Why no browning love

B

BoogieMan

New member
I have always considered browning among the more mid grade to lower high grade rifles on the market. Many guys I hunt with have very good results with them. I am curious why I never hear of anyone using them in long range competition? Usually remington, savage, and sometimes cz.
Is it cost? Are they more dificult to build to a target grade?
Parts availability?
 
When it comes to rifles I think Browning themselves have always gone after (marketed) the hunting crowd more and not the competition / match crowd and the cards fell where they did..................
 
Their shotguns and Winchester lever gun clones are/were quite respectable. I've never been able to get excited about their bolt actions or autos. The alternatives just seem superior.
 
They certainly do have an effective marketing department.

The only Browning products I've encountered/used in the field were a Browning BLR in .308WIN, with a short (20"?) barrel and steel reciever (the newer ones have an aluminum reciever, I understand) .... I really liked that gun...... which means they HAD to stop making it like I liked it .....

....... the other was a plastic stocked A-bolt that gave light primer strikes occasionally, which would be an easy fix with nearly any other brand of rifle- take the bolt apart, clean it, and check for broken springs ...... seems Browning did not want this to be possible.... and there was ZERO information available on the web on disassembly of the A-bolt's bolt..... compared to the oodles of "how to" vids and discussion threads out there on anything from a Remmy 700 to 95Mausers to Marlin lever guns .... it's like any maintenance has to be done by a Browning Witch Doctor in a special Browning Temple or something .....
 
My dad bought a model 81 BLR. 30-06. I don't think he has ever hunted with it. It has been in my gun cabinet for ten years. I hunted with it once and it jammed. I was always bothered by the Made In Japan stamp :confused:
I prefer my old Savages
 
Yeah I think Browning is mostly a hunting company, and a damn good one at that, but not so much into the long range precision (read: boring) stuff. :o
 
Browning markets nice products, but since they do not manufacture them, they do not have the versatility to address a market niche (like Savage has done with their F Class rifles or the way Remington has done with their long-range rifles, to give a few examples). They are a good example of a single market company. And because of that, there are few aftermarket products for Browning rifles.
 
My dad bought a model 81 BLR. 30-06. I don't think he has ever hunted with it. It has been in my gun cabinet for ten years. I hunted with it once and it jammed. I was always bothered by the Made In Japan stamp
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The thing I liked most about dad's 308 was that it was short and handy, yet had a sturdy feel to it .... I imagine a slightly longer reciever (and longer lever throw) and another 4" of barrel would have negated that .... dad's worked really well... never had a problem with it.
 
I bought a wood stocked X-Bolt hunter in .308 a few years ago. Using my hunting load (150gr. Sierra Pro Hunter over Varget) I get consistent sub minute five shot groups off a front bag. I have a target in my reloading room that's ten rounds in 0.82". I keep it in 2 inches at 150 yards unrested prone. Beyond being very accurate, the gun handles superbly. Light, very well balanced and just seems to point itself. I'm 63 and have been in this rodeo a long time and this is by far my favorite hunting rifle. The only knock I have with it is the overly complicated bolt. I highly recommend this rifle to anyone.
 
Browning markets nice products, but since they do not manufacture them, they do not have the versatility to address a market niche
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They certainly market pretty products ....

I don't see folks that want to be able to clean and maintain their own gun without having to take it to "a Browning Recomended Service Center, competent gunsmith, or our Arnold, Missouri Service Center" as a "niche market" ..... but that's just me..... maybe a major segment of the shooting public is going to be cool with having to send their gun back to the manufacturer or one of their representatives everytime it needs a good scrubbing (which it will, if you hunt hard for very long) .... but if you are more interested in being seen with a Browning, and wearing clothes with that cool logo, than you are about actually bringing home some venison .... yeah, you probably won't get the gun terribly dirty anyhow ...and if youactually do, you've got people for that.....

I'd wager Browning makes more selling other stuff than they do on their guns....
 
Growing up in my area there was a reverse snob appeal for Browning rifles and shotguns. Folks bought Winchester, Remington and Savage or 'Western Field' from Montgomery Wards or one of the other hardware store or catalog names.

Browning was kind of high class, definitely more expensive and there was some prejudice against them.

And about Browning being made in Japan, lots of guns are/were. My Dad was very surprised when he finally got (for him) an expensive trap shotgun (Winchester 101 over/under 12 gauge) that it was made in Japan and that if he wanted different barrel sets it was going to have to be sent back there.
 
Thanks for all the replys. I never considered the fact that browning is not actually a manufaturer. My only direct experience with them is my BPS which is arguably the best pump shotgun ever and a SA 12ga Silver that I bought for my son. Both guns have functioned flawlesly.
It seems like they have been more of a name only with their rifle products. Did they buy winchester manufacturing or just the name and move the actual manufacturing?
FN who made or makes much of the product line has always been a top manufacturer in my opinion
 
I have one of the new Browning A5 shotguns...love it. Bought my wife a Browning x-bolt rifle in .308. It's a very nice gun and very accurate. The only thing wrong with it, is she chose to get it in the pink buckmark camo finish !!! It's ugly LOL. As far as quality goes, I'm very pleased with the fit and finish and accuracy of her rifle. My shotgun seems to be very good quality also. No issues whatsoever.
I agree though, Browning seems to be more hunting oriented than competition.
 
Every Browning I've ever owned has been excellent.

Browning Maxus
Browing Silver Lightning
Browning BAR .300 win mag
Browning T-bolt
Browning Buckmark.

I've sold or traded most, but that is because that's what I generally do with firearms I don't use a lot. That .300 win mag was just awesome, but a big heavy rifle. It had a steel receiver and a boss at the end of the barrel and you could get that thing to hit anything if you did your job. The shotguns were great for duck hunting.
 
I've owned several Browning bolt action rifles and I was never impressed with them. None were accurate if I recall. They do make some decent shotguns though.

I have no problem with Japanese made firearms. Howa makes very good rifles at a decent price.
 
FN Browning has been marketing their stuff based on the name for eons. Personally, I don't think any hunting rifle is worth the money demanded for the Browning name. Their stuff is way too expensive for something that is no different or better than any other hunting rifle.
 
why

Don't think Browning has ever marketed a target rifle per se, maybe the T-bolt in certain applications. Has there been a "Varminter heavy barrel A-bolt....could be wroong, but don't think so?

Jimbo, I liked the steel BLR too, stubby barrel and straight grip. The aluminum frame rifle I liked was the BAR, synthetic and parkerized, also with 20" tube, don't think they make that one anymore either.
 
My BL-22 is one of my favorite firearms, very accurate and quick shooting. I've been considering a T-Bolt in .22LR. Kind of funny, in my nearly 63 years, I've always considered Browning a more upscale firearm that the Remingtons and Winchesters here in rural Pennsyltucky, in spite of me having firearms that cost far more than the average Browning! Guess when I get something in my head, it just won't leave!
 
The older Browning Belgian made Mauser type bolt actions were awesome. Manufacturing and labor costs got too high, just like their outstanding Superposed O/U shotguns and they went different routes to supply their American market with their devalued dollars.
 
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