Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Why the lack of love for Browning X-Bolts?

You are correct

Lets not go crazy here, it is a well made firearm.

I’ve had a 7mm Abolt SS for 30 years. Killed awful amount of animals with. MOA out to 500 yards, that’s as far as I shoot. Just too easy to get along with, it likes whatever I feed it. Best trigger on any gun I own. I’ve always joked about it being made out of Coors beer cans. Maybe so. Kind of like driving a Dodge truck, your friends won’t ride you.

I was wondering the same thing several years ago as Browning’s aesthetics and handling seem nice.

I asked a fairly reputable gunsmith the same question...why no love...He said it is largely due to the thread pitch on the barrel/action and the complexity of the trigger design. He mentioned that the thread pitch was very fine and would often gall when a barrel was attempted to be removed thus making rebarreling difficult/risky.

The above was his opinion as to why there are very few aftermarket parts and you don’t see many Smith’s doing customs based on a browning action.....no love...

He said that a Browning was a “hunters” rifle, not a “shooters” rifle. He was no being condescending but only implying that a hunter doesn’t typically put enough rounds down range to worry about ever rebarelling.

I never vetted this out but it made sense to me...

I have had an X Bolt stainless stalker for a couple of years now and a couple of random observations;

Ergonomics just fit, the rifle just feels better when I shoulder it. The 3 lug bolt lift is nice compared to the 90 degree 700's and 70's that I am used to. Tang safety a plus. Slight swell on the RH side feels good in the hand. Slender fore end is a good thing.

Receiver has been pared down as mentioned earlier to save weight, probably not the best candidate for a heavy tube given the architecture.

Aftermarket support is not very extensive, does anyone re barrel these things?

The rifle is a good, but not exceptional shooter.

Detachable magazine on this rifle is very good compared to some of the hunting style rifles on the market. I touch the lands and still have much COL left in the mag.

Like the previous 5 Browning/Miroku products I have bought the rifle doesn't have the small quality blemishes that are seen on some of the other brands commonly available. Kinda like Japanese motorcycles, extremely proficient just completely lacking in soul.

McGowen re-barrels xbolts

Fair enough.

I've thought about it, and I'm inclined to agree. I've had an A-Bolt II Stainless Stalker in .30/06 nearly as long, and while the X-Bolt seems a nice enough rifle I I think I'll stay with its predecessor. It is light, handy, I like the looks and feel of it, and it is very accurate - about the most accurate rifle I own in fact, and there's a fair bit of competition.

I have a new AB3 I took in a trade. Didnt really want it and I was eager to move it but I had to shoot it. Plastic trigger and trigger guard. Half plastic magazine but it shoots amazing. I can't bring myself to list it thus far.

Only two things that have kept me away, they cost more than Tikka and don't look as good.

Does the X-bolt have a plastic injection molded stock or does Browning still use B&C stocks?

Depending on the model, they are injection molded, they do offer some premium versions like the X-Bolt Target McMillan A3-5 and the X-Bolt Pro which is Carbon over foam

Bingo. I actually waited after the original A-Bolt came out and heard of the A-bolt II. Ended up waiting and picked up the Medallion in 1994. Bedded recoil lug and tang from factory in the wood stock. Shoots lights out.

Well, now you've done it...You actually own and shoot an X-Bolt and can speak to their attributes.

Better than hearsay ey?

Some of it might be the perception of Browning as a premium brand. When I was a kid in Oklahoma in the 60s and 70s, blue-collar guys had Remingtons and Winchesters. The doctor, the dentist, and the lawyer had Brownings. Maybe Browning has managed to turn that into sales in the Southern states.


Okie John

My opinion. They are not worth the money.

Worth every penny I spent and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. Actually Im about to buy another.

I didnt respond to him because he didn't give any reasons for his opinion. Who knows if he ever even laid eyes on one?

I own a Browning X-Bolt, model is their Grey Synthetic, which I think is no longer made in that configuration. Caliber is .30-06, and it is an extremely accurate rifle, especially with 165 gr. Barnes TSX bullets. Mine has been used to take whitetail, and has been to Africa on a plains game hunt, as well as a couple of exotic game hunts here in the US. It performs flawlessly, is lightweight, and I really like the trigger. I had the plain grey stock painted by a member here on the 'Fire, which really dressed it up.
If I had to get rid of most of the rifles in my possession, this one would be one of the survivors.