Browning X-bolt opinions

proonur

proonur

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Find myself lusting after an X-bolt in 300 WSM and I'm looking for opinions of current owners.
I read that there is a built in recoil pad on these babies and that sounds nice to me. I've combed Browning's site looking to see if you can get a muzzle brake as well, but am coming up empty. Anyone aware of whether or not that's possible?
Absolutely love the feel, fit and finish of the short magnum model and I have shot an A-bolt, and loved it.
 
Just finished sighting in my new xbolt in .308 and I like it. 1 1/2 " groups hornady factory 165gr. Only complaint is I 'm still waiting for spare mag to come in. Great ergonomics and the palm swell is comfortable.
 
That sounds good to me!
My buddy who owns the A-bolt I shot is convinced I'll lose the magazine because it's fully removable, but I don't see that as a real problem--- anyone lose one yet?
 
Just to start a heated conversation...........
I owned a Browning A bolt stainless stalker in 30-06 about 10 years ago. I initially bought it because it was the only fully stainless rifle on the market at that time. When I first started using it, I didn't like the fact that the floorplate would clunk when I carried it. After I'd shot it about a thousand times (probably cycled it another 2000 times), I noticed a small hole wearing through the aluminum on the bolt body. I sold that gun ASAP, and swore off of any Browning product.
When the X bolt came out, curiosity killed the cat, and I went down to the local gun shop and handled one. These guns don't even appear to be from the same company. Very nice fit and finish, and the metal has the high pitched "ping" of properly heat treated metal, vs. the "clunk" of soft metal that the A bolt always seemed to have. The trigger is very nice for a factory trigger (makes the trigger on the Ruger Hawkey feel sick; most of the new ones do though). Like Tikka, they actually had someone who knew where to use plastics design the thing. The one that I handled was very nicely proportioned (it was in 308win I believe). The only thing that I can honestly say that I don't like is having 4 holes for each base; this seems to over-complicate things, and could lead to problems if there quality control slips.
I'm not a fan of detachable magazines, but they seem to be inescapable these days. If the rifle was a keeper, I would always have a spare on hand, just in case.
Mike
 
the hammer said:
Just finished sighting in my new xbolt in .308 and I like it. 1 1/2 " groups hornady factory 165gr. Only complaint is I 'm still waiting for spare mag to come in. Great ergonomics and the palm swell is comfortable.
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1.5 inch groups.....not exactly stellar accuracy. I have a shotgun that can produce that kind of groups.
 
The 1 1/2 " group is from the first and only box (20rds) of ammo thru it. I plan to try some reloading for it. I myself prefer a detachable mag as it speeds loading and unloading when on and off a quad.
 
the hammer said:
The 1 1/2 " group is from the first and only box (20rds) of ammo thru it. I plan to try some reloading for it. I myself prefer a detachable mag as it speeds loading and unloading when on and off a quad.
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That grouping could be easily explained by anything from too many coffees to cold outside! It doesn't worry me much to be honest.

Mike, I agree with your observations of the fit and finish too. It really does have a very polished feel and heft compared to the A-bolt. I'm not too concerned about the 4 holes per mount. I hope I'm not wrong about that though, because I do see your point.

Keep the first hand experience replies coming please.
 
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I despise Abolts, but do not mind the new Xbolts. They're much better designed rifles, they will be popular in the years to come I am sure
 
Handled both the X-Bolt and a new Model 70 a while back and the Browning removed any nostalgic reasoning for owning a new M70 ever again. The X-Bolt felt right - fit and finish were very well done, wood was great - palm swell was the right size and it just seemed to be a much nicer rifle. I'll give the old 70 it's dues - but unless this new one is reevaluated and "slicked up" it won't ever be what it once was. I've never been a huge A-Bolt fan either, but I've seen a few shoot and they did it very, very well. If I had the overwhelming desire to buy a new hunting rifle, it'd be hard not to take a serious look at the X-Bolt, even for a Tikka fan like me...
 
Bought a x-bolt composite stalker off a fellow gunnut last week in .30-06, I was impressed with the feel and handling of the firearm. Mounted a VX2 today and off to the range with the cheapest ammo I could find, federal power shock 180gr., soft points. Recoil was great with the factory pad, the trigger was awesome. Fired 8 shots in all and these were the last 3 from 100yds, impressed with the accuracy to say the least.


3006groupjpg.jpg
 
303carbine said:
1.5 inch groups.....not exactly stellar accuracy. I have a shotgun that can produce that kind of groups.
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Believe it or not a 1.5" group is well inside minute of deer out to 300 yards which is farther than most hunters should shoot anyway. Looks like "the hammer" is one of the few guys on here honest enough to post a group that is not 1/2 MOA or less for every rifle we own, unlike 90% of the rest of us.
 
The fact is that Browning's current redesigned offerings are cheapened down versions of their predecessors. The Shortrac and Longtrac are cheap plastic BAR's and the the X-Bolt is a cheaper A-Bolt. Browning has likely brought in consultants that have advised them to increase profit margin and maintain current pricing. I like Browning guns but you can have these new models, they are stopping short of moving production to China in my opinion. Cheers,

Patrick
 
Campbery; you took a new gun to the range, and only managed to fire 8 shots?
phinton81; I could not disagree with you any more than I do on this issue. as I alluded to in my earlier post I DO NOT LIKE BROWNING IN THE SLIGHTEST. bar actually shooting the x bolt; it feels better, the metal that is there is of higher quality and better finished, it has a way better trigger, and in my oppinion is better designed than the A bolt.
Mike
 
mike shickele said:
Campbery; you took a new gun to the range, and only managed to fire 8 shots?
Mike
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Just 8 shots, cold day and lots of snow, wanted to get the rifle sighted-in and see how it would shoot, great first impression. I've never liked the A-bolts but this rifles handles more like my Sakos and from what I've seen so far shoots just well!

Don't enjoy firing too many shots with high-powered rifles anyhow, more for killing, save the range time for rimfire or my .222, Ryan
 
Campbery said:
Bought a x-bolt composite stalker off a fellow gunnut last week in .30-06, I was impressed with the feel and handling of the firearm. Mounted a VX2 today and off to the range with the cheapest ammo I could find, federal power shock 180gr., soft points. Recoil was great with the factory pad, the trigger was awesome. Fired 8 shots in all and these were the last 3 from 100yds, impressed with the accuracy to say the least.


3006groupjpg.jpg
Click to expand...

Doesn't look like he needed any more than 8 shots with groupings like these.
Very impressive.
 
X- Bolt

I owned an A - Bolt , sold it and I just picked up a new X-Bolt in .338 win Mag ** Composite Stalker **
Mounted a Bushnell 3.5 x 10 x 50 mm on it , the fit and finish of the rifle is superior to the A- Bolt , the four screw mounts are well made and fit on the rifle wth out a glitch , I like the slim feel of the rifle , and the detachable mag is going to be more convenient than the floor plate of the A-Bolt for hunting , I am putting togethier some loads for it and will have a range report soon :sniper:
 
X-Bolt opinions

I have one in 25-06, first box of factory ammo grouped around 1.5" as well, I started handloading for it right away, picked a load from the Nosler manual,
.75" groups without even playiing around.
 
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