Thinking of buying a Browning X-Bolt

jurban

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Thinking of going to buy a new X-Bolt any one seen any good reviews from the Shot show on these? Or heard anything good about these?
 
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I handled one yesterday. The bolt was very smooth, heavy trigger pull. The one thing that turned me off was its drilled and tapped for one style of mount only. A 2 base system, using 4 screws per base. Price was $799. Not really interested as I'am waiting for a .338 RCM!
 
Well, they can't do everything normal. They got rid of the ####ty mag, and now you need 8 screws for the bases.:rolleyes: I thing they'll sell anyway.

Mind you, the TC Icon has weaver mounts machined on the receiver. Only uses weaver style rings, no choice there either.
 
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I shot several in February and liked the rifle. I thought the trigger was crisp with no creep, the bolt smooth and the ones I shot were very accurate. The only problem I had was with one in a .270WSM and it was quite easy to short stroke the bolt with, expecially if you opened the action slowly. The spent shell would eject when the bolt was only partially open and if you pushed the bolt ahead as soon as you ejected the spent shell, you often wouldn't pick a new one up from the clip. Funny it never happened with the 325 or 300....just the 270WSM.

Loved the weight of it though. I'm seriously considering it or the Sako A7 for a new sheep rifle but am leaning toward the Sako more after handling and shooting both.
 
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I shot several in February and liked the rifle. I thought the trigger was crisp with no creep, the bolt smooth and the ones I shot were very accurate. The only problem I had was with one in a .270WSM and it was quite easy to short stroke the bolt with, expecially if you opened the action slowly. The spent shell would eject when the bolt was only partially open and if you pushed the bolt ahead as soon as you ejected the spent shell, you often wouldn't pick a new one up from the clip. Funny it never happened with the 325 or 300....just the 270WSM.
Loved the weight of it though. I'm seriously considering it or the Sako A7 for a new sheep rifle but am leaning toward the Sako more after handling and shooting both.

This is quite normal with push feed plunger ejector systems that eject the empties just as they clear the ejection port. This would never happen with a stationary ejector like on a M70 Classic or Pre 64 or Sako or M98 since the bolt always has to be cycled completely to the rear before the case is ejected. I also was impressed when I handled the new X-Bolt.
bigbull
 
I am hopeing the pick up the X-Bolt Stainless Stalkers once they come out or at least really thinking of buying one in .325wsm I could have bought one of the stainless A-bolts in the .325 but Im not a fan of the BOSS and the stock left much to be desired after owning one of the Dura-Touch stocks on my Varmint Stalker. From what I can see is the no longer have the BOSS (which I think is great) and the dura-touch is on the Stainless Stalker.

I guess I will have to see how I like them once my local shop gets one in.

Ryan
 
This is quite normal with push feed plunger ejector systems that eject the empties just as they clear the ejection port. This would never happen with a stationary ejector like on a M70 Classic or Pre 64 or Sako or M98 since the bolt always has to be cycled completely to the rear before the case is ejected. I also was impressed when I handled the new X-Bolt.
bigbull

Have you shot one in 270WSM ot just handled it?......this was far from my first rodeo with a push feed or control feed and this was a problem with the 270WSM only......it happened over 50% of the time. Maybe just an issue with that particular gun and not endemic to the calibre in the X but it was reason enough for me not to want one. It was far more serious than "quite normal".
 
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Have you shot one in 270WSM ot just handled it?......this was far from my first rodeo with a push feed or control feed and this was a problem with the 270WSM only......it happened over 50% of the time. Maybe just an issue with that particular gun and not endemic to the calibre in the X but it was reason enough for me not to want one. It was far more serious than "quite normal".

The Browning X-Bolt is not available yet in Canada, so no I have not shot one in 270 WSM yet, the one I saw was in 300 WSM and Browning said it was the only new one in Canada I saw it at the Sportsman Show two weeks ago. I am shure it's not your first rodeo but as per your description
it was quite easy to short stroke the bolt with, expecially if you opened the action slowly. The spent shell would eject when the bolt was only partially open and if you pushed the bolt ahead as soon as you ejected the spent shell, you often wouldn't pick a new one up from the clip. Funny it never happened with the 325 or 300....just the 270WSM
It is pretty funny that you could not repeat that with the other calibers! Short stroking any rifle is shooter induced and is not a function of the rifle design or caliber. A failure to feed now is a horse of a different color but that would be a gun issue.:D
JMHO
bigbull
 
That's too bad you haven't had an opportunity to shoot one but after putting over 100 rounds through four different X-Bolts I can tell you there was an issue with that one .270. I think the fact that it only happened with the one rifle speaks to fact that it likely wasn't so easily written off to operator error. Just speaking from experience.
 
Held one today at the Toronto Sportsman show. Nice riffle and actually like the fit and feel more than my A-bolt. The only thing Im not a huge fan of is the plastic magazine (looks like I could carve it out on my own if I wanted another one) Give them credit though for changing the hinged floor plate/mag combo on the A-Bolt.

I am going to go and talk to my local dealer about getting pricing for the X-Bolt Stainless Stalker....just have to figure out which caliber I want. Leaning toward the .325 just to be a little different and I hand load so ammo won't be a problem.

Ryan
 
I might look at the Stainless Stalker in a .280 Rem. Should be a nice all around gun, and it weighs 1 ounce less than the Rem Mountain .280 LSS.:)

X-Bolt Stainless Stalker
Item Number
035202225
Caliber
280 Rem.
Action Type
Long Action
Magazine Capacity
4
Barrel Length
22"
Nominal Overall Length
42 3/4"
Nominal Length of Pull
13 5/8"
Nominal Drop at Comb
5/8"
Nominal Drop at Heel
1/2"
Nominal Weight
6 lbs. 9 oz.
Rate of Twist
1 turn in 10 "
Stock Finish
Dura-Touch Armor Coating
Stock / Grip
Composite
 
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