Browning XBolt 6.5x55

[Deerstalker6]

Evening All,

I hope your weeks going well and good so far,

Just been mulling over buying the above new as my only deer stalking rifle & deer cal one for all deer species,

Is it a good buy/purchase for what it is ?, Looking at getting new one with a blued barrel,

Any owners have one in swede they seem to be more 243,308 etc when they are about.

Handled one in a rfd the other day like the stock and tang safety

Any advice appreciated,

Thanks,

Ad

 

[James0586]

Great rifles mate.
You won’t be disappointed.

I have one in the xbolt eclipse laminate varmint 6.5x55 Swedish. I had to wait for 2 weeks for mine to be imported in the uk from Belgium as they don’t stock them due to the calibre and stock I wanted. It was well worth the wait as I absolutely love it. I have been with guides that have never seen one like mine and were very impressed with it. It’s very accurate but it’s also very heavy as it laminate and varmint so it’s not very forgiving on long stalks in Scotland! This can get emotional believe me..... I have taken everything with mine and it has never failed me to date. Shoots sub MOA as in the picture below and really likes Hornady SSTs.

 

[Richiepolecat]

I have the xbolt in 243, atacs camo and the McMillan stock version in 308, I like them

 

[Deerstalker6]

Great rifles mate.
You won’t be disappointed.

I have one in the xbolt eclipse laminate varmint 6.5x55 Swedish. I had to wait for 2 weeks for mine to be imported in the uk from Belgium as they don’t stock them due to the calibre and stock I wanted. It was well worth the wait as I absolutely love it. I have been with guides that have never seen one like mine and were very impressed with it. It’s very accurate but it’s also very heavy as it laminate and varmint so it’s not very forgiving on long stalks in Scotland! This can get emotional believe me..... I have taken everything with mine and it has never failed me to date. Shoots sub MOA as in the picture below and really likes Hornady SSTs.

Nice one that looks a cracker yours whole setup does as well, Nope probably not forgiving on the weight but accurate and recoil subdued a bit i take it due to heft

Good stuff aye, Nice onto a winner there, Mainly going to be used for roe and the odd sika/fallow/red and a back up rifle to my 22cf for foxing like

The dealer said he would recommend hornady/sst's if I was going for one in that cal too, thats a good group on that plate with yours

Seen the eclipse at one of the local dealers its a nice bit of kit

Ad

 

[Deerstalker6]

I have the xbolt in 243, atacs camo and the McMillan stock version in 308, I like them

Oh nice two of them too good work, seen that atacs version at the same dealers is that with the cerakote finish on those?

The tang safety was a plus I did have a comparison in the shop with a howa 1500 sporter hogue nothing wrong with those,
but I just thought the safety was a bit after thoughtish or didnt look quality in comparison with others,

Another plus for me over the howa was that they mag fed as std and flush fitting whereas the howa's need a kit to be mag fed

I just dont use blind floor plate rifles tried one not for me,

Ad

 

[Richiepolecat]

Yeah both have cerakote, mags are flush, safety works fine and its the durtouch on the 243. Finish on the long range McMillan isn't great but the stock is great. Had a tikka in 308 before and the McMillan is better for keeping sight picture I found personally.
243 is very accurate still working on the 308, trying to find a good load. Only shot it to zero it so far.
You won't be disappointed.

 

[James0586]

Nice one that looks a cracker yours whole setup does as well, Nope probably not forgiving on the weight but accurate and recoil subdued a bit i take it due to heft

Good stuff aye, Nice onto a winner there, Mainly going to be used for roe and the odd sika/fallow/red and a back up rifle to my 22cf for foxing like

The dealer said he would recommend hornady/sst's if I was going for one in that cal too, thats a good group on that plate with yours

Seen the eclipse at one of the local dealers its a nice bit of kit

Ad

I’m very happy with mine. The weight can be an issue however it’s not that big a deal on short lowland stalks. I tried Winchester ammo first as the dealer said they were made for the rifle... don’t think he was right but hay ho.... since running SSTs it improved accuracy and knock down power it does like them. I have shot fox with mine whilst out stalking it is brutal to say the least.
If you were closer I would offer you to try mine before you buy 1.

Believe me the weight when you hold it is heavy but pick it up to the shoulder it’s very point-able so to speak.

Good luck

 

[Kjf]

Great rifles mate.
You won’t be disappointed.

I have one in the xbolt eclipse laminate varmint 6.5x55 Swedish. I had to wait for 2 weeks for mine to be imported in the uk from Belgium as they don’t stock them due to the calibre and stock I wanted. It was well worth the wait as I absolutely love it. I have been with guides that have never seen one like mine and were very impressed with it. It’s very accurate but it’s also very heavy as it laminate and varmint so it’s not very forgiving on long stalks in Scotland! This can get emotional believe me..... I have taken everything with mine and it has never failed me to date. Shoots sub MOA as in the picture below and really likes Hornady SSTs. View attachment 136038View attachment 136039

I've got the same as you mate but in 3006, it's as accurate as sin with factory rounds

I've also had ( and still got an A bolt in 308) an A bolt in 223 and 243 the Brownings have never let me down

Kjf

 

[James0586]

I've got the same as you mate but in 3006, it's as accurate as sin with factory rounds

I've also had ( and still got an A bolt in 308) an A bolt in 223 and 243 the Brownings have never let me down

Kjf

Cracking in they. Do you find it’s heavy to carry over tough steep terrain?

 

[Kjf]

Mine hasn't got the heavy barrel so its fine to carry ,its not much heavier than the A bolt .

I dont notice the difference

Kjf

 

[rutland]

I had one in 3006 very accurate rifle with bog standard ammo. Didn't like the trigger so bought a Jard trigger from America which transformed it. Mine was the stainless stalker fluted barrel. The only down side was the bolt started to rust not just on mine but also on my friends and that one didn't have a hard life like mine. You wont be disappointed , Ive traded in and gone to the dark side, but that's another story

 

[Richiepolecat]

Just did a ammo test with my 308, in preparation for my trip abroad.
Using hornaby whitetail, Winchester super x and federal power shok.
I use the power shok in the 243 usually and its cheap and accurate.
Same in the 308, again best grouping.