Browning A-Bolt Shotgun Hunter / Stalker
Next year Browning is bringing back the A-Bolt bolt-action rifle chambered in 12 gauge. They are (or will be) advertising that the A-Bolt Shotgun Hunter is capable of 1.5" groups at 100 yards with sabot slugs.
The Shotgun Hunter features the much-liked A-Bolt 60-degree bolt lift, a 2+1 magazine capacity (detachable/hinged box magazines), 3" chamber and fibre optic open sights. The barrel is 22" in length with a 1:28" twist. The weight of the gun is 7 lbs (and 2 oz for the wood stocked model).
Three models will be on offer. The difference between the models are the stocks: a walnut, a dura-touch coated synthetic stock and a camo stock.The black dura-coat stocked model is called the "Shotgun Stalker", while the other two are called "Shotgun Hunter".
MSRP will be between $1099 and $1299.
[ Many thanks to the reader who emailed me this information ]
I bought a Browning A-bolt 12ga-camo finish-mounted a Leupold 3.5×10 VX III using special Browning one piece ring/mount on July 30,2011. Used Remington AccuTip ammo and am gettin 1 1/2″ groups at 100 meters. Does pack a pretty good wallop. Adjusted the trigger down as light as possible and it is very nice and crisp, no creep. Great hunting gun.
I finally got my new A-Bolt shotgun a couple of weeks ago!! I cleaned her up real good, mounted a 3×9 Leuopold sg/ml scope and went to sight her in. After years of wanting this gun……a real disappointment!! Using the manufacturers recommended Win Partitions the best I got at 50, yes 50 yards was a 3-4 inch group…and misfires and extraction issues.
The Browning rep took the gun to their service center in S.C. to investigate the firearm. I was just contacted by the repair center that they removed and re-installed the scope, shot 3 different types of slugs (Federal, Remington, Hornady) through the gun. The best group they got at 50, yes I said 50 yards was also 3.5 to 4 inches. They then told me that they called the Browning Rep and told him of their findings, he told them “that is in Browning specs”. WOW! They are sending the gun back to me. I suspect the firearm will be for sale once I get it back, unless of course I decide to keep it as a boat paddle!!! I own a Mossberg 935 that will shoot 2inch groups at 100 yards all day long!!
Clint Hoppe you’re full of it. First, Browning does not recommend any specific slug. Second if the accuracy was that bad at 50 yards with a scope Browning would be more than happy to take it back. If the gun shoots that bad you either damaged it somehow, like shooting rifled slugs, or you and whoever sighted it in can’t shoot a slug gun. Slugs stay in the barrel way longer than a rifle bullet does. Anyway, If you still want to sell it, I give you 100 bucks and a used boat oar.
Whoops! Old age catching up here – just read that it will have 3″ chambers. Nice! Would have preferred 3 1/2″ but this will still work beautifully!
Now, I must badger the Browning Custom shop to offer upgraded wood.
Steve,
This is excellent news. WOuld you know what size chamber these guns would have? I hope they offer 3 1/2″ chambers for maximum performance. Like Dom, I have long experience with slugs (albeit from another country and in another period) and I think this would be superb for stand hunting or even where a hunter stalks close enough to hunt deer or pigs. My guess is that Miroku would be making these for Browning (and my friend Ernie Stalman of Badger Barrels would be supplying the barrels as he does for most Browning hunting guns) and the result should shoot!
Will wait and definitely buy one of these. Thank you, my friend!
Ah. I was wondering why you didn’t screencapture them or something, hahah.
Did you take these pics off a website or magazine?
Nathaniel, no. They come from the Browning catalog, not yet released to the general public.
I live in WV’s eastern panhandle. I find it is easier to find places to hunt with shotgun slugs than it is rifle. Rifle is perceived to be more dangerous, more liability. I’m not sure I agree, but it is nice to see options that cater to hunters like me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Mossberg 500 and the cantilever scope slugger barrel. A real game-getter. But I would consider selling off a dust-collecting rifle or two and putting the cash into one of these babies for sure. Slugs are fun to shoot, easy to handload, etc. Plus, a lot of times they’re not jacketed (at least not with metal), so I think despite the large amount of lead, these can actually be cheap for handloaders to shoot.