Xbolt

[wildfowler.250]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone on here could give me an opinion on the new xbolt that's out? (I'm looking for a .270 and I was going to go for a T3 stainless but I'm a bit hesitant to do so as I've heard quite a few negative reports on them )


Any help is very much appreciated!

 

[Brithunter]

Sorry I cannot help on the X-Bolt and don't have a Tilla but I would be interested in hearing what the negatives are?

Although I don't personally like the T3's and have shot a few I cannot say I have heard any real negatives about them. A friend has a T3 Tactical in .308 and a T3 Lite both in .308. He was talking about swopping the T3 lite for a Sako 85 but that was because he wanted a .300 magnum as he thinks it will be better for Boar shooting.

I must admit though if I was looking for a New rifle I would be looking at the Titan quite seriously it would depend on how it feels but they seem to shoot well.

 

[AndrewT059]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone on here could give me an opinion on the new xbolt that's out? (I'm looking for a .270 and I was going to go for a T3 stainless but I'm a bit hesitant to do so as I've heard quite a few negative reports on them )


Any help is very much appreciated!

whats the negatives you hear about them??? as i was looking into getting one in .30 06, so looking for info aswell,

Andrew

 

[wint]

x bolt

Hi CZ,ive just part x my cz .243,.223 for x bolts im very pleased with them they are very comfortable to handle & although still experimenting with ammo very accurate Im picking up a 30-06 x bolt & 22lr t bolt this Thursday ,I personally give them the thumbs up & there reasonaly priced ,good luck with your choice ATB

Andy

 

[Thar]

Both rifles are well made, the X-Bolt is made by Miroku (you never hear a bad thing about their shotguns).

The differences are in the details the X-bolt is a bit more sophisticated compared to the Tikka KISS approach. The X bolt uses a 3 lug locking bolt, to give a short lift bolt as per the old Sako 75 while the Tikka uses a 2 lug locking bolt.
The Tikka uses a straight stack magazine while the Browning uses a rotary magazine not unlike the famous 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer, but it is a shame that both mag’s are made of plastic. The X-Bolt safety is on the tang like a shotgun while the T3 is next to the bolt like a Remm’y 700.

For me the added sophistication of the X-Bolt would win me over, if you prefer to keep it simple then the Tikka might look attractive although the Howa is another very good rifle in this class.

If you can, handle all the rifles in the shop (ignore the sales man as he will try to push you into buying the one that suits him most ££££ ), see which one you like the feel of most and then make your desiccation. any of them is more than capable of harvesting deer for many years.

ATB

Tahr

 

[wildfowler.250]

Thank you very much Tahr for the input! It's greatly appreciated!



With regard to the tikkas I've just heard that they are made pretty cheap,(although they aren't cheap to buy) and are not as good as the older models ect! If you search around there's plenty of topics on them That said, I've also heard the barrels are made in the sako factory so they can't be that bad...I just think there are better guns for a similar price 8)

 

[Thar]

With regard to the tikkas I've just heard that they are made pretty cheap,(although they aren't cheap to buy) and are not as good as the older models ect! )

I owned one of the old 595s, and you are right they were a better rifle than the new T3, too good for there own good it might be said, once Sako brought the Tikka company they were a bit too near the Sako market sector.

ATB

Tahr

 

[oakleaf]

I have owned three Browning A bolts and, a few niggles aside, liked them – but not enough to still have them.

Currently have a second hand Sako 75 and looks like it’s a rifle I will be keeping. Previously had a Tikka 595 and only parted with it as needed to go with other owner – it was on joint tickets and a shared rifle.

The worse thing about the T 595 was that it does shade your perceptions of the T3 range. They are simply not built the same way – don’t mean that in a particularly derogatory way, just as fact.

On the courses I see hundreds of rifles each year. Other than rifles bodged by owners ( WD40 is not a good bedding compound ), the T3s all perform pretty well.

I had looked at the X bolt with interest, but not seen one to handle properly in the flesh until the last course – which had two candidates with them. One 243 the other 270.

The 243 had all kinds of problems, which from limited inspection seemed to centre ( no pun intended ) on the barrel. On taking off the moderator it was clear to the naked eye that the bore was not concentric with the barrel. More worryingly for a factory threaded rifle, the threading was off and the crown pretty poor – all possibly stemming from the bore issue. It shouldn’t have got out the factory and the dealer concerned should have spotted it – it really was that obvious.

That aside, the 270 shot ok. But I couldn’t shake a feeling of disappointment – akin to the Tikka 595/ T3 mindset above. My Browning Medallion and Euro’s where really well put together. Whilst there were design niggles, the engineering was solid. The X bolt just seemed to exude a feeling that it was designed by engineers briefed to production criteria – rather than shooters. It just could have been better. As I say, that should be read as highly subjective given my mindset.

Got to say that from experience Browning UK support is pretty poor. Then too I cant be the only one that laments the day GMK took over from JLS in terms of supporting Tikka.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Oakleaf, thank you very much for the reply I have to say that im disappointed to hear that you were so unimpressed with them! I may have to look at other options..

I can't say I know much about the howa rifles? I've heard that they are "so so"? It seems that for any 'mid value' rifle there's always 1 negative to 3 positives



On a different note, does anyone know of any sako 75's/older tikka models going new in .270? It's a long shot I know 8)


ATB CZ452

 

[satellite buck]

try colchestershootingcenter.co.uk they have a695 master in 270 at a very tempting price

 

[oakleaf]

CZ,

Glad to help - if it helps. But please do remember the biggest single factor in getting the most out of a rifle is your own confidence in it. Its a very subjective thing.

By all means canvass opinions, but I would always recommend trying to go hands on with a rifle - preferably several examples. If it is good for you, that is worth a hundred third party opinions.

Meant to add about Howa. I carry the usual baggage of prejudice as everyone else and confess to being a bit huffy about them - add in that the Rem 700 action isnt my particular fave and I suppose the dice are a bit loaded!

However, we've had about thirty on the course - mostly 243 and then 308. - in the last year. All of them shot well and all shooters using them passed the DSC1 test. My other pet 'huf' was Privi Partisan ammo - only to find that probably about 3/4 of the Howa shooters were using it! Average groups were running on or under 1 inch and a good few did better. I'm probably so fat 'cos of all the humble pie!!

I prefer a detachable mag, but ( stuck record ) thats just me.

The only problem I came across with them was with one guy - and that was only because he hadnt fully tightened the scope rings - hardly a critism of the rifle.

Good luck with your search.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Thanks again oakleaf! I think I'll have one last look at the xbolt and tikka stainless and take it from there! As it has been pointed out before, it's about a 4 inch target your aiming for so I'm sure both guns will manage that at 100 yards


Satellite buck, thank you very much for the suggestion! I actually phoned them a few days ago to enquire about the gun and to say the man on the other end was GURNY was an understatement!! Sadly he also wouldn't consider sending the gun to my RFD,(10 hour drive one way to the shop ) but I'd rather spend my moneys on the local dealers who are far more pleasant.


Once again, thanks for all the help!

 

[Thar]

CZ,
Meant to add about Howa. I carry the usual baggage of prejudice as everyone else and confess to being a bit huffy about them - add in that the Rem 700 action isnt my particular fave and I suppose the dice are a bit loaded!

I prefer a detachable mag, but ( stuck record ) thats just me.

Hi Oakleaf

It might be time to get a bit fatter.

The Howa Action is more like a copy of a Sako L591 not a Remmington 700, it is flat bottomed and has a integral recoil lug nothing like a 700, see photo although the top of the action is profiled the same as a remm’y so it accepts remm’y rings. Hence why you might be getting confused. The bolt is very like a 700 fully enclosed bolt head, 3 rings of steel etc however the extractor is much better than the Remington one.

Sorry to the “old hands” on here as you have seen this before, but here is my Howa 270 with my “homemade” DM conversion, in the photo it has the 10 shot double stack mag’ feeding from the central position fitted, although I have a 5 shot mag’ for the UK. On the bottom of the photo is a Tikka 595.

I have owned been involved with a few Howa’s IMO they are typical of Japanese engineering, well made, totally reliable, accurate and good value.

While money no object I would pick another rifle over a Howa it is hard to fault them at there retail price.

ATB

Tahr

 

[Howaboutthat]

I must admit I agree with Thar

I have three Howa's one in 7mm Rem Mag one in .243 and one in .204 and money isnt a problem, but I fail too see what I can buy as well made and as accurate, I am a homeloader and get 1/4 inch groups at 100 yards with all three rifles, however ive got 1/2 inch groups with some factory loads.

I personally think they are great value especially if you go for the thumbhole sporters, the only must have for me is I add a Timney trigger group to all of them, only because I like a really crisp trigger.

Regards

 

[oakleaf]

I'm putting cream on that pie right now.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Thanks for all the help! I'll certainly look into the howas,(and if I don't get one in .270, I quite fancy one in .223 8) ).


My last few 'dilemas' are:

1) barrel length? What's the minimum I'll need in .270 to get a good velocity from the bullets?

2) cleaning: what will I need to buy for cleaning the rifle and how often to clean? And also, I assume I clean between different brands when initially testing what bullets work best in the gun?

3) do I need to break in the rifle or just shoot it?


I apologise for the novice questions as this will be my first CF so had to ask!



Many thanks for all the help!

 

[Thar]

My last few 'dilemas' are:
1) barrel length? What's the minimum I'll need in .270 to get a good velocity from the bullets?

2) cleaning: what will I need to buy for cleaning the rifle and how often to clean? And also, I assume I clean between different brands when initially testing what bullets work best in the gun?

3) do I need to break in the rifle or just shoot it?

The 270 uses around 60gn of powder and is a powerful caliber, there are 2 ways of looking at it, because it is so powerful you can afford to loose more barrel length than a marginal caliber and still have a effective round, or you need a long barrel to make the most of that 60gn of powder. Personally I would go for a 22” barrel this will give you about 100fps less than advertised velocities, so around 3100/3000fps from a 130gn bullet. If you fit a moderator any longer barrel than this gets unmanageable for a stalking rifle.

For cleaning you will need as a minimum a bolt guild, cleaning rod, brushes (phosphor bronze or nylon) I prefer the latter, a jag and cleaning patches and soft brush for oiling the barrel. For cleaning products you will need a carbon remover, a copper remover and gun oil. A can of WD40 is use full as well. I use KG products but there are other good produces.

To get the most out of a new rifle you need to brake it in.

As for the best bullets to match your rifle that is a difficult one, all rifles are different even ones from the same manufacture. Get your rifle then we might me able to give you some starting points.

ATB

Tahr

 

[Thar]

double post.

 

[wildfowler.250]

That's brilliant Thar, thank you very much!

Hopefully I'll be picking up a rifle next week


How would you suggest I break in the rifle? Is it clean the gun after each shot? And for how many shots? Or what would you recommend?


Your help is very much appreciated!



ATB CZ452

 

[Thar]

How would you suggest I break in the rifle? Is it clean the gun after each shot? And for how many shots? Or what would you recommend?

There can be a bit of debate of the best way of braking a barrel in or even if it is necessary. However as it don’t do any harm I do it.

I shoot 1 round then clean for the first 10 rounds. Then shoot 3 rounds and clean for a further 30 rounds, then shoot 5 rounds and clean for 50 rounds. After that I clean after every 20 rounds.

Remember because it is a stalking rifle you can brake it in while stalking once you have zeroed it, you are unlikely to shot more than 3/5 rounds per outing.

ATB

Tahr