Browning X Bolt .308 Unfired already reviewing

R

RdKill

New member
I had no intentions on making a gun purchase today...none whatsoever. But I picked up one of the new Browning X Bolts and I just couldn't hand it back. Nor could I allow the other two guys that wanted to look at have it either. I was stuck. First of all, the walnut stock is just perfect. Looks, feel, weight...everything about the ergonomics is perfect. The barrel is floated at the factory. The new "feather trigger" is just that..feather light and NO travel. It barely moves at all...touch it and it goes bang. 3 pounds doesn't sound like anything to write home about, but 3 pounds of pressure on a non wiggly trigger, is something to write home about. If you ever pick one up, you'll understand immediately what I mean. The receiver has a total of 8 scope mount screws rather than the usual 4. The recoil pad is very soft and spongy. Man, I love this rifle...I haven't even shot it yet but can already tell, there's nothing to tweak.

I put a Redfield 4-12x40 on it with Dednutz Game Reaper mount (My favorite one piece mounts) I'm really looking forward to some dry weather so I can enjoy this rifle.

This is a serious warning to all reading. DO NOT LOOK AT OR TOUCH one of these rifles if you want to keep your cash.

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Thanks :) Funny what you notice when camera flash lights things up. I got paint ALL OVER that bathroom door!
 
I only own one browning firearm but it has been flawless with a capital F. My maxus has stood by pumps and kept going.

Thats a nice rifle. And pretty awesome to hear about the trigger pull. What's the lift degree on the X-bolt? I messed with a A-bolt before but i didn't really care the 60 degree bolt throw though. Absolutely love the 75 degree bolt throw on my sako, seems ideal to me for manipulating the action quickly and still retains ergonomics.
 
It's a short action with the same 60 degree bolt throw as the A-Bolt...which is very popular for most. I guess that's why they make so many different kinds of rifles..not every rifle fits every shooter. As far as Bolt actions go, I've always stuck with the Remingtons (excluding old militaria weapons) So for me, this is a big step up :) This is my first Browning. I think I'm hooked.
 
I was a bit nervous to go with browning at first, just having never used they're product and just like you, in both rifles and shotguns had used all remingtons my entire life. Glad i picked it up though. As far as bolt actions go i did stray away from remington with my Sako, but i don't use it that much except for the occasional range shoot. Wood is just too beautiful. I got my sako before i got into tactical long range shooting. So my main rifle i run is a remington 700. It's a jewelled action compared to my 700s that are matte black it's the smoothest 700 in the gun cabinet. But by far the smoothest action i've dealt with to date is my sako. Thing is just like clockwork, nothing feels out of place on the bolt lift or anything. It's hard to explain i'm just really accustomed to the sako.
 
If you ever pick one up, you'll understand immediately what I mean.
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The X-Bolt feels good in your hand, especially the wood/checkered versions. I think it will eventually be a blockbuster hit for Browning.
 
heh yeah... it's .308 ...I needed something shorter and lighter in .308. My big ol bull barrel Remington 700 needs wheels and back up lights on it...and a kick stand.
 
Sweeettt! Congrats on a good pick up. I have an A-Bolt in 22-250 with a Leupold Mark III and I love it. There is literally nothing to complain about on it. Average of 3.11 pound trigger with absolutely no extra movement. Since we all love pics:

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Beentown
 
I've hunted with Brownings all my life. The X-Bolt is a fine rifle.

And they're not all that expensive when you compare the features of the rifle against the features of rifles made by other companies... Sure, it's a couple hundred bucks more, but when buying a gun, most of us view it as a lifetime investment, so a couple hundred more for the rifle you really want is worth it in the end.
 
I put 50 rounds of 7.62 nato down range today ...groups were tight...very tight. Most under an inch, several groups of 3 cloverleafs...BUT I never could get it zeroed in. This new Redfield scope is crap. Both windage and elevation knobs have a small area where it will adjust and the rest - no movement at all. The closest to zero I could get it to adjust was about 4 inches low and 3 inches to the right. I'm returning the scope tomorrow and may just go the Nikon route again. I've never had any trouble with any Nikon. May look at some Leupold and Burris too? I have other Redfields and can't say anything bad about them...but they were new when Reagan was president. I HATE when new stuff comes out of the box not working right!
 
I'm not at all an Leupold fan, and have read some decent things about the new Redfields, but also several reports of POI changing with magnification. However, that being said, that thing did look really good on that rifle.

Honestly, I think a gloss scope would look great on that rifle though. I've got a gloss Leupold Vari X IIc 3-9x40 I'm trying to sell if you are interested.
 
how much? I might want it for something else. The rifle isn't glossy so I don't want a glossy scope on it :) I do have other rifles still sporting cheap bushnells and Simmons though that I wouldn't mind upgrading.
 
You may not be quite so crazy about it after you get to know that Plastic Magazine a little better ! They are Pretty though !
 
The magazine's feed like glass and are long enough not too inhibit seating depths like most other magazines I've used. Sako and A-Bolt come to mind as being too short for a handloader to reach the lands.
 
I love the magazine. It is a flawless design. The top bullet is perfectly centered with the chamber and just glides right in. Loading is easy too. I've never had any bolt action rifle feed as smooth. I just wish "spare" mags weren't so expensive. It's hard to justify 50 bucks for a 4 round mag.
 
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