Browning X-Bolt ???????

Donut Slayer · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:57 pm Post subject: Browning X-Bolt ???????

Are they as good or that much better than the older A-Bolts?? Accuracy wise? I've read what the biased gun writers say but I want real world reviews. Thanks, Rudy.

Maqwa · Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: Browning X-Bolt ???????

Well it has four holes per base so it sort of makes a figure eight . The reason for this is it has less metal on the top strap of the recivier . It needs the extra mounting screws to firmly plant a scope
The Mag is polymer.
Does it shoot better than the A bolt ? Doubt it . I personal think it is only a cost measure for Browning to move from one to the other .Glad they did not drop the A bolt . Figure it will be coming soon!

There seems to be something going on with the X bolt as our dealer in Central Ontario Canada has a quite a few being turned in and sold again as used guns. Many Many more than the A bolt . Most people seem to hang onto the Abolt .

Some say the trigger is better , others disagree saying they are adjustable to 3 1/2 Ib"s , well so it is stated for the A bolt .Personally I would like them down closer to 2 1/2.
Well looking at the reviews I bought an A bolt this spring.
Maybe run a poll of those that had both

chambered221 · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:01 am Post subject: Re: Browning X-Bolt ???????

DS, Have you found any information on the X-Bolt ???

Brownings claim was it would be better than the A's......so far I haven't even seen one at the range or in the field to hear anything first hand.

Donut Slayer · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: Browning X-Bolt ???????

chambered221 wrote:

DS, Have you found any information on the X-Bolt ???

Brownings claim was it would be better than the A's......so far I haven't even seen one at the range or in the field to hear anything first hand.

I havent found much info on it. There's a little on the web, but we have 250 members in my shooting club and not 1 x-bolt. I'm kinda leery about it. I know they dont offer the BOSS on it so that might tell you something. I found the BOSS on my old a-bolt was great until the temp changes more than 25 degrees, then I'd have to change the BOSS setting.

slimjim · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: Browning X-Bolt ???????

Donut Slayer wrote:

I found the BOSS on my old a-bolt was great until the temp changes more than 25 degrees, then I'd have to change the BOSS setting.

Interesting information!

erniekun · Rookie Member Joined: Feb 16, 2010 Posts: 1

I purchased a Browning X bolt 270 cal. about 2 years ago, shortly after they first came out. I never owned a Browning rifle before and am happy with this 270.

With factory ammo., Hornady 130gr. SST and Federal Premium 130 gr. Ballistic Tip I shoot 1 MOA at 100 yards. With my handloads, Sierra 130 gr. Spitzer BT, 53.5 gr. of H-4350, I average about 1/2 MOA at 100 yards.

Trigger pull out of the box is ok but I persently have it at a gunsmith to set the pull to 2.5 pounds.

I have had no problems with the rifle and to date have shot 5 deer with it.
Ernie

Maqwa · Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Browning X-Bolt ???????

erniekun wrote:

I purchased a Browning X bolt 270 cal. about 2 years ago, shortly after they first came out. I never owned a Browning rifle before and am happy with this 270.

With factory ammo., Hornady 130gr. SST and Federal Premium 130 gr. Ballistic Tip I shoot 1 MOA at 100 yards. With my handloads, Sierra 130 gr. Spitzer BT, 53.5 gr. of H-4350, I average about 1/2 MOA at 100 yards.

Trigger pull out of the box is ok but I persently have it at a gunsmith to set the pull to 2.5 pounds.

I have had no problems with the rifle and to date have shot 5 deer with it.
Ernie

Well too:
Same applys to my A bolt . I do not think from every one I have talked to agree's the X bolt has anything over the A bolt .Trigger wise included . Think I will take my A bolt in and maybe have a coil removed too as it does not adjust under three pounds.
I have had other browning rifles , but this is also my first bolt action, and overal pleased with the gun, other than I would prefer a lighter trigger .
So I would rate it maybe one above the Ruger mark 2 we own in '06, which is also a great gun -after we had the trigger tuned .
Best overal still for us is the Tikka. We took it out of the box, installed a scope ,sited it in, And it has been a good rifle since it was sited in . The trigger was great as it was shipped and bolt is indeed smooth as butter .
Everything else in my 45 years of shooting required some tinkering , be it Remington ,Winchester , Ruger or Marlin.
Best of Luck with your gun.

Swampman · Rookie Member Joined: Nov 17, 2010 Posts: 18

In a recent test report in Rifle Magazine a $1500.00 X-Bolt's best group was 1 1/2" at 100 yards. I've never had to tinker with a Remington or a Marlin to get less than 1" groups with factory ammo.

chambered221 · Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: Browning X-Bolt ???????

Donut Slayer wrote:

I found the BOSS on my old a-bolt was great until the temp changes more than 25 degrees, then I'd have to change the BOSS setting.

Just noticed this with the thread bump !!!

I'm willing to bet this is due to the powders temperature tolerance. The colder temps affected the velocity therefore changing the harmonics of the barrel.

Swampman wrote:

In a recent test report in Rifle Magazine a $1500.00 X-Bolt's best group was 1 1/2" at 100 yards.

Must of been one of those Savage writers !!!

Maqwa · Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 1:53 am Post subject: Re: Browning X-Bolt ???????

chambered221 wrote:

Donut Slayer wrote:

I found the BOSS on my old a-bolt was great until the temp changes more than 25 degrees, then I'd have to change the BOSS setting.

Just noticed this with the thread bump !!!

I'm willing to bet this is due to the powders temperature tolerance. The colder temps affected the velocity therefore changing the harmonics of the barrel.

Swampman wrote:

In a recent test report in Rifle Magazine a $1500.00 X-Bolt's best group was 1 1/2" at 100 yards.

Must of been one of those Savage writers !!!

Let me introduce Swampman. "The Remington Man"
I like the guns too !! having two myself , but do not have to knock every thing else down to prove Remington has a good product .

Swampman · Rookie Member Joined: Nov 17, 2010 Posts: 18

Not at all, I just expect a deer rifle to shoot 1 MOA or better out of the box.

Maqwa · Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 10:41 am Post subject: Re: Browning X-Bolt ???????

I would expect many of these rifles do shoot rather well or Browning would not be selling them .
Some rifles need to be fired a few box's of ammo , so I learned that a rifle may not be at it's best the first time to the range .
I like the A bolt personaly, being biased , I wouldn't comment on the X bolt anymore , unless I heard from a number of guys that own them.

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:07 am Post subject: Re: Browning X-Bolt ???????

I see no reason to give up my A-bolt for the new X-bolt. 1 5/8" three shot group at 200 yards with a older Redfield 3 X 9 X 40 compact scope seems good enough for me.

Maqwa · Last edited by Maqwa on Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:29 am; edited 1 time in total

Bushmaster
agreed . I am getting a lot better from my '06 A bolt .
I don't see any advantage going to the X bolt , other than Browning cost's between the two rifles .
I personaly would prefer they would just carry on with the proven A bolt .
The four hole scope mount and a new Mag??

Then being nearly as old as the model T , I prefer things stay the same

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:26 am Post subject: Re: Browning X-Bolt ???????

Mine is also a .30-06. I did notice that they have not discontinued the A-bolt. Though I did noticde that there didn't seem to be any .30-06 in A-bolt on their web site.