Tested: Browning’s New Tack-Driving X-Bolt 2 Speed Rifle

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

I have long been a fan of Browning X-Bolt rifles because I have long been a fan of highly accurate hunting rifles.

Browning introduced the X-Bolt in 2008 to deliver better accuracy and long-range performance than the rifle’s predecessor, the A-Bolt, did. Browning succeeded admirably. Every X-Bolt rifle I have tested over the years was superbly accurate. Rifles in non-magnum chamberings consistently shot ½-MOA groups or better, with many groups measuring just 1/3-MOA, with factory ammo. That’s an impressive performance for any rifle and a testament to the quality of the gun’s button-rifled barrels.

A New Generation

Since the X-Bolt’s debut, Browning continuously improved the design by building numerous models tailored to specific hunting styles and preferences. Now Browning has made a great gun even better with the new X-Bolt 2. This isn’t just a line extension. The new rifle incorporates enough changes to rightly be considered a new-generation X-Bolt.

Browning currently offers more than a dozen distinct X-Bolt 2 variants, including some with McMillan stocks and carbon fiber-wrapped barrels. The model sent to me for testing, the X-Bolt 2 Speed rifle, traces its ancestry to the X-Bolt Speed rifle, which descended from the wildly popular X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed rifle. The new X-Bolt 2 Speed significantly improves upon these models.

Modified X-Bolt 2 Receiver

For starters, Browning tweaked the receiver, adding bolt guidance surface area. Compared side-by-side with the bolt in my X-Bolt Mountain Pro rifle, the new bolt has shallower but wider spiral fluting. These changes make an already smooth-cycling bolt even smoother. This, combined with a short 60-degree bolt lift, means you can run the well-named X-Bolt 2 Speed fast, and have ample room for optics clearance. The action is bedded at the recoil lug, and front and rear action screws, resulting in a truly free-floated barrel.

The new rifle comes equipped with Browning’s new multiple-lever DLX trigger, which optimizes sear weight and trigger movement for a consistent and crisp break with zero creep, take-up, and overtravel. Pull weight is adjustable within a range of 3-5 lbs. As the X-Bolt 2 Speed arrived from the factory, the trigger broke consistently at a pull weight of 3 lbs., 5 ounces. If the gun were mine, I would adjust the pull weight to its minimum setting, but the factory setting did not impede shooting tiny groups, as you will see.

An Entirely New, Adjustable Stock for the X-Bolt 2 Speed

The most visible change to the X-Bolt 2 Speed is its new Vari-Tech composite stock, which gives the gun some of the benefits of adjustable chassis rifle stocks while retaining traditional hunting rifle lines and aesthetics. Adjustments to the length of pull and comb height are all made internally within the stock.

To adjust the comb height, you first remove the bolt and insert a 2.5mm hex wrench (included with the gun) into a small hole in the recoil pad. Turn it counterclockwise 20-25 turns until you can slide the comb rearward. Then adjust it for the height you want and slide it forward to engage interlocking grooves, and tighten the screw back down. The comb has six height positions providing one inch of adjustment.

To adjust the length of pull, you use a cross-tip screwdriver to remove screws from the recoil pad. Remove the recoil pad and add or subtract the provided spacers to set the length of pull where you want it. These spacers provide up to one inch of rattle-free adjustment. Similarly, you can change the grip angle by switching between the provided sporter and vertical grip modules. 

These adjustments are not as fast as those found on some stocks, and that’s by design. The beauty of the system is that you can set it up to fit you perfectly and not have to deal with any external knobs or levers getting in the way while retaining the ability to make adjustments later if you need to.

OVIX Camo, Rubber Overmolding

The stock on this rifle has a Browning OVIX Camo finish, which I find both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Rubber overmolding on gripping surfaces provides a sure grip on the rifle in all weather conditions. The stock also wears a 1-1/4-inch Inflex recoil pad which directs recoil energy in a downward deflection to reduce perceived recoil and muzzle climb.

The forend of the stock on some X-Bolt 2 models comes with an attached ARCA-Swiss rail, which has become the standard for shooting from lightweight tripods in some forms of competitive shooting. It is also becoming increasingly popular with Western hunters who routinely shoot at considerable distance. The X-Bolt 2 Speed rifle doesn’t have an ARCA-Swiss rail, but you can easily attach one. A peek inside the forearm of the stock reveals two pre-formed guide holes for drilling through the stock and attaching a rail.

Available in a Wide Range of Chamberings

The X-Bolt 2 Speed is offered in a dozen short-action and long-action chamberings ranging from 243 Win. to 300 Win. Mag. Interesting stops in between include all of the PRC cartridges and 28 Nosler.  My test rifle was chambered in 6.8 Western, which I have favored ever since I shot one of the first whitetail bucks ever taken with the cartridge.

Barrel length varies by chambering, from 22 inches to 26 inches. In 6.8 Western, the sporter-profile, fluted barrel measures 24 inches in length and has a 7.5:1 rate of twist. It’s threaded (M13 – 0.75) and comes with an effective muzzle brake installed. The barrel, like the receiver, is protected with a smoked bronze Cerakote finish that nicely complements the Ovix camo of the stock.

Light Enough

Rifle weight also varies by chambering, from 6 lbs., 7 oz. to 7 lbs., 2 oz. My test rifle, in 6,8 Western, weighed 6 lbs., 10 oz. empty. With an excellent Leupold VX-5HD 3-15×44 scope installed in a set of Talley lightweight scope rings, weight bumped up to 8 lbs., 4 oz. That may be a bit heavy if you have your sights set on a lightweight mountain gun. If that’s what you’re looking for, Browning has you covered with some X-Bolt 2 models with carbon fiber barrels. I found the test rifle’s weight just fine for a general-purpose hunting rifle. With this scope and ring setup, the rifle is well-balanced.

In addition to the new elements in the X-Bolt 2 Speed’s design, it still has all the great standard features that have made the X-Bolt one of America’s best production rifles. This includes the X-Lock scope mounting system, with its eight mounting screw holes, which is about as solid as things get in mounting scopes to rifles.

Great Standard X-Bolt Features

You also get a tang-mounted, two-position safety that locks the bolt down in the engaged position, which is a plus when hunting in thick cover. You can still safely cycle rounds through the action with the safety engaged thanks to a bolt unlock button positioned atop the bolt handle.

The rifle uses a detachable, flush-fitting magazine that drops freely into the hand when the magazine release lever is pressed. Magazines hold 3 or 4 rounds, depending on chambering. The magazine is built tough and, importantly, it retains cartridges by the shoulder of the case rather than allowing cartridges to ride freely. This prevents the nose of bullets from slamming into the front wall of the magazine upon recoil and damaging the tip of the bullet. This helps achieve consistent accuracy.

Superb Accuracy

Given my experience with X-Bolt rifles, I had high expectations in testing the rifle at the range. I wasn’t disappointed. Functionally, the rifle fed rounds from the magazine effortlessly, and there were zero issues with the extraction and ejection of spent cases. I also found it easy to feed single rounds through the ejection port.

I only had two 6.8 Western loads to test, but both have delivered excellent results in the field for me in the past. Velocities for both loads, measured with my Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph, were quite close to factory-stated numbers. Browning’s 175-grain Long Range Pro Hunter load, with a Sierra Tipped GameKing bullet, stepped out at a muzzle velocity of 2,835 fps. Winchester’s 165-grain Expedition Long Range load, with an AccuBond LR bullet, launched at 2,968 fps.

After zeroing the rifle, I shot three, three-shot groups with each load. Because the slender barrel heated up quickly in the blazing Texas sun, I allowed the barrel to cool between groups. The results were impressive. The Browning load with its heavier bullet printed 0.52-inch average groups and a 0.37-inch best group. The average group size with the Winchester load was 0.69 inches, with a best group of 0.52 inches.

Part of the difference in group size between the two loads may be explained by their respective standard deviation and extreme spread numbers. The Browning load had excellent numbers, with a standard deviation of 6.7 fps and an extreme spread of just 15.5 fps. For the Winchester load, the standard deviation was 16.4 fps and the extreme spread was 35.7 fps. That’s still very good by factory ammo standards.

X-Bolt 2 Speed: A Good Choice for Most Hunting Applications

The X-Bolt 2 Speed rifle produced excellent accuracy for a factory rifle shooting factory loads. I suspect hand loaders could squeeze a little more accuracy out of the rifle, and I believe groups would also shrink a bit with more barrel break-in.

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The X-Bolt 2 Speed rifle has an MSRP of $1,499.99. I consider that a very fair price for such a well-built, tack-driving rifle that will serve you well for hunting almost anywhere under almost any conditions.

X-Bolt 2 Speed Rifle Specifications

Action Length: Short action

Chambering: 6.8 Western, as tested

Barrel: 24-inch fluted, 7.5:1 twist

Threaded: M13-0.75

Barrel Finish: Smoked bronze Cerakote

Receiver Finish: Smoked bronze Cerakote

Magazine/Capacity: Detachable, 3 rounds

Sights: None, X-Lock scope mounting system

Trigger: Adjustable, 3-5 lbs., gold plated

Trigger Guard: Alloy with Buck Mark in gold

Weight: 6 lbs., 10 oz.

Overall Length: 44 inches

Length of Pull: 13 5/8 in. adjustable

Comb Height: Adjustable

MSRP: $1,499.99

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