Spindrift
Well-Known Member
New rifle!
I like bolt guns. Rugged, stable, accurate, simple.
The Browning X-Bolt has some appealing features. The «X» refers to the scope base screws, four screws for each base. Should be sufficient! The magazine is very slender considering it houses 4 cartridges, owing to the rotating arrangement of the cartridges. I locks up very positively in the action, absolutely no rattling.
The bolt lift is pretty low, giving good clearance to the eye piece. The trigger guard is spacious, with ample space for a gloved finger. These details matter if you hunt in cold conditions. It is bedded around the action screws and recoil lug; actually a pretty decent bedding job!
The «feather trigger» was a bit heavy, but it was easily adjustable. The slightly angular bolt runs very smoothly. The stock is kind of rubberized, with a high friction (and noise dampening) surface. Some will like it, others not; I like it.
The safety is a two-position tang safety, that locks the bolt. There is a separate knob on the bolt that let you unchamber the gun with the safety on. Pretty much an ideal arrangement, in my opinion. It is not possible to move the safety switch without making a little sound; the tang position, however, allows you to do this immediately before firing.
The one feature I haven’t been crazy about, is the price tag. I wouldn’t say it’s overpriced- just a bit more than I could justify. That is, until this incredible deal showed up. The rifle is used, but well taken care of. It came with Talley bases and 34mm rings, a nice suppressor and 50 Barnes Vor-TX 168grs factory loads. The price was right. I got it today! It is a 30-06, with 1:10ROT.
I put on some Leupold QR bases, and liberated a very nice Leupold scope through some «scope rotation» in my gun collection. I’ll get to shoot it within a week, probably. I’ll start with developing some hunting loads with factory bullets. Thought I’d try some Barnes 150grs TTSX for moose and wild boar, and 150grs interlocks for raindeer to begin with (never tried sold copper before, curious).
But I will, naturally, shoot it with some proper, home-made projectiles in due time as well! I’ll let you know how it works out.
This is not a beautiful rifle. But it pretty much sums up my idea of a practical hunting tool.
I like bolt guns. Rugged, stable, accurate, simple.
The Browning X-Bolt has some appealing features. The «X» refers to the scope base screws, four screws for each base. Should be sufficient! The magazine is very slender considering it houses 4 cartridges, owing to the rotating arrangement of the cartridges. I locks up very positively in the action, absolutely no rattling.
The bolt lift is pretty low, giving good clearance to the eye piece. The trigger guard is spacious, with ample space for a gloved finger. These details matter if you hunt in cold conditions. It is bedded around the action screws and recoil lug; actually a pretty decent bedding job!
The «feather trigger» was a bit heavy, but it was easily adjustable. The slightly angular bolt runs very smoothly. The stock is kind of rubberized, with a high friction (and noise dampening) surface. Some will like it, others not; I like it.
The safety is a two-position tang safety, that locks the bolt. There is a separate knob on the bolt that let you unchamber the gun with the safety on. Pretty much an ideal arrangement, in my opinion. It is not possible to move the safety switch without making a little sound; the tang position, however, allows you to do this immediately before firing.
The one feature I haven’t been crazy about, is the price tag. I wouldn’t say it’s overpriced- just a bit more than I could justify. That is, until this incredible deal showed up. The rifle is used, but well taken care of. It came with Talley bases and 34mm rings, a nice suppressor and 50 Barnes Vor-TX 168grs factory loads. The price was right. I got it today! It is a 30-06, with 1:10ROT.
I put on some Leupold QR bases, and liberated a very nice Leupold scope through some «scope rotation» in my gun collection. I’ll get to shoot it within a week, probably. I’ll start with developing some hunting loads with factory bullets. Thought I’d try some Barnes 150grs TTSX for moose and wild boar, and 150grs interlocks for raindeer to begin with (never tried sold copper before, curious).
But I will, naturally, shoot it with some proper, home-made projectiles in due time as well! I’ll let you know how it works out.
This is not a beautiful rifle. But it pretty much sums up my idea of a practical hunting tool.
