What XBolt and What round

[Nards444]

Trying to make an informed decision on my next rifle for hunting. Going with the Xbolt. It seems going with the Xbolt 2 vs xbolt is a no brainer, although can save 200ish on the original xbolt.

-Im debating between the 7prc and 300winmag, I like the 7prc's numbers and the fact its marginally better then the 300 but had less recoil. However its a new round and long term availability, is a concern. I can not order ammo online where I live. I also like to get custom turrets find ammo and run it, so dont want to play the hard to find game. and have the ability to hit any gun shop and find a box of ammo if needed. Really leaning toward the 300 due to ease of ammo

-Looking at the Xbolt(2) down to the speed and the speed LR. along with the speed sporter. I really like the sporters as they come in at 40-42in overall length with the brakes, vs the others are 44 to 46 and some change, which is a long rifle to be throwing around. I am concerned about the accuracy of the sporters. I wont be getting a can for the sporters. The 7prc comes with a 20in and 24in barrel and the 300 in a 22 and 26in, understand the 4in is going cost me 200ft per second. still going to keep me at the 1800-2k ft per second in the 4-500 range.

-Some models come with the radial brake some come with the Recoil hawg, any thoughts on either, read the hawg is better but heavier, and heard the radial can come loose throwing off shots and spits back into your face

I shoot deer mainly in the 3-500 range, have taken deer out to 700. I would say I want something that is the most accurate under 1000yds, of which I think any of these would do, but is one combo better then the other.

anybody have good luck with any particular ammo in either of these rounds in these guns.

 

[RedTimber]

love my 300, hate the hawg brake. bought a radial brake for when I'm not using a can. have a hells canyon pro, never had any problems with it. Never heard of anyone having the radial brake come loose after long strings of fire and mine never has either.

spare mags are expensive, buy them earlier and when available because Browning tends to have shortages

mine like Barnes TTSX, Hornady ELDX, and Federal Terminal Ascents. With all my shooting, my barrel has had much better historical groups with the heavier bullets.

both will kill deer at your ranges so that shouldn't make a difference. you can find 300 everywhere, if you cant do the same with 7PRC where you are I would factor that in heavier

 

[Nards444]

love my 300, hate the hawg brake. bought a radial brake for when I'm not using a can. have a hells canyon pro, never had any problems with it. Never heard of anyone having the radial brake come loose after long strings of fire and mine never has either.

spare mags are expensive, buy them earlier and when available because Browning tends to have shortages

mine like Barnes TTSX, Hornady ELDX, and Federal Terminal Ascents. With all my shooting, my barrel has had much better historical groups with the heavier bullets.

both will kill deer at your ranges so that shouldn't make a difference. you can find 300 everywhere, if you cant do the same with 7PRC where you are I would factor that in heavier

thank you any opinion on the sporter and shorter barrel.

 

[RedTimber]

sporter barrel isn't as thin or as important as i think you perceive. for a hunting gun, i doubt you'll be putting large spans of rounds downfield on a hunt.

barrel length is personal preference. i have 26, but it shouldn't make a difference if you practice enough. regardless of the length of your barrel, if you dont practice or get dope on your specific gun you will miss either way.

 

[RedTimber]

as for fps, i think you are referencing energy transfer. either way either caliber has enough energy to efficiently kill with. attached mine on a 26inch and you can see its well above efficient past 650 for either metric you want to use

 

[Ronws]

@Nards444

If you are saying that you can only buy ammo in a brick and mortar store, you may have a hard finding anything but .300 Win Mag.

I think most stores are carrying 7 PRC and I have heard good things about Federal's version of the 175 gr ELD-X. Both in availability and speed.

Another option, not knowing where you are, is another caliber you may like. .300 WSM. Mark Boardmen of the Vortex Nation Podcast has hunted everything from whitetail to black bear with his Browning A-Bolt in .300 WM, unbraked.

Also, a few kiwis on the channel Rogee Productions in New Zealand hunt big horn sheep on public land with a .300 WSM that is doing quite nicely at 500 yards - ish.

I live in the USA, so, I can buy whatever ammo I want. If you tell me you are in California, then you are not in the USA. And gives me a twinge to say that. I was born at Whitehead Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles the year the Beatles came to America. The year the Ford Mustang first came out as a half-year model. (It was a Fairlane with a face lift and the automatic tranny became the slapstick lever on the hump.)

 

[Nards444]

@Nards444

If you are saying that you can only buy ammo in a brick and mortar store, you may have a hard finding anything but .300 Win Mag.

I think most stores are carrying 7 PRC and I have heard good things about Federal's version of the 175 gr ELD-X. Both in availability and speed.

Another option, not knowing where you are, is another caliber you may like. .300 WSM. Mark Boardmen of the Vortex Nation Podcast has hunted everything from whitetail to black bear with his Browning A-Bolt in .300 WM, unbraked.

Also, a few kiwis on the channel Rogee Productions in New Zealand hunt big horn sheep on public land with a .300 WSM that is doing quite nicely at 500 yards - ish.

I live in the USA, so, I can buy whatever ammo I want. If you tell me you are in California, then you are not in the USA. And gives me a twinge to say that. I was born at Whitehead Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles the year the Beatles came to America. The year the Ford Mustang first came out as a half-year model. (It was a Fairlane with a face lift and the automatic tranny became the slapstick lever on the hump.)

NY not as bad as cali. But close. But can’t buy ammo online.

I can get things out of state if i travel or if family comes back and forth. Main thing once I have the gun set up with scope turret etc. I like to keep the same ammo running. I’ve owned a 300saum and that ammo disappeared from everywhere.

Yeah I have a wsm and love it. Problem is I can’t always find it in stores and it’s increasingly hard to find it online and get it through traveling.

 

[Aftermath]

300WINMAG for factory ammo availability pretty much anywhere you go in the world, to include remote Alaskan villages. Plus, it's just a great all around caliber.

 

[slm9s]

Best of both worlds - 7mm Rem Mag. Great ballistics and great availability and less recoil than the big 30s.

 

[wilb]

I noticed X-Bolts are on sale at big discounts, like 40% off at a few big wholesalers.

If your FFL uses Lipsey's, have them check. 6.5 PRC and 7mm Mag were available.

 

[Nards444]

I noticed X-Bolts are on sale at big discounts, like 40% off at a few big wholesalers.

If your FFL uses Lipsey's, have them check. 6.5 PRC and 7mm Mag were available.

I checked midway, not much there. But thats not wholesale. I wont get wholesale per say. What other good online places would have them online that could ship

 

[slm9s]

Is this a good price? https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/114183/browning+xbolt+compact+stlk+7mm+26b

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

Way overkill for deer. Honestly a 6.5cm is overkill. If you can shoot you don't need a huge caliber and if you can't shoot you shouldn't be taking marginal shots on animals which would mean taking closer shots with guns that are easier to shoot.

.243 or any 6mm variant is more than enough to take deer out to 600 yards.

 

[Darryle]

What is your budget?

This is what I would choose, it will come in at or under the advertised weight. 6.5 PRC with the 156gr Berger EOL will do all you need and then some. I replaced the radial brake with a Terminator T1, easy to shoot and spot hits.

X-Bolt 6.5 PRC Composite Hunter

 

[Nards444]

Picked up a Xbolt Mountain Pro in 300WM this morning for 1500, heck of a deal it looks. Now time to get some new glass and figure out ammo. Was using HSM 168 Bergers in my xbolt 300wsm, killed deer on the spot, but think I want to back away from HSM due to availability. Any other ideas, looking to stay under 180 grains or less

 

[Nards444]

Way overkill for deer. Honestly a 6.5cm is overkill. If you can shoot you don't need a huge caliber and if you can't shoot you shouldn't be taking marginal shots on animals which would mean taking closer shots with guns that are easier to shoot.

.243 or any 6mm variant is more than enough to take deer out to 600 yards.

Ive shot deer out to 700 and plan on going further. They all seem to die pretty quickly so ill stick with the bigger rounds.

 

[Im2bent]

Picked up a Xbolt Mountain Pro in 300WM this morning for 1500, heck of a deal it looks. Now time to get some new glass and figure out ammo. Was using HSM 168 Bergers in my xbolt 300wsm, killed deer on the spot, but think I want to back away from HSM due to availability. Any other ideas, looking to stay under 180 grains or less

Instead of everyone guessing tell us what you can get so we can pick from a viable list

 

[Nards444]

Instead of everyone guessing tell us what you can get so we can pick from a viable list

Have to hit the local stores to see. Locally isn’t much ever unless it’s 308 or 30.06. I get a lot at bass pro cabelas. Looks like they have a lot of federal and some hornady.

 

[Ronws]

NY not as bad as cali. But close. But can’t buy ammo online.

I can get things out of state if i travel or if family comes back and forth. Main thing once I have the gun set up with scope turret etc. I like to keep the same ammo running. I’ve owned a 300saum and that ammo disappeared from everywhere.

Yeah I have a wsm and love it. Problem is I can’t always find it in stores and it’s increasingly hard to find it online and get it through traveling.

Then .300 Win Mag it is. A general good round that will be effective on all game in most hunting distances. It performs well in the wind.

This may or may not be helpful but I remember Ryan Cleckner, former sniper team leader in the Ranger 1/75 carrying a .300 Win Mag in service. He would dial elevation for distance and then hold left or right edge into the wind and get a hit. However, his target zone was the shape and size of an IPSC target any shot in that zone was a hit.

It is not the same for game animal harvesting where shot placement is of supreme importance.

TLDR: a lot of ouch damn it that cuts through the wind better than .308.

 

[Darryle]

Picked up a Xbolt Mountain Pro in 300WM this morning for 1500, heck of a deal it looks. Now time to get some new glass and figure out ammo. Was using HSM 168 Bergers in my xbolt 300wsm, killed deer on the spot, but think I want to back away from HSM due to availability. Any other ideas, looking to stay under 180 grains or less

Browning X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan SPR Sonora Carbon Ambush Camo .300 Win 22" Barrel 3-Rounds

The Browning X-Bolt Pro LR McMillan SPR Sonora Carbon Ambush Camo is a highly refined bolt-action rifle, designed for unmatched performance and accuracy. Chambered in .300 Win Mag, this rifle features a 22-inch steel fluted sporter barrel with a Carbon Gray Elite Cerakote finish, providing...

grabagun.com

 

[chevy_man]

I noticed X-Bolts are on sale at big discounts, like 40% off at a few big wholesalers.

If your FFL uses Lipsey's, have them check. 6.5 PRC and 7mm Mag were available.

That's because they're cheap. Last time I looked at cost on one I laughed my ass off.


Last time I shot one also. It's gotta be a dud, but it was pathetic for accuracy.

 

[chevy_man]

Ive shot deer out to 700 and plan on going further. They all seem to die pretty quickly so ill stick with the bigger rounds.

Sounds like the typical fudd around here... Did you aim at his back to hit him at 700?

 

[Darryle]

7 PRC Field Evaluation

 

[Ronws]

7 PRC Field Evaluation

I read through that but I did not see any mention of cleaning procedures. I have seen and read others who were comparing the different offerings. A rifle from the factory started out okay in the CX 160 gr. Then, the guy went to 175 gr ELD-X and it got worse. Then, back to the CX, which was now total crap.

So, then, he cleaned the barrel all the way down to the metal and went back to CX and it tightened up.

TLDR: you cannot mix and match the mono copper with lead cup and core.

 

[Darryle]

He's not known as a deep cleaning fanatic.

I probably should have read the entire thread, but I quit that joint long ago, probably, mid to late May. I remember that the rifle was performing well the last time I logged in over there. I was impressed with the rifles ability to group even with a "sizzling" hot barrel using factory loaded ammunition.

My point was, the Miroku produced rifles are quality, they have barrel manufacturing down and the rifles are more hit than miss.

 

[EotS]

Aside from some anecdotal nuance, if 300wm is in the discussion, it's never the wrong choice.