Browning A-Bolt Long Range Hunter

[rjm158]

I was at Cabela's tonight and ran across one of these rifles in 7mm Rem Mag. I had never seen one before. This one was stainless in a brushy camo synthetic stock.

It kinda piqued my interest but I don't know, and couldn't find, much about them. I was looking for something lighter in weight but for some reason this just struck a chord.

Anyone have any knowledge/experience with one? They priced this one to me at $1000 with a Nikon Monarch 4-16 scope in Leupold mounts attached.

Ron

 

[Songdog]

Friends don't let friends drive A-Bolts.....

 

[DrMike]

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/itemdetails.asp?item=035284227&cid=035&tid=284

From the Browning Website:

If 400 yards is your idea of a "close shot", then we have the rifle for you. The X-Bolt Long Range Hunter is designed to capitalize on velocity and range in a lighter weight platform. Whether you're hunting pronghorn in the high desert or taking a monster bull elk across a rocky canyon - shoot with confidence.

Medium sporter contour barrel with eight flutes to reduce weight and increase cooling
Realtree Max-1 camouflage pattern blends into a wide variety of environments
Dura-Touch Armor Coating provides positive gripping surface that is both comfortable and easy to hold onto during all weather conditions
Durable low-luster stainless steel to minimize reflection and provide resistance to corrosion.
Button-rifled barrel is triple checked for quality and individually hand chambered and air gauged to ensure consistency and accuracy.
The target Crown enables the uniform release of gas as the bullet exits the barrel, preventing a shift in trajectory. The Crown is recessed to protect it from accidental damage that degrades accuracy.
Free floated barrel eliminates contact interference from the fore-end, enabling the superior barrel craftsmanship to perform consistently and accurately.
Drilled and tapped for X-Lock scope mounts that use four screws for each base to provide a rock solid optic platform.
Adjustable Feather Trigger minimizes the "human factor" by eliminating creep and take-up — providing a crisp trigger pull that "breaks like glass."
Low profile action allows you to mount the scope extremely close to the center of the bore to minimize the offset between point of aim and Point of Impact.
60° bolt lift keeps the thumb and fingers clear of the scope when cycling the action and allows the bolt to be operated in a smoother/quicker motion.
Top-tang safety offers easy accessibility without removing your firing hand from the stock. The shooter can quickly manipulate the safety, or verify the position of the safety, without losing your sight picture or cheek weld.
Detachable Rotary magazine is built from tough polymer and is designed to stop forward movement of the cartridge by contacting the shoulder of the case rather than the tip of the projectile. This prevents bullet tip deformation and recoil induced bullet seating depth change.
Bolt Unlock Button allows the bolt to be cycled with the safety engaged.
Innovative Inflex Technology recoil pad uses directional deflection to pull the stock down and away from the face to reduce perceived recoil.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I had (3) A-Bolts, all bought slightly used, LNIB. The last one was a .300 WSM which I paid $550 for, not $1100. Last year, Browning announced the demise of the A-Bolt and now they have repackaged them with longer barrels and some bells an whistles, plus raising the price for a 7mm Rem Mag $200.

My son has my A-Bolt in Wyoming but he is a little recoil sensitive and the .300 WSM (magnum) A-Bolt is light in weight (6-3/4 lbs.). Even I did not like shooting it and I am pretty recoil resistant.

 

[rjm158]

Charlie, this rifle is DEFINITELY not light.....which is what caused me to hold off on buying it. I, too, have/have had several A-Bolts and all were very good rifles in their own rights. No issues with function, accuracy, or durability. I currently have Hunters in 260 Rem and 338 Win Mag and a Stalker in 7WSM. As far as pricing is concerned, I was estimating (without research in the store) the scope at about $400, rings & bases $50, which would make the rifle about $550.

In my mind this would not be a carrying/stalking rifle but one for stationary or limited movement hunting.


Ron

 

[FOTIS]

A bolt or X- bolt????????????

 

[rjm158]

It's an A-Bolt, Fotis.

Another odd thing, I checked Blue Book for info but found no listing. I did, however, find some references on Long Range Hunting and Youtube for ones in 300 RUM. I wonder if it was a limited edition made for a certain distributor?

Ron

 

[DrMike]

I misread and provided data for an X-Bolt. The A-Bolt is quite similar in appearance and design for the Long Range Hunter, however. This is not the camo version, but the same rifle.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?cid=035&tid=714&fid=001B&cattype=035714

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/itemdetails.asp?item=035714227&cid=035&tid=714

 

[wildgene]

...mine's not camo, weighs about a pound & a quarter more than my 7mm Stainless Stalker @ 9 1/4#'s w/ a 6.5X20 VX-3, which not so long ago was about avg. for a "hunting rifle"...



...but it shoots pretty good...



...the 7 RM Stainless Stalker w/ a 2.5X8 VX-III shoots fair, too...

 

[Vince]

Yeah, I'd say it shoots pretty good too.

Only accurate rifles are interesting thus your A Bolts are interesting.

 

[DrMike]

I'd say your Browning could be a keeper, Gene. :grin:

 

[rjm158]

Well, I answered my own question. I checked Youtube again and found a video that identified the rifle as a 2011 SHOT Show special edition. That was why I couldn't find any references to it.

Ron

 

[FOTIS]

If the price is good, go for it!

 

[cloverleaf]

I almost hate to say it....it being japanese in mfg and all, but I have never run into an A-Bolt that wouldnt shoot better than its owner. I had one on lay a way for a while but couldnt make the payments, dang it all. CL

 

[Oldtrader3]

The (3) A-Bolts that I had were all shooters, especially the .243 and the .280 Rem.