A-Bolt Vs X-Bolt, Boss or no, Wood or synthetic

[Bigeclipse]

Hey all,
This is for all you people who have shot brownings. I used to own a browning A-bolt hunter which I liked. I am looking to get a new gun for hunting. I know other rifles may be better, but this is what the gun shop carries at decent prices (remingtons are jacked up like crazy in price) and they do not carry weatherbys. They do carry some savages which I will be looking at today, but for sake of this thread I wanted input on things like:
1.)A-bolt vs X-bolt?
2.)Wood vs synthetic stock? I do not need it to look great so not even considering hi-gloss "pretty" finishes. More concerned about accuracy and how long they both would last if taken care of, keep in mind that it will get bumped around in the woods.
3.)Is the BOSS system a gimmick? Does it work? I will NOT be reloading. I will be shooting 30.06 so lots of rounds to choose from.
4.) Barrel finish...stainless, blued...etc.?

I would like to keep price down, but if something is worth an extra 100 bucks or so...I might consider it. I already have a nice scope and leupold rings. Need bases, would like to be able to re-use my rings.
All opinions welcomed.

 

[Caleb]

I like the A Bolt II Long Range Hunters with the Laminate stock. Im not sure if they come in 30-06, but they look nice. I have an A-Bolt Composite Stalker 25-06 that is almost 20 years old and has killed close to 100 animals, and is still one of my favorite, go-to guns.

I prefere A bolts. I like synthetic, and laminate stocks for hunting over walnut.

 

[Bigeclipse]

I like the A Bolt II Long Range Hunters with the Laminate stock. Im not sure if they come in 30-06, but they look nice. I have an A-Bolt Composite Stalker 25-06 that is almost 20 years old and has killed close to 100 animals, and is still one of my favorite, go-to guns.

I prefere A bolts. I like synthetic, and laminate stocks for hunting over walnut.

Have you shot the x-bolt? If so, what did you like about the A-bolt better? I use to own an A-bolt and liked it, but have heard good things about the X-bolt as well. Do you have any comments of the BOSS system?
Thank you!

 

[mhiltz]

I have an A bolt with a synthetic stock, and an X bolt with a wood stock. To me there is no comparison. X bolt with the wood stock takes the cake. It may be the most accurate rifle I own straight out of the box.

 

[Bigeclipse]

I have an A bolt with a synthetic stock, and an X bolt with a wood stock. To me there is no comparison. X bolt with the wood stock takes the cake. It may be the most accurate rifle I own straight out of the box.

mhiltz...thanks for the info....do you like the X-bolt better because the whole design is better or because it has a wood stock or maybe the combo of the two is why...

 

[Caleb]

No, I have not shot a X Bolt. I guess I'm effected by the stigma that was cast on me by a lot of the back-chatter that went on bashing the XBolt when it came on the scene. I've read that it shoots absolutely great and operate smoother than the ABolt. Upon handling one in a store I noticed that it seemed less heavily built than an ABolt. The Abolt seems to have more steel with less "Savage rattle" for lack of a better term. I also don't like the "European" look or the proprietary scope mounting system. You might want to research this in case I'm wrong but I dont know if the BOSS is as readily available on the XBolt as it is on the Abolt. Personally I see no reason for a break on a 30-06, especially for as loud as they are. They do reduce recoil, and arent exactly a gimmick but unless you are dealing with ultra mag recoil, I wouldnt even consider it. Like I said, I'm a little prejudice, but I think either Browning will be fine and serve you well.

 

[mhiltz]

I like the x bolt better because it shoots better than the a bolt, or at least it did. I can't say that an a bolt with a factory wood stock on it wouldn't perform the same though, because I have never shot one. I did put a laminate stock on the a bolt recently and now it shoots very good too. I guess I just didn't like the plastic stock on the abolt. If it was my decision, I would go with wood or laminate, over the synthetic stock.

To answer the next question- It took a little time to get used to the looks of the x bolt, but I came to really like the looks of it because it performs so well in the field. Both are good looking rifles.


http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff453/mhiltz5/DSCN1002.jpg?t=1345065021

 

[mhiltz]

Good luck with your decision. Either way you go will be a good choice. In my opinion, with the experience I have with the two, I would go with the wood stock.

I do have a friend that has the same abolt as mine, sythetic stock and all, and his shoots great. I could never group better than 4" @ 100yds with mine. (with synthetic stock) So I am not in disagreement with caleb either. I just got a bad one I think.

Have fun

 

[Bigeclipse]

Does anybody have any comments on a sako a7 synthetic?

 

[WV Sendero]

Had a couple A bolts and liked them really well, one had a boss one didn't. I personally didn't like the boss system very well. The boss gun was very loud and didn't shoot as well as the gun without the boss but the recoil was greatly diminished. If you want a brake I would have a good gunsmith install a traditional non-adjustable brake but like others have stated I don't think the noise trade-off is anywhere near worth it on a 30-06.

All that being said about the A bolts, if I were going for a new Browning I would try the X-bolt. I have not shot one but I like the way they feel compared to the A bolt and I have heard good things about them. I am actually toying with the idea of a 300 WSM X bolt stainless stalker for the upcoming deer season.

 

[Caleb]

About the Sako....everyone feel free to correct me because this is just a suspicion of mine but Tikka used to make a good rifle. Sako bought Tikka. Beretta then bought Sako. Sako still manufactures an excellent bunch of rifles to their specs and once they were bought by Beretta I think the quality of the Tikka fell. I'm not too sure to who's specs the A7 is built to, but it's definitely a "budget" Sako. Maybe it fits your budget, but I was told by a gun smith that if you own an A7 and tell people you shoot a Sako, its only fair to specify that its an A7. I would get the Browning.

 

[WV Sendero]

I would stick with the Brownings. I have put a few rounds through an A7 and it shot and handled very well but it is definitely the cheaper entry level Sako. The fit and finish are not up to par with the X-bolt in my opinion. I'm not sure what it is like where you live but you never see the A7 around here and would not be as easy to get rid of if you were not happy with it.

 

[Centxshooter]

Vote for the A-Bolt picked up the hunter in 300RUM and it shoos great!

 

[mhiltz]

I didn't know they were chambering the 300RUM. I just checked one out on their site, they look good. I couldn't find one in the x bolts. (I didn't look very hard) They are doing some cool stuff with the a bolts now.