A-Bolt or X-Bolt?

Mount Sweetness

Mount Sweetness

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Which do you prefer and why?

If the deal was right would you still happily take the one which you did not prefer?

What do Browning Bolt action rifles compare to less days?
....are they crowded in with the Tikka t3, Ruger M77, CZ....or are they above in any way?

Do they have a stand out feature? Are they poor in any way?

Thanks for your help
 
On the xbolt I am not a fan of the plastic mag or the button on the bolt. After handling a xbolt, ruger m77, model 70, and cz I would take the cz or model 70 over any of them. I also found the brownings to be very light compared to the others.
 
People are not going to like this reply but here goes ... There Both Junk so ... Buy the X-Bolt , at least its junk that will shoot good
 
If you want an A-Bolt,, a new A-bolt that is, you better act fairly fast because they are listed as "historic product" on the Browning web sight. I can't vouch for the X-Bolt, but I can tell you the A-bolt is a very good rifle. I have had one for 12 years and don't have anything negative to say about it. I can tell you that they are far from junk,....They are very accurate, well built, smooth cycling, and nice looking rifles. I'm not sure why pilot2001 would call them junk,...maybe he has had a bad experience with them but I have never heard anyone ever refer to a Browning A-Bolt as junk. I'm not trying to stir the pot here pilot2001 but you could compare these rifles to custom grade $5000 rifles and you could still not classify Brownings as junk.
 
Tabacco Brook said:
If you want an A-Bolt,, a new A-bolt that is, you better act fairly fast because they are listed as "historic product" on the Browning web sight. I can't vouch for the X-Bolt, but I can tell you the A-bolt is a very good rifle. I have had one for 12 years and don't have anything negative to say about it. I can tell you that they are far from junk,....They are very accurate, well built, smooth cycling, and nice looking rifles. I'm not sure why pilot2001 would call them junk,...maybe he has had a bad experience with them but I have never heard anyone ever refer to a Browning A-Bolt as junk. I'm not trying to stir the pot here pilot2001 but you could compare these rifles to custom grade $5000 rifles and you could still not classify Brownings as junk.
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Oh god no ! I have a $5000 custom rifle and I've had an A-bolt and I can tell for certain that there is no comparison !!!

Myself and several other friends have had nightmare experiences with A-bolts , the 2 major ones were one had the barel banana at the range brand new during break in. The action blew up on another one at our range during break in. I had one come brand new from the factory with barrel pitting so bad it would never shoot. Browning basically told me to f$$ck off. Luckily the shop I bought it from went good on it. Several other that would never come close to shooting.

As for the x-bolt , heard lots of good things about it. But for me it says browning on the side
 
I own a browning x bolt medallion with not a bad thing to say about it.

Yes, i wish there was a detachable mag but thats about it. Other then that i don't have a single complaint, granted it's chambered to 30.06 so it isn't exactly a target rifle and hasn't seen more then 250 rounds over the years. But when i've needed it it's never let me down!
 
winchesterjones said:
I own a browning x bolt medallion with not a bad thing to say about it.

Yes, i wish there was a detachable mag but thats about it. Other then that i don't have a single complaint, granted it's chambered to 30.06 so it isn't exactly a target rifle and hasn't seen more then 250 rounds over the years. But when i've needed it it's never let me down!
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Not sure exactly which browning model you are using? Both A-Bolt and X-Bolt have detachable mags. Nothing wrong with '06 either. Taken lots of game over the years.
 
They are making an Abolt III now, with a detach mag sans floorplate.

AB3-(A-Bolt-III)-Composite-Stalker-MID-035800-m.jpg


I kinda like this 3D x bolt model, and they are light enough at 6lbs 5 oz. throw some talleys and a vx3 on it and it would be a nice carry rifle...

X-Bolt-Stainless-3D-MID-035287-m.jpg
 
I own a Xbolt in 3006 Sinth stalker

I am curently in the process of buying a second one in 223 Rem

So far so good

I really like the dura touch stock, and the weight is perfect for long day hike with rifle on the back

The recoil pad work really well, But I am used to shot

the détachable magasine is so hard you will probaly never break it

for the Action, it is way better than any Rem 700 Win 70 or Ruger M77

And the tang top safety is a nice feature to have

I say GO for browning. but dam they are $$
 
The a bolt has a floor plate with a hard to detach mag.

The X-bolt has an ugly plastic detachable mag but it works well. I really like the trigger and recoil pad is awesome on my .300 win mag X-bolt medallion.

I was thinking about a CZ after checking out a few a friend had but they didn't have one with a detachable mag in a caliber I wanted.
 
The x-bolts are very accurate, fantastic trigger, excellent functioning magazine (most people just hate polymers although in this case it works flawlessly and will never rust), and the dura-touch stock is far above and beyond the quality of almost any factory offering.

I personally don't like the look of the wood stocked x-bolt, that's why I don't own one. I have not been a fan of any browning made post 1970 really, but after spending a little time with an x-bolt stalker I was quickly converted.
 
I own 2 a-bolts and love them both, 30-06 and 338 win mag. The '06 had been my go to gun for 15 years. They both shoot amazing groups since day one. I prefer the a-bolt because over the x-bolt just because they feel better to me...
 
Mount Sweetness said:
Do they have a stand out feature?
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Nobody has mentioned the 60 degree bolt throw so I will. It is a great feature of the A-Bolt and I really like it because it comes nowhere near the scope.

I have an A-Bolt Stainless Stalker in 25-06 with a Leupold 3x9x40 LRD scope. It is very accurate, light and well-balanced and I have had no issues in the five years that I've had it. It has been on two caribou hunts and innumerable deer and coyote hunts. I believe that it is true that they have gone out of production. If so - too bad.
 
I have an X bolt stainless stalker and it is a great light, stalking rifle

The magazine is polymer not plastic. I trust polymer in my glock so why not in my x bolt magazine

The rifle and fluted barrel is made in Japan by Miroku, a company renowned for high-quality fit and finish. They also make the Citori shotguns.

The action is factory glass bedded

The trigger is crisp and adjustable

60 degree bolt allows for a low scope set-up
 
I like the A-bolt better solely on aesthetics. Had an older one in 375 H&H. It was very smooth and the nicest push feed I've owned. I traded it because of the cost of ammo and the fact that there are no cape buffalo in Alberta. I will agree with the poster extolling the smoothness though the benefits of CRF actions in the same price range should not be overlooked. I place the Brownings well above the 700s but classic Model 70s, M77 and the CZ line have other things going for them
 
I can only vouch for the Abolt, never shot a Xbolt, The rifle is light, a pleasure to carry. its also free floated and more accurate than i am, im also a fan of the detach mag setup as its best of both worlds.
the standard trigger is heavy, rather heavy... i cut some coils of spring off an its a little better.

an FWIW they are $800 odd bucks down here now

WL
 
I've had both and currently only have the xbolt, not a fan of the floorplate mag but got rid of the abolt for other reasons relating more to the calibre than the rifle. Wasn't sure of the polymer mag on the xbolt at first and almost got the savage classic because of it. But after talking with my dealer he assured me how strong they were and the rifle was nicer looking and lighter than the classic and the xbolt mag is by far the slickest to load and feed of any of my rifles.
 
I purchased a new X bolt in .243.........Found the action a little "sticky" and the bolt a little small.
After a year I traded for something else.
My buddy started with a.270 A bolt hunter......still has it and recently added another A bolt medallion in .243 .Needless to say ,he is an A bolt fan.
Rifles seem to be an individual thing.....sometime it takes a little while to get it right.If you buy used, and wish to change, you usually don't lose much.
 
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