- Location
- Kawartha Lakes
WOW !!! New Browning sniper rifle
- Thread starter deckerhead
- Start date
I think this has been out for a while, here is a review from 2018
Nice rifle nonetheless, but personally I would prefer if they offered their max long range stock with a AICS DBM
https://www.gunmart.net/gun-reviews/firearms/rifles/browning-x-bolt-sf-mdt-hs3-chassis
Nice rifle nonetheless, but personally I would prefer if they offered their max long range stock with a AICS DBM
https://www.gunmart.net/gun-reviews/firearms/rifles/browning-x-bolt-sf-mdt-hs3-chassis
Yeah was going to make rude comments but kept them to myself.
After spending the weekend sighting in 4x Xbolt hell’s canyon for a group of hunters, I can confirm that I would 100% own a Savage rifle before a browning.
Oh wait a minute, even when holding back that was rude!
After spending the weekend sighting in 4x Xbolt hell’s canyon for a group of hunters, I can confirm that I would 100% own a Savage rifle before a browning.
Oh wait a minute, even when holding back that was rude!
- Location
- Kawartha Lakes
Looks like its only available in European countries ?
- Location
- Kawartha Lakes
Yup.....so I will keep rude comments to myself as well. Any X Bolt model is twice the quality of any Savage platform. Doesn't get much cheaper then Savage as an entry level rifle.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I don't own a Savage so I cannot comment without reproach. However I do own an A bolt II in 22 Hornet.
It consistantly groups Hornday ammo around dime size groups at 100 from a bench without much effort on my part. No complaints here.
I guess they dropped the ball on Hell’s canyons then cause all 4 felt like crap.
Bolt was clunky, trigger was gritty and groups weren’t that nice, for the premium they are asking for.
Seen 800$ Savages outperform a Hell’s Canyon in every single way, except for looks.
By the way I do not own a single Savage at the moment and got no horse in this race...
Maybe browning decided to apply themselves for this sniper edition rifle?
Bolt was clunky, trigger was gritty and groups weren’t that nice, for the premium they are asking for.
Seen 800$ Savages outperform a Hell’s Canyon in every single way, except for looks.
By the way I do not own a single Savage at the moment and got no horse in this race...
Maybe browning decided to apply themselves for this sniper edition rifle?
I will agree, the triggers can be on the bad side out of the box, but bolts have always been nice, especially compared to any savage I've handled/owned and the 60° bolt throw is also nice. I have never had an X-bolt shoot bad, so if you've got 4 of them, I think the common denominator is you, no offense...
Chargerguy
CGN frequent flyer
I wanted one of these in 28 Nosler in the worst way. Been reading a lot of reports like this. Glad I went with a custom Bighorn SR3 build.
It’s not a bad rifle per say the hells canyon, it’s definitely overpriced product.
In my circle of friends/coworkers, I am known as a target shooter and get to do many scope installs/sight ins in exchange for a 20$ CCFR donation.
What I can tell, the sweetest shooting hunting profile rifles have all been Tikka, in my personal opinion which some may not like, a Tikka outclasses browning every time (the ones I have personally put my hands on, never put my hands on a Browning sniper special or Browning Fclass rifle yet), and it’s cheaper!
Got 2 bighorn actions here and absolutely live them, nice choice!
I own both X-Bolts and Tikkas and both those rifles have their pros and cons.
- People have complained about the Tikka bolts, some have said they fall apart but I don't know how and have never had it happen to mine.
- The x-bolt trigger is a little more difficult to fine tune but I replaced the spring and cleaned it up and now have it down to about 2.75lbs without any issues.
- The Tikka action/mag may hinder your OAL and bullet seating a bit in the .300WM.
- The X-bolt mags are 100x better than the Tikka mags which are prone to being too loose and popping rounds out, especially if dropped
- The Browning has a better extractor, many gunsmiths say the Sako/Tikka extractors are a bad design as they are short and upon failure can wedge/jam into the steel of the receiver. The browning X-bolt is similar to an M-16 which is supposed to be the best out there.
- The previous comment/complaint about X-Bolt requiring you to push a button to open the action is ridiculous. This is only required if you have the safety on and is a design feature which allows the action to be opened/cycled with the safety still on, like the Sako 85 rifles. The Tikka bolt is locked closed with safety on and safety must be switched off to open the bolt, many prefer the option to keep safety on while opening the action.
- My X-bolt was super easy to develop a load for and is far more accurate than my Tikka which has given me nothing but grief when it comes to acceptable accuracy and load development. I'm now on my 4th or 5th bullet option and have had everything checked by a gunsmith and bedded into a new custom stock with still no luck.
- X-bolt is bedded into the stock from the factory, tikkas are not
- X-bolt stock is more rigid than factory Tikka stock
- The softtouch coating on X-bolt stocks has had durability issues but is grippy in wet weather
- Not necessarily a consideration in your case but X-bolt has at least 3 different action sizes to accommodate the specific cartridges where as the Tikka is a 1-size fits all which is excessively long for standard short and .223 action sizes
- Tikka recoil pad is a hockey puck and needs to be replaced from the get go. X-bolt is one of, if not the nicest factory recoil pads out there.
- X-bolt has a shorter, 60° bolt throw instead of the 90° Tikka.
- Tikka action is one of the smoothest out there
- X-bolt mag is flush and cleaner looking than the Tikka which sticks down (bigger deal to some who carry their rifles a lot)
- Supposedly the X-bolts can be harder to get the barrels off of and can be prone to galling or something but I've never tried myself. I've heard the Tikka barrels can be really torqued on hard too from the factory though so could be a toss up.
- X-bolt ejection port is larger and easier to get rounds in and out of, I find the Tikka more difficult to top load single rounds, especially without a mag in (I often do this at the range for sight in and load development etc)
- I believe the X-bolt has more cartridge/chambering options than the Tikka (again not an issue if you're set on .300WM, in my personal opinion, both these rifles are too light for .300winmag)
- More after market products for Tikkas
All I can think of off the top of my head.
Long story short, I'm considering purchasing another X-Bolt and don't think I'd consider another Tikka, especially when I think about all the frustration I've had trying to get mine to shoot. Getting to the point that I may flog it or rebarrel it.
Chargerguy
CGN frequent flyer
Smart idea. I do the same but have been doing it for free. I'll have to start working for CCFR donations. I have done several Tikkas now and agree with what you're saying. Just last week I had a buddy swing by with a NIB Tikka T3X Lite in 270 Win. Mounted the scope for him and here were the first 4 rounds out of the rifle at 104 yards, 1 inch squares, bore sighted by eye.
I'm just plain sick of the terms Sniper and Tactical. Neither word/description has anything to do with our civilian world we shoot in. Those of you new to the shooting and hunting family of Canadians, just don't let anyone tell you that these words mean a single thing to a law abiding sport shooter or hunter. And that starts with salespeople at the gun counters.
