As the title says, I'm seeking some help identifying a Browning A Bolt in .22-250. I stopped by the local shop yesterday on the way home and found it.

It looks like a Browning Eclipse Hunter EXCEPT it doesn't have the thumbhole stock having instead the typical Browning palm swell, and the barrel, which has the BOSS attachment, is only 24" long including the BOSS. It's in near perfect condition with an excellent trigger. The price is right and it balances extremely well.

Does anyone know what it is? The shorter barrel (Browning typically puts 26" tubes on its 22-250s) and the different stock are throwing me for a loop.

Also, is the shorter barrel a concern? I've never owned a 22-250, and my immediate thought is that a longer barrel would be better. This is only a 22" barrel before the BOSS. A longer barrel would cut muzzle blast and improve velocity? As compared to a 26" barrel, this could lose 200+ fps???

Thanks for your responses.

LWD

I own a couple of A-Bolts and it should say on the barrel if it's an A-Bolt or A-Bolt II. Could it be a BBR? This was Browning's bolt rifle prior to the A-Bolt.
I don't know about how much velocity you will lose with a shorter barrel. My thoughts are that if it is a walking gun without a bull barrel, I don't think velocity loss will be an issue.
Just my thoughts...

It's definitely an A Bolt II. Maybe this was part of an uncatalogued run? Browning has done that from time to time. I'm just trying to get a handle on what this is since I'm really kinda wanting to buy it.

LWD

IIRC, there is a section of the Browning website that will break down the serial number for you.

Thanks for the tip. Here's the link to that portion of the Browning website Lots of good info there.

Thanks,

LWD