2-BFA-419_ABolt III Rifle OM.
Important operating instructions for: B r o w n i n g ® A - B o l t ® III B o lt- A c t i o n R i f l e If you have any questions or comments regarding your new firearm, please contact us. Browning Consumer Information One Browning Place Morgan, UT 84050-9326 Phone: (801) 876-2711 browning.com Please use the space below to record information about your new firearm.
C o n t e n t s P a g e State Warning............................................................................................2 WARNING: You are Responsible for Firearm Safety..............................2 General Description and Operation........................................................9 Nomenclature..........................................................................................10 Serial Number.......................................................................................
S t a t e Wa r n i n g According to state law, California requires that firearm manufacturers, distributors and retailers include conspicuous, specific warnings with firearms sold in that state. W A RNING : Y o u A r e R e s p o n s i b l e F o r F i r e a r m Sa f e t y Failure to heed any of the following warnings could result in serious injury or death. As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities.
Please read and understand all of the cautions, warnings, notices, proper handling procedures and instructions outlined in this owner’s manual before using your new firearm. 1 ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE OF YOUR firearm POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION even though you are certain it is unloaded. Never point any firearm at anything you do not intend to shoot. Be extremely alert and aware of all persons and property within the range of your ammunition. 2 Never rely totally on your Firearm’s mechanical “safety” device.
3 Whenever you handle any firearm, or hand it to someone, always open the action immediately and visually check the firearm’s chamber to Make certain that the firearm is completely unloaded. Make certain the firearm does not inadvertently contain any ammunition. Remember, merely removing the magazine does not mean the chamber is unloaded. Always keep the chamber empty and the “safety” in the on safe position unless shooting is imminent. 4 Always WEAR Ear AND Eye PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING.
hunting from elevated surfaces such as treestands is dangerous. Doing so may increase the risk of mishandling a firearm. The following rules should always be observed by you and those you hunt with: Always make certain that the stand being used is safe and stable. Always make certain that your firearm is unloaded when it is being taken up and down from the stand. Always make certain that your firearm is not dropped from the stand, or dropped while it is being taken up or down from the stand.
10 Be alert to the signs of ammunition malfunction. If you detect an off sound or light recoil when a cartridge is fired, do not load another cartridge into the chamber. If your rifle fails to fire, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction for a minimum of 30 seconds. Rotate the ejection area of the firearm away from you, carefully open the action and remove the cartridge from the chamber. If the primer is indented, the defective cartridge should be disposed of in a way that cannot cause harm.
cartridges of nonstandard dimensions or which develop pressures in excess of commercially available ammunition which has been loaded in accordance with standards established by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI). 14 Make sure of adequate ventilation in the area that you discharge a firearm. Lead exposure can occur from discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms or handling ammunition.
20 BE CERTAIN your firearm is UNLOADED BEFORE CLEANING. Because so many firearm accidents occur when a firearm is being cleaned, special and extreme care should be taken to be sure your firearm is unloaded before disassembly, cleaning and reassembly. Keep ammunition away from the cleaning location. Never test the mechanical function of any firearm with live ammunition. 21 TEACH AND SUPERVISE FIREARMS SAFETY TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY, ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN AND NON-SHOOTERS.
25 WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE ON FIREARMS THAT HAVE BEEN ALTERED, ADDED TO OR SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED. Removal of metal from the barrel, or modifications of the firing mechanism and/or operating parts, may lead to a refusal of service on such firearms. We will charge you for parts and labor to return the firearm to original specifications. DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ALTER THE TRIGGER, SAFETY OR other PARTS OF THE FIRING MECHANISM OF THIS OR ANY OTHER FIREARM.
Figure 1 Cocking Indicator Bolt Unlock Button Bolt Receiver Barrel “Safety” Buttstock Magazine Trigger Recoil Pad Magazine Release Fore-end Muzzle Bolt Handle N o m e n c l at u r e In conventional firearm terminology the position and movement of firearm parts are described as they occur with the firearm horizontal and in the normal firing position: i.e.
Figure 2 Figure 3 “Safety” shown in the on safe position. “Safety” shown in the off safe position. When the “safety” is pushed forward, the “S” will be covered and a red dot will appear indicating that the rifle is in the “off safe” position and ready to fire (Figure 3). Do not depend on the red color alone to indicate your firearm’s safety status. Time, exposure to the elements, and the abrasive action of cleaning agents can erase it.
Figure 5 Do not depend on the red color alone to indicate your firearm’s safety status. Time, exposure to the elements, and the abrasive action of cleaning agents can erase it. Failure to follow this warning could result in serious injury or death. B o lt l o c k o v e r r i d e bu t t o n Press the bolt lock override button and lift the bolt handle. The bolt lock override button on the A-Bolt III rifle is located just behind the bolt handle (Figure 5).
in DEET-containing insect repellents, sunscreens, etc. Damage to camouflage, Dura-Touch and other finishes caused by chemicals is irreversible and not repairable. Cleaning Various exposed metal parts of your new firearm have been coated at the factory with a rust preventative compound. A fine, light gun oil is ideal for removing this compound and for giving your new firearm its first lubrication.
the firing pin simply turn the rear section of the bolt clockwise (when viewed from the indicator end) until the firing pin sear engages the notch in the bolt handle (Figure 6, page 13). On a new rifle where surfaces are not yet burnished from use, it may be difficult to rotate the bolt sleeve by hand. If so, carefully grasp the firing pin sear in a padded vise and lift the bolt handle. The A-Bolt III rifle comes packed in a foam-padded box with the bolt removed from the rifle.
Ammunition Do not use ammunition other than what is inscribed on the right side of the barrel. Examine every cartridge you put in your firearm. Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms or handling ammunition may result in exposure to lead and other substances known to cause birth defects, reproductive harm and other serious physical injury. Have adequate ventilation at all times. Wash hands thoroughly after handling ammunition.
Figure 8 Figure 9 Press the magazine release rearward. The magazine will fall into your hand. Press the cartridge straight down until it snaps into place under the feed lips. Do not carry your rifle with a cartridge in the chamber to avoid accidental discharge. When firing is no longer imminent, make sure the “safety” is in the on safe position and unload the chamber. Failure to follow these warnings could result in serious injury or death.
LO A DING T H E c ha m b e r f r o m t h e M A G A ZINE 1 Close the bolt and place the “safety” in the on safe position. 2 Load the magazine as explained previously. 3 Insert the loaded magazine into the rifle by inserting it into the magazine well until it is retained in place by the magazine catch. 4 Load the chamber by pressing the bolt lock override button and simultaneously lifting the bolt handle completely up.
6 Eject the magazine from the rifle by pulling the magazine release button rearward with your index finger. The magazine will drop into your hand. 7 Load a single cartridge into the magazine as explained previously. 8 Insert the fully-loaded magazine into the rifle. Single shot loading from the magazine If you wish to use your A-Bolt III as a single-shot rifle, it is recommended that you use the following single-shot loading procedure. 1 Remove the magazine from the rifle as explained on page 16.
3 Insert a single cartridge into the ejection port and place it on top of the magazine. 4 When ready to shoot, push the bolt completely forward and rotate the bolt handle down to load the single cartridge into the chamber. 5 Immediately verify that the “safety” is in the on safe position. THE Rifle IS now READY TO FIRE BY SIMPLY MOVING THE “safety” TO THE OFF SAFE POSITION and pulling the trigger.
After firing, or when shooting is no longer imminent, immediately PLACE THE “SAFETY” IN THE ON SAFE POSITION. Failure to follow these warnings could result in serious injury or death. EVEN WITH THE bolt OPEN AFTER SHOOTING, DO NOT ASSUME the rifle IS UNLOADED. ALWAYS INSPECT THE CHAMBER, barrel, feed mechanism AND MAGAZINE TO BE certain THE rifle is completely unloaded. Failure to follow these warnings could result in serious injury or death.
6 Place the empty magazine into the rifle until it is retained by the magazine catch. Unloading the magazine 1 Remove the magazine as explained previously. 2 Strip all the cartridges from the magazine by pushing forward on the rim of the top cartridge and slide each cartridge out of the magazine, one at a time. 3 Unload any extra magazines. Mounting a Scope Before mounting a scope, sight or other accessories to your rifle, place the “safety” in the on safe position.
5 Clean all oil, grease or dirt from the receiver top, screw holes and from the scope base parts. 6 Pre-position the bases on the receiver top to determine the best orientation of the bases. 7 Insert the screws through the bases and screw them into the receiver top using the correct tool. You must use screws of the appropriate length to ensure proper thread engagement.
cloth and mild dish soap (be sure to keep water out of the action). When cleaning your firearm’s bore and action, protect the external finishes from any contact with chemicals used. Also, avoid any contact between external finishes and other strong chemicals like those found in DEET-containing insect repellents, sunscreens, etc. Damage to camouflage, Dura-Touch and other finishes caused by chemicals is irreversible and not repairable.
If you encounter a function problem be sure to give your firearm a thorough cleaning to see if it solves the problem before seeking the services of a Browning Recommended Service Center or our Service Facility in Arnold, Missouri, or a qualified gunsmith. 1 Remove the magazine and bolt as explained previously. 2 Inspect the chamber and bore for powder fouling. A normal amount of powder residue can be expected and is not serious. It can usually be removed with a patch saturated with nitro solvent.
4 Inspect the barrel and chamber to be certain no patches have inadvertently been left in them. Remove any that remain. 5 Use a small brush or rag to remove dirt or other foreign matter from inside the receiver and other parts of the action. Lightly lubricate all moving parts with a high-quality, light gun oil. Use oil sparingly, a very light film is sufficient. A fine, light gun oil is ideally suited for this purpose. NOTICE! Do not pour large quantities of oil into the receiver or other parts.
Notice! NEVER ATTEMPT TO TAKE YOUR firearm APART FURTHER THAN EXPLAINED IN THIS owner’s MANUAL. Your firearm is a specialized, finely fitted mechanism. You may permanently damage it by attempting to disassemble the inner mechanism assemblies. If further disassembly for service or cleaning is required, take your firearm to a qualified gunsmith, or contact our Arnold, Missouri Service Facility as explained under “SERVICE and Repair” on page 27.
S e r v i c e o r r e pa i r If your firearm should require service or repairs, we suggest you first contact a local recommended Browning Firearms Service Center. To locate a service center visit browning.com, contact our customer service department or your Browning firearms dealer for the address of the Service Center nearest you. Otherwise, you may send your firearm directly to our service department in Arnold, Missouri.
Notes 28 12-BFA-419_ABolt III Rifle OM.
12-BFA-419_ABolt III Rifle OM.
browning.com BROWNING US: Morgan, Utah 84050-9326 BROWNING CANADA: Browning Canada Sports Ltd/Ltée, St-Laurent, Quebec, H4S 1W6 BROWNING INTL: Parc Industriel des Hauts-Sarts, B-4040 Herstal, Belgium 12-BFA-419_ABolt III Rifle OM.
