CoElkHunter
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I’ve been contemplating one of the .375 Medallions like you purchased.
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Browning Love?
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CoElkHunter
AH ambassador
CoElkHunter
AH ambassador
I like my mid ‘90s blued/walnut A Bolt 2 .338WM at 6.8lbs/8.5lbs scoped with very manageable recoil (no brake) due to the stock design. I bought a .270Win X Bolt six months ago and it shoots great with factory Nosler 140gr Ballistic Tips.
I've owned a pretty fair number of Browning rifles and shotguns and still have a few of the shotguns. I wouldn't say I love Brownings but they have, with some exceptions, made (or more accurately branded) pretty decent guns. Like a few others, I'm not a big fan of them slapping their logo on everything from window decals to flashlights to underwear.
As for the rifles, the first deer rifle I bought was only about 15 years ago when WI started allowing rifles statewide for deer hunting. Prior to then, I'd always used slug guns. It was a left-handed BAR Short Trac in 7mm-08. It had some pretty nice wood on it, was totally reliable, and about a 1.5 moa shooter which, while plenty accurate for my purposes, isn't accurate enough to be interesting. The trigger was okay and the balance wasn't great, but coming from slug guns, it was a nice step up. I'd probably still have it if I hadn't gotten into suppressors.
When I wanted something with more horsepower, I picked up an X-Bolt White Gold Medallion in .300 WSM. Probably the most beautiful walnut I've seen on a fairly affordable factory rifle, sub-MOA with most loads, pretty good trigger, smooth, reliable, and pretty comfortable to shoot by the standards of lightweight .300 magnums. I was never a fan of the plastic trigger guard, though it gave me no problems. The magazine design is reliable, but I prefer a hinged floor plate. It's no longer with me for several reasons. The barrel was a bit on the skinny side to thread for a suppressor, I wanted to switch to .300 WM for better ammunition availability, and it was just too pretty to beat up. Fortunately, someone really wanted it and I made quite a bit on it when I sold it.
The lefty A-Bolt II Stainless Stalker in 30-06 didn't last long. For whatever reason, I found the recoil of that rifle extremely unpleasant. Probably a combination of relatively light weight, poor fit, and a brick of a recoil pad. The trigger was also nothing to write home about with limited options to correct. I sold it rather than sinking money into it.
My first shotgun was a 12 gauge BPS Stalker. The year was 1994 and I was young enough that my Dad had to buy it, but I paid for it. I wish I could say I still had it, but it had occasional feeding issues and I foolishly traded it off long ago. Today I'd probably have been able to get it running. I did find an almost identical replacement a few years ago and snapped it up. My current one is a 26" Invector gun, while the original was a 28" Invector Plus, but they're both 3" Stalkers with the engraved receivers. It'll have to be close enough. This one won't be sold, but it also won't be used much. It's really just for nostalgia, but I take it duck hunting from time-to-time. The difference in recoil between it and my SBE2 is rather surprising, but it wears the same brick of a recoil pad as the A-Bolt did. I also have one of the last .410 BPS' made for varmint control around the house. At least that was the excuse for buying it. No complaints about that one.
When I was a kid, the Auto-5 was the greatest shotgun ever made, at least according to my Grandpa, so it must have been true. Looking back, for its time, he was almost certainly correct, at least as far as semi-autos were concerned. For quality of construction, I don't think it's been exceeded though it certainly was surpassed in terms of versatility some time ago by the self-regulating gas guns and inertia semi-autos. Most of those have no soul though, the Auto-5 does. From the day I was born until the day he died, Grandpa owned a Belgian Light Twelve with a modified barrel and a slug barrel and used no other gun. My uncle has it now. The Auto-5 would have been my first shotgun if I could have afforded one back in 1994.
Eventually, I decided to remedy my lack of an Auto-5. The Magnum Stalker would have been my choice back in 1994 but I decided that I'd blend nostalgia and practicality and look for a Miroku Light Twelve. Kind of like Grandpa's gun, but with the benefit of screw-in chokes and compatible with steel shot. The Magnum Stalkers were also kind of chunky beasts and quite difficult to find now. After searching locally for a suitable condition Light Twelve for some time, I stumbled upon a Light Twenty with two barrels, a 28" VR and a slug barrel. Of course, shortly after that followed me home, I found the Light Twelve I wanted with a 26" barrel, so that came home too. The 20 gauge weighed about the same as my SBE2 and seemed to recoil about the same as well. Not really, but close enough. Since the nostalgia was for the 12-gauge, the twenty got rehomed fairly quickly. The Light Twelve is still in the safe and will remain there. Once in a while two of my uncles and I sit in a duck blind, shoot the shit, and miss ducks with three of the greatest shotguns ever made.
As for the rifles, the first deer rifle I bought was only about 15 years ago when WI started allowing rifles statewide for deer hunting. Prior to then, I'd always used slug guns. It was a left-handed BAR Short Trac in 7mm-08. It had some pretty nice wood on it, was totally reliable, and about a 1.5 moa shooter which, while plenty accurate for my purposes, isn't accurate enough to be interesting. The trigger was okay and the balance wasn't great, but coming from slug guns, it was a nice step up. I'd probably still have it if I hadn't gotten into suppressors.
When I wanted something with more horsepower, I picked up an X-Bolt White Gold Medallion in .300 WSM. Probably the most beautiful walnut I've seen on a fairly affordable factory rifle, sub-MOA with most loads, pretty good trigger, smooth, reliable, and pretty comfortable to shoot by the standards of lightweight .300 magnums. I was never a fan of the plastic trigger guard, though it gave me no problems. The magazine design is reliable, but I prefer a hinged floor plate. It's no longer with me for several reasons. The barrel was a bit on the skinny side to thread for a suppressor, I wanted to switch to .300 WM for better ammunition availability, and it was just too pretty to beat up. Fortunately, someone really wanted it and I made quite a bit on it when I sold it.
The lefty A-Bolt II Stainless Stalker in 30-06 didn't last long. For whatever reason, I found the recoil of that rifle extremely unpleasant. Probably a combination of relatively light weight, poor fit, and a brick of a recoil pad. The trigger was also nothing to write home about with limited options to correct. I sold it rather than sinking money into it.
My first shotgun was a 12 gauge BPS Stalker. The year was 1994 and I was young enough that my Dad had to buy it, but I paid for it. I wish I could say I still had it, but it had occasional feeding issues and I foolishly traded it off long ago. Today I'd probably have been able to get it running. I did find an almost identical replacement a few years ago and snapped it up. My current one is a 26" Invector gun, while the original was a 28" Invector Plus, but they're both 3" Stalkers with the engraved receivers. It'll have to be close enough. This one won't be sold, but it also won't be used much. It's really just for nostalgia, but I take it duck hunting from time-to-time. The difference in recoil between it and my SBE2 is rather surprising, but it wears the same brick of a recoil pad as the A-Bolt did. I also have one of the last .410 BPS' made for varmint control around the house. At least that was the excuse for buying it. No complaints about that one.
When I was a kid, the Auto-5 was the greatest shotgun ever made, at least according to my Grandpa, so it must have been true. Looking back, for its time, he was almost certainly correct, at least as far as semi-autos were concerned. For quality of construction, I don't think it's been exceeded though it certainly was surpassed in terms of versatility some time ago by the self-regulating gas guns and inertia semi-autos. Most of those have no soul though, the Auto-5 does. From the day I was born until the day he died, Grandpa owned a Belgian Light Twelve with a modified barrel and a slug barrel and used no other gun. My uncle has it now. The Auto-5 would have been my first shotgun if I could have afforded one back in 1994.
Eventually, I decided to remedy my lack of an Auto-5. The Magnum Stalker would have been my choice back in 1994 but I decided that I'd blend nostalgia and practicality and look for a Miroku Light Twelve. Kind of like Grandpa's gun, but with the benefit of screw-in chokes and compatible with steel shot. The Magnum Stalkers were also kind of chunky beasts and quite difficult to find now. After searching locally for a suitable condition Light Twelve for some time, I stumbled upon a Light Twenty with two barrels, a 28" VR and a slug barrel. Of course, shortly after that followed me home, I found the Light Twelve I wanted with a 26" barrel, so that came home too. The 20 gauge weighed about the same as my SBE2 and seemed to recoil about the same as well. Not really, but close enough. Since the nostalgia was for the 12-gauge, the twenty got rehomed fairly quickly. The Light Twelve is still in the safe and will remain there. Once in a while two of my uncles and I sit in a duck blind, shoot the shit, and miss ducks with three of the greatest shotguns ever made.
MS 9x56
AH elite
I do agree with rookhawks point on browning being a brand wh* re. They sell their name to whoever pays to put on crap junk from China that has nothing to do with shooting sports. Can’t say I agree with his assessments of their guns. I own 5 Brownings and not a single one has ever needed repair or had a failure to fire load or eject despite heavey real world use. I have however been quite successful in scratching that shiny plastic finish on several.Whew......how do you really feel???
Sideshow
AH fanatic
Had this Belgium made BLR since 1991. Been all over with it great gun in the tight north island bush of NZ really good balance fast pointing. Only down side .243. But I’ve taken some good reds with it. Redid the stock myself when I brought it to the uk and had the trigger redone as it wasn’t great.
Muntjac in the UK
Whitetail in NZ
View attachment 673305
Typical NZ bush.
Lives in NZ now
Muntjac in the UK
Whitetail in NZ
View attachment 673305
Typical NZ bush.
Lives in NZ now
Attachments
Sideshow
AH fanatic
Not sure why the last pic didn’t come out. So here’s it again with an artiy shot on a hut step.
Brought after a rugby injury to my shoulder hence the muzzle brake which is gone now has a can on it to help with the hearing .
Brought after a rugby injury to my shoulder hence the muzzle brake which is gone now has a can on it to help with the hearing .
HankBuck
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@jb1069 - I have a Browning ABolt Medallion .270 LH purchased in 2000 and topped w/Leupold VIII 3.5-10 40mm scope…it’s been very accurate (MOA or slightly better out to 200 yrds) with several factory 130 & 140gr loads). It is also lightweight and has a good trigger (better than average).
I also have a newer XBolt White Gold model in .243 that has an excellent adjustable trigger and holds MOA or just under too 200 yrds. These rifles make every hunt out West and use on antelope & mule deer. What I like most about the Browning bolt action rifles is the Short Rotation on the bolt throw - they are very fast & smooth to cycle allowing a quick follow up shot if needed.
My other Browning rifles are BLRs in .223 and .243 - these lever rifles are also accurate and around MOA but the triggers are “sloppy”, lots of travel and take a little getting use to. All Browning rifles with wood stocks and blued or stainless barrels have good fit & finish and while some don’t care for the look of High Gloss wood stocks - the Browning finish is very durable and protects the wood better then most other finishes. The .243 is light and compact w/20” barrel and an easy carry rifle walking thru the woods, used it for deer and took one good bear with it.
One last thing about Browning rifles - their Clips are excellent - they all “snap in SECURELY” and I’ve Never had one pop out like has happened with my Remington 760. Browning clips are heavy duty and well made.
Compared to rifles of similar cost (Remington, Winchester, Savage) I much prefer the Brownings. For the best value - Tikka would be up there but fit & finish is cheap looking.
Last edited:
HankBuck
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@Sideshow - I have same model BLR made in 1993 but in .223 and it has a different clip design — very secure the way it “snaps in” and has Never dropped out.
MS 9x56
AH elite
Those BLR triggers are horrible. I had the trigger adjusted on mine as original pull was 9 lbs. after adjustment 3.5lbs.
Sideshow
AH fanatic
Yeah from memory mines made in 73. Did a lot of research into finding out its history. Mine came with the two mags which are as rear as hens teeth.
It’s a great little rifle. Have thought of re-barrelling it to .358win but I’d lose the barrel stamp markings. Shoots very well.
JG26Irish_2
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I own a few Belgian Brownings. A pre war A5 12ga shotgun was my first. It is a nice piece. A bit clunky and the fixed choke and really long bbl was an issue for me. If found that they will rust if you look at them too long, let alone sweat in a dove field with them all day. Keep them clean and well oiled. I replaced my fixed full choke bbl with a Miroku screw in choke bbl that was several inches shorter. Made it a great bird gun.
A few years ago, I bought a FN Browning Hi-Power Medalion Grade in 308. Lovely rifle but the stock had been banged up some in the field bruising the wood. I hated the 10 coats of varnish super glossy finish on the blonde wood. This was the style in the 60's when these were made. Shot it once or twice and tossed it in the safe. When I got interested in Safari, I also acquired a Safari Grade in 375HH. Same sort of glossy finish just in better shape. I decided to strip off the varnish, add a light coat of Mahogony stain and then a light coat of oak stain over that finishing both with a tung oil rubbed finish. Not recommended for collector value but for me this treatment simply made these two rifles into the perfect pair. Neither had been shot or used that much and they both accompanied me on my first African Safari.
Just be aware that some of the 60's era Brownings were plagued with saltwater tainted wood. These will rust in the stock and can be a big problem. Neither of mine are but it is something to be aware of. As for accuracy, they are OK. My 308 is capable of 1" groups at 100y and about 3" at 200y. The 375 is more like 1.5" at 100 and 3-4 at 200. I have shot both with reasonable accuracy out to 300y but they are not tack drivers. Cleaning the fouling from the bbl of the 375 improved it greatly.
Below are a few shots of the rifles. I used the 308 far more in Africa than the larger rifle.
A few years ago, I bought a FN Browning Hi-Power Medalion Grade in 308. Lovely rifle but the stock had been banged up some in the field bruising the wood. I hated the 10 coats of varnish super glossy finish on the blonde wood. This was the style in the 60's when these were made. Shot it once or twice and tossed it in the safe. When I got interested in Safari, I also acquired a Safari Grade in 375HH. Same sort of glossy finish just in better shape. I decided to strip off the varnish, add a light coat of Mahogony stain and then a light coat of oak stain over that finishing both with a tung oil rubbed finish. Not recommended for collector value but for me this treatment simply made these two rifles into the perfect pair. Neither had been shot or used that much and they both accompanied me on my first African Safari.
Just be aware that some of the 60's era Brownings were plagued with saltwater tainted wood. These will rust in the stock and can be a big problem. Neither of mine are but it is something to be aware of. As for accuracy, they are OK. My 308 is capable of 1" groups at 100y and about 3" at 200y. The 375 is more like 1.5" at 100 and 3-4 at 200. I have shot both with reasonable accuracy out to 300y but they are not tack drivers. Cleaning the fouling from the bbl of the 375 improved it greatly.
Below are a few shots of the rifles. I used the 308 far more in Africa than the larger rifle.
HankBuck
AH legend
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@MS 9x56 - for mine it was Not a heavy trigger pull just “endless travel” before it broke. I sent one back to Browning for the trigger to be adjusted and after 2 months they returned it, DID NOTHING, and wrote “trigger is IN SPEC”. I guess “spec” is “crap”. But I easily got use to it and shot the gun reasonably well but really no excuse for Browning to Not improve that trigger.
Nice rifle.
does it have the folding safety hammer?
Or the one pice hammer?
When I called browning they said the non folding trigger was in the first 2 years of production.
Mines a 358w
Folding hammer not trigger
Mine has a ok trigger not the best but not worse than any other leaver action that I have used
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CAustin wrote on ZANA BOTES SAFARI's profile.
Zana it was very good to see you at SCI National. Best wishes to you for a great season.
Hi gents we have very little openings left for 2025 if anyone is interested in a last minute hunt!
here are the dates,
17-25 June
25-31 July
1-28 Sept
7-31 October
Shoot me a message ASAP to book your spot 2026 is also filling up fast! will start posting 2026 dates soon!
here are the dates,
17-25 June
25-31 July
1-28 Sept
7-31 October
Shoot me a message ASAP to book your spot 2026 is also filling up fast! will start posting 2026 dates soon!