Browning X-Bolt... How come you don't see them in the long Range/Precision game?

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Brappp306

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Sorry if this has been covered. But just curious to why you don't see the X-Bolts in this part of the forum? I recently acquired an X-Bolt in .308 which has amazed me! I have had some accurate rifles such as: Savage 10TR, ATRS built 300WinMag, Rem700 Long Range. But this Browning has put them to shame out of the box. The quality is amazing all around. 60 degree bolt throw is wonderful. Trigger breaks like glass, no complains with it at all. Factory threaded muzzle break.

I took it out on the weekend, after sighting it in and performing barrel break in, I tried an accuracy test with some factory Hornady Precision Hunter 175gr at 109 yards exact. These were the results, the first 5 shot group(.790) was directly after cleaning the barrel. The second one(.370) I took a little more time and surprised myself with this group. Couldn't believe it actually. I understand it was only one group that size(all the ammo I had left haha), but I am going to try the .75 MOA challenge so I'll have a more accurate judgement.

Also curious to why there is not many aftermarket goodies for these rifles? Such as stocks, triggers, ect...

Thanks!

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Most high volume target shooters (versus hunters) tend to swap out that factory barrel for a custom Kreiger/Bowen/Shilen heavy barrel.
IIRC, I heard the Browning A-Bolt/X-Bolt factory barrels have to be swapped out with some ridiculous #####ing torque on tight threads, compared to Winchesters-Rugers-Remingtons.

maybe
 
That is all I have ever heard too. The barrel swap may be difficult. So is it the 20" ATACS model you have??
My little 1990-2000 A- bolt 270 has done a best 3 shot @ 100 of 5/8". Smooth bolt, tweaked trigger, bedded.
 
I would think that 700's and their clones are popular because of the great accuracy success from the start - back in the 60's.

Newer actions have a smaller following and the most recent Browning's with the extremely tight factory threads are a problem for some. Once the factory barrel is off though, it's just another barreling job.
 
Not everyone will agree with me , But browning has built some really shtty rifles over the years. I personally had a experience with an Abolt 2, The barrel has some wretched pitting right out of the box new, It took me a week of messing around with it before i got my hands on a bore scope, and realized what was going on ... The experience only got better when i sent it back to browning, and they told me to go fk myself. Around the same time, one had blown up at our range. The guy who had it was shooting a group , had fired 2 shots ... the barrel split like a pealed banana on the 3rd shot. Something in the barrel ? who knows. There had been a couple similar story's going around at that time, from my own experience ... i believe firmly that their barrels were garbage


Although the Xbolt does seem to be a much nicer rifle ... Do to my persoanal experiences with browning, and the company ... I wouldn't piss on one if it was on fire
 
My old A-bolt is a beauty. Never sell it. Interested in that new ATACS one. Although it's more money than a Savage, the bolt will be smoother with less lift. A CTR may be better for similar money, but with higher priced mags than an X-bolt I would think. If someone never messes with the rifle, ( new stock etc ). I'm sure the X is a good pick. But I don't own one so........
 
Well if it is going to shoot like this I would never even consider a barrel swap lol. Last going I'd do! I just want a chassis for it.

It is a 26" Barrel, not the atacs. Limited Stalker LR

And I feel the same with Remington, Id never buy one again. I don't find the out of box accuracy to be near that of the Browning, Savage, or even the TC venture(From actual experience). Plus this Browning is twice the quality of my rem700 in the same price range.
 
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Lead hammer said:
I have not heard of a chassis for an Xbolt. One of the reasons they are not as popular.
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I would guess this. Savage, Remington, tikka, (even now howa and weatherby) are the popular rifles. Come with lots of aftermarket support.

Browning seems to be something the guy who takes 5 shots, hits paper. Goes out to drop a deer then oils it and puts it away use's. Just what I have seen in person.

Also those damn stickers everywhere drive me nuts. I asked my younger sister who is in university if she knows what browning initially made... She said cloths...

So I dare say as they branched out with other lines, they fell to the back burner in the gun community.
 
Silver Hammer said:
Not everyone will agree with me , But browning has built some really shtty rifles over the years. I personally had a experience with an Abolt 2, The barrel has some wretched pitting right out of the box new, It took me a week of messing around with it before i got my hands on a bore scope, and realized what was going on ... The experience only got better when i sent it back to browning, and they told me to go fk myself. Around the same time, one had blown up at our range. The guy who had it was shooting a group , had fired 2 shots ... the barrel split like a pealed banana on the 3rd shot. Something in the barrel ? who knows. There had been a couple similar story's going around at that time, from my own experience ... i believe firmly that their barrels were garbage


Although the Xbolt does seem to be a much nicer rifle ... Do to my persoanal experiences with browning, and the company ... I wouldn't piss on one if it was on fire
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Sorry to hear of your grief. Myself I own an A Bolt 2 in 22 Hornet and a Browning Mountain Rifle rifling twist for 50 calibre RB.
Both are very accurate and trouble free for myself.
 
Brappp306 said:
Well if it is going to shoot like this I would never even consider a barrel swap lol
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Barrels do wear out. If it is a royal pain to change them then people don't really consider it. There is almost no aftermarket support either. Everyone I have seen buy one uses it 3-4 times a year to sight in and go hunt.
 
Brappp306 said:
Sorry if this has been covered. But just curious to why you don't see the X-Bolts in this part of the forum? I recently acquired an X-Bolt in .308 which has amazed me! I have had some accurate rifles such as: Savage 10TR, ATRS built 300WinMag, Rem700 Long Range. But this Browning has put them to shame out of the box. The quality is amazing all around. 60 degree bolt throw is wonderful. Trigger breaks like glass, no complains with it at all. Factory threaded muzzle break.

I took it out on the weekend, after sighting it in and performing barrel break in, I tried an accuracy test with some factory Hornady Precision Hunter 175gr at 109 yards exact. These were the results, the first 5 shot group(.790) was directly after cleaning the barrel. The second one(.370) I took a little more time and surprised myself with this group. Couldn't believe it actually. I understand it was only one group that size(all the ammo I had left haha), but I am going to try the .75 MOA challenge so I'll have a more accurate judgement.

Also curious to why there is not many aftermarket goodies for these rifles? Such as stocks, triggers, ect...

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Good post, and good question.
Couple years ago I was looking for a precision rifle in a smaller caliber for targets and critters. Was looking at a couple Savage models that were in my price range. Then I looked at an X-Bolt. Beautiful gun, smooth action and wonderful bolt-throw. Didn't buy it as it was more than I wanted to spend at the time.
Ended up buying a Weatherby I fell in love with. (Which all kitted is about the same cost as the Browning.) I'd still take the Weatherby over the Browning, but not to take anything away from it, was a great rifle.
 
I have a Xbolt 300wm an I love it but I am but it's my hunting rifle mostly get gets used a few times a year an it shoots great sub moa but I had rather bring out the Savage or Stevens 200 out to hit gongs all day an since I have lots of after market on those they are my range toys
 
I am shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor Browning X-Bolt Target(its my brothers) its staying 1/2 MOA out to 1200 yards so far.I have nothing bad to say about it and really enjoy shooting it.
My brother has a a-bolt target in 300 WSM and its no slouch either.
A friend shoots a 308 eclipse and it is hard to beat some days also.
I have had a few brownings over the years and the only complaint I have is that there is no aftermarket stuff for them,I have heard a couple gunsmiths complain about them and how hard they are to rebarrel.
I have had quite a few rem 700's that I like also and they have all shot great to,but did have to bed a couple of them to get them to shoot, lots of aftermarket stuff for them and no complaints.
I think the browning is a great rifle right out of the box and have really never had to do anything to them,other than load development.
Theres my 2 cents worth.
 
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