (and it should) well then you are good to go.

If you like it, isn't that all that really counts?

You did great. It would have cost you hundreds more to walk out with a new one. Mine shoots very well. Enjoy it!

W

True that I'm the one that counts... I need to keep that in mind more often. It shoots very well imo. The dealer said it was already sighted in. I was shooting 2 inch groups at 100yds with me as the shooter. Possibly could do better with more experience shooting the rifle or in a more experienced shooter hands. This is my first major rifle. I have a 22 to plink with at the range so I'd have something to do when my buddies sighted in and practiced with their hunting rifles. I'm not experienced in buying guns as a friend of mine is and he's convinced that I got screwed on the gun. Not because the performance of the gun, just that I overpaid. I think he's more worried about it than me. He called me up to talk about it out of the blue. So I just thought I would get some opinions.

Sounds like to me you might know more about gun prices than your buddy.

The Simmons 8=Point scope is a pretty inexpensive scope, so you might do better with a higher quality scope/mounts and, if you don't reload, by trying a variety of factory ammo. My 270s shoot good groups with a variety of factory ammo, some of them doing better with a particular brand and bullet weight, while others do well with a variety of brands and bullet weights. Even the inexpensive Hornady American Whitetail 130 grain loads shoot less than 2 MOA from my Remington 760 and MOAish from my S&W A and CLR. I have found that Federal Blue Box ammo will often give you a good idea what a particular rifle/sights/shooter is capable of.

Federal Fusion 130's is where I would start....

W

is it a medallion or a hunter model? if it a medallion thats top dollar for one in my area,if its a hunter you payed way more then i would.used abolts don't sell very well in my area.

you got a great caliber. put a good 140gn bullet in it.

How do I tell that? It's all black with a synthetic stock. The older pre-98 rifles you could tell by the serial number. Unfortunately they stopped that so I'm not sure how to pin down the exact model outside of A-bolt.

It's an A bolt and a .270
That's 2 strikes around here...

you did ok. Like said before, if you like it, and it shoots, that is all that matters.

Anything in 270 Win is a winner!

If it's a Medallion it will be inscribed on the metal of the receiver. I don't think Medallions came with synthetic stocks. Sounds like yours is just the standard model. That price wouldn't be too far out of line around my area where brownings are generally highly thought of. If you were buying it to re-sell, you probably didn't do great. However, it sounds like you bought it to use, so if you're happy with it all is good. My only 270 is an A-Bolt White Gold Medallion, and it is one of the most accurate rifles in my safe. It has been hunted exactly once with one shot and one kill to it's credit.

Use it and enjoy!

There isn't any inscriptions that say medallion. Yeah definitely planning on getting some range time this summer and a deer with it this year. Tired of plinking around at the range with the 22.

You did fine.

Enjoy learning how to shoot it. You may want to find some one who knows a lot about shooting (and not just talks like it) to help you get fit, feel, and range setup down.

Mike,
You did fine with your purchase - tell your buddy he's wrong.

As mentioned earlier, set aside some shekels and get yourself a decent scope when the opportunity arises.

Thanks guys for the suggestion. I got a few boxes of ammo. Some federal fusion, barnes vor-tx, winchester, and mostly remington corelokts. I bought them all in 130 grain. The 2" groups came from the core lokts. I was going to try to get my shooting more consistent before changing anything. Then upgrade the scope and start changing ammo and see what I like the best. I would like to change the scope now, but good glass costs more than what I have right now.

Maybe its just me, but when I buy a used firearm, I clean the bore down to the bare steel, so that I know where I'm starting from. If you're shooting a fouled bore, you may be wasting ammo. Wasting ammo is wasting time and $$.

I'd second the notion that the Fusions are usually the place to start for factory ammo. They work great on deer also.

Mike,

You did just fine with that deal. You did GREAT if you happen to like it. The scope sucks a little, but it will work for the time being. Enjoy your purchase and don't sweat what anyone else says.

Dave

Not only do I like it I love it. It's a blast to shoot for me at least. I know it's not like shooting a magnum. It sure beats the 22. Just can't wait to get out in the woods and hope to have a chance at a deer next season.

brilliant rifle no matter the price, and you got a deal. Put a 3-9 vx II on it and call it a day. If you wish to handload, 130 partitions over 58 re22 works well for me.

Mike,

From your description of the rifle, you have a Composite Stalker. Does the bolt have what appears to be horizontal flutes (original A-bolt) or does it have a non-rotating shroud covering the bolt(A-bolt II)?

If it's an A-bolt II, you done just fine on the price. They are no longer made and most folks are asking quite a bit of coin for them now or at least in my opinion.

I've owned more A-bolts than I have any other rifle and will tell you, that unless you've got a lemon, that rifle will do far better than 2" @ 100yds. I've never had a complaint with the accuracy of any A-bolt I've owned.

The cheapest and one of the best improvements that you can make to that rifle is purchasing a lighter set of trigger springs from Timney, they're available at MidwayUSA as well; this will help improve accuracy.

Congrats on your purchase. I love the Composite Stalkers and it's chambered in a great caliber. Enjoy your rifle.

I have an A Bolt Medalion grade that I bought in 1991 or so. 300 WIN MAG that groups 5/8" at 100 yds if I do my job with 200 Nosler handloads. Great gun. Good luck with yours. Great deal.

Yeah it's the Composite Stalker. Thanks for the help nailing it down it was getting on my nerves not knowing exaxtly which one I had lol.

Mike, congrats on your new rifle bud. The Browning A-Bolt is an excellent rifle. I would have paid what you did in a heartbeat. Great deal in my opinion. The model you have comes with the action bedded from the factory and with the right load will shoot into one hole.

One thing your going to find after hunting a few years with the 270. It flat kills critters.

A rifle that nice warrants a scope much nicer than the Simmons 8- point.

Shod

I had an Eurobolt, which is your rifle with a European style stock. It was in 7mm Mag and liked 150gr to 155gr bullets. If the rounds you bought don't pan out, try some 140 grainers. I've heard A Bolts prefer bullets on the slightly heavy side.