I have an X-Bolt in .243 (yes, different from 7rm, lol), which I bought… not sure, but a few years ago (6? More? No idea). It is not the Speed model, but likely an equivalent of the time, but no muzzle break (Hells Canyon were the first ones with muzzle breaks rolling out a couple of years later, I believe). Whatever it was called back then:
Just a random photo from one of the threads here from a few years back (spent all day in the rain hunting elk with no success, lol).
This turned out to be my go to gun for hunting (bush). It isn’t the lightest rifle out there, but light enough. This is the gun unloaded (the sling is somewhat heavy, you can say, the scope was a light VX3i x40 mounted with the Talley lightweights at the time):
It is now topped with an FX-3 x42 scope.
It shoots fine for what it is. This one only ever shot Hornady American Whitetail, Federal Fusion, and Federal premium loaded with TSX. I am no sniper and far from it. Here are a couple of groups after switching the scope. The first one was about the average with the Fusion ammo (this was the first group of 3 shots after the gun sat around for almost a year, Hornady shot about the same) and the second was about an average with the Federal Premiums. The shooting took place in the bush, sitting, off a tripod from 100m and the groups could tighten up of the bench and definitely with another shooter.
The gun killed everything from grouse (once, lol) and coyote to moose, mostly (all but 1 deer) with the first shots.
Many do not like the trigger or so I hear. Can’t say I was bothered much by it, but I switched the spring to a YoDave spring and adjusted the trigger to 2.5lb and it could go lower (with the factory spring I could not come down below 2lb 13oz (provided it was safe)). So it’s a very easy fix for those who are looking for a lighter trigger. The thread about the spring, where last two posts are mine with photos:
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...ghlight=Yodave
The stock is durable and takes the beating in the bush. I do have a few scratches here and there (one is fairly deep), but the coating is just fine. It is pretty grippy dry or wet. The cerakote on the barrel is holding up great as well. The gun has now seen many 100’s of km in some heavy bush that many straight up avoid, in various weather.
The only complaint I have is that it happened a couple of times when I put the mag in and pushed the bolt, but there was no round being pushed into the chamber. Not sure if this is an issue and whether it is common or not if it is, but I watch to make sure that doesn’t happen. Other than that, I think it is a great rifle for what I paid for it.
Having said all that, I didn’t pay nearly as much for it as the Speed is priced at today. I think the MSRP was something like $1,250 and I paid significantly less than that for the new rifle. At $1,700, I might (probably?) look at something else instead. Maybe add a bit to get something definitely better (in my opinion)? Or look at others in this price range (there is a bunch of rifles that cost this much and less that I never handled). Prices are a bit outrageous nowadays for most things though. If I found a as good deal, I’d definitely grab the gun in another calibre.
Hope this helps somewhat.
Browning X-bolt speed with muzzle breake
Linear Mode
