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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 20th-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 20th-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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