OT?--Browning quality

getitdone1 · Post by **getitdone1** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:33 am

Boy, Browning sure does make good guns. Just wish they'd take the shine off of many of them. Of course they do with some and I recently bought one of them chambered for the .243 Winchester cartridge.

Bought a Browining A-Bolt II, stainless w/walnut stock. Inletting outstanding, nice grain/look to the wood and the contrast of the dull stainless metal and wood is really pretty. The short upward movement of the bolt handle is nice. Just quality all the way.

Then there's my Browning 1886 SRC and 71 Carbine. Probably add a Browning 22 auto and maybe a Browning 22 MRF A-Bolt, this last to take the place of my heavy but nice Anschutz with it's very cumbersome safety lever.

There's no other company that makes so many quality guns of all types. By all types I mean pistol, rifle and shotgun. A guy could make all of his guns Browning and be in fine shape.

(Maybe I should have said "no other (AMERICAN) company" since H&K came to mind. Do they make shotguns? Think they do and of course they make quality products.)

Anybody else here think highly of Browning?

Don McCullough

azzhandler · Post by **azzhandler** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:15 am

I have over 2 dozen brownings, my very favorite being the auto-5 sweet sixteen made in 1956

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:31 am

I only have one Browning rifle. It's a BL-22 lever action in .22LR that I got a few months ago. The fit and finish on it is superb and the action is as smooth as butter. A truly beautiful fifle. The only negative thing about it is that it is "tube loaded/fed" and the only reason that that it is a negative for me is that I have become used to my Ruger 96/22s and Ruger 10/22s that load so quickly with a magazine.

My local gun shop has a Browning BLR lever action in .243 that I have been eye-balling for about the last three months. If it's still there after the New Year, I just may get it. It is an absolutely beautiful rifle.

TCB in TN · Post by **TCB in TN** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:46 am

I have owned many Brownings over the years, my first pistol was a Buckmark .22, and I regret to this day letting it go. Have owned several A-Bolts, a couple of BL22's, a sweet 16, and have owned 2 BLR's 1 in .270 and the one I currently own in .308. Love them, well made, excellent shooters, and beautiful to look at.

Lastmohecken · Post by **Lastmohecken** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:53 pm

I agree, I could sell everthing but my Brownings and still have a pretty good arsenal for about everthing from self defense, small game, upland game, and big game, and look good doing it.

Jayhawker · Post by **Jayhawker** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:20 pm

I like Browning too. I have a BLR in 358 Win and an early 50s vintage Light 12. Would hate to part with either one of them.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:02 pm

I really like the 86 repros made in the miroku plant. You are right, they are shiny. 1886.

admiral · Post by **admiral** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:33 pm

i personally feel that the fit and finish vs. price on Brownings is one of the best values in firearms. i wish firearms could be made in America with the same price and quality that Miroku has but those days are gone.

getitdone1 · Post by **getitdone1** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:15 pm

1886 wrote:I really like the 86 repros made in the miroku plant. You are right, they are shiny. 1886.

1886,

Actually I was refering to the glossy wood finish Browning puts on so many of their guns. I also don't like the "slick" feel of high-gloss wood.
I prefer a wood finish like on most Marlin lever-actions or the old hand-rubbed linseed oil finish.

I believe Browning is "coming-around" to less shiny guns. To me it is not a quality look. Like a person who "dolls-up" too much.

Don McCullough

Savage99 · Post by **Savage99** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:48 pm

The shiny finish doesn't do it for me..still I like those new takedown BLR's..I was wondering how one could swap calibers in them..meaning you could get one in .358 and switch it to a .308 or .243 etc etc..

marlin shooter · Post by **marlin shooter** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 4:37 am

Browning does make some quality firearm's ( or rather they contract out to some high standard's ) My BLR, 1886 SRC and citori shotgun have never given me any trouble and could easily be my only gun's till the end. Merry Christmas.
Karl

Bigahh · Post by **Bigahh** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 9:48 am

The shiny finish doesn't do it for me..still I like those new takedown BLR's..I was wondering how one could swap calibers in them..meaning you could get one in .358 and switch it to a .308 or .243 etc etc..

Never thought of that, wonder if this is possible?

1886 · Post by **1886** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 10:13 am

I do not like the shiny/glossy wood either. I was referring to the quality. I much prefer a tung oil finish but I would probably never refinish the wood on these rifles. 1886.