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Browning A-Bolt Rifles
- Thread starter MSPHUNTER
- Start date
I own only one A-bolt, a stainless steel Stalker-II in 7-08. I bought it for hunting, and in that capacity, it has served me well. (I have carried it for only one season, however.) I've put less than 50 rounds through it so I can't really speak to its durability. It has been quite accurate at the range and is easily capable of sub-minute of angle groups at 100 yds.--if I allow time for cooling between rounds. The trigger breaks right at four pounds and came that way out of the box.
Subjectively, I really like this rifle. It is light, points quickly, has a reasonably smooth action, and is fun to shoot. The next few seasons will tell how durable it is, but for now, I am quite pleased. For hunting, I would rank it above either of the Ruger 77's or several Rem 700's that I have or have had.
Subjectively, I really like this rifle. It is light, points quickly, has a reasonably smooth action, and is fun to shoot. The next few seasons will tell how durable it is, but for now, I am quite pleased. For hunting, I would rank it above either of the Ruger 77's or several Rem 700's that I have or have had.
Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
Hello. I like 'em. What took me too long to get over was the "Made in Japan" thingy!
I like the short bolt throw.
I like the feel of the rifle.
I like the looks of the rifle.
I wish it were controlled round feed.
I own two A-Bolts (blued), one in .308 and one in .338 Win Mag. Both shoot extremely well with handloads that they like. While I'm sure it's a fluke, the tightest group I've ever fired with a sporter was with the .338 A-Bolt, but for 3 shots, groups in the 1/2 to 3/4" range @ 100 yards are not unusual at all. Ditto, the .308. I bought my dad an A-Bolt Stainless Stalker in .25-06. With factory Hornady 117 gr SP, it shoots well under an inch.
Feeding has been both slick and reliable as has ignition and ejection.
Triggers are not as good as a Remington M700, but after adjusting them a bit, they are very, very usable.
Best.
I like the short bolt throw.
I like the feel of the rifle.
I like the looks of the rifle.
I wish it were controlled round feed.
I own two A-Bolts (blued), one in .308 and one in .338 Win Mag. Both shoot extremely well with handloads that they like. While I'm sure it's a fluke, the tightest group I've ever fired with a sporter was with the .338 A-Bolt, but for 3 shots, groups in the 1/2 to 3/4" range @ 100 yards are not unusual at all. Ditto, the .308. I bought my dad an A-Bolt Stainless Stalker in .25-06. With factory Hornady 117 gr SP, it shoots well under an inch.
Feeding has been both slick and reliable as has ignition and ejection.
Triggers are not as good as a Remington M700, but after adjusting them a bit, they are very, very usable.
Best.
I have an A-Bolt(II) composite stalker in 30-06. Love it. I have the BOSS system on it. The only downside is the sound. The only deer I killed last season was a very quick shot, thus I didn't have time to put in earplugs. My ears rang for a week. Lesson:Let the deer go. Don't, Don't fire w/o ear protection. Other than that it is great.
Coupled with a 3.5-10x50 Var-x III. I can do MOA consistantly and I have a slight tremor.
To expand on what jbgood said about points quickly: I did not have time to aim at the deer. Maybe 20yd max from a treestrand. Was looking the other way, heard the deer coming, running right toward the stand. When I swung my barrel around, the deer saw me and ducked down to make a quick turn. I pointed and fired w/o even looking through the scope. The deer never got up from that duck.
Coupled with a 3.5-10x50 Var-x III. I can do MOA consistantly and I have a slight tremor.
To expand on what jbgood said about points quickly: I did not have time to aim at the deer. Maybe 20yd max from a treestrand. Was looking the other way, heard the deer coming, running right toward the stand. When I swung my barrel around, the deer saw me and ducked down to make a quick turn. I pointed and fired w/o even looking through the scope. The deer never got up from that duck.
Very good guns. I have an A-BOLT in 284 win and an A-BOLT 11 in 7mm MAG. The 7mm makes me smile every time I shoot it. The only thing I personally don't like is the shinny finish on their wood stocks. I have Winchester, Remington Ruger, Marlin and A few others, but will reach for those Brownings when I want to shoot something that makes me feel good.
Poodleshooter
New member
I have a BOSS equiped Stainless Stalker in 7mm Remington Magnum that I bought in college. I love the feel of the action. The box magazine is really handy when unloading after hunting. It beats dumping your ammo out of a floorplate into sometimes slippery hands and dropping it in the mud. I prefer it to the Rem 700/Mdl 7 action and the Ruger 77MkII action. The trigger is the best one I own. No creep, a clean easily anticipated break and only a little overtravel.
The only complaint I have is as a reloader is that the BOSS is damn frustrating. Changing the sweet spots is yet another variable in the neverending search for accuracy! It does allow you to tailor your barrel for any ammo though.
The only complaint I have is as a reloader is that the BOSS is damn frustrating. Changing the sweet spots is yet another variable in the neverending search for accuracy! It does allow you to tailor your barrel for any ammo though.
I really like mine. It's a synthetic stocked 7mm Mag, pre BOSS.
It's accurate, capable of 3 shot groups within an inch at 200 yards with 154 gr. Hornadys. I really like the short bolt throw - it doesn't mash my thumb against the scope when I cycle the bolt. I put a Leopold 3 X 9 X 50 VariX II
on, and I'd feel comfortable hunting anything in north America with it. The synthetic stock is OK, not great, but I'm not going to change it. I carried it for a weeek in pouring rain in Canada and there was no change in point of impact. I've now put over 600 rounds through it, and accuracy is still very good.
It's done the job on whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, caribou, prairie dogs and a few crows.
It's accurate, capable of 3 shot groups within an inch at 200 yards with 154 gr. Hornadys. I really like the short bolt throw - it doesn't mash my thumb against the scope when I cycle the bolt. I put a Leopold 3 X 9 X 50 VariX II
on, and I'd feel comfortable hunting anything in north America with it. The synthetic stock is OK, not great, but I'm not going to change it. I carried it for a weeek in pouring rain in Canada and there was no change in point of impact. I've now put over 600 rounds through it, and accuracy is still very good.
It's done the job on whitetail, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, caribou, prairie dogs and a few crows.