ksduckhunter
You don't like the fact that I say there is nothing special about the A-Bolt because no one is willing to spend $2000 plus on a rifle based on the A-Bolt action. Then lets see you back up your fluff with a little substance. You tell me what is so special about the A-Bolt to make it an above average rifle.
The accuracy of rifle is decent, but a Savage out of the box will give it a run for its money at $200 less.
There's no one gushing about the A-Bolt like there is about a Sako, CZ, or a Tikka rifle.
The BOSS system was a work of genius, and everyone is aware of the contributions made to firearms industry by John M. Browning.
However, I don't see anything special about the A-Bolt to call it more than a average rifle. If there is something else that I'm not aware of, inform me.

The big problem with the A-bolt rifles seems to be their reputation for failure in the field. I got this from JJHack. He says he's seen every brand fail except the Win. M70 and Rugers. But, far and away, the failed in the field rifles were Browning A-Bolts. Particularly under the wet conditions of SE Alaska.
I'm not surprised. They have a very complicated screwed together bolt design.
The reason why you don't see them used as a basis for custom rifles is they feature an epoxyed in barrel mounting system. They are very difficult to remove and a nightmare to rebarrel. Therefore most gunsmiths won't do one. E

BigFoot 15-4E

I own and have own many Browning A bolts 1)270, , 2)7mm mag, 2)300 win mags, 2)338 wim mags and everyone with the exception of one 7MM. Composit stalker would shoot .5 inch 100 all day long and may I say they are ruget and can take a beating just can say enough good about the Browning A bolt.
Old Timer

If you ever want to start a good pizzing match ask some rifle forum what they think about Browning rifles.
Out of the 10 hunting rifles I own only one is a Browning A-Bolt, the rest are Win, Rem, Ruger, Sav, or customs.
I'm not a gunsmith nor a custom rifle snob so the things I look for in a rifle are things that are important to me, not my friends.
Most every rifle I own meets most of these requirements, I don't own one rifle thats 110% perfect.
The Browning I own is a left handed Stainless Stalker w/ BOSS in 7mm-08 and will shoots rings around the other rifles I own. I've used this gun from the artic circle to the plains of Montana with 100% reliability while watching a bolt handle break loose on a 700BDL and trigger guard crack on a Ruger (own one of each)
I'm sure a lot of the Browning bashers are people who simply repeat what they read or hear about the rifle while never having ever owned or hunted with them. It's sort of the Ford/Chevy/Dodge things.
Sure they don't make a lot of custom guns from a Browning action, but then you don't see a lot of NASCAR's using Honda, Toyota, or BMW's either, but we all know they still are excellent vehicles
just the same.
The American hunter is responsible for a products success or failure, this can be seen by the short lived venture with the Marlin bolt rifle or Winchester and Remington trying to make a nice O/U shotgun. If the A-Bolt was such a piece of junk as so many try to tell you, this company would have been out of business long ago, or their product line would be very limited. Not so, Browning is a market leader in new models and features, they couldn't do that year after year if the made junk.
But this is the inter-net and opinions are what makes this such a fun place to visit.

Greets fm CO
I'll have to agree, this OF agrees with OldFart. My, my it seems like I am talking to myself, I use "OldFart" as a nick on several other forums.
My experience, not what I've heard or read, with my Browning A-Bolt is this. Mine was an older model w/out boss. I had to send it back for repairs 3 times within the first 6 months. The firing mechanism would release upon working the bolt. This required a heavy set of pliers or vise grips to fix each time it did it. Fortunately, from a safety angle, the mechanism cocks upon pulling the bolt back, not upon pushing the bolt forward or closing it.
I sent it in to the Browning Repair Facility at Arnold MO. They sent the gun back to me with the same exact problem. I sent the gun back again after a gunsmith at an authorized Browning dealer
duplicated the problem easily. When I rx'd the gun back the second time, the factory repair facility had changed the bolt, HOWEVER!!, it now had NO! safety, none at all. Back to the authorized repair station. The gunsmith took every bit of 10 seconds to diagnose the problem. The factory techs couldn't even take a few seconds to check this out before the gun leaving their facility??? A hole that was supposed to be in the bolt was NOT there. In about 5 min , he fixed the gun.
Still, the barrel heated up badly after only 2 shots, it took a career to sight it in and even then I had no assurance that the gun would shoot its next shot after sighting in correctly. Just last year, I did have a custom barrel maker put me on a heavier and better barrel. I haven't had a chance to shoot it much yet due to a cabin I'm bldg taking up so much time but I am looking forward to trying it. Enuf said! Ray

I bought a 300rum ss a-bolt last year and love it. It shoots sub moa consistently from the box, and has had no problems thus far. Mine took 5 min to sight in with a leupold 3-9 on top (load developement was very easy, too). In fact, I was so impressed with it that I took it with me for the last trip of hunting season here, and it performed perfectly. Maybe mine is a little light for the caliber, but it packs well for a 26" barrel.

I love mine and have plans to buy another in 308 b/c I can't find a better value. I can't find another rifle that shoots so well from the box with so little work and for the price you can find them at (I would try a CZ but I really am into the ss/syn right now). Good luck!

I understand the current A-bolt are built by US Reating Arms in Connecticut. Which is the same company that now builds the Winchester rifles including the Mod 70.

Am I the only person toever have trouble with an A-Bolt?? After all the trouble I had??? Ray

I like shooting and hunting with my A-bolt 2506 but I have my complaints also.

A couple of times I had it jam when I was trying to load a shell. Once I was looking at a big buck and this happened and I had to open the floor plate to get the shells out and try again. I also have a problem sometimes oppening the floor plate to unload.

Also the other day I took it out shooting and the bolt wasn't pushing the shell out of the magazine. It was going over the ammo. then I noticed play in the trigger guard. The screw holding it all together had come pretty loose. I tightened it up and everything was fine.

What I do like about it is that it shoots good right out of the box, it's light, and pretty to look at with the high gloss and satin finnish. I put a high gloss scope on her and she likes it.

I'm starting to believe that it's cheaply made though.

I've owned a 7mm mag A-Bolt. I hunted with it one season, but didn't like it and sold it to a friend of mine who's not as particular about these things as I am. The thing I most disliked about it was the stock design. It just didn't fit me well. As far as accuracy is concerned, it was pretty good, but nothing to get excited about.

I have been thinking of getting a tikka or a browning (a-bolt classic,or medalion) in the 270 wsm.Can anyone tell me what makes the medalion different than the classic other than the stock and which one would be the better of the 2.

owensby,

Other than the stock, there isn't any functional difference in the action. The classic has a matte bluing where the medallion has a gloss bluing. And the medallion has an engraved receiver, but functionally there is no difference. Barrel length is the same, bolt throw is the same, safety is the same, etc.

Bob

I liked the FN's that browning built, those were great rifles, unless you ended up with one of those salted stock ones. As for the A-bolts, I guess they are ok, they are not my cup of tea, but that just me. Its more to do with that cheesy gold plate trigger and deer head logo than anything else. I like M-70's Mauser's and Ruger No 1's. They all have there strong points and there weakness too. Thats why they make all kinds of guns for all kinds of people. What ever floats your boat. For some the A-bolt or a Savage serves this purpose, and for others well only a rifle by D'Arcy Echols will due.

Owensby, I just went through your dilemma.
I bought the TIkka and I doubt I will regret it.

Hey fellow gun nuts:

Hey fellow gun nuts:

I agree with most of whats been said about the Browning A bolt. There is one smaall facter that has been over looked, that is the damn clip itself and the clip loading system.I cannot count the number of times that I had a problem if the clip is not perfectlly centerded. The trap door will not close.

Other than that the rifle is great .

Grijim.

I have a .308 Boss Hunter. Not a bit of trouble with it. Shoots 3/4" groups with either 150 Speer or Nosler Partitions. The trigger was easily adjustable. I don't worry about the magazine since I load it just like my Ruger M77R and Model 70: open the bolt and load through the top. I can't say I like the detachable mag, but it's not an issue. The rifle is light, short, and handles well, looks good, and most importantly fits me.

Is it better than the others? Not necessarily, but it's the one I pick up when going elk or deer hunting. It's more accurate than either the Ruger .270 or the M70 .300 Win.

The only rifle I ever had to get repaired was a M70 Featherweight, by the way. The bolt handle came loose and by the time the factory got done with it they had totally screwed up the accuracy, so I sold it to a guy that wanted the action.

I have a stainless stalker in .280 and love it.
It seems to be the one I grab about every time I go to the safe.The only thing I would change on it, is getting rid of the clip.I like just being able to drop the shells out into my hand.Does anybody know if they make something to replace it.
JT

Ihave used my a-bolt for twelve years with great success..It is in 30/06.Shoots better than I do..Grijim,how does the mag not center itself when you snap it into the floorplate. Is the A- bolt 2 different than the A-bolt.I have never tried to close the floorplate onto the mag,but snap the mag to the floorplate and slam it shut..Took a nice bull moose and a big muley buck this fall with mine!!

To add to my previous post and comment on grijim's observation...

I tightened up that screw on the trigger gaurd and now it's almost impossible to unhitch the floor plate to unload.

I guess I have to loosen it and deal with it gettig loose every so often. I guess if I find the right tension, then I can lock tight it, but I've never run into this issue with my other rifles.

Like I said it's accurate and confortable but it has those flaws that could cost me. I may move on to a new rifle in 25/06. I also own a BLR and same situation. She's confy but I have my complaints. I think I'll keep her though.

My Brownings were built in Belgium.