Browning A-Bolt II Hunter 25 WSSM

[DaMatRat]

I don’t really care for Turners Outdoors but they currently have the Browning A-Bolt II Hunter 25 WSSM on sale. It comes mounted with a mounted with a Nikko scope and also comes with a case.
I have been planning to buy another rifle for my 12 year old son and was leaning towards something in .243.

Browning A-Bolt II Hunter 25 WSSM

I tried looking for some reviews on this rifle but could not any.

Can any of you guys tell me if this is a good, reliable rifle for this price?
Also, is the .25 WSSM enough to take pigs?

Any and all replies are appreciated.

 

[bigworm]

This would be a good rifle for all local game. It would be fine for pigs, as shot placement is just as important as nock down power. The super short magnum casing are great, especially if you are getting a gun for a youth or woman. You can find them in models that have shorter stocks, it is also easy to use the shorter action. The ballistics are pretty fast and ok shooting with about 15" drop at 400 yards, with the zero at 200 yards on a 85 grain bullet. If the price is right I would go for it. If money is not an issue, I would look at a 257 mag.

 

[myfriendis410]

I own an A-Bolt II Hunter in 7mm Rem. mag. and it works great. It's accurate, fast, soft kicking and I particularly like the matte finished stock and metal. The .25 wssm does suffer from unreliable feeding from the magazine in bolt guns. I don't know if this phenomenon is strictly a model 70 thing or if it is found in other bolt guns. The case is so fat relative to the neck that feeding problems can result. That's my only real concern with the cartridge; that and if you don't handload it is going to be expensive to feed. If you handload use a bonded core bullet like the accubond, or Hornady Interbond bullet in the heaviest weight allowable. Pick your shots and don't shoot a four hundred pound boar--you ought to be fine.

Have fun!

 

[257scramjet]

Don't shoot a 400 lb boar? Why not. The .257 wssm is a fine round i have shot many hogs,elk and deer with my 257 weatherby mag. I shot a bull in colorado(in my avatar) at 385 yds and dropped him on the spot. It is all about shot placement whether you shoot a .223 or a 300 win mag hit them wrong and your in trouble. I shoot 115gr. barnes X bullets and have never had a problem with penetration or dropping big hogs. You will not be dissapointed in the caliber if you decide to go this route. Good luck to you!

 

[Speckmisser]

Do you reload? If so, maybe it's not a bad round. It wouldn't be my first choice, but it should work OK, especially for a youth rifle

If you don't reload, finding ammo may become an issue.

 

[jaehunt]

The Browning is a fine rifle, I have one in .270 WSM and really like it. As far as caliber is concerned, .25WSSM is definately fine for hogs. I have killed 6 with my .257 Roberts so the .25 WSSM should do just the same. All things considered however, your thoughts on the .243 would also be a good choice. My mother has killed several hogs with her .243 and like the others have said, it comes down to shot placement. The only reason I mention the .243 is because the ammo is much cheaper and much easier to find.

You will be happy with the Browning, I am sure.

Jason

 

[sancho]

wow. as a kid, i read about the .257 weatherby mag. mostly ed weatherby stuff where he used it for his elk rifle. i fell in love and bought one. i have knocked down several big bodied mulies with it. it just shuts them off. i didnt have the nerve to use it for elk. i ended up dusting off my beater .06, and getting a big bull with it. to this day, i wish i would have blasted it with my .257. i buy the premium ammo loaded with the 120 gr partition. i think a .25 cal would be fine for pigs.

i may sell my .257 in order to buy a short mag. i want to streamline my life and own fewer firearms. i think a 300wssm is in my future.

 

[Live2hunt]

I'm not much of a short magnum caliber fan for:
1) Ammos are not as easy to come by and almost twice the cost.
2) The fat case crowd the magazine allowing less rounds in the magazine. If you need to make a few quick follow up shots, reaching in your pocket for more ammo will slow you down.

 

[dbuckslayer]

I just bought a Browning Comp Stalker in 25 WSSM at Wild Sports in Orangevale. I also got a great price, since the x-bolt is coming out, I think many are trying to sell off the A-Bolts. I originally wanted a 243WSSm but everyone was out, I went with the 25 which is a little bigger. I read a few reviews online , just google the round. The deal I got wass for 450 just the gun, but that beat MSRP by a long shot. The 25 is so light, I love it and I cant wait to use it on some CA blacktails and hogs in the future. I wouldn't worry about the ammo situation as much as everyone says, its not going to disappear and you wont have to reload, especially since Winchester is back and running again. In addition the mAGazine capacity does not bother me, I dont plan to get in situations where more than 4 shots is required. Also, you could get extra mags for the browning for quick loading. Just because not many others have caught onto the caliber doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it. Most people are like sheep, scared to try something new.

 

[Speckmisser]

dbuckslayer,

I won't completely contradict you, because I don't have a crystal ball...

One reason you got that rifle for almost half the MSRP is because it's not catching on quite like they thought it might. In my opinion, Browning and Winchester released a whole slew of short-fats in hope that a couple would catch on. The rest... well, acceptable losses and all that.

So far, if you watch what's going on out there, it looks like they may have had winners with the 300wsm and the 270wsm.

Other promising rounds like the 25wssm and 325wsm (yes, the one I put my money on) may not have the staying power. Already it looks like Federal has stopped producing the Barnes load for the .325, leaving only a couple of Winchester factory loads for this rifle. I would expect the same fate for the .25wssm, the .243wssm, and the .223wssm. I could be wrong.

For reloaders, it's not a problem. The bullets are plentiful for all of them, and brass is reasonably available as well. If you want to roll your own, there are a lot of options. But if you're reliant on factory ammo, you may find yourself in a fairly tight spot.

The A-bolt is a fine rifle, in my opinion and experience. You won't be sorry there. The caliber should be awesome for deer and OK on hogs... so you're fine there. But ammo availability will very likely become an issue if you don't reload... especially if you're gonna hunt in the no-lead zones.