Browning BBR? Or not?... *UPDATE*
So I stumble across this little beauty in a hole-in-the-wall pawn shop today quite by accident, and I instantly fall in love. It's sexed up with a nice little Bushnell Trophy 3x9-40. It's pretty damn clean, and I like it. A lot. The only thing on the tag is the ex-pawnee's code number and $595.00. The kid that helped me said it's been on the shelf for over two years. I ask what it is, he doesn't know. Walks it over to the store owner, who hesitates a bit while scratching his forehead and tells me it's a Browning A-Bolt in .270, built in 1978. Hmmm, just the caliber I was looking for. So I grab my EyeFone and start Googling. Looks like A-Bolts didn't appear 'til the early 80's. Call a friend in Vegas. He says 'It's probably a BBR. And buy it if you can afford it'. Hmmm. So I ask the owner if he'd take $525.00, otd. He comes back with $565.00, all inclusive. Now I'm getting kinda stoked, as I rack my braintrying to figure out how to run this one past the wife. So I go back and look at the gun some more. It's still gorgeous, I still want it....but something's not quite right. Because it doesn't say Browning on it ANYWHERE. Not on the recoil/butt pad, not on the receiver, not on the barrel....not on anything. Nor does it mention .270, or Made In Japan or Read Manual Before Firing, blah blah blah. Not anywhere. Hmmm. The only marks on this thing is a 10 digit serial number, beginning with #07380XXXXX. And that's it. Oh yeah, except for the real heavy duty bolt.
Any ideas what this thing is, Folks?......
(and here's a G/Broker auction going on right now. It looks pretty much like this one)
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=229802322
Any ideas what this thing is, Folks?......
(and here's a G/Broker auction going on right now. It looks pretty much like this one)
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=229802322
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I would lay this down and leave. You can buy a new A bolt for the same price.
Something very wrong here.
Sage 10 -
You could always call Browning and verify if the serial number is valid and what in which caliber it was issued. 0 -
The A-bolt and BBR are two different things. The BBR has a fluted bolt. It does look like a Browning to me. You should be very careful. 0 -
Where is the safety? Sometimes the location and configuration of the safety can tell you the manufacturer. Example Mossberg uses thumb safeties almost exclusively. Also check under the scope mount there may be a mark under there. 0 -
Definately a BBR, I have three. The asking price is reasonable if it is in good condition, and the scope is functional.
As to Sage's comment, the A-bolt IS a very fine rifle, but the BBR has the advantage on action strength.
I retired from Browning Arms, and was the Chief Firearms Technician for many years.0 -
El Mariachi,
You X'ed out the key to your answer. The ser# is the first 5 digits, 6&7 are letters for the year of manufacture (RP would be '78), & 8,9, &10 are code for model & features (117 is for BBR).
Barrel stamping should be centered about 6" from the action ring. The stamping is small font & could be missed or removed with a refinish. The left side should say "Browning etc. & made in Japan"
with "B.B.R. caliber etc." on the right.
Edit; The white outline recoil pad is after-market. The rifle originally had a black plastic butt plate with "Browning" in 1/4" x 2" lettering.
Hope this helps, Jim0 -
Thank you gentlemen for all the tips, there's a lot of unanswered questions about this thing. I'm gonna run back out there Monday and really pore over it closely and see what other info I can glean from it. Like I said, it's pretty much what I've been looking for
but I really don't need it right this minute. Especially since I just bought two shotguns and a MK III stainless Target.
(gawd damn but my wife is gonna keeeeel me....[:D]0 -
Well the bolt release button is Browning..I also believe that the stock is after market,,but looks really nice...maybe as stated above a refinish on the metal but STILL should have a caliber marked somewhere,,,and I wouldn't shoot it unless it was checked first/ 0 -
I only have one BBR (a 1981) but that rifle looks very much like the one I have. The stock on mine is a little different, with a contrasting fore-end tip and a cross bolt at the recoil lug. Mine does say Browning on the barrel and on the butt plate and has the deer head on the trigger guard. The Pachmayr "push & twist" sling bows were almost a trade mark on the BBR and it looks like that rifle has them. A photo from the bolt side might help ID it.
EDIT: I just looked up the BBR in the de Hass book and my rifle looks like it has the later "light-weight" stock and barrel while that rifle appears to have the heavier square fore-end style of the origional model.0 -
Went back to the store today and took some more pics of the pretty girl, as well as getting the serial number --->07380RP117 (and yes I asked, and no they didn't care [8D] )
Anyways, I'm still curious as to what this really is. So here we go;0
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