Today I was looking at the guns at Baron Sport and was taken by the Browning T-Bolt.
It was stainless with a walnut stock, but in .17.
Had it been in .22 I would have bought it on the spot. I like the velocity of the .17, just not the weight of the bullet (17 gr!!).
Also, I have years of experience with the full gamut of .22 ammo and love every loading. I have split open jack rabbits out West that were running in K-country down a path with Velocitors (excellent hyper velocity rounds with a full 40gr hollowpoint that actually opens up!!) to doing silent work with CB Longs (CCI loading is the best).
So I need a new backpacking gun, as my Mark II Lakefield has never extracted properly from the day I bought it over 20 years ago.
I used to bring a Stainless Synthetic Mini-30 out hiking when I was out West as mild bear repellent (30-06 would be better by far on Grizzlies) but the thing was really heavy and it was before the accuracy retooling at the Ruger factory took place, so it is a pretty gun, but it doesn't deliver.
So I am looking for an extremely light gun to not shoot but to use in emergencies, as I am a very good hunter I can live off of birds if I was desperate. Also, you never know if you run into poachers or not, and having a gun as well keeps everyone polite.
I just firmly believe if you bring matches, a knife, a compass etc. you really do need to bring along at least a .22.
I am only trying to justify taking on another gun as I have two gun cabinets full of stuff. I seem to be horrible at sticking to a .22, a 12, and a .308. It is a curse.
Anyway, I was thinking of getting it as such: Browning .22 T-Bolt, Stainless Synthetic.
It already has the shoulder strap butler creek QD studs so I don't have to sweat putting a hole in a synthetic stock. Wood makes me nervous enough to install the studs. These are molded in so that is one big PITA out of the way.
Anyway I don't know the price but I have to order it (PITA) so I have already decided to get it unless someone speaks up and says it is a lemon, or inaccurate. I have no time for inaccurate guns, or ones that jam or don't extract.
Thanks guys!
It was stainless with a walnut stock, but in .17.
Had it been in .22 I would have bought it on the spot. I like the velocity of the .17, just not the weight of the bullet (17 gr!!).
Also, I have years of experience with the full gamut of .22 ammo and love every loading. I have split open jack rabbits out West that were running in K-country down a path with Velocitors (excellent hyper velocity rounds with a full 40gr hollowpoint that actually opens up!!) to doing silent work with CB Longs (CCI loading is the best).
So I need a new backpacking gun, as my Mark II Lakefield has never extracted properly from the day I bought it over 20 years ago.
I used to bring a Stainless Synthetic Mini-30 out hiking when I was out West as mild bear repellent (30-06 would be better by far on Grizzlies) but the thing was really heavy and it was before the accuracy retooling at the Ruger factory took place, so it is a pretty gun, but it doesn't deliver.
So I am looking for an extremely light gun to not shoot but to use in emergencies, as I am a very good hunter I can live off of birds if I was desperate. Also, you never know if you run into poachers or not, and having a gun as well keeps everyone polite.
I just firmly believe if you bring matches, a knife, a compass etc. you really do need to bring along at least a .22.
I am only trying to justify taking on another gun as I have two gun cabinets full of stuff. I seem to be horrible at sticking to a .22, a 12, and a .308. It is a curse.
Anyway, I was thinking of getting it as such: Browning .22 T-Bolt, Stainless Synthetic.
It already has the shoulder strap butler creek QD studs so I don't have to sweat putting a hole in a synthetic stock. Wood makes me nervous enough to install the studs. These are molded in so that is one big PITA out of the way.
Anyway I don't know the price but I have to order it (PITA) so I have already decided to get it unless someone speaks up and says it is a lemon, or inaccurate. I have no time for inaccurate guns, or ones that jam or don't extract.
Thanks guys!