Browning X-bolt Stainless in 300 WSM

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18 July 2016, 22:51

Karoo

Browning X-bolt Stainless in 300 WSM

I need opinions on this rifle, please.
I like that it has a 23" barrel as I intend attaching a suppressor.
It is light weight but that helps the carrying and the suppressor eliminates recoil.
The "ugly" stock I can live with.
Other forums have given mixed reviews.
Is it accurate?
What about 180 gr bullets being too long?
Thanks

19 July 2016, 06:49

MLG

Nothing wrong with a browning X-Bolt as a rifle.

Whilst I haven't personally had one a couple of my friends have them and I have yet to see one that does not shoot well.

My experience with the 300WSM is this - hard to duplicate factory velocities using normal powders. One exception would be Reloader 17 which is a very efficient powder with lighter projectiles in the 300 WSM.

If you wish to load heavy for caliber bullets (180gn plus) then the 300 WSM starts to struggle - long projectiles start to use up case capacity.

I found that the 300 win mag just does everything the WSM does, easier.

The Win Mag would be my choice in an X-bolt if you can get one.

Otherwise, I would expect performance from the WSM somewhere between the 30-06 and the 300 Win Mag.....

19 July 2016, 08:43

sep

I don't own the XBolt Stainless Stalker in 300 WSM but I do have one in 338 Win Mag and another in 30-06. Both shoot submoa with my handloads. It's one of the few commercially produced "turnkey" rifles available.

By "turnkey" I mean it doesn't need bedding because it's already bedded. It doesn't need a different stock because the factory stock is stiff enough for good accuracy and the trigger is adjustable. Love the detachable magazine. Easy to remove and naturally falls right into your hand.

I also owned an ABolt in 338 Win Mag and I still also own an ABolt Medallion in 7mm-08. Both of these were/are submoa shooters too. I would buy another Browning ABolt or XBolt without any hesitation whatsoever.

19 July 2016, 10:57

Karoo

quote:

Otherwise, I would expect performance from the WSM somewhere between the 30-06 and the 300 Win Mag.....

That is exactly what I am looking for. I already have a 270 and 338 Win and this fits nicely between the two. My aim is to shoot 165 gr monolithics as well as 180 gr bullets, if possible.