Browning help!

accubond · Mar 9, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Mar-09-15 AT 06:22PM (MST)[p]Gentleman,

I have a real dilemma here. I have been doing the shoot clean, shoot clean break-in method on a brand new Browning X-bolt chambered in 270 Win. On shot number 10 I noticed the bolt release button (unique to the X-bolt) never came back up and I couldn't put the gun back on safe? After getting the gun back home I dry fired it once and everything went back to normal. Well, shot number 11 produced the same result but this time it wasn't nearly as easy to "fix". There were several times where I would cycle the bolt and the gun would fire upon closing the bolt! Finally, I got it to where I could get the gun back on safety but instead of the bolt release staying down when pushed I have to hold it down to run the bolt with the safety on? Browning says "remove all mounts and optics and send it in" but how do you ever trust a gun that has done this? I think, at a minimum I will take the gun to my trusted gunsmith and see what he comes up with but I just don't know what to do? Even selling the gun at this point (after I have my smith get it right again) would leave me a little uneasy. It would be hard for me to hand this rifle to my son on any future hunt. Please let me know your thoughts.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

DW · Mar 9, 2015

New gun? Lotta times that packing grease turns to cake after it heats up. Give it a thorough clean.

accubond · Mar 9, 2015

My gunsmith is thinking the thick white grease may have something to do with it as well. So if it's cleaned up good and doesn't happen again after some use would you consider it safe? I can't find another documented case of this with the X-bolt anywhere.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

DW · Mar 9, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Mar-09-15 AT 09:48PM (MST)[p]My money says yes. But the most important thing we can do is make sure it's always pointed in a safe direction. These are man made devices that sometimes unexpectedly fail. If I accidentally shot and killed a hunting buddy or family member ID have a hard time living with that. The packing grease in the bolt/trigger/safety area is a problem that can happen with any firearm. And after its cleaned dirt can cause the same issue if not properly cared for. Be safe.

sageadvice · Mar 9, 2015

I'd have it cleaned, fixed, whatever, and sell it. You could by a Remington. They never have problems with their triggers... ;-)

Once you have built faith in me, i'm a loyal dog. Screw me right out the gate, i don't even want you around.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

accubond · Mar 10, 2015

I agree with always pointingba firearm in a safe direction but I also know things happen especially when you're young. This gun was going to be handed down to my son when he's of age but..... Sage, I tend to lean towards your way of thinking. With all the Remington issues I've heard of they have never failed me and the one time I stray from them I run into this? I'm thinking this gun is gone when it comes back from the smith.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

DW · Mar 10, 2015

Whatever u decide I'd b curious to hear what yer smith finds.

Zeke · Mar 10, 2015

Everything I know about Browning rifles you could put in your eye but I'd bet, like others have said, it's packing grease, packing material or tight stock-to-trigger inletting and something is rubbing.
Good luck with your dilemma. I could never tell a guy to keep a gun or not once it lets you down.
Zeke

accubond · Mar 10, 2015

I will update this when I hear from my gunsmith but he is very slow. I'm still torn on what to do with it when I get it back but right now I'm leaning towards selling it and finding a Rem 700 CDL to replace it. Thanks for the feedback guys.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

RELH · Mar 10, 2015

Have the gunsmith clean it and after you shoot it enough and no more problems, you should regain your faith in the rifle.
It is VERY IMPORTANT TO BREAK DOWN ANY NEW FIREARM AND GIVE IT A GOOD CLEANING BEFORE GOING TO THE RANGE AND FIRING IT. Even take apart the bolt and clean it out and clean the trigger group
Most firearm owners who fail to do this are the ones that report the vast majority of complaints for a failure at the range. That heavy grease on the new firearm is on there to protect it from corrosion while that gun may set on a dealers shelf for a year or more before being sold.

RELH

Homer · Mar 10, 2015

....must have a Remington trigger........

Whiterock · Mar 11, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Mar-11-15 AT 06:42AM (MST)[p]I have a few ABOLTS never had a problem ,I know nothing about the XBOLT .

accubond · Mar 21, 2015

Gentleman,

I got my X-bolt back from my gunsmith yesterday. He said that when the "fully adjustable" trigger is set to its minimum setting it affected something with the sear? Anyway, he said he had to adjust the trigger up to 4.5 pounds to correct the above mentioned problem. Now I have 4.5 pound trigger pull on a gun that is supposed to be adjustable down to 3? If I can get rid of it I will go back to Remington or try a Tikka T3. Just thought I would give an update on the issue, thanks for all the feedback.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

DW · Mar 21, 2015

Did u bump test it when u adjusted it?

accubond · Mar 21, 2015

DW,
I'm not sure what that is? Is this something you could explain?

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

hntbambi · Mar 21, 2015

Did you adjust the trigger prior to your issues occurring?

accubond · Mar 21, 2015

hntbambi,

The issue started (not as bad though) before the trigger adjustment was made.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

DW · Mar 21, 2015

Whenever I adjust a trigger I do what's called a bump test to make sure there are no issues. Cocked and ready to fire and pointed in a safe direction bump the back of the stock into something hard to see if there are any issues. But by your posts it looks like your issues started prior to adjustment. Anyway to drop in a new custom trigger?

sagebrush · Mar 22, 2015

I would have sent it to Browning immediately. They may have just replaced the entire weapon. You could send it to them still or sell it to me for $100. I'll even pay the shipping!

"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard

accubond · Mar 23, 2015

I called Browning again this morning and voiced my concern and asked if I could at a minimum send the gun in and get a very detailed description what they do to fixbthe issue so I can have that peace of mind when I hand this gun to my son. They said no and that they will only mark major or minor repair on their form? I told them that was unacceptable for a malfunction of this nature and I will sell the gun (now working but at almost 5 #'s of trigger pull) for whatever I can get for it and left it that. I gave Browning a try and l really like their fit and finish but I will move on. Any way, just concluding this post and putting it out there in case it can help anyone else, thanks for all the feedback.

PS: sagebrush, you may not have to up that offer very much

.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

DW · Mar 23, 2015

That's disappointing to hear the way browning handled the situation. I own several browning and love them all. But I've never had an issue and had to deal with browning.

accubond · Mar 23, 2015

DW,
For the record I can't find another documented case of this anywhere so I do believe this is a very isolated incident but just too dangerous for me to hand it to one my sons. Such a pretty gun though!

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

DW · Mar 23, 2015

I agree accubond,just wish browning woulda done more for ya.

Zeke · Mar 23, 2015

So did Browning say you cannot send you gun in for repair??? or was it simply that they wouldn't detail what was involved in the repair if you sent it in?

Good luck no matter what you do but at a minimum I'd send it to Browning.
Zeke

accubond · Mar 23, 2015

They will take it and fix it but I simply want a new trigger or gun altogether. They won't garuntee that. I don't want them to tamper with the existing trigger and send it back, that's just not acceptable to me. They wouldn't hand that gun to their son if it did what it did in my hands. I simply don't trust the gun in its current state and they can't garuntee to make it a gun I can trust. I haven't been rude with them either as I understand they have to follow protocol.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

sagebrush · Mar 23, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Mar-23-15 AT 10:59AM (MST)[p]Disassemble it and put a small mark on the trigger assembly. Re-assemble and send it to Browning and you will know if you got a replacement rifle if they return one with a different serial number, a replaced trigger assembly if its missing your mark or and repaired gun if neither.

You should at least give them the opportunity to make it right, to be fair.

"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard

accubond · Mar 23, 2015

That is a really good idea Sage. I am going to do that. I guess I've just never dealt with an issue like this and as unlikely as it probably is I just keep thinking about one of my sons having an accident with this gun. I will give them the chance to fix this, I really do love the gun besides this issue. Stay tuned.....

" If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

sageadvice · Mar 23, 2015

Now that it's cleaned, fixed, whatever, i'd sell it. Too many nice guns out there, not enough time or money to own/shoot them all. I'd never again have 100% faith in that rifle.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

sagebrush · Mar 23, 2015

I have two X-Bolts and 3 A-Bolt II's. Smooth actions and deadly accurate right out of the box. Had two other A-Bolts I sold to fund one of the X-Bolts. Never had a problem with any and they are all sub MOA rifles. Only thing I did to all of them is lighten the trigger pull as far as it would go and I did it myself. Love my Brownings.

"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard

Z · Mar 23, 2015

Give ya $400 for it

Cahunter805 · Mar 23, 2015

The only trigger for the xbolt is the jard. It's not cheap though. Ernie used to sell springs but not anymore.

http://www.jardinc.com/new-page-69/

accubond · Mar 24, 2015

More problems, this gun is going to be the end of me!!! Tried to ship this gun back and UPS won't do it? FedEx says they will but their website requires a masters degree to figure out. How have those of you who have to do it done this? I cannot explain how frustrated I am with all of this right now!

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

DW · Mar 24, 2015

Glad to hear yer sendin it in accubond.

Whiterock · Mar 24, 2015

I have shipped lots of guns thru UPS no problem.Why won't they ship it ?

Zeke · Mar 24, 2015

The damn UPS "stores" will not ship ANYTHING to do with guns....but they're privately owned so they can do whatever they want.
UPS centers WILL ship guns, ammo, components all day long with proper paperwork and ID. No prob.
Good luck,
Zeke

accubond · Mar 24, 2015

I first went to a UPS service center and they "weren't sure" they could and turned me away. I then called the UPS store and they said they couldn't and that I had to set up a pick up online. When that failed I was told I need to go to a UPS service center? Full circle all in a couple hours. FedEx will not get my business simply due to the difficulty of their website. I have a guy slightly interested in it on Facebook and if I can't get this thing shipped he just might be in the right place at the right time,

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

accubond · Mar 24, 2015

I'm also not real thrilled about having to pay $40+ out of my pocket to get a brand new rifle fixed? I know it sounds selfish but I just think they should pay both ways?

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

Whiterock · Mar 24, 2015

Can't you take it back to the place you bought it and have them ship it back ? Our local sporting Goods store would do that in a heartbeat if you bought a gun there and at no charge.

1911 · Mar 26, 2015

Use it as a jack handle.
http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/User_files/4abc76ff29b26fc1.jpg

accubond · Mar 26, 2015

I got them to send me a shipping label and they told me to bring it back to the UPS customer center (where they park the trucks at night) As that's how they receive most of their guns. I almost lost it on the phone when the customer service rep told me it never would have happened if I wouldn't have "messed" with the trigger. They advertise this trigger as fully adjustable from 3-5 pounds. Browning is really testing my patience!

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

Zeke · Mar 26, 2015

Well, you're passing the patience test just fine if you ALMOST lost it on the phone! LOL
Good for you.
Keep it together and work through the issue. Sounds like you're making great progress.
Zeke

accubond · May 6, 2015

Update. I got the gun back today and it is the same gun with the same trigger. I will say that it feels like a lot lighter than when I sent it out and it has a sticker on the box with tested date. Not sure what to do but I am still leaning towards selling it unless I have to give it away, then I will just keep it in the closet.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

lip_curl · May 6, 2015

accubond, you should switch to bergers. that will fix all your problems.

accubond · May 6, 2015

Lol, but then I would have to change my name.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

Cahunter805 · May 7, 2015

Did you test fire it? Did the bolt release work now?

accubond · May 7, 2015

I only dry fired it and everything seems fine, including the bolt release. The only thing Browning could tell me was there were no parts replaced, just some "minor" repairs.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free... it expects what never has and never will be." -Thomas Jefferson

sageadvice · May 7, 2015

I'd now sell it with assurances if it were mine.

Take the loss, if there is one, and move on if you can as life is too short to try all the nice completely reliable guns that are out there.

There's a Dandy hunting rifle out there with your name on it.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"