Browning A Bolt v. Ruger Guide Gun?

Patton63 · Jan 11, 2018

I really like the glass on the Trijicon, which is bright and clear. I got the MOA crosshairs (which I use on my competition and hunting rifles) with the lit dot in the middle. The reticle tracks very well using a box test and running it to the extremes. My only criticism so far is the brightness and size of the illuminated dot. It is pretty fine, which is better for a precision reticle but not necessarily as helpful for an up close encounter with dangerous game.

Abeln · Jan 11, 2018

Patton63 said:
I really like the glass on the Trijicon, which is bright and clear. I got the MOA crosshairs (which I use on my competition and hunting rifles) with the lit dot in the middle. The reticle tracks very well using a box test and running it to the extremes. My only criticism so far is the brightness and size of the illuminated dot. It is pretty fine, which is better for a precision reticle but not necessarily as helpful for an up close encounter with dangerous game.

Thanks for the info. I've been browsing those for awhile. Sounds like need to just bite the bullet and buy one.

1dirthawker · Jan 11, 2018

silka,

the time i saw my buddy robins gun hang up: it appeared that he was pushing the bolt forward while pushing the bolt handle to his left. so, pressure to the left while pushing it forward. he was excited, reloading after missing a bull moose. he ended up taking to an authorized browning dealer and getting it fixed.

regarding my bear guiding buddy joel, never got details on his or guns that the other guys had that had problems. i just didn't want to take any chances. plus, i am pretty much a stainless steel guy. i wish someone would make a 450-400 double in stainless!!

1dirthawker · Jan 11, 2018

patton,

i have the trijicon 1-6 accupoint as well. put it on a coli o/u 450-400 (alas not in stainless) i have the same gripe, great optics, wish the lit dot (mine is green) was just a tad more bright.

Patton63 · Jan 11, 2018

1dirthawker said:
patton,

i have the trijicon 1-6 accupoint as well. put it on a coli o/u 450-400 (alas not in stainless) i have the same gripe, great optics, wish the lit dot (mine is green) was just a tad more bright.

My dot is green as well. It certainly is visible against a variety of backdrops, but could be a bit bigger. I looked at the illiminated chevron over the aiming post and think that potentially is a really nice option on a DG rifle. The illuminated aiming point is bigger, which would allow for fast target acquisition. I liked it, but am fairly wed to my crosshairs.

johnnyblues · Jan 11, 2018

Agreed trigger is a bit heavy for my liking also but I assure you once on game you will never know the difference. Love my guide rifle, have it in 375 Ruger. Smooth and easy handling and accurate. I have a trijicon on my 300 wsm with the post and green illumination. Gets a bit of getting used to. What I like is the ability to keep both eyes open without effecting the sight picture.

ActionBob · Jan 11, 2018

Patton63 said:
I was getting slightly larger than MOA groups at 100 yards during the first range session,

Check the angle bolt is properly torqued. Basicly about as tight as you can get it without stripping it out, if you don't have a torque wrench.

Rule 303 · Jan 12, 2018

1dirthawker said:
silka,

the time i saw my buddy robins gun hang up: it appeared that he was pushing the bolt forward while pushing the bolt handle to his left. so, pressure to the left while pushing it forward. he was excited, reloading after missing a bull moose. he ended up taking to an authorized browning dealer and getting it fixed.

regarding my bear guiding buddy joel, never got details on his or guns that the other guys had that had problems. i just didn't want to take any chances. plus, i am pretty much a stainless steel guy. i wish someone would make a 450-400 double in stainless!!

The cross torquing you are talking about was one of the faults I had with a Ruger 77. I have never experienced this with any other make of rifle I have tried and after experiencing this with the M77 I have tried to do it on all my other rifles and it does not happen with them. The M77 problem was cause by a very loose and sloppy bolt. As far as I can tell Mauser avoided this by having the guide rib on top of the bolt body.

Rule 303 · Jan 12, 2018

johnnyblues said:
Agreed trigger is a bit heavy for my liking also but I assure you once on game you will never know the difference. Love my guide rifle, have it in 375 Ruger. Smooth and easy handling and accurate. I have a trijicon on my 300 wsm with the post and green illumination. Gets a bit of getting used to. What I like is the ability to keep both eyes open without effecting the sight picture.

I have two Trijacons in 1.25-4X24 with the Picket Post reticle. One in Green the other in Amber. Very good scopes and that Picket Post is a great reticle in my experience. Use the point to zero for precision shooting. Close, fast and furious just cover the point of aim with the triangle. Works. The Amber one was on the 416 Rigby for my Ele and Buff hunt. bright light and fading light shots.

Rule 303 · Jan 12, 2018

Patton63 said:
So - I have the Ruger in hand and topped it with a Trijicon 1-6x24 Accupoint. I was getting slightly larger than MOA groups at 100 yards during the first range session, but much of that was spend breaking in the barrel.

View attachment 214128

Slightly larger than MOA is not bad group size and perfectly alright for hunting. As said check your screw tensions and give it time and rounds through the barrel. I do not believe in this running in the barrel re the cleaning process does anything for the barrel. I do believe, after seeing it with numerous barrels, that putting rounds through the barrel gets some of them to "settle" and produce smaller groups.

If it is a Ruger with no major hic ups then you have a bloody good rifle.

curtism1234 · Jan 13, 2018

I have been looking for used Browning A-bolt 375 for a while. I have no use for it right now (therefor only looking to buy if it's a bargain). Some of the auctions get a little crazy, but on websites like this they are worth about $700 and sell pretty quick. You can't really go wrong at that price.

I just like the way they feel. The tang safety is an added bonus as I shoot a Savage rifle too. The one thing negative thing I have heard is the lighter / shorter bullets are best because there isn't a lot of clearance. Heavy loads could potentially be too long.

Regarding the Ruger, nothing wrong with them. I like 3 wing safeties, but I think the model 70 is easier to find and deploy. That being said, the Ruger safety is better quality imo.

I vote Browing A-bolt

siutis · Jul 2, 2018

I have both. Ruger Guide gun hands down. Just a better dangerous game rifle with controlled round feed.

1dirthawker · Jul 2, 2018

siutis said:
I have both. Ruger Guide gun hands down. Just a better dangerous game rifle with controlled round feed

+1

CTDolan · Jul 2, 2018

1dirthawker said:
i wish someone would make a 450-400 double in stainless!!

I've considered doing this very thing, and in the very same caliber (at least to start).

Use of stainless steel has its own points of concern. But, with proper design and materials, each can be mitigated.

Browning A Bolt v. Ruger Guide Gun?

Patton63

Abeln

1dirthawker

1dirthawker

Patton63

johnnyblues

ActionBob

Rule 303

Rule 303

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