Anyone custom a Browning A-Bolt?

[shortgrass]

I've worked A-Bolts several times. They require special tools to remove/install a barrel or the bolt "guts'. Not everyone is interested in spending more on tools, especially tools you won't use on a regular basis. Gunsmithing is high overhead, to begin with. I've not yet had to heat or make a relief cut to remove a barrel. If you can cut 16 t.p.i. ,, 20 t.p.i. is/should be no problem. I understand some have metric threads. I haven't seen any out of the 8 or so that I've barreled. Not a problem if you're metric capable,,, I am. Most want to use an action for their hunting rifle that was, at least at some point, used in competitions of some sort. That's ruled by the custom actions, now. The A-Bolt is a fine hunting rifle. No more,,, no less. I guess my main gripe is with the trigger. About the most that can be done is to "re-spring" it. There must not be enough demand for one of the aftermarket trigger makers to bother designing one, maybe, there's not a cost effective solution for one. They are of a different design than being pinned on, like a Mauser, Rem., Win., or Howa, where they could be made modular. I have not researched the synthetic stock makers to know who offers for the A-Bolt. As stated previously, aftermarket parts are slim at best, many non-existant, like recoil lugs. I've a small surface grinder and often grind the factory lug. No sense in squaring a receiver face and not using a good lug. Just My 2 Cents on Browning A-Bolts (designed and marketed long after John Browning left us,,,, so his mechanical genius isn't there)

[Zep]

Great thread, I most certainly appreciate the detailed contributions.

[7stw]

Originally Posted by etisll40

Zep,

Let's keep looking, some gunsmith out there must work on them. My gunsmith is good, but he is so busy and complains so much with the rifles I bring him, I've decided I need several gunsmith's... I want someone who is really interested and has taken the time to understand my Browning A-bolt's.

I like my A-bolt's but if there is no gunsmith that can customize them, I'm going to have to stick with custom actions, mauser actions and savages. I'm not a true Remington fan, PERIOD. If a Remington 700 clone is made by a Custom action maker, typically just the (footprint) is used, then you get the 700 done right the first time around. After market parts are plentiful on Rem 700 footprints. But no remington 700 is worth the price of a Custom Stiller Predator done from scratch. It's actually cheaper and better to just buy a Stiller Predator.

But I like my A-bolt's for their out of the box accuracy and strength and short bolt throw.

Find us a Browning gunsmith, or if I can't, I won't continue buying them! They do need trigger work and rebarreling occaisionally.

My theory is: if you get a gun you like, the action is good and then it's just the barrel and trigger, after that, the action must be good, so keep it and breath new life into it with barrel swaps.

My,

2cents

BUT, I will listen to others opinions, so hopefully someone will chime in here.

Hey Ed, I have a " A" Bolt, that I just installed a new trigger spring into. I made a order at Brownell last week, and I also got a lighter spring for the trigger. It took me about five minutes, and half of that time was removing and replacing the stock. This a bolt 270 is a tack driver. Now the trigger is half the weight it was before, should be better at longer distance now. This is my first Browning ever, and I love it, but like most are saying aftermarket parts and services are like finding frog teeth. Probably check with " Gunsmoke".

[ToddSt1]

They do not epoxy the barrels on. The one thing that does happen is the front action screw is over tightened and smashes the barrel tenon thread and causes the threads to gall together. There is aftermarket parts you just have to look.

This is my Browning 300 RUM
Mcmillan stock A5
Pacnor ss 28" 1-9 twist
Timney trigger spring
EGW Picatinny 20 moa base
Nightforce 3.5x15 NPR2
Atlas V8 bipod
Brownells bolt knob

[MudRunner2005]

I hate to revive an old thread, but I have been thinking about doing a custom build on my A-Bolt II. I want to buy a new bolt-face for .308 (standard) bolt face, versus the magnum bolt face that's in the bolt currently, and remove the factory browning barrel and have a custom barrel fitted and chambered in .280 AI. The only other issue I am having with this build idea, is finding a stock I like.

Are there any good places to go with a broad selection of aftermarket A-Bolt stocks I can use for a heavy barrel, kinda like the Sendero contour or something similar.

Anyone have a good run-down on smith pricing to true and blueprint the action, fit the barrel, aftermarket stock, etc???

I have already installed the Rifle Basix trigger spring, and that made a world of difference, and I have been debating on just buying a doner 700 and going from there. However, the A-Bolt II custom would be different.

Anyway, some input would be nice. Thanks alot for any help.

[Team Roper]

www.redhawkrifles.com for a stock no need to true up the action. It cost me about $ 350.00 to have the barrell installed and cut the action.

[MudRunner2005]

Sorry, I don't understand about not truing the action? I've always known all factory actions to need truing...

So, how much will a McMillan stock run me that will support a heavy barrel, like the one in the picture above my first post in here?