Designed to compete with Savage’s Axis and Ruger’s American rifles, the new A-Bolt 3 is a blend of the older A-Bolt pedigree and Browning’s newer X-Bolt design. Its fast, low-bolt operating design with synthetic stock and detachable magazine, combined with a good trigger and tang-mounted safety, offers shooters good value at only £499. The AB3 comes in one version called the Composite and at present features only limited calibres and barrel lengths. “Budget” does not mean poor quality, it just means cost-effective manufacturing techniques and fewer options in such areas as calibre and configurations. Barrelled action I find the A-Bolt’s action one of the best budget-priced systems around; it feels familiar and is not cheap in any way. The steel action has nice faceted edges and is drilled and tapped for the steel Weaver-type bases supplied and, as with the barrel, is finished in a tough matt/satin blued coating, making it look smart yet very practical.