Browning A Bolt bolt

[CoElkHunter]

I was cleaning my A Bolt today and removed the bolt without pulling the trigger first. After cleaning, I attempted to install the bolt and it wouldn’t go in because it was cocked. With no owner’s manual available (I bought it used) and after messing with it for thirty minutes, I saw a hole on the bottom rear of the bolt. I put a rod in it and moved it to the right and that decocked it and was able to install the bolt. Just FYI for any idiots like me out there.

 

[JimP]

My nephew had one of those rifles and after the first shot at a elk he stood there with the bolt in his right hand and the rifle in his left.

We never did figure out how it happened but he was able to slide the bolt right back in

 

[CoElkHunter]

If the spring on the bolt stop/release is weak, I could see that happening when moving the bolt to re cycle another cartridge. I've never had any problem with mine, but I know of one other person with an A Bolt that had the weak spring issue with the bolt stop. A gunsmith put a new spring in and then no problems.

 

[JimP]

He sold the rifle after the hunt and bought a Ruger 77

 

[TMac]

That is not an uncommon A-bolt issue. In the field one can also use the tip of a bullet to accomplish the same maneuver. That will goober up the bullet tip pretty good, but solves the jam.