FN Browning T-Bolt (with dovetail)

The History of Browning

Browning Arms Company was founded in 1880 by the American John Moses Browning, one of the most, if not the most prolific and influential firearm inventor of all time, with the help of his brothers, in Ogden, Utah. A large portion of John Browning's rifle designs have been acquired and produced by other big-name companies, like Winchester, Colt, Remington, Fabrique Nationale of Belgium, and Miroku. Among his most famous guns produced were the 1895 Colt Peacemaker machine gun, the Browning automatic rifle, the .45-caliber pistol, a variety of .30- and .50-caliber machine guns used in World War II; and the Browning Automatic-5 shotgun first introduced in 1902 and still produced to this day. Beside firearms, Browning is also a manufacturer of various other products, such as gun knives, shooting accessories, bicycles, and clothing. In 1977 the Belgian firearms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale (FN) purchased the Browning Company. In 1987 the US Repeating Arms Company (Winchester) was purchased from its former owners. The Winchester brand (licensed from Olin Corporation) was acquired at the same time by FN. In 1990, Société Générale sold the FN company to GIAT Industries.

In 1997, the entire FN family of companies (including Browning and the Winchester) was bought from GIAT by the government of a Belgian region named Waloon and was renamed to Groupe Herstal.

Browning T-Bolt (With Dovetail) Rifle Review

Browning T-Bolt is a rimfire straight-pull action rifle first introduced in 1964. Contrary to the modern version of the T-bolt series that uses four holes for mounting purposes, the 20^th-century version comes with a dovetail. It is named after the “T” shape made by the locking lug that sits perpendicular to the bolt body. This unique cock-on-close action shape with a short bolt travel allows for speedy reloading. When pulled, the bolt handle retreats rearward and moves to the right. When pushed forward to chamber a cartridge, the front circle-shaped part that functions as a locking lug locks with the housing of the receiver.

The new models of T-bolt feature a steel receiver and a special 10-round rotary magazine system which makes the rifle easy and fast to reload, whereas the older models use a removable box magazine holding five or ten cartridges. Inside the stock, some models have a small compartment dedicated to carrying an extra magazine. The trigger is externally adjustable for pull weight which can be done by turning a small screw located on the front bottom side of the trigger guard. On the neck of the stock, there is a thumb-operated safety catch. The original T-Bolt was on sale until 1974 in North America and 1984 in Europe. It was reintroduced in 2006.

Browning T-bolt

Figure 1: Browning T-bolt, chambered for .22 LR (Source: https://www.icollector.com/Belgian-Browning-T-Bolt-Straight-Pull-Rifle_i32490142)

Browning T-Bolt (With Dovetail) Calibers

Browning T-Bolt is chambered for the following calibers: *

.17 HMR
.22 LR
.22 WMR

*Caliber choice depends on the variant

Browning T-Bolt (With Dovetail) Variants

Browning T-Bolt is available in the following variants:

Target/Varmint
Sporter
Target with Muzzle Brake
Gray Laminated Target/Varmint Stainless
Suppressor Ready Carbon Fiber
Varmint Green Reaper Suppressor Ready
Micro Midas
Composite Sporter
Sporter Digital Green
Sporter Maple
Stainless Sporter
Varmint Special
Varmint Reaper Suppressor Ready
Varmint Special
Mossy Oak Bottomland
Sporter Maple AA
Suppressor Ready A-TACS LE
Speed
Composite Sporter

The original 20^th-century Browning T-Bolt features an 11 mm dovetail on the receiver for mounting purposes. Newer models come with holes instead of a dovetail.

The receiver of Browning T-bolt, chambered for .22 LR

Figure 2: The receiver of Browning T-bolt, chambered for .22 LR (Source: https://www.icollector.com/Belgian-Browning-T-Bolt-Straight-Pull-Rifle_i32490142)

Skica dimenzij

Figure 3: Browning T-Bolt receiver

A: /

B: /

C: /

D: 11 mm

BHU: /

Ø: /

R1: /

R2: /

Scopes Mounts Interchangeable With T-Bolt (With Dovetail)

Rifles That Have One-Piece Mounts Interchangeable With Browning T-Bolt (With Dovetail)

The necessary condition for rifles to have one-piece mounts interchangeable is that the mounting surfaces of these rifles match in every dimension. Rifles that have one-piece mounts interchangeable with Browning T-Bolt are the following:

Rifles with an 11 mm dovetail

Rifles That Have Two-Piece Mounts Interchangeable With Browning T-Bolt (With Dovetail)

For two-piece mounts to be interchangeable the mounting surfaces of the rifles must match in every dimension except the B dimension which can vary. This is because the distance between the two pieces of the mount is not fixed. Rifles that have two-piece mounts interchangeable with Browning T-Bolt are the following:

Rifles with an 11 mm dovetail

Best Scope Mounts For Browning T-Bolt (With Dovetail)

Fixed Mounts For Browning T-Bolt (With Dovetail)

We recommend these Shilba Aluminium Rings for their affordability and reliability.

Help Us Build Our Riflescope Mounts Database

If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.

Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: info@optics-trade

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Vomz VII 25.4 mm Mount for 12 mm Dovetail

Vomz Type VII 25.4 mm Mount for 12 mm Dovetail

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Vomz VIIa 30 mm Mount for 12 mm Dovetail

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Vomz Type III 25.4 mm Mount for Dovetail

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VIDEO

There are two terms found for similar thing: quick release scope mounts and quick detach scope mounts. Term quick release scope mounts is used mostly in Europe and quick detach scope mounts is used mainly in USA, although they mean the same thing. With these terms we describe a scope mount that can be quickly removed from the rifle in the field without using any tools and quickly attached back on the rifle when needed.

Main advantages:

possibility to use multiple scopes on the rifle,
easy transportation of the scope and the rifle separately,
if scope fails, it is possible to immediately detach it and use iron sights.

FIXED vs DETACHABLE scope mounts

Fixed scope mounts are mounted to the rifle with screws and sometimes even with glue. This means that it is impossible to attach or detach the scope mount using bare hands without using tools. It also means that they are not meant for constantly being attached on or detached off the rifle. Once you screw the mount on the rifle, it normally stays there for a longer period of use.

Detachable scope mounts offer possibility to attach or detach them without using any tools. This is extremely handy while transporting the rifle and the scope separately and it also offers multiple solutions of different optics on the same rifle. Detachable scope mounts can be attached or detached from the rifle in a matter of seconds, using bare hands.

Fixed Mount

Fixed Mount

DETACHABLE vs REPEATABLE scope mounts

It is important to know and understand expressions “detachable” and “repeatable” while talking about scope mounts. Term detachable scope mounts implies scope mounts that can be quickly attached or detached without using any tools. However, when you detach this kind of mount and attach it back on the rifle, it is recommended to zero the rifle before using it again. Procedure of detaching and again attaching the mount will probably need a sighting in before next shooting, because mount will not be secured on the rifle in the perfectly same position and conditions as it was before detaching it off the rifle.

On the contrary, repeatable scope mounts are most sophisticated mounts. These scope mounts are also detachable, however – they provide removing scope from the rifle and attaching it back again without zeroing the rifle every time. This means that they are made more precisely and that they are offering a possibility of using different optical sights / scope on the same rifle. These mounts are ideal for hunters who can use optical and iron sights interchangeably, depending on the needs in different situations. With the repeatable scope mounts, it is useful to keep them oiled as well as the upper part of the rifle, so that repeatability is more ensured. With a touch of oil, the repeatability might be better, because parts of the mount will always return to their previous locations.

Different types of repeatable scope mounts:

Pivot mounts,
Dentler mounts,
Picatinny repeatable mounts,
12 mm dovetail repeatable mounts (for break barrel rifles, such as Steyr Duett, Blaser B750, Fair Combi, Fair SLX 800, Bettinsoli rifles, etc.),
Original repeatable mounts, made by manufacturers of rifles for their rifles (Blaser mount, Sauer SUM mount, Mauser M03 mount, Steyr Monoblock mount, etc.).

Repeatable Mount

Repeatable Mount

TIP OFF / ROLL OFF vs SLIDE ON mounts

Nowadays, there are a whole lot of different possibilities, made for attaching riflescopes on the rifles. There are also a lot of different expressions, having the same meaning. It is good to know that tip off and roll off mounts are basically the same thing. They represent quick release scope mounts for dovetails and rails which can be rolled or tipped off the rail vertically to the side of the rail. On the contrary, there are also slide on mounts available on the market. They represent quick release scope mounts that can be slided on or off the rail or dovetail from front or rear side of the rail / dovetail. All of these expressions are mainly used for separate rings that can be attached to the rails / dovetails. As far as functioning the rifle, it does not matter which one of these mounts you choose – tip / roll off or slide on mounts. If they are installed correctly, they are all going to work. However, the main difference between them is the principle of attaching them on rails on dovetails.

Slide On Mount vs. Roll Off Mount

Slide On Mount vs. Roll Off Mount

FN Browning T-Bolt (with dovetail)

The History of Browning