I've never owned either.
Both are 25-06 with 24" sporter barrels.
Both are available for about the same money.
Any reason I should lean one way or the other?

My Winchesters shoot great. No significant experience with a Browning.

I picked up a Win 70 Featherweight and later in the year a Browning X-Bolt Eclipse in 25-06. The X-Bolt was more accurate and has found a home. The Winchester has gone down the road.

I also have an X-Bolt Stainless Hunter in 308 and a T-Bolt in 22LR. Guess you could say that I prefer the Brownings.

The XBolts have some interesting features, but the styling is a bit much for my old-reactionary-fart tastes. I tend to favor simple stuff that works. If the M70 has the new funky trigger, I'd be tempted to try the Browning just for kicks.

OF course, all Winchester model 70's are created equal aren't they???

I would go with the X-Bolt Myself, I have had a dozen or more X-Bolt rifles and found them to be the most accurate out of the box rifles I have ever owned and I have owned most all the popular brands including Winchester, Ruger, Tikka, Sako, Remington and CZ.......Good luck with your purchase.......Hb

That funky black piece on the side of the bolt I guess is supposed to make bolt travel straight, but all it does in my two rifles is make the bolt travel sticky and difficult to cycle. I wonder if it can be removed.

The bolt doesn't ride on that black piece. It's there to depress the cartridges in the magazine I think. I've also been very impressed with the accuracy of now 4 X-Bolts I've had experience with. The barrels and triggers are excellent.

I think they are similar in quality, I would compare them in my hands and to the shoulder, and let my body choose.

I think you've got your best answer right here.

John

I like my X-Bolt, it shoots MOA with factory fodder and well under with hand loads. The only thing I'd do differently is buy the stalker version instead of the hunter.

I would vastly prefer the 70 over a half dozen X Bolts, but that's just my opinion

I have had better luck with out of the box accuracy with X-Bolts over Winchester. I prefer both or either over Rem, Savage, Ruger or Tikka. I much prefer the X-Bolt over the A-Bolt.

Browning has the worst customer service of any company I've ever dealt with. That makes the decision easy.

Browning and Winchester are now sister brands from FN, unless I'm mistaken. No difference in service these days.

While the Mormans still owned Browning, I had both bad and excellent services from them. Their repair facility in MO had extremely capable craftsmen. Sometimes they had to be motivated.

Jack

And I'd echo that..

And you'd be terribly disappointed....and most here know I am NO fan of that MOA trigger..

Gives ya a hint..

I've got 2 X-bolts and 2 Model 70's. The Brownings are better shooters, but the Model 70's fit me better.

I also prefer the trigger on the Browning, but the Model 70's aren't bad either, just seem to have more creep.

I've got lighter trigger springs and probably have close to 700 rounds through both the Brownings and half that many through the Winchesters.

No problems with either.

Buy what fits you.