A Browning With A Modern Twist

The development of modern hunting rifles has been an evolutionary process, with a history dotted by benchmark innovations. Christensen Arms’ introduction of carbon fibre-wrapped barrels in 1995 is a case in point. It was a benchmark that generated a new breed of hunting rifle and changed the industry building them.

Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed Carbon 6.8 Western

Over a 12-year span, I reviewed several iterations of the X-Bolt. They impressed me as well-designed rifles that offered aesthetic appeal and user-friendliness. Despite their success, I began to question why Browning wasn’t adding a carbon fibre-barrelled model to the X-Bolt line.

That speculation ended with the introduction of the new X-Bolt 2, which now boasts six carbon fibre-barrelled models. All six are equipped with barrels outsourced to Preferred Barrel Blanks. The centrepiece upgrade is a stainless-steel barrel wrapped in carbon fibre and threaded 5/8”-24, with a Recoil Hawg muzzle brake said to reduce recoil by up to 76 per cent.

Other mechanical features include a patent-pending adjustable DLX trigger, an action bedded at the recoil lug and action screws to free-float the barrel, a bolt-unlock button, top-tang safety, short 60-degree bolt lift, X-Lock scope-mounting system, spiral-fluted bolt with an extended handle, new ergonomic bolt knob and additional bolt guidance in the receiver.

Other fit-and-finish notables include new X-Bolt styling; a composite Vari-Tech stock with an adjustable length of pull, adjustable comb and interchangeable sporter and vertical grips; and black overmoulded gripping surfaces. Meanwhile, it is decked out in Browning OVIX camo and includes a 1 1/4-inch Inflex recoil pad and Tungsten Cerakote finish.

Rifle Specifications

Calibre: 6.8 Western
Barrel length: 24 inches
Total length: 44 inches
Weight: Seven pounds, one ounce
Length of pull: 13 5/8 inches
Drop at comb: Adjustable
Drop at heel: Adjustable
Rate of twist: 1-7 inches
Magazine capacity: Three rounds

 

Hawke Endurance 30 FD Mountain Hunter 3-18×44 SF LRX Scope

While they might not be as well known as the major players, I consider Hawke scopes a hidden gem: great optics that won’t send your credit card into a tailspin.

The Mountain Hunter is new to the Endurance line. It is a lightweight scope designed for the rigours of mountain hunts. It features Hawke’s H5 optics, which offer 18-layer, fully coated lenses; high-grade, low-dispersion crown glass; and 11 levels of fibre red digital optic illumination, with push-button illumination, auto standby and motion activation.

Additionally, it includes a 6x optical ratio, ultra-wide field of view, a very generous 102 millimetres of eye relief, exposed locking elevation and capped windage turrets, side focus, a high-torque rubber zoom ring with removable throw lever, a fast-focus eyebell and a 30-millimetre mono-tube chassis. Finally, it is nitrogen-purged, shockproof, waterproof and fog-proof, and includes the Hawke No-Fault Lifetime Warranty.

Scope Specifications

Magnification: 3-18x
Objective lens diameter: 44 millimetres
Tube: 30 millimetres
Length: 13.3 inches
Weight: 20.7 ounces
Eye relief: Four inches
Field of view: 38.8-6.5 feet at 100 yards
Focus: 15 yards to infinity
Focal plane: Second
Elevation and windage adjustment: 85 MOA

 

Test Results

Right out of the box, it was obvious that the X-Bolt 2 was an upgrade over the original X-Bolt. It appeared to have it all: aesthetics, design and construction.

After a brief fit-and-feel assessment, I weighed the rifle at seven pounds, two ounces, with a trigger-pull weight of three pounds, eight ounces, which I reduced to an even three pounds. The DLX trigger is unquestionably Browning’s best trigger to date. The break was crisp and clean, with no creep or overtravel—a notable upgrade.

I then mounted the Hawke scope using Browning X-Bolt integrated mounts and reweighed the combination at eight pounds, eight ounces. Another upgrade was the adjustable comb, which provided the opportunity for improved eye-to-scope alignment.

While the rifle was essentially flawless in every respect, I did find a couple of points of interest. First, it had a very short throat, necessitating that I seat all my handloads well short of the maximum cartridge overall length. Second, with its 1-7-inch twist, the rifle could stabilize heavy bullets for the calibre, such as Nosler’s 165-grain AccuBond LR, with its jaw-dropping .620 ballistic coefficient. Talk about a potential long-range performer.

One last observation: while the Recoil Hawg muzzle brake certainly reduced felt recoil and muzzle jump, it is extremely loud – hearing protection is a must.

Meanwhile, the Hawke Mountain Hunter LRX’s optical quality, lightweight yet rugged design, array of features and precision certainly provide maximum bang for the buck. It is an ideal match for the X-Bolt 2 or any backcountry rifle.

Factory Ammunition

Brand	Bullet	Measured Velocity (fps)	Group Size
Winchester Ballistic Silver Tip	170-grain Rapid Controlled Expansion Polymer Tip	2,920	.580
Winchester Expedition Long Range AccuBond LR	165-grain AccuBond LR	2,927	1.230
Winchester Copper Impact	162-grain Copper Extreme Point	2,953	1.025
Winchester Power Point	170 grains	2,943	2.540
Browning Long Range Pro	175-grain Sierra Tipped Game King	2,817	.940

 

Handloads

Bullet	Powder	Case	Measured Velocity (fps)	Group Size (inches)
Sierra 140-grain SP GameKing	H1000	Winchester	3,013	.940
Berger 150-grain VLD Hunting	I 7977	Winchester	2,870	.450
Barnes 155-grain LRX BT	StaBall	Winchester	2,959	1.010
Barnes 150-grain TSX FB	I4451	Winchester	2,943	.660
Nosler 150-grain AccuBond LR	H1000	Winchester	2,960	1.550
Nosler 165-grain AccuBond LR	I7977	Winchester	2,853	1.158
Nosler 165-grain AccuBond LR	Grand	Winchester	2,956	.752
Nosler 150-grain Ballistic Tip	StaBall 6.5	Winchester	2,883	.940
Nosler 170-grain Ballistic tip	Grand	Winchester	2,954	1.090
Nosler 170-grain Ballistic Tip	I7977	Winchester	2,842	.670
Nosler 150-grain AccuBond	StaBall	Winchester	2,951	1.035

Note: All groups are three shots at 100 yards and velocities were recorded by the Garmin Xero C1 Pro and averaged.

 

Last Shot

After a bit of searching, I was able to find five factory loads and assemble 11 handloads that included two heavyweight bullets from Nosler. My handloads, at an average of .932 inches, bettered the 1.263-inch average of the factory loads. Despite only one load bettering half an inch, a couple hovered just over that mark.

For lighter game such as antelope, I would consider using handloaded 150-grain Berger VLD Hunting bullets. For larger game, I would opt for Nosler 165-grain AccuBond LR bullets, which produced groups of .450 and .752 inches, respectively. The latter, with its .620 BC and velocity of 2,956 feet per second using Grand powder, would make a superb long-range elk and moose load.

The Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 170-grain Rapid Controlled Expansion and Browning Long Range Pro 175-grain Sierra Tipped GameKing factory loads also delivered sub-MOA accuracy.

The newbies are here to stay.