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Joined: Jun 2012
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Campfire Regular
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OP
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Ok - have seen some previous posts on these, most seem to like them. Well I picked one up at Cabelas this weekend and I was very impressed. For me the fit was great, love the slim stocks and the Dura touch feel, light enough and the trigger felt decent. Now I am a pretty die hard Tikka fan and have great luck with the 3 that I owned. I know the stock itself on the tikka is ok but the feel of it just gets me everytime and unless dishing out $500+ for a manners or mcmillan your left with B&C which just feels to bulky for me...thinking of giving an x bolt stainless stalker a try. Interested to hear a few things regarding accuracy and the durability of the dura touch stock, specifically does is scratch easily when moving through the woods. I know the looks of the x bolt arent for everyone but I kind of favor them over most other rifles. Any thoughts or insights would be much appreciated.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424 Likes: 13
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424 Likes: 13 |
Tough call between an X-Bolt and a Tikka.
Not sure which is more scratch resistant.
Travis
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual. Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit. My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,722
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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Hogue might be a good option here?
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Joined: Jun 2012
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Campfire Regular
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OP
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Unfortunately I dont think Hogue makes a model for Tikka, that I am aware of anyway.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 446
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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Based on recent comments regarding the x-bolt - as long as you don't expose it to saltwater cause the trigger will rust up.... and on and on and on.
I have an X-bolt and have owned A-Bolt II's in the past. The X-bolt is a good rifle, fit and finish is excellent and every Browning I've ever had has been able to do 1" at 100 out of the box with several different factory loads. Interestingly enough, the X-bolt I have now prefers a "dirty" barrel. I have a Sako A7 with the soft touch and it handles abuse very well. If you like the X-bolt - go for it.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,928
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,928 |
From what I see I like the X-bolt. I've handled them a good bit as the LGS is a Browning dealer. I can't convince myself I want one yet but you never know.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,499
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
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Dura touch may cause you problems in the future. It can get real, real sticky. Service center will claim you got a chemical/solvent on it that caused it. I have a shotgun that had it. Had it removed and the stock redipped. Lots of folks have had trouble with it.
There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,274
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
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Thanks guys, that was exactly the information I was looking for (but not hoping to hear since I like the look and feel of the x bolt). Guess I would need to give it more thought.
Hawk - you mentioned redipping, was this through Browning or an after market company?
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,499
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,932
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I have both and hunt with both. Total crap about the trigger freezing or rusting up. Also total crap about the dura touch stock melting. browning makes excellent rifles. They shoot lights out right out of the box.
Beware of thieves, scammers and dishonest members on the "Fire" classifieds. Ya there is a thief here too. Whatever!!
They're all around the CampFire and everywhere.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I just bought a secondhand X-bolt in 325WSM, and it shoots like stink! I have limited factory ammo for it at the moment so have only shot a few rounds through it. (I'm waiting for some dies and more factory ammo to show up.)
It shot a 0.75MOA group at 100yards (3 shots) and MOA at 200yards (3 shots). Can't wait to work up some reloads. I can see this rifle being my new favorite hunting rifle (position currently occupied by my 308 Remington 700ADL).
Whatever you said...everyone knows you are a lying jerk. That's a bold assertion. Point out where you think I lied. Well?
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,910
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I have both and hunt with both. Total crap about the trigger freezing or rusting up. Also total crap about the dura touch stock melting. browning makes excellent rifles. They shoot lights out right out of the box. I guess Hawk_Driver is lying?
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,499
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Browning Gold shotgun, Mossy Oak Shadow Grass. Gun sat in the safe for a year without being used. Pulled it out for dove season, the checkered areas, so sticky it would leave fingerprints.
Not the first case of this. Ask/search around. Browning claims I got chemicals/solvent on it. Wrong! Tried to sell me new ones, with Dura Touch on it. Guy that stripped and dipped it, claimed he did a bunch of these for Browning, and they suddenly stopped sending stocks.
I have nothing against Brownings, own an ABolt, 2 Citoris and the Gold. I would never buy another one with Dura Touch on it again.
There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Campfire Tracker
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There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,633 |
I have both and hunt with both. Total crap about the trigger freezing or rusting up. Also total crap about the dura touch stock melting. browning makes excellent rifles. They shoot lights out right out of the box. There are three different posters here that have posted within the last 48 hours that hunted with me on Kodiak with an A-Bort that experienced trigger failure within the week. I have seen several others. Is that what you mean by total crap?
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I have seen the rubbery coating get gummy, but I've also seen it last a long time as well. It must be like the run of Sims pads that went gooey, a "bad batch" as they called it. My SX3 DT is holding up well. My Sx2 DT was holding up well too, but I decided to have it removed and dipped in Mathews Lost. Several of the hydrographics folks are coating with the rubbery finish as well as an option. It was explained to me as just being a different type of clear coat after the dipping process unlike the automotive grade clear coat they normally use.
The guy that dipped my SX2 told me the DT was a real bear to remove.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 689
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 689 |
I bought my daughter an X-bolt. Needed a left handed rifle for her. The compact version in 308 with wood stock. It shoots lights out and the trigger breaks like glass. I wouldn't hesitate on another.
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 48
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 48 |
Zero problems with my Duro-touch Browning stock and I've had mine for 4 years and hunted in snow, freezing rain and heat. I've never experienced this so called sticky problem. Zero problems with triggers. Browning makes quality firearms.
Last edited by 7X7X7X7; 02/11/15.
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Joined: Jun 2012
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Campfire Regular
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Thanks Ed - this is good to hear since I bit the bullet last night and picked up a 25-06 from cabelas used as they are having the 10% off used guns sale..looks to be in great shape and no wear on the dura-touch. Was a little dissapointed in the trigger pull even when backing out the adjustment screw all the way. Hope to get to the range this weekend with some loads and give it a shot. I can say when putting it next to the Tikka its head and shoulders as far as fit and finish, the true test will be to see how the accuracy stands vs the tikka, going to be tough to beet the accuracy out of them I have been seeing. Thanks for everyone's thoughts.
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I have always liked Browning A bolts for their accuracy. My two experiences with X-bolts (owned by a friend that I was helping try to get it to shoot) left me shaking my head. Unacceptable accuracy. Browning replaced the barrel on the one, and then the action, and then it was sold. The other finally shoots reasonably, but is finicky. He is back looking for older A-bolts.
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