lookin for a browning rifle

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paintballdude902

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alright fellas im lookin to help my niece spend some money she has her heart set on a browning hunting rifle (im gonna say bolt) she wants either a .308 .243 or .270 (i said go with a 7mm-08 but she wants to listen to the guy at the shop).

she has a 1,000.00 set aside for the rifle and glass

im thinking a basic browning bolt with a nikon scope

anyone got reviews or a specific model to check out?

i told her she can get a darn nice rifle with a darn good scope for less than a grand but she wants a browning so im thinking it will be close to a grand with glass. im not a browning guy so i dont know alot about them.
 
That isn't a bad combo, but I would have to go with a new model Winchester M-70 Featherweight and have a little extra for glass. There will be little left for optics unless she gets a Stalker version...which is aesthetically "bleh" as far as Brownings go.

As far as caliber...what is the intended use? For NC deer I'd go for a .308 amongst those chosen...I too like the 7mm-08 a little better. :)
 
deer and bear im thinkin a .270 may be a good choice with the bear aspect since we have some biggins

i think that either .308 or 7mm-08 would be fine for bear also but the .270 is a reliable choice


if she gets a .308 ill just work her up a load when i head home on fall break i dont have dies or projectiles for the others she can handle a .30-06 recoil fine as shes been shooting mine on and off for the last year so recoil isnt a big deal

i told her to look into the marlin and savage series and then just toss a nice scope on it, they are both pretty accurate so thats not a problem but shes a label girl so she might "need" a browning.

do you own one of the new model 70's? since winchester arms is gone and so is us repeating arms who is making the model 70?
 
Winchester and Browning are subsidiaries of FN Herstal. So both are essentially made by the same folks...and both are very good IMO. The new M-70s are still produced stateside, but in a new factory in SC. They are much better quality than the former 70s (post-64), and have went back to the tried and true CRF action with the Mauser type claw extractor. I do not own a new model M-70, but I have played with them on occasion and a friend just bought one (on my recommendation) and loves it. If they made one in .375H&H Mag. with a wood stock (preferably the super grade) then I would be all over it...but no dice. For bear a .308Win. or .30-06 would be my choice for the lady. I believe that the larger projectile is slightly more important than energy when it comes to large and dangerous game, so make mine a .30cal+. :)
 
Have her check out the Browning Micro Hunter - Great little gun all the calibers you listed. I like my A-bolts. Good Luck.
 
I would look for an older Browning Safari it's basically a Belgian made commercial FN Mauser with the Browning label. You can often find them with good glass on them for under $800. And they are the slickest Mausers I have ever handled.
 
I have been hunting for 9 years with a Abolt stainless stalker and most of my life with a hand-me-down Auto 5 that was built during WWII. Neither of these guns have ever failed to work exactly as they are designed to work. The Abolt is a tack driver repeatedly producing sub MOA groups with factory ammo. I love the bolt and safety on the tang and the stock fits me well. I'd definately buy another one. You did not ask for caliber opinions but you can't really go wrong with a .308. It'll take most anything in NA, ammo is easy to get and there's a huge assortment to choose from. It'll do anything the 7-08 will do and the game will never know the difference.
 
A - Bolt or Winchester Feather weight. I looked a FW in the gun shop last Friday very nice looking gun! If I was in the market for a rifle I would be looking hard at the FW.

Jimmy K
 
The X-Bolt Hunter is a great rifle, available in all the calibers mentioned, nice wood or synthetic, blued or stainless...

Just go to the Browning website and have a poke around... if .270's and option, suggest a .280... ;)
 
whats the goin rate for either an x-bolt or abolt blued with wood in .308?
Click to expand...
A-bolt hunters go for about $700, Medallion is about $850 IIRC. I believe that the X-bolt is comparable in price, but am not certain, because I don't care for them too much (they are not bad, just don't fit as well, nor look as good IMO). The Featherweight M-70 goes for about $600 and the finish is as good as the Browning Medallion IMO. :)
 
I think what I'm gonna do is take her to the shops I trust and not tell her the brand just get her to shoulder it and check the fit

For all I know she may like a hawkeye more I think this is the way to go
 
What Smith357 said!

I would go for a lighter cartridge too; 6mm/.243 class if possible. You do not say how much experience she has with rifles, but there are few things worse than a novice shooter who developes a flinch, is intimidated by their gun, and either doesn't want to admit it for too long. Or wastes valuable time and money having to unlearn it.
 
It looks to me from Browning's website that the caliber choices in the new A-bolts are pretty much heavy hitters with BOSS. Very few short action choices, ie. no 308, 243 or 7mm-08. So, Xbolt it is if she wants a new Browning. The Xbolts don't do it for me personally.

I think you should have her handle a new Winchester Model 70. I'd vote for 7mm-08, 308 as a second choice. The 270 and 308 will have more recoil than 7mm-08 and offer slightly flatter trajectory for the 270 (with 25% more recoil) and, well, really nothing except slightly cheaper ammo for the 308 (with maybe 15% more recoil). Some argue that 308 is more available than 7mm-08, that may be true as well some of the time, but not right now (since the election)! 7mm-08 shoots flatter and recoils less then 308, but kills game just as dead. No reason for a 243 unless she plans to do a lot of varminting. You mentioned deer and bear, not groundhogs and coyotes. Get a 7mm-08 or 308 and have her shoot reduced recoil ammo for awhile, then move up the the full power stuff.
 
If she's going to shoot factory loaded ammo (ie not reduced or managed recoil ammo) then I'd suggest a 270 Safari BAR - I have one and it's a very nice rifle.

If she's going to shoot some round that wouldn't cycle a BAR, then I'd get an A-bolt micro-medallion in 7mm08 or a model 70 featherweight or supergrade in 7mm08.

I figure as her first rifle...then this one will be a sentimental keeper so you might as well get one in a nice grade. But, the hunters in wood look very nice too. So to each their own.

The x-bolt with the plastic trigger guard and magazine just don't cut it for me.

The new BAR short tracs look too faddish to me...

I have an a-bolt hunter in 223...for a long time now and its a very pretty and accurate gun.

Another option would be the lever actions - very nice action with bolt like strength.
 
The Browning Micro-Hunter is a great little rifle. I have one in .270 and it's great. I think you can pick them up for around $600 to $650 new. Natchez Shooters Supply has factory refurbished Nikon and Burris scopes for some great prices and they're very good for hunting, where it won't hurt to get them scratched up or anything. I've always been a big fan of Browning and they make a high quality product.
 
How about the Browning A-bolt Ti(tanium)? LOVE mine! Will run more that $1k, tho.
 
rc hey if it was up to me id pick out 3 mosins and a 2k of ammo and keep the change lol

but its hers im a tad torn because i dont want her to get wrapped up and buy a rifle that doesnt fit just to have a browning and i dont want her to spend more money than she needs to so im gonna amke her try a few other brands (ruger weatherby winchester ect)
 
It won't leave much for glass and it's real light, but a BLR in .308 is real handy. It comes with decent irons too.
 
A browning will fit her...they have several different stock lengths.

'micro' for the small framed shooters

The auto (BAR) will absorb quite a lot of kick...I'd really look into that.

Winchester and Browning are like Ford and Lincoln. That's why people mention them in the same post. Browning has the pretty gold deer and gold trigger on their rifles. 60 degree bolt through and push feed. Winchester has more classic mauser action/safety. Both are good.

She won't go wrong with a Browning. Get a leupold...the gold ring can highlight the gold trigger - plus they are good scopes.
 
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