Sometimes I come across a firearm that exceeds expectation. Allow me to qualify that statement by making it clear that over the last five to 10 years, due to modern design, manufacturing techniques and materials, the bar has been set pretty high. No doubt we are blessed to live in a time full of exceptional rifles. That said, the Browning X-Bolt 2 exceeded even those high-bar expectations, and it was blatantly obvious from my very first shots at the range, and further cemented at the culmination of a recent plains-game safari in South Africa. I like this rifle—a lot—and I’d be surprised if after shooting one you didn’t agree.
The original X-Bolt rifle platform was introduced in 2008 to take the lead over the famed A-Bolt. (Interestingly enough, I used a buddy’s A-Bolt in .308 Win. to take my first rifle-killed whitetail deer at 300 yards many years ago in West Virginia, and I’ve held Browning rifles in high regard ever since.) And with its three-lug bolt that allowed the safety to stay engaged when a live round needed extraction, its fast, 60-degree bolt lift, its free-floated barrel and dual bedded action, the original X-Bolt did just that. Now, some 16 years later, with more than 30 different variants of the original X-Bolt under the Buck Mark’s belt from long-range tactical rifles to lightweight mountain guns and everything in between, Browning has introduced an upgraded model, the X-Bolt 2, which owns a lot more than simple cosmetic upgrades.
The heart of the new X-Bolt 2 is, of course, its upgraded barreled action. Maintaining the three-lug bolt and quick-working 60-degree bolt lift (which is not just faster but also provides clearance around large optics) of its predecessor, the new X-Bolt 2 action features a receiver that has been tuned-up to increase the surface area of the bolt/receiver contact, resulting in bind-free bolt work. The bolt itself is now fluted, which cuts weight while maintaining its smooth throw. The ejection port of the new X-Bolt 2 has been reshaped and enlarged, making it less likely for any spent cases to hang up and much easier to load from the top. Traditional loading is still done via a removable, flush-fitting polymer box mag, but as every hunter knows, being able to quickly throw a round in the chamber from the top is a much-appreciated benefit. It sure came in handy when, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, a pal’s wounded lechwe needed to be brought down before it disappeared over a rugged hillside. I was tracking from the back of the Land Cruiser, hanging on for dear life as we raced across the plains after it, and when our Cruiser skidded to a halt and the PH tossed me my rifle, the X-Bolt 2 Hunter, with instruction to shoot if I got the chance, I was quick to load a round from the top and put down the big critter with an estimated 350-yard shot off the roof rack.
Browning has also upgraded the fire control system on the X-Bolt 2, adding to it the company’s new DLX trigger. It’s a three-lever design that offers user adjustability, and it’s about as crisp and creep free as a hunter could want. Mine was set right at 3.5 pounds. Browning says it can be brought down to 3 pounds, but based on the way my test rifle performed, I decided to leave it at its factory setting.
The barreled action is dual bedded at the recoil lug and action screws, allowing for a free-floating barrel like its predecessor. The barrel, again like the original X-Bolt, varies based on the model you choose, as does the stock. I’ve been playing with three X-Bolt 2 rifles, two Speed SPRs (Suppressor Ready) with composite stocks (one in 6.8 Western and one in .300 Win. Mag.), and one X-Bolt 2 Hunter (.300 Win. Mag.) sporting a handsome wood stock. The Speed SPR sports Browning’s new Vari-Tech stock with a 20-inch, straight fluted sporter contour barrel on the 6.8 Western, and a 22-inch barrel on the .300 Win. Mag. Both SPR barrels are, as the name states, threaded in a ⅝x24 pattern and capped with a radial muzzle brake. Such short barrels beg for a suppressor, but you’ll find they don’t require one as I’d argue short barrels make more sense in the hunting world even without the accessory. Accuracy, I promise you, doesn’t seem to be affected. (Speaking of accuracy, Browning uses faster twist rates than some to accommodate the longer, high-BC bullets of today’s modern hunting market.) The action and barrel of the Speed SPR are protected via a durable Cerakote finish in a low glare Smoked Bronze color.
The Vari-Tech stock of the Speed SPR is an ergonomic dream come true. Covered in Browning’s Ovix camo, the stock places user adjustability at the forefront, allowing for length of pull adjustments and comb height adjustment so you can achieve a custom fit and perfect eye alignment for your rifle and optic setup. Doing so requires tinkering with shims and spacers, but Browning provides everything you need to get the job done. Surprisingly, they also provide two grip options with the Speed SPR, one sporter-style grip that comes attached and an additional vertical grip that you can easily swap in should you choose. I prefer the classic sporter style, but many of today’s shooters have come to love a more vertical grip. Browning provides you with both, so you do you.
In South Africa, I used both the X-Bolt 2 Speed SPR in 6.8 Western and the X-Bolt 2 Hunter in .300 Win Mag. Both rifles were topped with Leupold optics, a VX-5HD on the Speed SPR and a Mark 4HD on the Hunter model. (Worth noting in regard to scope mounting, Browning has increased the thickness of the top of the receiver and utilizes the company’s X-Lock pattern that uses four screws per base to achieve a rock-solid scope base attachment.) Both rifles were incredibly accurate, taking a total of nine different species with precision bullet placement from 180 yards off sticks to 350 yards off the bench rack of the Cruiser. With a bipod attached, as I had on the Speed SPR, the X-Bolt 2 is a true tack driver, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use either model well past 500 yards on game given the right opportunity, and I’m confident that longer-range shooters will see similar results even farther out.
All in all, I think Browning has a winner here. Now I can’t speak for everyone, but if given the chance, I’d be willing to argue the merits of the X-Bolt 2 with just about anyone, and the Speed SPR is a feature rich package that fights in a class well above its $1,500 price tag. Despite which model you choose, the Browning X-Bolt 2 is one of those rifles that you’ll instantly love to shoot and hunt with, despite what’s already in your safe.
Technical Specifications
• Type: bolt-action centerfire rifle
• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win., 6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western, 7mm Rem. Mag., 7 PRC, .300 Win. Mag. (tested), .300 PRC
• Magazine: detachable box; 3-rnd. capacity
• Barrel: 22"; sporter contour; 1:8" RH twist; ⅝x24 threaded muzzle; radial muzzle brake; straight fluting
• Trigger: Browning DLX; pull weight adjustable 3 lbs. - 3.5 lbs.
• Sights: none, drilled and tapped for optics
• Safety: two-position tang
• Stock: Browning Vari-Tech; composite; Ovix camo finish; LOP adjustable 13⅛" – 14⅛"; adjustable comb height
• Metal Finish: Smoked Bronze Cerakote
• Overall Length: 42¾"
• Weight: 6 lbs., 12 ozs.
• Accessories: vertical pistol grip
• MSRP: $1,559.99; browning.com
