Reviewed: Browning X-Bolt 2

The core ethos for this rifle is the growing commonality of sound moderators across most markets, so shorter barrels are becoming especially desirable for maintaining handling balance and pointability.

Better-than-average

This X-Bolt has a 470mm/18.5”barrel with a 1 in 10” twist rate that will comfortably stabilise lead bullets, and physically longer, lower-density copper projectiles, ensuring future-proof performance. Bore scope inspection showed better-than-average surface finishing quality on aneconomically priced factory gun. It has a 14x1mm threaded muzzle for the moderator with a neat crown.The core ethos for this rifle is the growing commonality of sound moderators across most markets, so shorter barrels are becoming especially desirable for maintaining handling balance and pointability.

The gun was supplied with Browning’s Iridium moderator that’s 230mm long, 51mm in diameter with a 400gr overall weight. It showed excellent sound suppression and linear recoil management.

One of Browning's secrets

Overall length is 970mm/38”with a 3000g/6.6lbs overall weight, so a comfortable balance between ultimate portability and acceptable recoil management in dynamic scenarios, yet still showing enough stability, especially from a bipod, when precision shots are required. The barrel remains fully free-floating in the stock and one of Browning’s secrets is that the rifle shows composite bedding between the action and stock.

This minimises action stress for the greatest long-term stability and leads to significant precision and accuracy benefits that are, in my opinion, a considerable advantage and woefully ignored by most manufacturers in this market.

A tool for the job

Primer strikes are well defined from the firing pin; there were no pressure marks on the brass cases and ejection didn’t damage case mouths. I think for any realistic hunting scenario, this rifle really epitomises the requirements for a tool to do a job. The barrel maintained accurate thermal stability through the warm summer months, which is reassuring on a lighter hunting rifle.

It was notable the moderator shed heat and mirage quickly, allowing extended shot strings without optical interference. The forend is sturdy and can happily be shot from a clamped tripod without affecting point of impact. It’s good the forend is rigid enough to avoid any intermittent barrel contact regardless of handling delicacy, which I think is a critically important factor forimprovised, non-pre-arranged shots when hunting.

The slim adjustable cheekpiece profile enables cheekbone support without jaw displacement and having a secure Picatinny rail ensures simple mounting of any optic or digital aiming device. This is a rifle that is critically underappreciated; it shows a well-finished barrel that didn’t attract fouling or seemingly invite corrosion, so I’d seriously recommend taking a look at the X-Bolt II Nordic as it delivers exactly what is needed from a true hunting rifle without any ostentatious excess.

Specifications

Price: £1,179
Calibre: 308 Win (6.35 Creedmoor and 30-06 also available)
Muzzle thread: M14x1
Barrel length: 470mm-18.5”
Barrel material: Steel
Twist rate: 10
Adjustable stock: Yes
Stock (L/R): Right-handed only
Stock and forearm material: Black Composite
Palm Swell: Yes
Recoil pad: Inflex: 32mm
Delivered accessories: 2 x 7mm external spacers, longer recoil pad screws
Overall length: 970mm/38”
ScopeMounting: Picatinny rail
Receiver colour: Matte Black
Magazine: DBM-Drop Box Magazine
Magazine capacity: 4+1
Type of trigger: DLX, adjustable single stage

Find out more about the Browning X-Bolt 2 here.