No love for Browning A-BOLT rifles?

[BK]

I am not put off by the made-in-Japan thing (so were my Howa and Vanguard) but A-Bolts have never really appealed to me. I nearly bought a Micro Medallian in .22 Hornet, and Browning was chambering them in .284 for a while, but otherwise, no real interest.

My buddy has killed a ton of stuff with his .338 Synthetic Stalker...

 

[RiverRider]

They make some excellent rifles in Japan. The Miroku-made Winchester 52s are great rifles and comparable in every way to the ones made in the USA back in the day. I have one and it is a tack driver, and gorgeous to boot. It's my keeper among the rimfires.

 

[mcseal2]

I had a 280 and a 270WSM that were both very accurate, 1/2" guns with handloads. I love the tang safety and the flimsy stock can be fixed with a Bell & Carlson. The spring kit did wonders for the trigger also as was mentioned. The 280 I sold because I couldn't get the speed I wanted from it, it was a slow barrel and only 22". No loads I tried with 140's were accurate above 2800fps. The 270WSM I should have kept, but decided to sell it and build a custom 270 Win from Dad's old rifle. It was also a bit slow with it's most accurate load at 3033fps for a 140gr AccuBond. I'd buy another and probably will in a bigger magnum before I hunt elk again.

Of course what I'll get for elk just changed, I'm not buying anything until we know what twist the new long range accubonds need and until they are available to work up loads with. The only complaint I ever had about the AccuBond just got answered, I'm beyond excited to try them.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have owned (3) .243, .280 Rem and .300 WSM. The .280 is with my grandson and still shoots under MOA. The .243 was a Micro Medallion and the .300 WSM was a Medallion. They did not have really shiny finishes. My son has the .300 WSM for hunting elk and I sold the .243. Mine were LNIB when I bought them and that knocked $300 or so off the price.

One problem for anything made in Japan, their wages and high socialism taxes make their products expensive. They will usually not compete on price unless they get export credits from the government. The A-Bolts were all functional and accurate rifles. I personally do not like their triggers much. Plus, I do not like the safety or pad on them. For what they cost, they could have a decent recoil pad.

 

[Mortis]

I have a Micro-Hunter in 7mm-08..... fantastic rifle....

But price is what has kept me from buying more Brownings.... I can buy a Tikka T3 w/wood for less.

I just never cared for the BOSS system either..... to me it took away the challenge of load developement.

 

[Kodiak]

As RR has said, their finishes were always to shiney, no matter which model they offered. Although, BLRs have a slight attraction in the .358.

 

[BK]

Yeah, I could find a little love for a couple of BLRs, but they get M70 money around here... guess which one I'd rather have?

 

[DrMike]

It is true that the shiny finish is a turn-off, for me. And it is also true that the price seems excessive when compared to other factory offerings. However, I would never say that the Brownings don't (didn't) shoot. All I handled (and that is a few) were pleasant to hold and shot fine groups. Given my choice, I gravitated to other rifles.

 

[SJB358]

Yeah, I could find a little love for a couple of BLRs, but they get M70 money around here... guess which one I'd rather have?

Same here Kurt, but the BLR's are very nicely put together rifles for the money. Their triggers stink, but the rifles themselves are very nice, and their blueing is really good as well. I love my little 358, one of the slickest lever guns there is.

 

[BK]

Sure, Scotty, I could run a .358, a .325 WSM, or a .450 Marlin, but if I could find M70 or Hawkeyes so chambered (obviously, a Marlin Guide Gun in the latter), I would rather go that way.

 

[SJB358]

Sure, Scotty, I could run a .358, a .325 WSM, or a .450 Marlin, but if I could find M70 or Hawkeyes so chambered (obviously, a Marlin Guide Gun in the latter), I would rather go that way.

Got ya, makes sense to me Kurt. Your 325 is awesome anyhow.