I am looking at a Bowning X-Bolt in 300 WSM.

Was woundering if anyone has had any experience with the X-Bolt and what their opinion was.

Any help will be appreciated.

Since I have only handled one in a guns shop, I can only speak to aesthetics. You ask for opinions and mine is that it's too space-age looking - IT'S FUGLY!

There was a thread on AR about a month ago. I think the X Bolt took a good beating from several of the members. Lou

I have worked with one. It was a 300wsm mounted a 3-9x40 Zeiss conquest on it for a friend and broke the rifle in. It shot the 165gr federal fusion factory loads into 5/8" for 3 shots rather boringly at 100 yards from the bench. The trigger was rather stiff and I am sure the rifle would be 1/2" or better with that load with a better trigger pull. This one was over 4 pounds. The recoil pad worked excellent. The rifle was very light and seemed like it should have kicked more. I didn't like the 23" barrel of the rifle would of rather had 24" or 25" for this caliber. I have never liked the looks of the A bolt and I feel the same about the x bolt.

That's why there's chocolate and vanilla, I think they look cool. I have shot one about 30 rounds, and I agree that it handled recoil pretty well. I also agree that you should probably have a min barrel of 24" for this caliber, just to burn all the powder it contains.

The A-bolts and X-bolts are typically damn accurate, and looks are obviously debatable. They are good value rifles IMO, but the triggers typically are poor. I would seriously consider a new trigger, or trigger job, IF you can find a smith who will work on a Browning trigger. These rifles are not popular with gunsmiths, they use inexpensive materials in places, aren't a lot of aftermarket parts for them--i.e. replacement triggers, and Browning uses some kind of Crazy Mad barrel thread locker when installing their barrel, making rebarreling a PITA.

On the other hand, I've always like Brownings magazine options, and their customary accuracy with little to no load development. If you like em, go for it, and just consider some work on the trigger if it isn't as good as you like.

Something to consider with the X-Bolt is that you cannot top up the magazine while it is in the rifle. This may be important to some and would be critical to me unless I was carrying a second loaded magazine.

Lion Hunter, perhaps this is true with the X-bolt as a general statement, but this was not thee case with the 300 WSM that I shot. You could top load the magazine through the bolt port without issue.

Now, I did not ask the owner if he had tweaked the rifle in any way, but in our general conversation, it seemed it was straight out of the box, with the exception of adding bases rings and a scope.

I will say that I have owned several A-bolts, still own one, and all of them can be top fed.

If that is the true design of the X-bolt, than that is a negative to me. Interesting....

IIRC one of the "improvements" over thr A-bolt was a user adjustable trigger kind of like the AccuTrigger. One of the X's i handled must have been on the low setting because it broke like it was a custom job. I prefer the old style magazine of the A bolt personally, but I have been extremely tempted to pick one up in 280 Rem, only thing holding me back is the 22" barrel. As to the 23" barrel on the WSMs, remember that those fat cases are usually loaded with faster burning powders (usually a scoshe faster, nothing too major) then their belted standard length bretheren, so a 24"+ barrel is not needed....unless you are handloading slower powders.

I had one on my bench and I kinda like it they fixed all the a bolt stuff everyone bitches about and it handles great not sure if it is ugly or not did not realy notice. so I am guessing not.

My buddy bought one in 7mm08. sent it out to get a polish blue finish and added white line spacers. Shoots tiny groups. Has weird side saddle 4 screw scope mounts.

It's kinda funny; all these middling or negative reviews. Well, anyway, I actually own one, a 308, and let me tell you, the proof is in the pudding. The scope mounts are simple and easy and light. Shouldering and aiming the rifle is extrodinarily natural. The palm swell is nice. Ergonomically, it's a great rifle. And the center of gravity is lower than the A-Bolt. Being a Walnut/blued steel bigot, I had to get over the aesthetics, but I did. 4 dead deer in 2 days will build your confidence and admiration for your piece. After my second deer, I gave it to my dad to use. He never pulled the trigger on the thing and made 2 really good shots in quick-shooting pole timber situations. It had to be natural and it was for him, a 76 year old curmudgeon.

I have learned to like the looks of it. It isn't a beautiful rifle at all, but it handles GREAT. It's a HUNTING rifle. It's light, quick handling, easy to hold on target off hand and everything on it works quite well, for me.
If you're looking for a California type Weatherby Mk V, this aint your rifle. But many of the attributes of that great firearm are probably the very things I'd be complaining about: too long, too hot calibers, too shiny, too exagerated stock features.

Basically, it works. Everything else... Whatevah!!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Farflung:
It's kinda funny; all these middling or negative reviews.[quote]

Why is it funny? Is it because your opinion differs from others? The X bolt just isn't my cup of tea, but I'd buy two before I'd buy a Savage. Lou