Browning X-Bolt recoil?

fishslinger

fishslinger

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I was thinking of buying a Browning X-bolt in 300WM but checking out the weight on the website states it at 7lbs evan. Anyone on here have one in a mag cal what's the recoil like? Looks like they have a good recoil pad on there. Or do you think I should just get one in 30-06. Mostly going to be used for moose elk black bear.
 
Not going to comment on the business of .30-06 vs 300wm, I suppose if you expect to take long shots, it could make a difference.

On the recoil pad - I've had my .30-06 xbolt for a couple years and it is a pretty comfortable shooter for me. The recoil pad is soft, considerably softer than a lot of other guns I've handled. I imagine the xbolt is one of the softest shooting bolt actions in that weight range. I consider myself pretty recoil sensitive and it doesn't beat me up. If you're near toronto, you're welcome to try mine out. (I know it isn't a magnum, but if you've already decided on an xbolt, it could help you decide if you'd be unhappy with more recoil and noise)
 
I'm shooting one in a 300 wsm, with 168g bullets. Recoil is the much better for me the. The T3, or A7 in same cartridge. The factory recoil pad is very good. As a side note mine weighs just over your 7lbs scoped. You will add close to a pound with rings and scope depending on what you go with.
 
My X-bolt weighs something around 12lbs fully loaded and it's a .308 so I can't really comment on the question of recoil that you're looking for. That being said, I notice the Inflex pad helps a lot compared to other rifles/ shotgun when I'm out there shooting. The pad goes from stiff to soft as it comes out of the stock, it's well engineered.
 
I just bought a .325wsm but I have not shot it. Everything I've read on it says its supposed to be lighter than a .300 win mag. I have a .300 win mag in Browning BBR and a .45/70 marlin. The browning weighs just under 10lbs and I'm not sure about the Marlin. I can easily bench rest 20 rds of the .300 win mag. I think the .45 is worse. So, if the .325 is softer than a .300 win mag I have nothing to worry about. Hope that helps.
Paul
 
The X-bolt is a very recoil friendly gun. I currently have 3 (25-06, 7 rem mag & 338) of them and prefer shooting anyone of the three over other rifles I own. I am not a large person and am very comfortable shooting in all positions (sitting, standing, prone). I would choose the caliber you like and never look back.
 
I found my xbolt in 300wsm to be beyond ignorant and no fun to shoot. I replaced it with a 308 and it feels a lot nicer on the shoulder
 
On my xbolt 30-06 150gn bullets are light recoil, with a 10x scope benched at 100m can watch the bullet hit. 180gn bullets recoil is harder, enough that can't see the bullet hit.
 
My youngest son & I each have an X-bolt in 7mm-08, just waiting to scope mine. I'm sure it will be a joy to shoot. Of coarse, no comparison to the big mag, though. A Buddy has one in 308, he loves it.
 
I own a 270 xbolt and a 300wsm. They both shoot very good and the recoil pad is great. I can go to the range, knock off 25 to 30 rounds each with no shoulder or flinch problems.
 
Have a .270 hunter and its fine.
Great rifles-you wont notice the recoil in a hunting situation. Try a Past Recoil Pad while at the bench.
 
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I have 2 x-bolts. The first one I bought is a 7mm WSM with the synthetic stock and a blued barrel. It's wearing a Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x40. Weighs just under 7.5lbs unloaded. I shoot 140 and 150 gr bullets. I don't think it kicks too bad at all. It's loud though. But the kick against the shoulder is fine.

A couple years later I bought a 300 WSM in the Carbon Fiber model. It has the stainless fluted barrel and looks really nice. I shoot 180 gr bullets out of it exclusively. It is wearing a Leupold VXIII 3.5-10X40. It weighs a couple oz's less than my other x-bolt. The kick is a bit more than the 7mm WSM I have, but it still isn't enough to be a bad kicker. I've certainly shot some .30-06's in lightweight configurations that were more uncomfortable to shoot.

Both of my x-bolts are very accurate at the bench, and both have taken game in the field. To me they're a great choice.

In fact, if I have the $ right now, I'd like to buy another carbon fiber model with the stainless fluted barrel in .270 for whitetail.
 
I just bought a Browning X bolt in 30-06 and I can honestly say, not being biased just because I own one (I've had other people shoot it and say the same), it is one of the tamest shooting larger caliber rifles I've ever shot. I can sit there and go through a few boxs and it doesn't sting the shoulder one bit. My girlfriend bruises like a peach and is still abit tender after shooting a few feild loads out of the 12ga and she really likes shooting it. I've shot it side by side with an older browning semi 30-06 and this one seemed to be abit lighter on recoil. The factory recoil pads are the nicest ive ever felt! Browning really did these right.
 
x-Bolt stalker in 325 WSM here, kicks less than my mauser 30-06. The stock design and excellent recoil pad really tame the rifle.
 
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