Remington 700 vs Browning X-Bolt

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Super base models which is better? The X-Bolt has a gray synthetic stock. The 700 has a nice walnut stock, still very basic. What would be a better buy? Both are with in 50 dollars of each other. I am also looking for a nice 2-7, 3-9 or 4-12 scope. It will not be in some radically expensive caliber or heavy recoiling round. Something light mostly a paper puncher and something like coyote sized game. I am also open to good buys in the same price range. Sub 600 for the rifle, I have budgeted for around 250 scope, I already have mounts. Any advise would be nice.
 
I have a 30-06 stainless hunter X-bolt that I think is beautiful, with the walnut stock and stainless barrel. It was not sub-$600 however. Closer to $900 They are both excellent guns...but my vote would be for Browning.

However..if you want an inexpensive, super accurate, NICE paper puncher..check out the Savage line-up. You will DEFINATELY get more gun for your money with that line-up. I have two model 10 .308 rifles and the accuracy is untouchable by many more expensive guns. As far as the scope..if you want an inexpensive, NICE scope with a lot of great features, the KONA lin-up of scopes is great! I bought a 6.5-25 M-30 Pro from Optics Planet for only $269 and it is incredible. Clear, bright and best of all..did NOT break the bank.
 
Is the Remington used? The only models I know of that come with walnut stocks on new Remingtons are the CDL and the BDL, neither of those is even close to basic.

I think the X-bolt is god awful ugly, and with a synthetic stock even more so. I have no idea how they shoot though, I like the A-bolts.
 
Is the Remington used? The only models I know of that come with walnut stocks on new Remingtons are the CDL and the BDL, neither of those is even close to basic.

I think the X-bolt is god awful ugly, and with a synthetic stock even more so. I have no idea how they shoot though, I like the A-bolts.
HEY HOOfan!! You calling my X-bolt ugly! I think it's sexy! Wow...that's kind of like telling me that my wife is ugly!
 
Go with the Remy

I have a 700 CDL SF with fluted barrel in 30-06! It looks and shoots great! If you are not looking for a large caliber rifle, then you should check out the 700 SPS Varmint. It has a great heavy barrel, a nice looking stock, is available in calibers up to .308 and it’s listed for $665!!!:what: For a scopes check out Nikon they have a pretty good line up that won't break the bank.
 
If you are looking to punch paper mostly. I would go with the rem 700 in a 6mm or 243 because as you punch paper for a while you may want to stretch it out and out and out. if you go with the remington you can upgrade the rifle you already have a little at a time and have way more parts available and some at cheaper prices. the other thing you may even want to have the action worked over and a match grade barrel put on some day. you can find a competent smith almost anywhere to do this to a remington but you will find that 50% of the smiths out there wont touch a browning. Mostly because of the A bolt not the X bolt. and you will find it harder to DIY a lot on the browning.Just my opinion.
 
I've got 2 700's, 1 X bolt and 1 A bolt. Just got done shooting the X bolt and had 4 groups right at 5/8" at 125 yards then did a .445 group at the same yardage.My A bolt will shoot half inch consistantly it actually gets boring. I'm sure if I had more than 4X scopes on them they would shoot even better but thats good enough for a deer, elk, bear, and coyote gun. Get the Browning you'll never regret it. Frank
 
HEY HOOfan!! You calling my X-bolt ugly! I think it's sexy! Wow...that's kind of like telling me that my wife is ugly!

I dunno, I've never seen your rifle, or your wife :p

I think the X bolts are ugly... The weird contours on the fore end and the weird contours on the pistol grip, not to mention the grip is too angles...and the weird metal or plastic housing that wraps around the magazine well...

the A-Bolts looked a lot classier
 
If you plan on modifying your gun with any replacement parts (trigger, stock) or plan on having any gunsmithing done, by far the Remington is the way to go.

Other than that, I have an xbolt on the way and I could tell you after I've had some range time with it.

If its anything like my T-bolt, I'm guessing the Browning would have a better fit and finish but probably is not as rugged.

Don't know about accuracy yet either.
 
The X Bolt is the much much better option here.

For a scope in that price range, I'd check out the Vortex Vipers, and the Bushnell Elite 4200 Cabelas had on sale. If you don't want to spend quite that, I'd look into the Burris E1.
 
I would highly recommend vortex optics. to go on your new rifle. I own 6 of them now. I have shot threw Schmidt & Bender / Mark 4 and others. pound for pound dollar for dollar you cant beat vortex.
S&B does have better glass but not for what you spend. I think and most people I know think vortex has better glass than Mark-4. you can get a viper for around $400 and if you compare that to any VX-3 or Nikon they just blow them out of the watter. This is my opinion but its an educated one I have used all the scopes that I have compared.
 
I did a lot of research prior to purchasing my X-Bolt. Not sure what your top criteria is, but my X-bolt will shoot two brands of hunting, factory ammo sub-moa, and that is off the hood of my Jeep w/no fancy benchrest equipment. As it was a recent purchase, I have more ammo to test. Although looks and feel are subjective, I found the X-bolt to shoulder better than other rifles in that class and also it looks great to my eyes at least (high gloss, gold trigger type of thing). Barrel is floated, action bedded and the trigger is crisp and creep-free and adjustable, plus a great recoil pad. Whereas a smith can more easily mess with the Rem 700, there's simple no need to with the Browning as it comes w/the goods from the factory.

Do some research on the X-bolt. It was named rifle of the year by several gun mags and "Gun Tests" magazine did a great comparison test and found exteremly favorably for the X-bolt.

As for prices, the base X-Bolt was pretty inexpensive and I can with confidence say it is one of the best buys in centerfire today. I believe there are carbon fiber and white gold editions that are double the price of the base model if you want fancy, but can't say they shoot any straighter than the base model.
 
The X-bolt is the better rifle out of the box for sure. The trigger is better, the fit and finish is much better, the recoil pads are awesome, and the detatchable mag is nice. It took me a while to get used to the looks of them, but they are very comfortable to shoot. If it is something you want to tinker with and customize, get the Remington.
 
700 hands down, they can't be beat.
Optics, I would buy the 3x9x40 Leupold Hunter and never have to buy another scope again. They are right at the $250 mark and are crisp, excellent eye relief, don't fog, and are threaded to accept Leupolds custom light filter's if you ever want one. Customer service is a cut above the rest too, even though I've never had a Leupld leak or other wise fail, except when I dropped one off the Mogion Rim back in the 1980's. But Leupold still took care of me at absoluely no cost, not even shipping!
 
Your x-bolt looks much nicer than either of the two rifles I was looking at. The x-bolt I am looking at has a gray synthetic stock that makes it look cheap, would this be a deal breaker for any of you? and is Redfeild really made by Leopuld? I like the Vortex brand scopes for sure.
 
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