I just purchased a good used Browning A-bolt in 375 H&H.

The bolt is not at all like the mauser type bolts I am use to. Does the A-bolt's bolt lock in two different places like a 98's bolt? In other words does it lock on the reciever flanges and somewhere's else at the back of the receiver? If it does I don't see it.

And secondly I noticed that the cartridge extractor on the bolt is not a claw like the mauser, but seems to be a tiny metal spring loaded flange by comparison. Does this A-bolt extractor have a good reputation for reliability?

I mean I plan to reload for this round and I expect some rounds at some point are going to be tight in the chamber due to pressure or dirt and say dirt had collected on the extractor? Will that tiny extractor work every time?

I don't think you'll have any problems with the BAB. I've dealt with several and none have ever failed.

Quite accurate for factory rifles IME.

Good Luck

Reloader

To answer your questions, there are more locking lugs on the front of the A-bolt bolt than the front of the mauser, 3 vs 2. The back lug on the mauser is a secondary measure only and not found on most other designs.

The extractor and ejector are both different from the mauser as well. The A-bolt is more similar to the Remington 700 or push feed Model 70s. Dirt under any extractor will cause it to malfunction at some point. I had a mauser do this and it would not feed. I had a Winchester push feed do this and the plunger stuck down and it would not eject. Is either "bad"? No, just different.

You could, and probably will, start an arguement over whether one is better than the other. In my opinion, they are simply different designs with neither one being "better". I have used all types (browning, remington, winchester both types, mauser) and have seen no practical difference in useability. Since I don't shoot dangerous game and have never tried to fire a rifle upside down, I won't even go there.

The A Bolt is about as different as you can get from a Mauser action. That said, mine is an excellent rifle. I have had not one bit of trouble with it at all in 4 years. It is consistently very accurate. I have not had it shoot ANY factory load into more than 1.5" at 100 yards shooting three shots. And I have tried five different factory loads. (Can't say the same for my handloads.)

The triggers are usually pretty good out of the box, but a 'smith can usually do a bit to them, and Timney makes a new spring kit for them. I also like the magazine arrangement. The box is attached to the floorplate and can be toploaded or loaded with the floor plate dropped or can be removed and replaced with another magazine (but they are pricey).

My only complaint is that the butts of the stocks tend to be narrow amplifying the recoil a bit.

Let us know how it shoots.

LWD

Thanks for the info. I will only be shooting it in a couple of months or so. But will let you know how it goes. I plan to reload for it and pace myself with reduced loads initially and then moving up to some comfort but effective zone.

I am use to shooting max loads in 9,3x62 in a very light husky, so I will probably start with this rounds max powder charges and move up. 60ish grains of 3031 with 270 grain bullets sounds manageable and very effective.

I purchased this rifle from a local gun dealer who had it on consignment. He stated he had scoped it and had sighted it in and that it was very accurate. He also said that it was ten yrs old and had had three owners and two moose. The owners did not like the recoil.

Two things I noticed. The euro scope was too far ahead ( because it could not go further back) and therefore one had to creep up the stock! and the second thing I noticed was that his asking price was half of what it was selling for 5yrs ago.

The scope is comming off. I'm going iron sites for a bit and then a scope without a distal bell is called for, so as I can pull it back and shoot the rifle with an alert and verticle posture.

Again thank you all for your information.

Add a limbsaver recoil pad to the list of things to add.....you'll be glad you did.

My rifle has been reliable and accurate. The down side is there are fewer aftermarket parts available for the brownings--so replacing the stock, for example, is more challenging.

Cheers,

Dan

Have an older A bolt in 300 win mag,
Shoots great and is used alot, never had any issues with it, except needing to replace the little metal tang that holds the front of the magazine into the base plate.

I have a 15 yr. old A Bolt in 7mm Rem mag. I've taken dozens of head with it and had a very successful plains game hunt with it in '05. I've never had but one problem with it, and that was the little magazine retainer spring breaking after years of hard use. It is very accurate and I've made some 300 yard shots with it easily. I think you'll like it.

quote:

Originally posted by LWD:
The A Bolt is about as different as you can get from a Mauser action. That said, mine is an excellent rifle. I have had not one bit of trouble with it at all in 4 years. It is consistently very accurate. I have not had it shoot ANY factory load into more than 1.5" at 100 yards shooting three shots. And I have tried five different factory loads. (Can't say the same for my handloads.)

The triggers are usually pretty good out of the box, but a 'smith can usually do a bit to them, and Timney makes a new spring kit for them. I also like the magazine arrangement. The box is attached to the floorplate and can be toploaded or loaded with the floor plate dropped or can be removed and replaced with another magazine (but they are pricey).

My only complaint is that the butts of the stocks tend to be narrow amplifying the recoil a bit.

Let us know how it shoots.

LWD

Finally got time to reload for it. Next calm day and I'm off to the range to sight in. As you can see I'm doing 3031 and Hornadies 270 grs. for now.

I'm using Lyman reloading data. I'm starting at 59 grains of powder and going up to 66.5. The latter charge is indicated * to be very accurate.

The scope is a 3x9x40 leupy with lots of eye relief. Adding this new scope has made the rifle fit me just fine.

I will let you know how these trials shoot if interested. However I plan to take my time. The biggest round I have fired to date is a 9.3x62 in a very light Husky, which I charge with 57 grains ImR 4064. I have no problems with shooting it off the bench. I got all summer to play with this new caliber.

I have a 16 year old Browning A-Bolt chambered in 338 WM and owned one before that chambered in 300 WM. Both were very accurate. Haven't had any problems with either one. The 338 WM until this year has been my primary hunting rifle and I've carried it through some nasty conditions and it functioned just fine.

A friend of mine had one chambered in 375 H&H about 7 years ago and had magazine feeding problems with it. He eventually sold it because he moved back to the lower 48. Something about not needing a 375 H&H for Pennsylvania whitetails!

At any rate, I think you'll be happy with it. I equipped mine with an A-Square Hannibal synthetic stock made by MPI. I don't care for the factory synthetic stock they put on their stainless stalker models.

You might just have something concerning magazine. I got the rifle to the range tonight and the cartridges just fit the magaxine. Almost no play. Also, the loading port from the top is smaller than the cartridges and a bit difficult to align when pushed down into the magazine--jam a couple of times. However, with practice I can possible see my way out of a jam situation.

The rifle was accurate and the recoil was not bad at all. No more than a 30-06 with 220 gr bullets loaded to the max. I shot all loads off the bench and did not need to hold the forward part of the stock. I did a usual and just squeezed the sand bag with my left hand.

Ok so its hunting season next week and my most accurate load with this rifle is 66grains of IMR 4064 with a 300 Hornady. Off hand at 100 meters, I can break fist size rocks into many little rocks. LOL At 50 yards on the bench I can put them in one inch group.

The rifle fits me like a glove and I'm getting use to the magazine.

Now I'll see how it carries in the woods.

good luck and good shooting!

The .375 H&H is very addictive! It's a wonderful cartridge that just works well. Glad you like the A Bolt as well. I'm planning on getting mine out for some pigs after I get a deer.

LWD