Browning X Bolt Eclipse Hunter 6.5 Creedmoor

[Ga Law Dawg]

I have recently purchased a Browning X Bolt Eclipse Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor. It's a gray lamanent thumbhole stock. I haven't seen many reviews/discussion on one so, here goes.

The gun is a shooter, no doubt. It's light weight, beautiful, and somewhat compact. It's got a 22" barrel and a 60 degree bolt. Nice, beefy, 4+1 composit mag and adjustable trigger.

I mounted a Nikon 4-12 X 40 on top and got a 1" group (3 shot) @ 100 yards. I worked up a reload using Hornady 143 gr ELD-X, with Hodgdon Varget powder, and got 0.5" @100 yards.

In conclusion, I'm very satisfied. I have a new shooter that doesn't kick your brains out. In fact, my 6 year old nephew loves to shoot this rifle. I have seen a video of an elk being taken @ 660 yards and 1 shot with this round (6.5 Creedmoor). I'm eager for deer season, but will settle for some bacon.

 

[Ga Law Dawg]

 

[swampcrawler]

Nice. Love me some Creedmoor.

My American Predator is a ways behind that thing in terms of quality, but she still shoots well.

I can't wait to get mine out in the field.

 

[Ga Law Dawg]

Thanks. 6.5 Creedmoor is a great round for plinking. I can't wait to field test an animal with it.

 

[Ga Law Dawg]

Swampcrawler, if you reload, you may want to try the new Hornady ELD-X bullets. They are pretty impressive. I think Hornady, also, offers them in their factory Precision Hunter line too. My Browning didn't like the Superformance though. Food for thought.

 

[LoonWulf]

sweet rifle! I used to drool over the older About Eclipses.....

I'm running 143 eldxs from my creedmoor as well, also no game shots yet but they are accurate, and if they perform like the other hornady tipped bullets should be hell on deer.

 

[swampcrawler]

Swampcrawler, if you reload, you may want to try the new Hornady ELD-X bullets. They are pretty impressive. I think Hornady, also, offers them in their factory Precision Hunter line too. My Browning didn't like the Superformance though. Food for thought.

Ive tried the factory ELDx Precision Hunter loadings. My rifle was not a fan. 1.5-2 inch at 100 if I recall. Superformance was garbage for me also.

The Fusion stuff is by far the best I've tried. I will be setting up to load for it (I do load, just not for the creed) as soon as the Lady gets un-mad at me for buying it in the first place.

 

[Gtscotty]

My XBolt Stainless Stalker is chambered in .30-06, not Creed, but it always amazes me with its consistency across different loads and bullet weights. For a relatively light hunting rifle rifle it just isn't picky at all. I really like the ergonomics, safety setup, DBM and most everything else about it except the trigger. Even adjusted all the way down, mine is still heavier than I would like, and there is no real way to fix it short of buying a Jard. That said, it doesn't seem to limit accuracy too much. This is from the last part of a load work for 180gr NABs I did yesterday in prep for elk season.





By the way, when you start loading for your 6.5, RL16 is a good bet. I started using RL16 in one of my 6.5 CMs, and was getting such good velocity and accuracy that I worked up some loads for my .270 and .30-06 as well. It really does well in all three cartridges... now to find an 8 lb jug, I'm almost through 2 of the first 3 lbs I bought of the stuff.

 

[Ga Law Dawg]

I've found that reloading is superior for accuracy. The ELD-X bullets may work, when you reload. In my experience, factory ammo may not always give the best results. Don't discard the idea of the ELD-X solely on what you experienced with the factory stuff. Good luck and happy shooting.

 

[Ga Law Dawg]

3 shot group with Hornady ELD-X bullets (Reloads).

 

[Ga Law Dawg]

3 shot group with Federal Hollow points (Factory)

 

[Shootin4fun]

Good choice Dawg! Thanks for the accuracy report. After a couple of months of mulling over all of the options on a 6.5 CM, bouncing between the Tikka T3 CTR, X-bolt Mossy Varmint Staker, both heavier barrels and overall weight and both of which I'd probably have to put a McMillan or some other tactical $600 stock on to be satisfied, the various Browning long range options at 10 lbs, custom rifles at $2K, even a Christiansen with carbon at $2800, I settled on the Eclipse Hunter. Why? Because of weight at 6.5 lbs naked (I hunt in the mountains and do long hikes), build quality of the X-bolt action , known accuracy of the X-bolt, great trigger, and the thumbhole stock which will give a tactical type grip. Finally, the price, $820.

The Tikka T3 and T3 CTR left an air gap in my shooting palm, whereas my X-bolt Hunter (wood) in 243 fits like a glove (hope this Eclipse does too, couldn't find one in a store to try). My 243 X-bolt - a $700 deal and it shoots .25 MOA @ 100 yards if I do my part. LoL, Fed Blue box shoots .25 3 shot, .5 5 shot groups or handloads that match or exceed that. It shoots 3" 5 shot groups out to 400 yards with handloads with some Texas wind. I don't know why, but the X-bolt seems to be overlooked. I rarely see X-bolts at the range. I shoot groups with mine equal to guys with $3K custom rifles. Tikkas are known for their accuracy but the CTR stock is nothing to write home about and if you look at the action it is not as refined as the X-bolt. I don't understand why X-bolts are so overlooked. This X-bolt Eclipse is getting a 20 power scope in the $600 - $900 range, maybe a Sightron III, Athlon Midas, or possibly breaking the bank with a NF SHV 5-20 X 56 (though it's 30oz.) Never thought I'd spend more on a scope than the rifle, but it might be justified. I hope this one shoots .25 MOA too.
Range report to come...

 

[Shootin4fun]

Gtscotty- I feel exactly the same about the X-bolt trigger on my 243 Hunter...heavier than I'd like but it doesn't seem to limit my accuracy with it...at least I don't think so anyway. I don't think any elk are going to get away from THAT '06!

 

[Shootin4fun]

Now having picked up my X-bolt Eclipse 6.5 CM same as in the pic posted by Dawg, this trigger is definitely lighter than my 243 Xbolt (7 years old). Nice! It's as good as any trigger I've monitored in my recent shopping quest.

Now, one not so great surprise about the Eclipse is that my thumb knuckle rubs on the upper rear inside of the hole when I pick it up naturally. I can hold it so that it doesn't but that takes a moment and some thought. Hopefully it won't bother me when I shoot or perhaps I can sand it away some and refinish that spot. But the grip area fits my hand much better than the T3 CTR stock. Also, it came in at 7.4 lbs, NOT 6.7 lbs. as in the specs listed by everyone. 7.4 is what the CTR is listed at. That's a pisser because I was going to put a 2 lb Nightforce on it, taking it up to 9.7 lbs unloaded, about 10 oz heavier than I expected.