What are your opinions on the BOSS system ???

The tuning of the rifle works,great if you are using factory or other rifle loads. But it's too noisey,it will damage your hearing.We replaced the BOSS with the CR version.

Works great with my 7MM Mag. Can get my groups down to less than 3/8" shooting reloaded ammo. When it comes to the noise, who would shoot any high powered rifle without hearing protection? Any gun by nature is noisy!

[ 12-08-2002, 21:52: Message edited by: AJ300MAG ]

Not many people hunt with hearing protection but with the boss it is necessary.I fired one shot out of a boss equipped gun without hearing protection.The deer died but my ears rang for several hours.The gun was sold a few days later.The boss system does work for tuning the barrel but I find I get equal results with a little load development.You also lose velocity with the boss as the boss equipped rifles have shorter barrels to reduce the overall length with the boss installed.

Gentlemen
BOSS from LONDON is very nice, Yes please

I have used rifles with this gizmo on and found it to be a NO NO NO thing. I have seen people twisting back and fourth without out any remarkable results. I hate rifle with ported barrels, much rather have a bigger kick than a bigger bang.

For me BOSS system is a perfect solution to a non excisting problem

Cheers
/ JOHAN

[ 12-09-2002, 18:51: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

I have to agree with most other replies to this question: I would not want a BOSS on a hunting rifle!

I'm very wary about things that can damage my hearing. For that reason I avoid any kind of muzzle brake. Shooting without muffs (as in hunting) is not too healthy anyway because of potential hearing damage.

Reason #2: the BOSS makes the rifle longer. I hate long rifles!

Accuracy is great, but you can usually get there with other means.

FWIW - my $0.02

- mike

There is a non-ported version of the BOSS that can be purchased after the purchase of the firearm for $40 US. There's a 243 Winchester at a local gun shop I have been eyeing for sometime that would make a dandy varmint/predator rifle. However, I just bought a Sako for some larger game hunting and it will have to wait.

I do not believe the BOSS system adds length to the barrel. If memory serves me correctly, the non magnum calibers are equiped with a 22" barrel and the BOSS on top of that so that the overall barrel length is < 24". Checkout Browning's website to make sure.

Also, gentlemen...not all porting jobs and muzzle brakes are created equal. Just because the firearm has a muzzle brake on it does not mean that it will increase muzzle blast. Granted probably 99% of them do, but a correctly engineered brake will not such as the brake from BP-TEC, the Venturi Comp. There is zero muzzle flip and a slight reduction in muzzle blast. http://www.bp-tec.com

[ 12-10-2002, 16:40: Message edited by: jcsabolt-2 ]

One of my hunting bud's has a BOSS equipped 270, it's loud. At the range even with my hearing protection I try not to sit too close. DID I MENTION THAT IT"S LOUD?

It does in fact work though, we spent quite a bit of time playing with it over the past six months and were able to get the Fed. Pemium 150 gr. Gamekings into very nice little groups. He used it last weekend to take a nice Axis while hunting with me. I haven't tried the new ones without the compensator ports but if they tune the same as the original I think they are worthwhile to get it to shoot decent with the loads you want to use.

IT'S STILL LOUD. It's much louder than my 338 Win Mag with the 20.5" barrel which is saying something.

IMHO the addition of a muzzel break is an indication that something else is not quite right. Virtually all of the above posts mention guns that are really not in the abusive categaory regarding recoil. My winchester 30-30 had more perceived recoil than my 338, too short, too much drop, poor fit. The 338 on the other hand has a synthetic stock, no drop, made to fit ME and it is a drdam to shoot. Breaks increase the length of the tube without giving you the benifit of the longer bbl, if I'm goning to tote the steel around, I want it all bbl. In short, their LOUD, their ugly, their heavy, but mostly their unnecessary. IMHO. Just get a stock that fits YOU.....

I don't care for them. I think they make the rifle look ugly. I would rather have the fun of working up a handload. I guess if you only used factory ammo, then it may work. My enjoyment comes from handloading for my rifles.

Bob257

my smith has a drawer full of them...................
woofer

I had 2 boss guns and both were tack drivers. I didn't even have to fuss with the boss. Everyone is right that they are loud. If you don't like the noise you can either put a thread protector on the threads and hunt like a normal rifle OR you can put on the CRC.

Personally I think browning screwed up one thing with the boss--they ported it so the pressure (and noise) comes back towards the shooter. They should have made the holes come straight out the side at a 90 degree which would have reduced the felt noise but recoil would have been up a little more. My gunsmith makes his own brakes and he ports them straight to the side and out in the woods you'll never think it's louder than a normal rifle. My factory brakes on weatherbie's come back at you and there is a quite a difference.

One more thing a used boss rifle is worth no more than a regular browing (maybe slightly less). That's bad if you are selling but good if you want to buy a used one!!

The BOSS is meant to give the shooters who doesn't reload a rifle with under 1MAO accuracy with any premium factory load they choose. The barrel isn't longer, they shorten it to mantain the origional length. My experience with my 7MM Mag Composite Stalker has been, with reloading, I get 5/8" groups at 100 yds with either 140g Balistic Tips or Sierra Gamekings before tuning the BOSS. Adjusting the BOSS, I get one hole groups- 2 shots into one hole, the third shot will figure "8" the hole. Shooting 160g Partitions, 7/8" at 100yds without the BOSS, under 1/2" at 100yds with tuning the BOSS, 1 1/2" at 300yds. As far as velocity loss from the shorter barrel, using IMR 4831 I get book velocities without going over max loads. Some shooters feel you don't need this kind of accuracy out of a "hunting rifle", I like being able to keep them in tight at long ranges. As far as cost, a new Rem 700 runs around $600, I payed $580 for my Stalker.

Stonecreek, do you have a clue to what your talking about? Go to the Browning website and compare barrel lengths between BOSS equiped rifles and non-BOSS rifles. For exanple, 7MM Mag, both rifles are listed with a 26" barrel. If I extend my BOSS all the way it only adds 1" to the barrel length (27"). You example of benchrest shooters in BS too. They spend a few thousand dollars on their rifles to achieve the accuracy they get. The BOSS isn't a benchrest grade rifle, but its accuracy sure beats the heck of out of a few off the shelf production rifles!

Wolf0573, I have a Browning in .338 with the boss system. I can "enjoy" shooting it when I want to. With the boss system installed the recoil is less than my 7MM. mag. without a boss system on it. I feel it is just like sex, it don't have to hurt to feel good. If you are tolerant of recoil, have the time and like to reload then it is just personal preference. I know one can hand tune a load to like a rifle. In Africa the PH was not too keen about a ported or compensated barrel while in the blind. Out in the open it made no difference. He had his fingers in his ears at all shots from all guns. As to overall length of the gun it is naturally longer overall. You can argue barrel length all you want to. My Browning is longer overall from butt plate to the end of the boss system. As to looks it is all preference again. Some say it is ugly some don't. it's up to you. If the stock fits you, the color of the stock pleases you, and the boss ain't ugly to you get it. You have to make up your own mind on this kind of stuff. See it you can find someone who has one and try it both ways, then decide. If you are worrying about resale price don't. Buy it, shoot it, and keep it. Almost all used, standard, guns will not bring their new price when being resold.

A add on muzzle break,the BOSS is,adds lenght to the barrel. It may not be as effective as a barrel tube for increasing velocity,it does increase.

Wolf0573,

I have a Winchester Mdl 70 with the BOSS System, it does work as the others have stated. You can tune it to the load you are shooting with very good results. I have also noticed along with group size, moving the BOSS also moves the point of impact. With my rifle there is a point that a small movement makes a big change in point of impact. This becomes an issue when you remove it to clean the rifle etc. You will have to return it to its exact location to keep it sighted in. Not much of a problem once you know about it.

Kind regards
cjw3

My understanding (got that, understanding) is that the Boss system's moveable weight allows you to "tune" your barrel to your load.
Fire a rifle, and the bullet slamming into the lands + actual explosion sets up a vibration in the barrel. In a relatively thin barrel (furtually all stock hunting rifles), this vibration has extremes up, down, left and right. By tuning the Boss, you set the barrel to be nearer it's midpoint in those vibration extreme as the bullet exits the barrel. This is the primary reason a "stiffer" barrel is more accurate (less vibration).
No, benchrest shooters don't use Boss Systems, but they don't use #3 barrel tapers, or 7 pound hunting rifles or factory ammunition either. The Boss system is highly effective if your load is velocity consistent, and your rifle is otherwise reasonably sound.

Now the bad news. Don't go for the muzzle brake version if there is ANY chance you will ever go on a guided hunt. Ph's and guides work very hard, and they shouldn't be subjected to the abuse!

Safe Hunting

The BOSS system works well for folks who dont reload. I have two rifles with the BOSS - both shoot very small groups with factory ammo. With the brake version the noise is an issue for hunting, but the CR fixes this. The biggest negative that I have found is the fact that you effectively have a shorter barrel reducing potential velocities. After I started reloading the tuning benefits were much reduced.