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Question On Accuracy With An A-Bolt
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Picture of sdeshazo
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I've got a Browning A-Bolt in 7mm Rem Mag & really want to make the gun a long range tack driver, by long range I mean out to a max of 600 yards, but I'd be happy with a decent group at 300 yards.

Question is what kind of accuracy (best case with factory amno) should I expect from the gun?

Right now I can shoot about 3 or 4 inch groups at 300 yards with Winchester 150 grain Ballistic tips, but nothing I hunt with the gun will thoses shells do much damage too. I've tried everything from Hornady Interbonds, Accubonds, Interlock, & the gamit from Federal, Remington, etc & nothing will group like the Winchesters.

Do I need to hand load, rebarrel the gun, sell the gun?? I'll try anything at this point.

I'm really thinking about just sending it to Christensen & having it rebarreled & go from there but I'm just looking for some thoughts.

Thanks for the help.
 
Posts: 224 | Location: St Augustine, Florida | Registered: 07 April 2006Reply With Quote
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Talk to your gunsmith before rebarreling. Brownings are known to be difficult removing the factory barrel. They put them on with some kind of stickimus maximus. If a guy does not know what he is doing, an action can easily be twisted removing a factory Browning barrel. The groups you indicate do not sound too bad for a factory rifle.


Free men should not be subjected to permits, paperwork and taxation in order to carry any firearm. NRA Benefactor
 
Posts: 1652 | Location: Deer Park, Texas | Registered: 08 June 2005Reply With Quote
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You can probably do better reloading, find a hunting bullet you want to use, then fiddle around with powders, charge weight and primers until you find the right one.


Browningguy
Houston, TX
We Band of 45-70ers
 
Posts: 1242 | Location: Houston, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2002Reply With Quote
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I don't know what you are hunting, but there aren't a lot of game animals that a 150 gr BT isn't going to do plenty of damage to. I've heard a lot of the BT's blowing up stories, but it is typically at close range and high speed, I think the ranges you are talking about the BT is about an ideal bullet. If you're hunting brown bears at that range, then everything you're talking about is a bad idea, but figuring that ain't the game your talking about, I think the bullet/ammo you are using is a great setup.

3" groups at 300 yards is basically MOA accuracy, and that is damn good if you are shooting that well with any ammo. I wouldn't do a lot of screwing around with that rig, I definitely don't think a new barrel is in order. 30378 is dead right also, rebarreling A-bolts CAN be a tricky proposition. I think money and time better spent would be to get your trigger worked on if you have a smith capable of that, there is even an aftermarket trigger from a company called 'Rifle Basix' (spelling?) that I understand is a good trigger--better than the factory. I think this would help your accuracy as much as anything you could do. A-bolts aren't considered high end rigs by many, but they are known for their accuracy. I have one still, have had several, and they all shot excellently, but they all would have benefitted from some trigger help.

There is a fellow who posts here on AR as "MALM" who can work on Browning triggers, you might see if you can get with him, I think he is a stand-up guy!
Two other suggestions, on ammo, would be to try the Federal Premium ammo loaded with Barnes triple shock bullets--these bullets are Hell for Stout and just shoot great out of everything I have shot them through. Also, the Winchester supreme ammo with the Accubond typically shoot well for me with rigs that shoot the BT well, and they are a bit stouter bullet than the BT--just another thought.

Good Luck--Don
 
Posts: 3563 | Location: GA, USA | Registered: 02 August 2004Reply With Quote
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I own an A-Bolt as well. You really have little to complain about with the results you are getting. Before you spend money on a new trigger, try the Timney spring kit. I put one in mine, and it made a huge difference. You can install it yourself. It takes longer to to remove the stock than it does to install the new spring. I believe Brownells sells them for around $20. You didn't mention what scope you have on that rig. You might look at a higher end quality scope with magnification of 16x or more if you hadn't already done so.


What the American public doesn't know is what makes them the American public.
 
Posts: 94 | Location: Southern Oregon | Registered: 30 October 2006Reply With Quote
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Have a look at Varmint Al's Reloading Pages. He goes nutz on accuracy. Al is an structural engineer, used to make atom bombs with Lawrence/Livermoore.

http://www.varmintal.com/arelo.htm

Everything you'd want to know about accurate loads, accurate guns.
 
Posts: 825 | Registered: 03 October 2006Reply With Quote
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