Decisions...Decisions...Decisions

[Heavy Barrel]

Just looking for some input...anyone here have firsthand experience (good or bad) with either of the following?

Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter Composite Stainless
CVA Cascade Long Range Hunter
Tikka T3x Roughtech

I've been on the prowl over the past five years for a 6.5 PRC, two things I'm standing firm on in my search is that it must be stainless steel and the bolt throw is 70° or less. I've had no experience with either CVA or Tikka and none of the dealers in my area have any of these three rifles on hand for me to get an idea on how they fit/feel. I'll end up either having to order one through Gun Broker, which I've never done before, or have one of the dealers order one for me.

The last time I had anything to do with Browning involved an A-Bolt II w/ BOSS (300 Win Mag) that I had about twenty-five years ago, I loved how that rifle felt, especially how buttery smooth the bolt operated, but the recoil was very intense and the percussion from the muzzle blast would rattle one's fillings loose, unfortunately I never could get that rifle to group smaller than 4"/100yds. At that time I was young, dumb and didn't have experience I have now nor access to the tools or resources available today, so I never really figured out why it wouldn't group. After trying three different brands of ammo and bullet weights, a few gunsmiths I contacted in my area at the time suggested that the barrel was a lemon and said they're not worth the cost to re-barrel, so I ended trading it in towards a different rifle.

 

[gerry]

Don't have any experience with the CVA but I always recommend Tikka or Browning for rifles that rarely have issues. Between those two you could probably just pick the one that has the features you like and fit well. Maybe someone local to you has a Tikka to see how they fit you.

 

[xphunter]

Tikka for me!

 

[rjm158]

I currently own two Tikka 6.5 PRCs and have had a third. None of mine have been the Roughtech stocked versions but the action are the same. Tikkas are my first choice across the board. Bear in mind their barrels are known for being "slow" compared to other brands so you often won't get equal velocities. However, they are also known for good to excellent accuracy, which I prefer over speed. My Super Varmint once have me a 3 shot group at 500 yds that measured 2.76 inches.

My current ones are the Super Varmint and the Superlight. The third I owned was a Bass Pro exclusive version that my grandson killed his first deer with two seasons ago and I gifted it to him. The Superlight was its replacement for me.

I personally like the 6.5 PRC cartridge and my two stepsons and I have killed several deer with them. One of my stepsons uses a Bergara I gave him and the other has a Sauer I got from Fotis. My first was also a Sauer 100. All rifles, regardless of brand, have shot very, very well with all ammunition.

I have owned/shot several Brownings and one CVA. I still have an A-Bolt in 7mm WSM. They were all ok, no lemons, but they didn't do anything for me that made them special.

Hope this helps.

Ron

 

[highoctane]

Ive always been partial to the Browning rifles. I have owned several down through the years with my current Browning being a ABolt in 280 Rem that I have owned for 30 years. I've killed upwards of 120-130 deer with it, along with a few hogs. It shoots just about anything that I put in it. If I buy another "higher dollar" rifle it will be a Browning X-Bolt.

I also owned one of those Boss equipped Abolt 300 mag Winneys that shot really well but that thing was brutal to shoot, I sent it packing down the road to a "youngster" that was going through a "magnum" craze.

 

[SJB358]

Tikka for me!

Same here. Upgrade the bottom plastic to some metal and maybe a stock if you see fit later on and you have a solid rifle. Hard to beat a Tikka if you like them.

 

[Blkram]

While I have not yet played with the Browning X Bolt 2, I do have a few X Bolts (left handed) that have been serving me and my wife well to date. Accuracy out of the box with factory ammunition has been sub-MOA with preferred loads. Lots of features on them that I like, and they fit well, and are fun to own, carry, shoot and hunt with.
I have also had 2 rebarreled to get the cartridge I wanted in a left handed rifle, including my 6.5 CM (Benchmark) and 6.5 PRC (Proof carbon fiber).
I hope that they will make the X Bolt 2 in LH, and that they would build it in the Mountain Pro version. I would grab one in 280AI.

 

[JD338]

Hard to go wrong with the Tikka

JD338

 

[Hunter26]

I love both X-Bolt 2's (and Brownings in general) & Tikka's. I have no experience with any CVA's. My X-Bolt 2 is a 7mm PRC that's been awesome and I have a Tikka Super Varmint in 6.5 PRC that's also fantastic. Both have been extremely accurate with multiple loads and have killed several deer. I say you can't go wrong with either.