Browning A-Bolt Shotgun Owner's Manual
®
A-Bolt
Shotgun
bolt-action shotgun
owner’s manual
Important operating instructions for:
B R O W N I N G A - B O LT® S H O T G U N S
If you have any questions about your new firearm, this
owner’s manual or other Browning products, contact:
Browning Customer Service
One Browning Place
Morgan, UT 84050-9326
Phone: (800) 333-3288
browning.com
Please use the space below to record information about
your new firearm.
Model __________________________________________________
Serial Number ____________________________________________
Purchased From __________________________________________
Date of Purchase __________________________________________
T H A N K Y O U FO R C H O O S I N G A
B R O W N I N G A - B O LT S H O T G U N .
The Browning A-Bolt Shotgun is designed to look, shoot and feel like
a rifle to give you the advantage when hunting deer with slug
ammunition. The fully rifled barrel provides exceptional accuracy.
These firearms are designed with proven features for excellent
performance and accuracy.
With a reasonable amount of care, your A-Bolt Shotgun is designed
to give you many years of dependable, enjoyable service.
C O N T E N T S P A G E
You are Responsible for Firearms Safety ................................................2
General Description and Operation .......................................................9
Nomenclature ...........................................................................................9
Serial Number ..........................................................................................9
Initial Cleaning .......................................................................................10
Operation of the “Safety” ......................................................................11
Cocking Indicator ..................................................................................12
Inserting and Removing the Bolt ..........................................................12
Ammunition ...........................................................................................14
Magazine Capacity .................................................................................15
Loading ..................................................................................................15
Firing ......................................................................................................19
Unloading ...............................................................................................20
Sight Adjustment ...................................................................................21
Mounting a Scope ..................................................................................22
Trigger Adjustment ................................................................................23
Cleaning and Maintenance Suggestions ...............................................25
Cleaning the Magazine ..........................................................................28
Service or Repair ....................................................................................29
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Y O U A RE R ES P O NS I B L E F OR F IR E A RM S SA F E TY
Failure to Fo llow any oF the Followi ng warnings could resu lt
in seri ous injury or death.
As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How
seriously you take these responsibilities can be the difference between
life and death.
There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm.
At all times handle this firearm and all other firearms with intense
respect for their power and potential danger.
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 th e MuZZl e oF your Firear M Pointed in a saFe
direction even though you a re certa in it is unloade d.
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 r ely t otal ly on yo ur Fire arM’ s M echa nica l “ saFe ty”
device. liKe any Mech anic al devi ce, a “sa Fety ” c an soMetiM es
Fail; it can be ja rred or inadve rtently ManiPul ated in to an
unsaFe cond ition .
The word “safety” describes a firearm’s trigger block mechanism,
sear block mechanism, hammer block mechanism or firing pin
block mechanism. Mechanical “safeties” are designed to place your
firearm in a safer status, and no guarantee can be made that the
firearm will not fire even if the “safety” is in the on safe position.
Mechanical “safeties” merely aid safe gun handling and are no
excuse for pointing your firearm’s muzzle in an unsafe direction.
See “Operation of the Safety” on page 11 for instructions on the
operation of this firearm’s “safety.”
2
Remember, safe gun handling does not stop with your firearm’s
mechanical “safety” devices, it starts there. Always treat this firearm
with the respect due a loaded, ready-to-fire firearm.
Some firearms do not have a mechanical “safety.” Many target
firearms, lever-action firearms and pistols do not have manual
“safety” mechanisms. Therefore it is critical to read and
understand the owner’s manual for every firearm which explains
the safe operation of the firearm.
While it is a good idea to “test” your firearm’s mechanical “safety”
periodically for proper function, never test the “safety” while your
firearm is loaded or pointed in an unsafe direction.
3 whenever you h andl e a ny FirearM , o r hand it to soMeo ne,
always oPen th e actio n iMMediately a nd visu ally c hecK the
FirearM’s chaMbe r to MaKe certain th at the Firear M is
coMPletely unlo aded .
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 ea r and ey e P rote ction when shootin g.
Unprotected, repeated exposure to gunfire can cause hearing
damage. Wear hearing protection (shooting ear plugs or muffs)
to guard against such damage.
Wear shooting glasses to protect your eyes from flying particles.
Allow proper distance (eye relief) between a scope and your eye
when firing a scoped rifle, shotgun or pistol. Do not use
unorthodox shooting methods that could cause the rearward travel
of the slide or bolt of a firearm to contact your eyes, face or hands.
Always keep a safe distance between the muzzle of your firearm
and any persons nearby, as muzzle blast, debris and ejecting shells
could inflict serious injury.
3
Always wear eye protection when disassembling and cleaning any
firearm to prevent the possibility of springs, spring-tensioned parts,
solvents or other agents from contacting your eyes.
5 KeeP al l Firea rMs unloade d durin g trans Port, even
when st ored in a ho lste r, gun case, scabbar d o r
other c ontainer .
6 droPPing or ja rrin g a loaded Firea rM can cause
accidental disc harge .
This can occur even with the “safety” in the on safe position. Be
extremely careful while hunting or during any shooting activity
to avoid dropping any firearm.
7 hunting FroM elevated surFac es such as t rees tands
is dang erou s.
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. Remember, a loaded
firearm may discharge when dropped, even with the “safety” in the
on safe position.
8 store y our FirearM an d aMMuniti on seParat ely, well beyond
the reach oF childre n.
Take prudent safeguards to ensure your firearm does not become
available to untrained, inexperienced or unwelcome hands. Store all
firearms in secure, locked cases or a gun safe. Keep your firearm
unloaded when not in use.
9 beware oF barrel obstru ctio ns.
Mud, snow and an infinite variety of other objects may
inadvertently lodge in a barrel bore. It only takes a small
obstruction to cause dangerously increased pressures that
4
can damage your firearm and cause serious injury to yourself
and others.
beFore chec King For a barrel obstructi on, be ce rtain
your Fi rear M i s coMPl etely unlo aded , there is n ot a
live sh ell in th e chaMb er and the “saF ety” is in the
on saFe Positi on.
After assuring yourself that the firearm is completely unloaded,
open the breech or action and look through the barrel to be sure it
is clear of obstructions. If an obstruction is seen, no matter how
small it may be, clean the bore with a cleaning rod and patch as
described on page 27 of this owner’s manual.
10 be a lert to the s igns oF aMMun ition MalFun ctio n. iF you
detect an oFF sound or li ght recoil when a shell is Fire d,
do not load anot her shell into the chaM ber.
If your shotgun 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 shell from the chamber. If the primer is indented, the defective
cartridge should be disposed of in a way that cannot cause harm.
If the primer is not indented, your firearm should be examined by
a qualified gunsmith and the cause of the malfunction corrected
before further use. Glance down the barrel to make sure that no
obstructions remain in the barrel. Completely clear the barrel
before loading and firing again. Failure to follow these instructions
can cause extensive damage to your firearm and possible serious
injury to yourself and others.
11 never insert a shell oF the incorre ct gaug e i nto
any FirearM .
The gauge of your firearm is marked on the barrel. Store all shells
of different gauges in completely separate and well-marked
containers. Never store shells of mixed gauges in a common
container or in your pockets. See page 14 for more information on
the correct ammunition for your firearm.
5
12 exaMin e e very shel l you Pu t i n your F irear M.
We assume no responsibility for the use of unsafe or improper
firearm and ammunition combinations or damage or injury
caused by damaged ammunition. It is your responsibility
to read and heed all warnings in this owner’s manual and on
ammunition boxes. See page 14 for more information on the
correct ammunition for your firearm.
13 use only s aaMi aP Prov ed aMMu niti on.
The barrel and action of this firearm have been made with
substantial safety margins beyond the pressures developed by
established American commercial loads. Nevertheless, we can
assume no liability for incidents which occur through the use of
shells 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 adeq uate ve ntil atio n i n the ar ea that y ou
discharge a Fi rear M. lead exPosu re can occur Fr oM
dischargi ng Fire arMs in Poorly vent ilated area s, clea ning
FirearMs or ha ndli ng aMMu niti on.
Lead is a substance that has been known to cause birth defects,
reproductive harm and other serious injury. Wash hands
thoroughly after exposure to ammunition or after cleaning
a firearm.
15 do n ot snaP the Firi ng Pin on an eMPty c haMbe r; the
chaMber May not b e e MPty !
Treat every firearm with the respect due a loaded firearm, even
though you are certain the firearm is unloaded.
16 KeeP your Finger s away FroM the trigger while loading
and unloadi ng unti l s hoot ing is iM Mine nt.
6
17 be s ure oF yo ur tar get and b acKst oP, Partic ularly
during low light Peri ods.
Know the range of your ammunition. Never shoot at water or
hard objects.
18 always unload y our FirearM ’s chaM ber beFore crossin g
a Fence , cliMb ing a tre e, juMP ing a dit ch or negotiating
other o bstacles .
Never place your firearm on or against a fence, tree, car or other
similar object.
19 be d eFens ive and o n guard agains t unsaFe gun
handling around you a nd othe rs.
Don’t be timid when it comes to firearm safety. If you observe
other shooters violating any of these safety precautions, politely
suggest safer handling practices.
20 be c ertain yo ur FirearM is unload ed beFore cleanin g.
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 s uPervi se FirearMs s aFet y t o all MeMbers oF
your FaMily, es Pecia lly t o c hild ren and n on-s hoote rs.
Closely supervise newcomers to the shooting sports. Encourage
enrollment in hunting and shooting safety courses.
22 never drinK alco holi c bever ages or taKe any t yPe
oF drug s beFor e or duri ng shoo ting .
Your vision, motor skills and judgment could be dangerously
impaired, making your gun handling unsafe to you and to others.
7
23 read and heed all warn ings in this owner’s Ma nual , on
aMMunitio n boxes and with all acce ssori es that you install
on your Firear M.
It is your responsibility to secure the most up-to-date information
on the safe handling procedures of your Browning firearm. We
assume no liability for incidents which occur when unsafe or
improper firearm accessories or ammunition combinations
are used.
24 Practice Periodic Maintenance, avoid un au thoriZed servi cing.
Your firearm is a mechanical device which will not last forever,
and as such, is subject to wear and requires periodic inspection,
adjustment and service. Browning firearms should be serviced by
a Browning Recommended Service Center or by our Service
Facility in Arnold, Missouri. We assume no responsibility for
injuries suffered or caused by unauthorized servicing, alterations
or modifications of Browning firearms.
25 we r eserv e t he righ t to reFu se serv ice on Fi rearM s that
have b een alter ed, added to or su bsta ntial ly chan ged.
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 c ircu Msta nces, alter the trigger , saFet y
or othe r Parts oF the Firi ng Mech anis M oF this or any
other F irea rM. Fai lure to obey th is warnin g M ay result in
injury or death to yourse lF or ot hers.
B E C A R E F U L !
8
Fi gur e 1
“Safety”
Cocking
Indicator
Bolt Handle Bolt
Receiver
Rear Sight
Barrel
Front Sight
Muzzle
Recoil Pad
Buttstock
Trigger
Magazine
Release
Hinged
Magazine
Fore-end
G E N E R A L D E S C R I P T I O N AN D O P E R A T I O N
The Browning A-Bolt Shotgun is a bolt-action shotgun that operates
by lifting the bolt handle, drawing the bolt rearward and then sliding
the bolt forward and rotating the bolt downward until it stops. This
process takes a shell from the magazine and loads it into the chamber
for firing. The A-Bolt Shotgun’s short, 60° bolt lift lets you cycle the
action rapidly for quick follow-up shots. Because of the short lift of
the bolt, there is ample scope clearance. Other significant features
include a convenient detachable box magazine and thumb-operated
top-tang “safety.”
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., the muzzle is forward or in
front; the buttstock is rearward or to the rear; the trigger is downward
or underneath; the sight is upward or on top. For general parts
nomenclature, refer to Figure 1.
S E R I A L N U M B E R
The serial number of your firearm can be found on the right side
of the receiver, in front of the bolt handle. Record this number
in the space provided at the front of this owner's manual for
future reference.
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