T Bolt Target Varmint

I’m not a fan of short barrels for 17HMR calibre rifles; as I feel that more tube, say up to 20” gets the best out of it. You can of course go longer, as my original Ruger M77/17 All-Weather came with a 24” pipe, which was way over the top. And very quickly got chopped back to 20”, where it gave the promised 2500/2550 fps with the standard, 17-grain fodder!

So, when I asked Browning if I could test and re-visit their T-Bolt rimfire in 17HMR, I was pleased that they sent the heavier barrelled Varmint model in stainless steel with laminate stock, but dubious as it was the 16.5” carbine version. However, and as the test proved, my misgivings on performance with shorter barrels was perhaps not as bad as I first thought!

Reacquainting

The T-Bolt has been around for many years, being first introduced in 1965, then discontinued in 1974; it’s also near unique in the rimfire pantheon, as it uses a straight-pull action, only sharing this slot with the Anschutz 1727, though at considerably less money and with a better designed, higher capacity magazine system and safety! The design has changed a bit in terms of materials used and the feed system, but the action is near the same. The bolt handle sticks out at 90° to the receiver and as you pull it back it hinges in and in doing so disengages a rear-locking cross bolt from the receiver. Further movement then allows the bolt to move back and eject in the normal manner

Pushing it forward feeds and chambers and the whole movement is practical. The original feed system was your typical 5 and 10-shot, single column box magazine. Browning re-introduced the rifle with many improvements and model/finish options as we shall see, which certainly makes it far more attractive. At one time Musgrave Rifles of South Africa offered a licence-built copy of the T-Bolt, which had the nasty habit of if you pulled the action open too aggressively the bolt would come out and give you a fat lip. I speak from personal experience, happily not so the Browning version!

 

Tang-mounted

Two aspects of the design appeal to me; first, the tang-mounted safety catch, which sits right under the firing hand thumb and is perhaps of all the systems I’ve encountered offers the least disturbance to the shooting position! You’re on target and a quick swipe forward of your thumb takes the rifle off SAFE and on to FIRE. Second, the magazine; called a double helix, is consists of two, 5-round drums one on top of the other, in a steel and semi-opaque polymer housing giving a capacity of 10-rounds regardless of calibre.

This flush-fit design also has a wheel that allows you to take the weight off the spring and load easily. The release catch is at the front of the well and scalloped out for easy operation.

Given the model of rifle you pick, the Composite Sporter (synthetic stocked) version includes a second, spare magazine in the butt plate. Problem is, if you put the butt on the ground in mud or debris there’s every chance some crud is going to get jammed up there! The two wood stocked options do not offer this facility, nor a spare mag either! Other features include a cocked action indicator and adjustable trigger.

 

Choices, choices

On the matter of model choice, you get three: the Composite Sporter – blued steel finish with black synthetic stock with slight comb. Calibres – 22LR and 17HMR in both 22” and 16.5” slim (sporter-weight) barrel options, plus the spare mag as mentioned. Though a tad long, the 22” will get the best out of the HMR, though is wasted on the 22LR, as 16.5” is more than enough! The Sporter is your classic walnut stock with flat comb and pays visual homage to the original 1965 gun apart from the magazine system. Again, you get 22LR and 17HMR chamberings with a 22” tube in 22LR and 16.5” in both 22 and 17. Finally the Target Varmint Stainless, this is the eye-catcher, with a grey laminate stock raised comb and wider forend and a heavy barrel. Calibres are 22LR and 17HMR in choices of 16.5” and 19.25” in both. I think Browning missed a trick by not offering a 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (22 WMR) version in any of the models, as this calibre is having a bit of a resurgence!

All guns come threaded ½ x20 UNF with protector and feature QD sling studs, so a bipod is not an issue! Pleasingly, the Composite Sporter and Sporter offer a left-hand option; nice one Browning, but confusingly, this facility is not extended to the Target Varmint according to the website. The receivers are drilled and tapped for bases, which come fitted.

 

First impressions

As I said, the Target Varmint is a goodlooking rifle and the heavier barrel should produce better performance. The length of pull (LOP) is a tad short at 13.5”, and if you are of the larger persuasion, feels a bit cramped in the shoulder, the forend is flat-based, wide and free-floats the tube. The magazine is a doddle to fill courtesy of the loading wheel; just take the weight of the spring, drop the round in and repeat. The action cocks on closing and you do need to get a good grip on the forend to maintain your shooting position.

The trigger broke at a firm 4 lbs with a bit of take up, workable but not as light as I like. So, time to see what the adjustment was like. Turning the adjuster clockwise (screwing in) at the front of the guard did not do a lot for the pull but made the break heavier, be aware you can screw it too much to where the mechanism locks up. Backing it off (anti-clockwise) did not do a lot for the firm take up, but I reckon it dropped the release to about 3 lbs, so an improvement!

The bolt has a cocked action indicator system, which consists of the top of the firing pin bar being infilled with red paint on top, so it’s visible. However, this soon wears off. But, the stripping catch at the rear of the bolt channel sits low when the gun is cocked and moves up when it fires. On that point, bolt removal is a bit different too! You cock the action and set to SAFE (pull back) then open the bolt just far enough to press in on the catch and withdraw it.

 

Shooting impressions

I fitted up the rifle up with a Minox ZX5 3-15x56 scope in Sportsmatch reachforward rings, which helped me with its shorter LOP. Up front, a Harris BRS bipod and a Wildcat Panther 17 moddy, which gives an edge for 17HMR moderation. Ammo went to Hornady 17-grain V-MAX and Winchester 20-grain jacketed hollow point. Despite my views on the 16.5” barrel and 13.5” LOP the Target Varmint feels handy and manoeuvrable, which is to be appreciated!

In a 20” rifle, the Hornady load is running at an average of 2650 fps, which is damn quick for the calibre, in the Browning it lost around 75 fps @ 2575 fps, which still lets it sit above the advertised 2550 fps. Winchester’s 20s were saying 2375 fps on the box, which dropped to around 2335 fps and obviously gave a more curved trajectory. It did however, moderate better, which is a consideration!

 

Ballistics

Both loads were zeroed at 110-yards, off the bench the Hornady shot just over the ½” at 0.65” and the Winchester just a bit more at 0.73”. Muzzle energy on the Winchester was 247 ft/lbs and 1251 fps/69 ft/lbs at my maximum, ethical range of 200 yards with -10.55” of drop. The Hornady was giving 255 ft/lbs (muzzle and 1394 fps/73 ft/lbs at 200 with -7.66” of drop. Though the 17-grain loads seem best, it is a bit more destructive and I have always found the 20-grainer is equally as deadly but less of a meat mangler when shooting for the pot!

Something I have noticed on previous T-Bolt tests, is that even with the safety ON, the bolt can be opened accidently if it catches on clothing or foliage. So, you need to be aware of this and keep an eye on it, as it has caught me out a few times, especially at night!