The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Browning T-Bolt Target Varmint in 0.17HMR. 16.5" barrel.
SGC appears to show a dark laminated stock for this rifle. yet on Browning website only shows a walnut stock.
Wondered if anyone can confirm either way please.
Some good write ups on this straight pull rifle. Slick action, decent trigger out of the box (around 3lb with a crisp let off) & a quite unique 10 round fig 8 flush fitting mag.
Will be giving one more than a coat of "looking at" next week.

Yamavira

As far as I know the standard Target Varmint has a walnut stock and the newly released Stainless Laminate Varmint (or some similar name) has a grey/black laminate stock.

I have owned a T-Bolt Sporter (16.5") in .22 for about three years now and am very pleased with it, I find the action smooth and quick and the rifle is as accurate as our Anschutz 1416.

Hi

Thanks for the info. Contacted SGC today & they confirm that there is indeed a laminated stocked target varmint with a SS action. Looks good. Would be even better if the stock was a thunbhole stock.
As a newbie I do not have access to the sales section of the forum. Would appreciate a heads up should there be a suitable rifle listed for sale.

Yamavira

I was out with a short barrelled T Bolt week before last, even with an ill suited 'scope I was getting onto the Rabbits out to about 90 yards. They are cracking little rifles and well worth owning and the example I was shooting was under GBP75 including a scope, rings and sound moderator.

Dropped by the shop today & gave a wooden stocked T-Bolt (0.17HMR & 0.22. Both with 16" barrels)
a good "coat of looking at".
Nice looking & shaped stock. Rifle feels lightweight. So good for carrying aroung the fields. However I was VERY surprised at the effort required to cycle the action. Fast it is. Smooth it is but it also sounds very NOISY when closing & locking the bolt closed.
Think after the first shot the bunnies will be off even faster than they normally are after hearing the sonic crack from the 0.17HMR.

Would welcome anyone's experience of use in the field.

Yamavira

They benefit from some work to smooth things up. I was into double figures on Rabbits last time out with a T Bolt and they did not seem to notice the noise, yes they disappear sometimes however there is always another target and we seldom stop for more than a few minuted due to lack of targets.

My weapon of choice for Rabbits is my 520 with a 12.5" barrel, or my Accuracy International chambered in 6,5x47 for the distant ones :)

My son's (Blackburnbuccaneer above) T-bolt loosened up very quickly with use, IMO it's no more noisy than my Anschütz 1416 in operation and way quicker.

Video of my son's T-bolt in action:

https://youtu.be/unxDtIWu9vs

Thanks
Enjoyed the video. Certainly on video does not sound any noisier than a BA rifle being cycled. How do you find the trigger. Felt a little heavy to me although there was no creep (always an annoying fault with some triggers).

Has anyone had the barrel cut down to the accepted optimum of 12.5" ??

Yamavira

I have chopped the T Bolt to 14.5" in the past and shot the very same rifle to around 90 yards on Rabbits. It worked.

As the shop was busy packing up stock to take to their stand in the Scottish Game Fair I did not have time to take a good look at the scope mounting on the T-Bolt.
I believe browning bases come with the rifle but do they accept normal rings or has one to buy some special Browning rings.
Thanks
Yamavira