A-BOLT .270

[Hugger-4641]

Well, being patient does pay off. Finally ran up on a good deal on a .270. It belonged to father of an employee at LGS. Very lightly used. I already had the scope. Didn't have any factory. 270 on hand, but since I load for my Bil and a friend, I loaded up one of the mid range loads that worked good in my Bil's just for purpose of sighting in. I'll do some load work up soon, but it's actually good enough to hunt with as is. The flier was the third shot at 100yds and I knew I pulled it a little. More updates to come when I get some load work done.
Now for the opinions: if I change the stock, what should I go with?

 

[gotboostvr]

I've owned all three generations of A-bolts, and really wish they never discontinued them. Such nice hunting rifles, with loads of nice features.

 

[21H40]

I’ve got one that looks just like yours in 30.06.

My only complaint is that it doesn’t need to be messed with- everything works well. It shoots MOA with cheap WWB soft points and better than MOA with better ammunition.

I would leave the stock. Think Bauhaus - function is beauty

 

[LoonWulf]

Nice snag!

My .375 Ruger started life as a 7mag Abolt stalker like that. Still my favorite rifle design in most ways.
The entire thing is modular within the action length.

 

[Picher]

Nice rifle. It really doesn't need a new stock, but if you wish to change, H.S. Precision makes really great shooters. If looking for fancy wood, you might look into Bishop or Fajen.

 

[Ks5shooter]

4350 is a great powder for the .270

 

[Hugger-4641]

4350 is a great powder for the .270

I had loads worked up for Bil with H4350 and H4831sc, figured I'd start with with those just to see how this A-bolt likes them and then go from there.

 

[1KPerDay]

Bolt gun noob here: what’s the difference between the A bolt and the X bolt?

 

[LoonWulf]

Midwest gun works has a good selection of browning and winchester factory parts/stocks etc.

Bolt gun noob here: what’s the difference between the A bolt and the X bolt?

Completely different rifle designs. The X-bolt effectively replaced the A-bolt2 (1&2 are mostly interchangeable). The new AB3 is also a totally different design.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Bolt gun noob here: what’s the difference between the A bolt and the X bolt?

As LoonWulf mentioned, the two designs are totally different. They both use three lugs on the bolt, the A-bolt has an "A" shaped profile on the top of the bolt. The X-bolt uses a round bolt, my X-bolt is fluted, not sure if they all are.
Another difference is in the reciever and scope mounting. The A-bolt uses two front holes and two rear holes all inline for the scope bases, similar to most other rifles. The X-bolt uses a proprietary design with four holes in front mount and four in rear.

 

[1KPerDay]

Midwest gun works has a good selection of browning and winchester factory parts/stocks etc.

Completely different rifle designs. The X-bolt effectively replaced the A-bolt2 (1&2 are mostly interchangeable). The new AB3 is also a totally different design.

Is one considered better and if so why?

 

[LoonWulf]

Is one considered better and if so why?

They each have some advantages, but in terms of quality, both of the ones ive had were a wash for which was better.
I personally prefer the A-bolt, but its not actually "better"

The Xbolts are noticably slimmer thru the middle, less angular, and are lighter. Effectively the same size X-bolt feels like a smaller gun.

The DM is quicker to access/swap as its external, and you can get aftermarket/extended mags.

They also changed the cocking system and did away with the little roller thats a ware point on the A-bolts.

The Abolts are also parts guns, much like a savage. You can swap pretty much all the parts (besides barrel) in mins. Within an action length family, bolt head, magazine, barrel are all thats required for a cartridge change (and some times dont need to swap mags)

The quadlock optics mounting system @Hugger-4641 mentioned is also noticably different, and when it came out i assumed there would be issues keeping the holes straight (Remington has issue with 1/2 as many straight down the middle), but ive not heard of any.
He may think of some other differences also.


Oh one other note on A-bolts. They used 2 receiver threads, dont remember them off hand, but the stainless ones can have galling issues during installation making the barrels very hard and in some cases impossible for an average gunsmith to swap.
I did my buddies 99-2000 a few years ago and by then they had gone to the courser threads and we had no issues.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Is one considered better and if so why?

Probably a matter of opinion. The A-bolt is a 3 piece design with the lugs rotating partially independent from the rest of the bolt. The X-bolt is a one piece bolt. Which is better ? I don't know.
I do think the 4 screw scope base mounting on the X-bolt might be a more stable mounting.
X-bolt has detachable polymer/steel mag where the A-bolt has a steel trap door with a steel box mag that can be separated from the door if needed, but can be loaded while still attached. I think this a more rugged design, so in my mind the A-bolt is better in this regard, but these days everyone wants the fully detachable box mags. X-bolt has a threaded barrel and mine is free floated. I'm, not sure if all X-bolts are free floated as mine is the Long Range Pro. It was designed for 1000yds, so it has few features other X-bolts do not have such as a factory brake and cerakote. X-bolt is lighter, so that may be a plus to some.

 

[gotboostvr]

For a traditional style hunting rifle, I'm not sure there's an off-the-shelf production rifle made today that I'd prefer over an ABII.

Short throw bolt, good adjustable trigger, locking bolt safety, typically longer barrels, but still light, well balanced rifles. The magazines were certainly novel, but have many of the strengths of both DBM and BDL style systems. Even the synthetic stocks were well executed. Very stiff, and well formed (for me).

Just a very well designed and laid out rifle, with some unique features that were well suited to hunting rifles.

 

[hillman23]

Here’s a link to an article that touches on some of the design differences between the A bolt and the X bolt. I found it interesting and informative:
https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/the-browning-x-bolt-rifle-10-years-later/

 

[Hugger-4641]

Here’s a link to an article that touches on some of the design differences between the A bolt and the X bolt. I found it interesting and informative:
https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/the-browning-x-bolt-rifle-10-years-later/

Thanks for sharing that, very informative.
One more plus for this A-bolt: I don't mind telling my wife what I paid for it.
She's never asked and I've never told her what my X-bolt Pro cost.

 

[usaral63]

I was gifted a .308 A bolt.............but it really wasn't a rifle at that time. Someone had converted it to a laser gun ????? Laser projector fitted in a recessed muzzle, wiring ran thru a hole bored in the bbl chamber bottom, trigger mechanism mostly destroyed.........other than those minor details the rifle looked good. Fella that gave it to me had worked a deal on several other guns and when I gave him my estimate of what it would cost to repair it he told me it now was mine! Took him up on the offer, found new bbl but in .243, bought trigger mechanism parts from Midwest and found a local that could re thread the bbl....seems Browning had two bbl sizes and the .308 was the smaller of them. Headspaced OK and other than the Browning and caliber logo on the bbl not quite indexing properly the rifle shot well......first groups using AA 4350 w/100 gr Hornady's held at 3/4 at 100 my good buddy just got tight jawed somewhat.

Darn nice rifle, great trigger and snappily handing. I would not have purchased one otherwise as I've always been a M/70 advocate for bolt guns, but this is truly a good one!!!

 

[gotboostvr]

I was gifted a .308 A bolt.............but it really wasn't a rifle at that time. Someone had converted it to a laser gun ????? Laser projector fitted in a recessed muzzle, wiring ran thru a hole bored in the bbl chamber bottom, trigger mechanism mostly destroyed.........other than those minor details the rifle looked good. Fella that gave it to me had worked a deal on several other guns and when I gave him my estimate of what it would cost to repair it he told me it now was mine! Took him up on the offer, found new bbl but in .243, bought trigger mechanism parts from Midwest and found a local that could re thread the bbl....seems Browning had two bbl sizes and the .308 was the smaller of them. Headspaced OK and other than the Browning and caliber logo on the bbl not quite indexing properly the rifle shot well......first groups using AA 4350 w/100 gr Hornady's held at 3/4 at 100 my good buddy just got tight jawed somewhat.

Darn nice rifle, great trigger and snappily handing. I would not have purchased one otherwise as I've always been a M/70 advocate for bolt guns, but this is truly a good one!!!

Sounds like someone set it up for a fancy version of Big Buck Hunter.

 

[DustyGmt]

I think it's a really nice synthetic stock as far as synthetic stocks go, nothing beautiful but very good quality feel and the palm swell is nice. I have the same gun in .270 and it's a laser beam. Nice score. I've got a 50mm on mine too.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I think it's a really nice synthetic stock as far as synthetic stocks go, nothing beautiful but very good quality feel and the palm swell is nice. I have the same gun in .270 and it's a laser beam. Nice score. I've got a 50mm on mine too.

View attachment 1150286

Thanks, yours is nice also. Can't go wrong with a Loupy either
That's actually a Vortex Hog Hunter 3-12x56 on mine. Bought it from another member here with intention of putting it on something else, but it fit good on the A-bolt, so I think I'll leave it there.

Still not decided about the stock. I shot it some more and it's not bad, but the comb could be a little higher. A scope with a smaller objective might help that a little, but I may just get a stick on cheek riser or another velcro ammo pouch with riser like I have on my 30-30.