Browning X-Bolt…any opinions?

[Anonymous]

In my non stop search for an appropriate LH youth rifle the Browning "Micro Medallion X-bolt LH" has come to my attention in 7-08.

It looks right…right kind of cartridge, right LOP, right "left handedness"…

Anybody got any experience with the X-bolt product? Up here it will be a special order and I'm pretty much going to have to pay the (not inconsiderable) full ticket price to get one.

It looks good and Browning has a decent reputation…the only other LH youth bolt actions I've found have seemed rather cheaply built. The Browning has a full size stock replacement for the eventual growth and that is likely as cheap as two rifles in the long run.

My experiences with Browning are a mixed bag- with handguns very good, their T-Bolt is great, not a huge fan of their autoloading shotguns…but almost no experience with their CF rifles and none with an X-bolt.

 

[gerry]

They have a really good reputation for the most part, we are strongly considering an X Bolt Medallion in 270 Win for my wife, as soon as we catch up from some big bills. I wouldn't hesitate in buying one they look like solidly built guns.

 

[DrMike]

I have shot a fair number of X-Bolts; I like them. They appear to be a quality product that performs consistently. My primary reason for not owning one is that none have come available in a cartridge that I wanted. I am not as attracted to them aesthetically as other makes; but that is a matter of preference. They have always performed well for me at the range.

 

[Anonymous]

Good info- looks like I'll go order it today.

Another friend of mine up here has one for his wife and she's 4/4 on a caribou, a moose, a black bear and a deer with Remington 140gr Corelokts.

Thinking a Leupold 4x on top and he'd be set….

 

[jimbires]

I bought one for my girlfriend last year . the only difference is I bought her the longer 22" bbl . like you I had no experience with Browning rifles . after using it a little , I've decided it's a very nice rifle . the wood is decent , the trigger is not bad ,she shoots it well , it's not heavy to carry . the barrel on this one is very smooth , it cleans easy , and I've not had any copper problems . I'm using a slightly reduced load of H4895 with a 120 ballistic tip . I put a 3-9 conquest on it .






this is the first 3 shot group ,at 100 yds , after breaking in the barrel . I was kind of doing break in , and load development at the same time .

 

[SJB358]

That's a real nice package Jim. Looks handy too

 

[jimbires]

I'm putting this in a separate post so it doesn't blend in with my other rambling . when you mount the scope use caution . I used Leupold bases . there is one screw that is shorter than the other seven , by about one thread . I forget the location for this shorter screw , so use caution .I played musical chairs until I figured it out . I don't think this was mentioned in the instructions . hope this helps Jim

 

[jimbires]

That's a real nice package Jim. Looks handy too

Scotty , it's a very nice set up . she shoots it well . she also carries it around and gets in and out of tree stands easily with it . it's just a nice rifle . I'd sure like to get a deer in front of her .

 

[SJB358]

Good luck Jim. Your gun season opens pretty soon right?

 

[Anonymous]

Nice looking rifle Jim.

I'm not up on Browning's naming convention but that the "Micro Hunter"? 22" barrel and 13.5" LOP?

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have owned (3) of the A-Bolt II rifles. The .280 and the .300 WSM are still in the family (son and grandson). Grandson has killed a deer and several hogs with his .280 and likes it a lot. I sold the .243 on GunBroker. I did not pay $1000 for any of them though. I bought them back in the 1990's when they were about $600. All of them were/are shooters. The two that Are still in the family shoot better than MOA out to 300 yards.

 

[jimbires]

Good luck Jim. Your gun season opens pretty soon right?

Scotty , thanks . yes the Pa two week deer season opens the Monday after Thanksgiving . Monday - Friday are bucks only . Saturday - Saturday are bucks or doe .No Sunday hunting . the area we hunt the bucks need 3 points on one side to be legal . last year I had a few doe in front of her , but they were not in season yet . hopefully she has some luck this season .

 

[jimbires]

Nice looking rifle Jim.

I'm not up on Browning's naming convention but that the "Micro Hunter"? 22" barrel and 13.5" LOP?

this one is just the " hunter ". 22" bbl , 13.5" LOP , I'll call it a dull or oil finish on the stock .the rifle , as you see it , with no ammo is roughly 8.0 pounds on my bathroom scale . the stock is a nice size .it has a top mounted thumb safety . it uses a removable magazine that holds 4 and 1 in the bbl , for a total of 5 . the magazine fits flush with the bottom of the rifle . the safety locks the bolt closed .if you look at the picture of the scope , you will see a square button on the bolt handle . by pushing this button , the bolt can be opened while the safety is on . this rifle has some nice features .
when I went shopping for her , I was going to buy a Tikka T-3 stainless / synthetic in a 7mm-08 . well left handed were not being imported at that time , I'm not sure if they are yet . so the search started . there are not a lot of choices in left handed rifles . I'm very satisfied with this one .


please don't take this info below as 100% correct , as I'm not positive .

I'm pretty sure the "micro hunter " are a 20" bbl , and a slimmed down stock . maybe, just maybe a little shorter LOP .
the " medallion " I think has a gloss finished stock . I think you can get a medallion in a " hunter " or a " micro hunter ".
they also have a synthetic / blued version . I think it's called a " stalker "
there is also a stainless / synthetic version . I think it's called a " stainless stalker "
I'm also under the impression that the " hunter " and " micro hunter " are the only models available in left handed .

 

[Anonymous]

After looking high and low my dealer finally called Browning…no go on the LH Micro Medallion X-bolt…all gone.

I did find a Savage LH Youth in 7-08 with a Nikon 3-9x already mounted- couldn't pass it up and it's going under the tree. I hope their reputation for accuracy holds up with this one- should do nicely for a caribou and deer rifle. Especially since we're headed to TN for whitetails in Jan!

 

[DrMike]

I don't believe you will be displeased with the Savage. The rifle will shoot quite well for your family.

 

[FOTIS]

My buddy has one in 300 WIN MAG. Shoots great with 180 Hornady SST's. Killed a huge 6x6 elk with it in Arlington Wyoming.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got to admit I've got a predisposition against the Savage from one I had 25 years ago and that Accutrigger thingy that's pretty standard on a whole class of rifles. I've had a really hard time finding anything else suitable so we'll give it a go. The boy is a hunting nut, much less so a rifle loony like his old man.

The trigger breaks clean, it looks reasonably well put together and didn't break the piggy bank- should do fine. I might take some Fusion paint to that plastic stock though.