Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles So what's up with the Browning X Bolt - Compared to the Tikka?

Alaskans are rifle experts. All of them.




That ol' buzzard has likely killed more critters with that BTS Winchester, than most any other 10 people here put together? So yeah, some of 'em are experts on something having to do with rifles. ;O)

I've had experience with precisely one A Blot (not a typo).

That being a lightweight Medallion something in 270 that a bud decided his wife "needed to have", some years back?

In addition to all the money he spent on "solving" her lack of appreciation for how the little bastard kicked (shock absorbing doohickus in the butt stock and a KDF brake), it never shot worth a rat's ass.

Then the cocking piece went to chit internally just about the time it was finally shooting sub 2" groups, so they had to send it back for repair. After it was returned from the repair center, it was again shooting plus 2" groups.

Besides that, they're fugly. So are Tikkas, so there.

I would think if they were ugly, both would be right at home in Pennsylvania and Texas.

Exactly! PA is home to far more rifle 'spurts than Alaska will ever be.

Like the gun store counter monkey I overheard explaining to a customer's question as to why both Brownings and Winchesters had the then-new BOSS on their barrels. Clerk said because Winchester had "bought the rights" to use the BOSS.

Customer didn't look too impressed, so I spoiled it by telling him it's probably because both were owned by the same parent company. Clerk adopted an attitude with me, for some reason?

Hard to figure some folks out, ain't it? ;O)

In my experience, it's best not to ask gun counter clerks any questions other than "Can you please hand me that rifle?"

Years ago, I had some smart ass clerk convinced the military installed insect valves on all government issue M-16's.

Told him that further study revealed insects were the cause of over 80% of the failures experienced in the Viet Nam war.

Word got back to me that he was passing this tidbit along to customers until someone embarrassed his ass at work.

Afterwards, He gave me schitty looks every time I walked in that store.

Priceless was when muledeer, Dennis Neil, told the clerk at Sportsman's Whorehouse who had just been extolling the virtues of the then-new 6.8SPC how it was next going to be introduced in a version based on the '06 case and he had it on good authority it was going to be a very hot seller...

The knowing nod of the counter help had to be seen!

Must be hellova shot with no front sight

He is actually a hunter, and gets close

Maybe a polar bear bit it off?

But a few possible explanations:

1. He's learned the art of "sightin' fine".

2. Strictly an instinctive shooter, don't need no stinkin' sights.

3. Extraneous use of the rifle as a club, had knocked the sight off long ago.

4. Snow blind since early childhood, makes "sound shots" only.

5. Swapped the front sight for two cartons of generic cigs.

Got to admit that is a damn fine job of writing succinct reasons!

6. Waiting for this year's PFD to replace it... of course it is about as likely as the 1998 PFD check that didn't get it done either.

7. Had to use it prop open the choke on his snow-go and when it got sucked in and trashed the engine he just left it out on the tundra inside the beast.

8. All the rifling is gone from his rifle anyway (ain't salt spray in the bow a bitch!) so he swapped it to his grandson's rifle.

I hunted exclusively with an A-bolt Stainless Stalker in 338 Win Mag from 1993 to 2011. I killed sitka blacktails, goat, caribou, moose and brown bears with it before switching to a Weatherby Vanguard and now an X-bolt chambered in 338 Win Mag. I recently bought a Tikka T3 Stainless Lite in 7mm-08 too but haven't shot it yet. I'll be using the X-bolt next month on a two week brown bear hunt on the AK Peninsula so we'll see if it proves to be as reliable as my old A-bolt.

Prototype or custom?

The 338 Stainless Stalker did not show up in the Browning catalog until sometime between '01 and '04. The Composite Stalker 338 showed up some earlier...

Rolling on the floor, laughing my ass off at this. Well done.

Sitka - you sir are wrong about the dates on the Stainless Stalker. I had 2 of those and they were both purchased in the mid 90's and certainly no later than 1997.
My apology Sitka - I did not catch the reference to 338. My response was to 7mm08 and 280.

So - I can't dispute your 338 timetable.

No worries... And I would certainly not put it past any company to make special runs for big buyers or even to just make a mistake and stick the "wrong" chambered barrel on some... But the catalog dates are fairly accurate for the vast majority of a particular model and chamber.

I have a Rem. 700 ADL in a 25-06 and it is probably the best rifle I have ever owned...until I bought a my Marlin 336 30-30 which, then became the best rifle I have ever owned...until I bought my 300 Win Mag Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalker which, was absolutely the best rifle I have ever owned, until I bought my Ruger M77 Hawkeye 358 Win, which now, just can't compare to my 9.3X62 CZ 550 American Kevlar 9.3X62.

I'm sure if I were to buy a Tikka, Winchester, Kimber, Cooper, Mauser or any other brand, they would also be my favorites too. I like each gun that I own for one reason or another. If I didn't, I would eventually sell it.

Still, I love to read about everyone's opinions which I will definitely consider should I decide buy another rifle....and, I probably will.

Actually, Browning A bolt production spanned from 1985 to 1993 when it was replaced by the A bolt II. The Stainless Stalker variants began production in 1987 according to Browning. I bought a Stainless Stalker in 300 Win Mag in 1992. Then my 338 WM in 1993. The Blue Book of Gun values (see below) will show you this or you can just visit Browning's web site to see for yourself. Scroll down through the production dates to see. No custom or prototype or special run...just regular old production.

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?ID=202&bg=x

A-Bolt Hunter Stainless Stalker
.22-250 Rem. (left-hand only, new 1993), .25-06 Rem., .270 Win., .280 Rem., .30- 06, 7mm Rem. Mag., .300 Win. Mag., .338 Win. Mag. or .375 H&H (new 1990) cal., action and barrel are stainless steel, matte black graphite fiberglass composite stock, dull stainless finish, no sights, 6 lbs. 11 oz. - 7 lbs. 3 oz. Mfg. 1987-93. Replaced by Stainless Stalker II in 1994.

Who is right here????.........My curiosity is up .........Hb

Who knows or cares?

If Sep will post a pic of the rifle & serial number, we can date it pretty easily.

I'm guessing that will never happen, so I'm going to save my worrying for the burning question of whether the 30-30 is enough gun.

I remember reading Jim Zumbo article in the early 90's, and he was using a Stainless Stalker in 338.