Browning X-Bolt freezing issues - fact or fiction?

B

buckchaser

CGN Regular
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Ottawa
I've heard stories of issues with A-Bolt triggers/actions freezing up in extremely cold hunting conditions - you know, the kind of conditions we get here in Canada! I can't verify these reports of A - Bolt issues. Any one have any experience with the X-Bolt with similar issues? I like the rifle, but plan on doing some late season hunting next year when the temperatures could be - 20 Celsius.
 
Is it perhaps a factory grease issue? I nearly lost a buck two years ago due to the firing pin in my Vanguard seizing up in -20. My own damn fault for missing/skipping cleaning that bit from the factory, fortunately I managed to raise the bolt handle without spooking him and it went bang the second time. A lot of guys don't seem to think a new rifle needs a cleaning out of the box, I'd bet that most of the issues could be cleared up with a can of Remington gun degreaser and some G96.
 
^ x2

You would have to ask yourself what would be the cause of any freezing. I've shot mine, this year, in -26 weather without any issues. I have a habit of occasionally cleaning my firearms though.
 
yes mine got tighter the colder it got. i finally had to drill out the hole the trigger pin went through the trigger would shrink onto it and seize it. also when i first bought it it was too tight to reset and #### the striker i loosened it with penetrating oil but the clearance was too tight for the varying metal expansion between cold and warm. not only that but there was absolutely no overtravel which i think was also causing the same problem in extreme cold but that didnt start till minus 30. still, no good for me and i couldnt fix or replace it. i would not buy an x bolt simply because of the trigger. not to mention i couldnt adjust it or modify it for the pull i wanted.
 
i had a ruger seize up after a week of freezing cold. i ended up shooting a nice moose with my buddys rifle. all it was was dirty dried up lube. i have learned to keep my bolts clean and never use grease in them.
 
I have had an a bolt for thirty years in 243 use it all winter for coyote and never had a issue. I do not oil it so perhaps that is the reason.Or they are different now then they were.
 
Any rifle can freeze up with the wrong lubricant or lack of in extreme cold weather some more prone than others I have no idea how an A bolt rates. With any rifle loose the grease and old school gun oil G 96 or the like is your friend.
 
i had an a-bolt medallion in 300wsm, never had an issue with it in cold weather. shot fantastic too....should have never got rid of it.
 
My X-Bolt has been flawless, love it. No issues even when I was hunting in -30, had some snow on my self and rifle, buck came out, BBQ went on.
 
I have 2 x-bolts (Stainless Synthetic and Wood Hunter) in 223 Rem and 300 WSM. I have hunted a lot of coyote in sub-zero weather with the 223 and it never failed to fire once.
 
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