browning xbolt

N

NHSHOOTER

New member
A friend of mine is thinking along the lines of a browning xbolt in 308, along with either a remington, etc..you know how it goes. Some input for him would be greatly appreciated..Mainly a deer rifle, bolt action with a wood stock.
 
I bought a wood stocked X-Bolt hunter in .308 at the first of the year. Using my hunting load (150gr. Sierra Pro Hunter over Varget) I get consistant sub minute five shot groups off a front bag. I have a target in my reloading room that's ten rounds in 0.82". I keep it in 2 inches at 150 yards unrested prone. Beyond being very accurate, the gun handles superbly. Light, very well balanced and just seems to point itself. I'm 61 and have been in this rodeo a long time and this is by far my favorite hunting rifle. The only knock I have with it is the overly complicated bolt. I highly recommend this rifle to anyone.
 
Except for the bolt, there isn't a dimes worth of difference between the browning and the REM. They both have receivers drilled from bar stock, and washered recoil lugs. The Brownings may have better wood.

These techniques are widespread in the industry now. Almost every affordable rifle uses these timesaving and cost cutting techniques. It would be easier to list the ones that don't use them, than the ones that do.

Some of the ones with a receiver machined the old way from a solid steel billet with integral recoil lugs are The Weatherby rifles, The Thompson bolt actions, The Sako bolts, not the Tikkas, or Marlins, or Rems of any kind.

I'm not bashing them, they are perfectly suitable for almost any hunting application, have reputations for accuracy and reliability. I just don't want them anymore. I sold all of my Remingtons almost 40 yrs ago. I own some Weatherby rifles, a Cooper, MDL 22, and a Ruger 77, along with various pistols.

I just have to wonder what John Moses Browning would think if you handed him a modern rifle with his name on it. I think it would require some adjustment and restraint on his part to keep from throwing it in the dumpster. At least until after he had fired it, and saw that it works.
 
Haven't I read somewhere that Browning uses fairly light threads on their barrels? I guess if you never have it re-barreled it doesn't matter, but I'm pretty sure I read they can be tough to work on without bunging up the threads.

Gorgeous rifles though and I haven't heard first hand of anything but very good accuracy.
 
I have mounted scope on several X-bolts for customers and the seem to be good rifles . I sighted them in for them and it only took four shots after I bore sighted them. The only thing I dont like is the "Japan" stamped on the barrel.
 
Can't go wrong with a Browning. They build a fine rifle. The X bolt is a well designed rifle and most are very accurate right out of the box.
 
browning x bolt

I know its 2014 but i just purchased a browning xbolt composite stalker. After 5 brands of ammo. I finally found the one that works. I can hold 3 shot groups at 100. Yards. I have a vx2 3-9 mounted n push federal vital shock trophy copper through the barrel. So far so good but havent used it for hunting yet.
 
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