Bolt guns

[tbhahn]

I've seen quite a few threads asking about bolt guns, and it seems like Savage and Remington come up quite a bit...what about Browning's A-Bolt II? I purchased one about 5 or so years back (.30-06 Stainless Stalker) and I am wondering what is everyone's opinion of that platform. Just curiosity on my part.

[nightraider]

Savage is at the top of my list, but the Browning A-Bolts are sweet guns too and excellent accuracy. The only down side is that they cost a pretty penny in my neck of the woods.

[JD McDorce]

They're fine rifles and I like the detachable box magazine (offered on most models) versus the more common integral box magazine. They're a little on the pricey side (Remingtons and Savages are viewed as having a better offordability factor). No offense intended toward tbhahn, but in my travels, Brownings (as well as Weatherbys) sometimes get a bad rap due to a handful of owners attempting to use the name as some sort of status symbol.

[nightraider]

Originally Posted by JD McDorce

They're fine rifles and I like the detachable box magazine (offered on most models) versus the more common integral box magazine. They're a little on the pricey side (Remingtons and Savages are viewed as having a better offordability factor). No offense intended toward tbhahn, but in my travels, Brownings (as well as Weatherbys) sometimes get a bad rap due to a handful of owners attempting to use the name as some sort of status symbol.

Unfortuantly you arent far from the truth. The local shop where I used to live in Lubbock, named Sharpshooters plays off that mentality.

[tbhahn]

Originally Posted by JD McDorce

They're fine rifles and I like the detachable box magazine (offered on most models) versus the more common integral box magazine. They're a little on the pricey side (Remingtons and Savages are viewed as having a better offordability factor). No offense intended toward tbhahn, but in my travels, Brownings (as well as Weatherbys) sometimes get a bad rap due to a handful of owners attempting to use the name as some sort of status symbol.

I know what you mean in terms of the status symbol thing...no offense taken! I like the box magazine...only reason I got my rifle over a Remington or Savage is there happened to be a year-end inventory purge at this one local gunshop and I got it about 200 bucks cheaper than they normally offered it. Plus, it was a left-handed gun which was great for me since I shoot southpaw. Spending cash + opportunity = impulse buy for me

[Plinkomatic]

Best fitting, most accurate and overall finest bolt I've ever shot was a CZ-550.
Shot it side by side against a Rem700 that had a bunch of work on it and still preferred the CZ.
Detachable mag, great stock (kevlar), and incredible single set trigger.

[Brickboy240]

My brother hunts deer with a Browning A-bolt in 30-06. Nice looking rifle, fairly accurate, but the thin barrel heats up mighty quick and the no-weight up front makes it a kicker. My sporterized 03 Springfield in 30-06 and Dad's M-700 in 30-06 kick much less. Lightweight 30-06s are not alot of fun.

That said, an A-bolt in 270 Winchester might be a better choice. I have an early M-700 Remington in 270 Winchester and it is a very accurate and pleasant rifle to shoot and I have put several deer in the freezer with htis thing. You can often find early 80s M-700 BDLs in the used gun rack for around 300 bucks. Pick one up in 270 or 30-06 and slap a 3x9x40mm scope on it and hunt just about anything.

Savage and Ruger seem to make some nice affordable bolt guns, but I have no expereince with them. The only factory big game bolt gun I have is a Remington M-700 BDL in 270 Winchester. Everything else I hunt big game with is built on a sporterized military action (30-06 Springfield or 8mm 98 Mauser) or my 243 Savage lever action.

- Brickboy240