Hello. I have an opportunity to get a new Browning xbolt western hunter in 7 prc well below msrp. Who has a xbolt and what has your experience been with it so far?
@backfire Do you have any plans to make a recoil pad for xbolts any time soon or is there a different recoil pad that is in already in production that would fit that I could order?
Xbolts are good guns. I’d go for it.
We’re getting very close to adding xbolt. Weeks.
I’ve got an XBolt Speed SR in 6.8 Western. The trigger was a little heavy so I changed it out for a Timney. Other than that, it’s been a great gun.
I’ve got an X-bolt stalker. They shoot well, and have a premium feel I like more than most other brands. My action has always been just ok, wish it was a bit smoother cycling rounds. I would also want a threaded muzzle and a lighter trigger.
Definitely let us know once the recoil pads are available for the xbolts! I have heard from many people that the trigger is heavy. Do you recommend just switching it out for a Timney trigger or would buying just the MCarbo trigger spring kit work just fine?
I have an x bolt speed suppressor ready in 7 prc. I like it. I’ve only really taken it to the range, but it’s lightweight so I imagine it’d do well on a hunt. I put the mcarbo trigger in it and I feel like that helps a lot. The action is smooth and I have never had a problem with feeding. It comes threaded so i always shoot it with a can. Recoil is manageable. Definitely easier to get good groups with a 6.5 creedMoor for example, but I think that comes with the territory of these high power magnum cartridges. One critique would be the grip seems pretty far back from the trigger. But honestly not a big deal. … also ready for the backfire recoil pad to come out for the x bolt (;
I also have an X-bolt Stalker LR in 300 win mag and it is threaded. I bought it back in late 22 and just coming around taking it to my gunsmith to mount one of my scopes on it (Haven’t decided which scope yet). But, in compare to my other two Brownings (BAR MK II, and BLR), it is much lighter.
Michael, what scope and rings do you have on yours?
And how much is a mcarbo trigger going to set me back for?
Thanks
The MCarbo is a sear spring kit. It’s relatively inexpensive.
I almost never recommend buying a spring for a trigger. Most triggers are engineered to only be safe with a heavy spring.
An xbolt may be an exception. I was told by a rep for the company that it’s literally just a lawyer thing and the trigger can work safely with a light spring. Based on that, a cheap mcarbo spring could be a good choice if you feel it’s safe. But it still makes me uncomfortable so I usually get a timney.
A few things to understand if you decide to go to timney trigger route.
The bolt will no longer lock when you engage the safety. Not a big deal for some people but other people really like it.
You may have to do some modifications to your stock in order to get it to fit.
I have one and my daughter has one. We give it two thumbs up. A lot of people recommend swapping trigger for a Timney to get below 3.5 lbs: I’m told it’s not really a drop in - need a little work, but no direct experience on that.
I put an MCarbo spring in mine and set at 2.5 lbs - much love. My daughter uses factory trigger with OEM spring at 3.5 lbs and she’s happy with it. Very accurate & precise.
How could one test trigger safety? I never really have rounds in a rifle unless it’s pointing down range. Not much experience hunting yet. Is it typical to carry a chambered round +/- safety when hunting?
Thanks for the link. A simple $13 spring will take care of the problem at a fraction of the cost of a Timney trigger. The link also has a video on DIY. Love vendors who go the extra mile to provide the customer with as much information as they can to make life easier.
I have a question regarding the mounting of scope and use of rings directly onto the barrel or opting for a Pic rail and mounting the rings to the rail for your X-bolts? What do you recommend, attach directly to the barrel or no, attach a Pic rail plus rings? For my X-bolt, my gunsmith is recommending a 20 MOA Pic rail and 0 MOA rings. But I want to hear your opinions and why? Thanks
I went with the Leupold backcountry scope rings. I am happy with them. They don’t have a cant, but my thought process was to reduce the amount of parts that could potentially loosen.
Pure personal opinion after dealing with several Problem Child rifles.
Always start with the simple direct Mount to Rifle Style rings. If things are going well and you really like the rifle and want to change to something like a picatinny rail in the future that option is still available to you.
More than once I’ve purchased a brand new rifle and then before it’s even shown up at the store for me to pick up I’ve already started ordering new triggers, Picatinny rails with more elaborate picatinny rail scope mounts, new aftermarket stock, new aftermarket muzzle device, Etc. Then when the rifle comes in I immediately take it to the shop and swap everything out to the way I want it perfectly. Then take it to the range in, oh crap, it doesn’t shoot worth a damn.
Call the gun store or the gun manufacturer in the very first question they’re going to ask is, what changes have you made to the rifle? Followed quickly by the statement, well you need to switch it back to the factory configuration before calling us again and certainly before ever thinking about shipping it to us for us to look at it.
Or, you decide to play detective yourself and figure out what the problem is but now you’ve got three, four, five different things you have to change to see which one is the problem and that wastes a lot of ammo.
Picatinny rails definitely have some advantages. For me, I never shoot far enough, especially with a hunting rig, to need Moa canting. However, the more adjustment in eye relief comes in very handy. But the most important thing having a picatinny rail does is allows me to have more room in the gun safe. Anyone who’s ever bought a safe knows that the number of guns they estimate you can put in the safe is wildly optimistic. Having a picatinny rail with a QD mount definitely helps that out. The downsides to the rail are weight, and increased scope height over the bore which may interfere with your cheek weld.
On a hunting rifle, if I can I get the eye-box set correctly without having the rings being too close to either side of the scope I’ll go that route. If not, I’ll put a pic rail on there.
Hi Steve,
What a timely reply. I just got off the phone with my gunsmith talking about the same exact topic. And he said the same thing. To go with the Pic rail and attach the rings to because it gives you better “eye relief.” So, I am going that route. Thanks.
Had an x-bolt in 300 win mag. Good hunting rifle but never really impressed by the groups it put out. As others have said, the trigger is just not very good. I sold mine last week but if I were going to keep working with it I’d put a better trigger in it. The HAWG muzzle brake is worth it for sure. Backed down the kick big time from the radial brake it came with. That’s my 2 cents.