Looking for Gunsmith Browning A Bolt Specialist

[98s1lightning]

Hi,

I'm looking to find a Gunsmith that specializes in Browning A-Bolts. I want to rechamber (ream up) a 7mm-08 to 284 Winchester. Someone who will stand behind their work.

Thanks
KAD

 

[LoonWulf]

Hi,

I'm looking to find a Gunsmith that specializes in Browning A-Bolts. I want to rechamber (ream up) a 7mm-08 to 284 Winchester. Someone who will stand behind their work.

Thanks
KAD

I don't know of anyone who specializes in Abolts, but they are simple enough to work on. Honestly tho, if your going to have your barrel pulled, reamed, reinstalled, and headspaced, your looking at the cost of a low end custom barrel.
Call ERshaw, and see what they will charge to replace your existing barrel with a fresh one.

I've got 4 shaw barreled guns, 3 they did, and my Abolt .375 wares a Shaw barrel that I installed at home. Their barrels are good values, and they work they have done for me has been professional and fair.

And again be aware that your going to be limited on bullet length by the Abolts fairly short magazine.

 

[98s1lightning]

Cool I'm gonna get a mag to test lengths in first before I commit. I picked up brass yesterday.

 

[98s1lightning]

Your A Bolt you worked the barrel at home... steel reciever and steel barrel or what materials?

I talked to E R Shaw. They won't work on a stainless action, but will a steel action. This means I would most likely parkerize the action since I have the capability, add stainless parts where I can. Use a stainless barrel.

 

[LoonWulf]

Your A Bolt you worked the barrel at home... steel reciever and steel barrel or what materials?

I talked to E R Shaw. They won't work on a stainless action, but will a steel action. This means I would most likely parkerize the action since I have the capability, add stainless parts where I can. Use a stainless barrel.

Yeah I swapped the barrel of mine at home. It is carbon/carbon, tho and came right out after a quick wack.

While it dosent hugely surprise me that shaw won't do a stainless Abolt. from all I've read it can be an iffy proposition. That's both too bad, and good to know.

If your going for weather resistance. Use a blued receiver, park it, and the bolt handle (the bolt shrouds aluminum). Install a blast finished stainless barrel, and Cerakote the lot to match maybe? The triggers plated and the saftey, and bottom metal are all painted with epoxy on blued guns I believe.
Honestly the only rust issues I've had with my blued about, and this is in Hawaii, was where my hand touched the barrel, action or ring screws.

 

[98s1lightning]

Yea i can prob pickup a stainless bolt handle on ebay, idk if they are matched to the rifle. i doubt it. Obviously check everything but i doubt it on a mass produced rifle. And like i said, mag plate and trigger guard and such can prob be swapped to stainless easily.

 

[LoonWulf]

Yea i can prob pickup a stainless bolt handle on ebay, idk if they are matched to the rifle. i doubt it. Obviously check everything but i doubt it on a mass produced rifle. And like i said, mag plate and trigger guard and such can prob be swapped to stainless easily.

The abolts use a "component" bolt system like savage. the only part you want to keep with a specific rifle would be the bolt head.
Otherwise swap to your hearts content.

 

[98s1lightning]

Cool. Im gonna go 23" or 24" on the barrel. A 24" barrel with the short action makes it only 1" longer overall length than the long action 22" i have now. So 24" is sounding pretty good.

 

[LoonWulf]

Cool. Im gonna go 23" or 24" on the barrel. A 24" barrel with the short action makes it only 1" longer overall length than the long action 22" i have now. So 24" is sounding pretty good.

The extra capacity can use the length too. My .375 abot has a 23" barrel and I really like the way it balances.

 

[98s1lightning]

What do you think I should go with for bbl?

I'm also not sure on twist for 140 to 165 gr. Some say 1 in 10 is not ideal. 1 in 9.5 is better. 1 in 9 is best for longer bullets. I believe Ill be either 1 in 9.5 or 1 in 9. To be determined.

 

[98s1lightning]

O yea, what's the general rule on OAL in the mag. OAL +0.030" for clearance inside the box or do you run tighter? Obviously it has to feed but I won't have a rifle right away while I mess with the mag and loading components.

 

[LoonWulf]

I happen to LIKE Ershawbarrels, they are about as good or perhaps a little better than the best factory tubes. Shilen is a perennial favorite also.
Im going with a Mcgowen on my next build because they are reasonably priced and offer a faster twist than I can get from shaw in .277, but shaw offers a 1-8 in 7mm which is what id chose for your build. Just incase you DO end up wanting to shoot the stupid long 180s in single shot mode.

Id go with a 23-24" barrel to get the most out of the 60ish gr of powder the .284 holds.
twist, id go 1-8 or 1-9, tho 1-9.25 is plenty for most of bullets upto 168.

for length of cartridges in magazines im generally comfortable as long as they dont actually touch the front of the mag box. that will USUALLY load ok and they wont stick coming up. Ive found that the less a cartridge can move they less the bullet tips get beat up in recoil...its really obvious in my .375, and my old 7lb .300

 

[LoonWulf]

Just a heads up Brownells has the stainless Abolt handles on sale....might grab one for my rifle actually.

 

[LoonWulf]

Your A Bolt you worked the barrel at home... steel reciever and steel barrel or what materials?

I talked to E R Shaw. They won't work on a stainless action, but will a steel action. This means I would most likely parkerize the action since I have the capability, add stainless parts where I can. Use a stainless barrel.

Just a heads up, i pulled the barrel on my buddies stainless 300wm from 99 or 2k, and it came right off. There was no issue with galling, and the only problem i had was he busted off his front base screw in the threads of the barrel.
It actually came off easier than any other gun ive done, including savages.

Now i just need to order his replacement barrel.

 

[troy fairweather]

Just a heads up, i pulled the barrel on my buddies stainless 300wm from 99 or 2k, and it came right off. There was no issue with galling, and the only problem i had was he busted off his front base screw in the threads of the barrel.
It actually came off easier than any other gun ive done, including savages.

Now i just need to order his replacement barrel.

did he decide what cartridge to replace the 300 with.

 

[LoonWulf]

did he decide what cartridge to replace the 300 with.

Hes staying with the .300, which makes sense as his current primary is a ridgeline in .300

 

[98s1lightning]

I dont know if this thread can be closed out but I picked up a Full Size A Bolt in 284 so I am all set. I will not be needing gunsmithing service.

Thanks