Smith and Wesson I-bolt

Status
Not open for further replies.
E

EricTheBarbarian

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2006
Messages
751
Location
various
While perusing online gun websites I saw something I've never heard of before. The smith and wesson I-bolt bolt action rifle. From what I can gather on the internet they fairly new and I can't find much information on them.

I am wondering does anyone have one of these, or know anything about them concerning accuracy, reliability, etc.
 
Smith & Wesson had Timney design a trigger for them. The receiver is drilled and tapped and ships with a removable picatinny scope base installed. It has a cheap plastic stock like what you would find on a low end Savage or Remington SPS.

It's priced to compete with Savage and the Remington SPS lines.

Smith recently issued a recall of i-Bolt rifles manufactured between October 18, 2007 and December 12, 2007.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...catalogId=10001&content=49304&sectionId=10506
 
Field and Stream mag. has an article on it
Click to expand...

I realize that, but I don't give much credit to magazine articles any more than commercials or advertisements. I was curious if anyone here has any first hand experience with these rifles.
 
Hmmm let's see - the cheeeeesy integrated plastic swivel studs and cheap plastic stock of the Mossberg 100 - for more than twice the price. It's about the last gun on earth I'd want to buy, second to last only to a Rem 710/770. It does have a nice trigger and short bolt throw, however.

The I-CON, on the other hand, from Thompson-Center, is a beautifully-styled new rifle, and exudes quality. Since S&W bought T/C, we can only hope they realize before it's too late that they shouldn't dilute the S&W brand any more than they already have with the I-bolt, and they should leave their grubby hands of the quality control of T/C products such as the Icon. Next thing you know, we're going to have a Saf-T-Hammer locks on Encores.
 
I've had my i-Bolt 30-06 for a couple months now and love it. The only knock I have against the rifle is the aforementioned molded in sling swivels - they're ugly, cheap and utterly useless for accessories like a bipod. S&W should know better. The stock itself is very comfortable and the recoil pad works extremely well but even then I hope the after market stock makers will have models available in short order. That being said there's absolutely nothing else cheap or inferior about the rifle.

The factory Timney trigger is absolutely superb and the ability to adjust it externally is nice. The barrel is match grade and manufactured by Thompson Center with their logo stamped on the barrel. My particular rifle really likes the cheap 165 gr. Remington Core-Lokt and will regularly put three shots into 3/4" at 100 yds. Feeding and extraction has been 100% and the 60º bolt throw is a welcome feature when using a scope. I'm having a hard time understanding why the other fella is knocking this rifle the way he is. The fit, finish and quality of materials of this rifle are as good or better than any other I've handled and shot and I'd be interested in hearing some hard facts as to why this rifle is supposedly so bad.

I bought my i-Bolt as my "do-all" rifle for everything from javelina to elk. Its going to get banged around, scratched and dropped so the matte black finish and synthetic stock are perfectly fine for me. This a field rifle meant to be used hard and for the money I wouldn't hesitate to buy one again.
 
S&W i-bolt

Jeff at www.gunblast.com did a article on this rifle in 25-06 Remington. Jeff shot a 5/16" group with 75gr Sierra and a 9/16" with 117gr Hornady @ a 100yd. You will not find alot of custom rifles with meduim profile hunting barrels that will do this. The stocks cross design offer stiffness while not gaining weight. This rifle is essentially a bare minimum Icon and I have talked to S&W personally and have been told that they have problems keeping up with demand also that they plan on producing a LE/Target model in the not so distant future. The age old term comes to mind "don't judge a book by its cover". Alot of shooters are having trouble believeing that we live in a time were highly accurate rifles can be affordable. So if you want a sub moa rifle that you can beat up and not worry about scaring this is one good way to go.

http://www.gunblast.com/SW-IBolt.htm
 
Almost every reviewer of every rifle in every media format shoots groups like that, with every rifle. You don't get test guns and ad dollars otherwise. You may have to shoot 3 shot groups and try 20 kinds of ammo, but that's what you do to stay on the wagon.
 
Just talk to the guy he is making no profit doing what he does. I have seen him tell you not to buy a specific product. He has not sent me the wrong way yet also a lot of the weapons i own he has done reviews on them and got the same results I have. One example is the ruger frontier I have one in 300 WSM I reload 150gr SPBT and get Sub MOA groups not bad for a rifle with a 16 1/2" barrel. Jeff got the same results but 6 months later after me and set up the rifle the same way. Before I buy I try to do some kind of research mostly people I know and this guy. I don't have that kind of money laying around. But I do understand what you are saying trail and error are the best way. By the way love the ad on phrase!
 
I doubt the I-bolt is a big seller for S&W. There is a guy on auctionarms selling them for $325. With the $50 mail-in rebate that comes to $275. That's less than half the list price.
 
So a couple of weeks ago I saw the S&W i-bolt down at Joe's for great price. $300 plus $50 rebate from S&W. I decided that since my 14 year old has a deer tag this year for the first time I would try it. If the rifle was any good it would be a good starter for him. A little internet research basically said nobody had shot them much.
It comes with a weaver mount so you need a scope to try it out. I had access to a cheap Simmons 8-point so I put that on.
I finally managed to get to the range for the second time today so I will share my impressions.
Accuracy:
It seems to like Federal better than Remington. Remington's turned in 2inch groups at 100 yds while the Federals measured closer to 1.5. I was shooting from a bench with a sandbag but no leadsled. I have only shot about 50 rounds and some were much worse so I think the jury is still out on real accuracy.
Pros:
It is light, seems well built, feels solid. The trigger is very good. I don't have a gauge to check pull weight but it breaks clean with almost no creep and no overtravel. The manual recommends dry firing and adjusting with the included tool until you like it. I like the release on the floor plate, again solid feel and smooth. The attached weaver mount makes adding a scope simple. The bolt has a short 60 degree rotation. The butt plate is a nicely padded 1/2" sorbothane. Finish seems consistent. No screws were or came loose.
Cons:
I don't like synthetic stocks and this one is no different. It is too short for me and seems to slap rather than kick. After shooting it once I checked into a recoil reducer since the stock comes with a hole made for one. I put in THE MAX. It seems to help take the slap out but I still don't like the synthetic. My son does and the length is just about right for him. The bolt is not polished and seems to drag a little. It also has a tendency to double feed if you start with 4 rounds in the magazine. Seems the magazine spring needs to settle in a little. The EZ bolt release seems more like a gimmick that might jam on occasion.
Overall a much better feel than some of the other cheap stuff out there like the Remington 770.
 
Great rifle!

I, too, couldn't resist the bargain-basement prices on the i-bolt so decided to give it a try this past season. Best danged 30-06 I own, and I own a few. This is an honest-to-goodness hunting tool, maybe not as pleasing to the eye as some would prefer, but an accurate, reliable, well-built rifle. I topped mine with an illuminated reticle Muller scope for less than 150 bucks, and I prefer the entire package to anything else I have in the cabinet. It also sports a Turner Biothane all-weather shooting sling, not a carry strap. It kind of reminds me of a good woman who may not be "eye candy," but can cook, dance, mend the fence, and paint the barn. (I'm kidding, here.)

I won't bother mentioning my data when sighting in the rifle because you wouldn't believe me; I hardly believe it myself. Suffice it to say I no longer equate accuracy with price or reputation. The i-bolt does it all---on the cheap.

So the Winchester, Weatherby, and Savage are getting a little break as this honey-of-a-rifle goes with me afield.
 
I've read a lot of mediocre reviews for the I-bolt. Apparently the "I" is supposed to stand for "innovative" but nobody can find a single feature on the rifle that hasn't been borrowed from another manufacturer's design.

I don't know anything personally about them though. Never seen, handled, or shot one so I can't say from experience.
 
I agree that the integrated swivel mounts suck. I can't get any of my swivels to fit on them and don't really care for the idea of taking a file to my stock. So, fellow I-bolt owners what kind of sling swivels might you be using? Btw aside from this issue I love the rifle, and assuming I can get a sling mounted on it will be my general purpose hunting rifle this year.
 
Junk in my opinion. Honestly I don't know what a company like S&W was thinking...Maybe they should stick to handguns.

The barrel is my by T/C, which is a quality brand, although I don't know what's happened since they were bought out by whoever. The contour is relatively thing for such a long hunting rifle.

The action is a push feed, with the bolt about 1" in diameter. It's got the stupidest removal system; you open the bolt all the way, move it forward about 1/4" and rotate it all the way to one side (can't recall) and it slides right out. It just seems problematic in the field to me. There are three locking lugs, which are albeit small. The bolt isn't jeweled either.

The trigger is manufactured my Timney and is possibly the nicest part of the gun. Really crisp. Almost too light for hunting. I'm not sure if it's adjustable.

The stock is flimsy and throw away material. I don't even know if there are after market stocks for it. Only offered in plastic too. The forend flexes with enough pressure so there's no chance of shooting it slinged up. The "integrated" swivel points are just as much junk. They come in camo and black.

The weaver rail on the top is neat, because you don't have to spend $40 on mounts, although why the two parts are connected is beyond me. I would understand if the piece that connected the two bases had the rail cut into it, but it's just a flat piece of metal.

Overall it's just a bunch of stuff pieced together from other manufacturers. I forget how much they cost ($500ish maybe?), but there are certainly other, nicer, rifles in the same price range. I'm sure it functions fine and will kill deer regardless.
 
ok, I did a write up on my S&W i-bolt (blued synthetic) in 30/06 awhile back on the firing line forums (same user name).

like the others I loathe the integrated swivel studs, and they remind me of the mossberg 100ATR (not a bad $250 rifle by the way). I picked mine up for $300 new on auction arms and then got $50 off with the rebate from S&W.

gun shoots great. hols MOA at 100 yards with factory loaded federal 150gr soft points (the cheap ones from wally world). haven't had a chance to really tailor loads to it, but it has shot everything I have loaded up with no problems and nice groups.

I used it this past deer season to bag a nice AZ coues buck. I am trying to find a replacement stock for it because it just feels flimsy and I would rather have a nice laminate stock. I did try it in some of my remington long action and mauser 98 stocks and the fit was close, but not close enough. I had a 90% finished bishop AAA walnut stock for a 98 mauser (old bishops stock from the 60's when they had excellent missouri walnut), but don't want to waste that fine stock on the i-bolt.

I am thinking of just getting a richardsons stock that has not been fitted for an action and then using my dremel tool skills to fit the action. since all the stock makers I spoke with don't plan on making a stock for it in the near future and S&W will only offer synthetic stocks for the foreseeable future per several phone reps. :fire:
 
I had an I-Bolt 270 Win for a couple of days, it was garbage. The finish of the action was non existant, the bolt kept jamming down and when it did cycle, it was very very tight and hard to open. Stripping the cosmoline packing out of the bolt helped a little, the bolt was packed full with it, but it was still very hard to cycle. Once in the field I really got my eyes open to just how poor the quality of this gun really is, of 20 rounds run through the action, 5 actually fired, the other 15 had nice dimples in the primer, but would not hit hard enough to fire them, I tried both factory and reloads, most of the actual fires came from the reloads. the recoil was the softest that i have ever seen from a 270, it had alot less recoil than other 270's that I have either shot or owned. With 4 shells in the magazine, the first shell would jump and jam as soon as the bolt started to push it forward, with three shells in the magazine, they fed just fine. I have no idea about the accuracy of this gun as to the fireing problem. I had very high hopes for this rifle but was very disappointed in the quality of arms that Smith & Wesson is producing.

I have high hopes for the C.Z. that I traded it in for.
 
Don't listen to the negatives. It is a very good rifle. It is probably the lightest rifle I have ever seen. The barrel is carbon steel, made by Thompson center. The trigger is easy to adjust and crisp. Get one in .25-06 and try Hornady ammo, you will be happy with the rifle.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

R
  • Locked
Smith & Wesson Bolt Action Rifle?
Replies
5
Views
465
SUBMOAS
S
S
  • Locked
Smith and Wesson I - Bolt rifle
Replies
9
Views
1K
hipoint
H
B
  • Locked
S&W i-Bolt Rifle Safety Recall
Replies
3
Views
746
retsub
R
H
  • Locked
  • Poll
Smith & Wesson Performance Center LRR
Replies
4
Views
372
Corpral_Agarn
Corpral_Agarn
K
  • Locked
Smith iBolt anyone?
Replies
7
Views
763
KelTecian
K
Back
Top