Looking for a gunsmith

Waste of money imo. Just get a new gun.

Yup, had a Smith & Wesson 1500 (Howa) action re-barreled last year and it's shooting less than .500 MOA now. I harvested an Antelope at 285 yards and it shot exactly where I wanted it to.

Before you send it out for a barrel make sure it's floated properly and bedded correctly.

Reulet Gun Works in Covington

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I have an older browning a-bolt that doesn’t group very well.

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What kind of groups are you currently getting?
What kind of rings, scope base, scope and ammo are you using?
Has it previously shot good or always shot badly?

If you're inclined to a little DIY project, these are the things I look at when one of my guns "misbehaves." There are a lot of things you can probably do yourself before having to buy a new barrel or a new gun.

You're going to have to work through a stepwise process to figure it out. The most common culprits are a high point in the stock creating pressure on the barrel, a problem w/ the scope, a problem w/ the rings/base or a problem w/ the action screws. Erratic shots sound more like a problem w/ the scope, ring, mounts or action screws. If there's a problem w/ a pressure point, the shots will gradually move in the direction AWAY from the pressure point as the barrel heats up. The following is my approach to a problem gun. Carry out the steps in whatever order you're most comfortable.

1. Rule out a problem w/ the scope by changing to a scope you already know to be RELIABLE.
2. Remount the base, using BLUE Loc-Tite (NOT red). I always use the $10 Weaver bases, even on my prairie dog handguns. Easy, and cheap enough, to try your rifle w/ a Weaver base. Before installing the scope base w/ Loc-Tite, individually check the length of each screw. Put the base in place, then screw in a screw into the intended hole. If the screw is too long, cut off the excess w/ a Dremel tool or get a new screw. The screw should have a minimum of 3 threads for it to have adequate strength. If it's too short, it will need to be replaced. Repeat this step w/ each screw in a different hole.
3. Remount the rings. I don't use Loc-Tite on the rings. Be sure the screws attaching the upper/lower rings are equally tightened. If the rings have not been lapped, do so. If you don't have the equipment to lap them or don't feel comfortable doing it, change the rings to Burris Signature Z-Rings (the ones w/ plastic inserts).
4. Check for any high spots in the barrel channel or action part of the stock.
5. I'm not sure if Browning does, or doesn't, use a pressure point in the barrel channel. If there is a pressure point, the barrel should be free floated from the pressure point to just in front of the action; if not, make it so. If it still doesn't shoot well, free float the pressure point at the forend of the stock. If needed, you can always recreate a pressure point on the barrel at the front tip of your stock by putting 1-2 business cards at the very front of the stock in the barrel channel. You can Google all this or look on YouTube.
6. Check the action screws as mentioned above.
7. Use a torque wrench (and follows it's recs) to adjust the mount, rings and action screws. Some gun actions respond better to torquing the action screws in a particular order. I don't know about the Browning action, but you can Google it.
8. Try different ammo. Sometimes a gun barrel needs more than 3-4 shots w/ a particular load before it starts shooting that load well.
9. I don't worry to awfully much about letting a barrel cool down entirely between shots. A well bedded gun should be reasonably accurate even w/ a hot barrel. When I go on prairie dog hunts, it's not unusual to shoot 100-200 shots/day. I can promise you my barrels will get hot, but the guns will still be VERY accurate.
10. Be sure the crown is not damaged.
11. Be sure the gun is clean, but use the proper equipment, i.e. a one piece steel rod (appropriate caliber) w/ a good bore guide. More gun barrels are ruined by poor cleaning technique than by being dirty.
12. Try different ammo. Each gun is different as to what ammo it likes. When Hornady first came out w/ the SST bullet, I worked up a load w/ it for my 270. I couldn't hardly keep the shots on a notebook sized sheet of paper. The gun shot Hornady regular spire point bullets just fine, but didn't like the SST.

Keep us updated.

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Butler accuracy in woodworth . 318 448 0414

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2nd this, known Mr. Tommy for a long time. Does great work.

I sent mine to Pac Nor. They installed the barrel, trued the action, and basically returned a custom gun.

Contact folks at Hill Country Rifles in New Braunfels, TX. They do an accurizing package that may work for you w/o re-barreling. Have done several and they are outstanding. As for a local gunsmith, Tommy Butler in Woodworth is very good.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful