tahoe2
Member
what's the difference ? besides price ? is there anything I should know ? I do like A-bolts, but never handled an X-bolt. I do not want a DM (detachable magazine) rifle and prefer wood/blue over synthetic. Thanks !
X-bolt/A-bolt
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jogar80
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Xbolt is a lot slimmer, uses a removeable rotary mag, and has a racier look to it. They are also VERY light. I had to put a brake on my .308 Xbolt, it was just kicking too hard. The Xbolts also come with a hair trigger, which I really like. Overall, the Abolt feels a lot more chunky compared to an Xbolt, though they are also great rifles.
SwampWolf
Member
The A-bolt has a unique magazine in that the floorplate stays in place but it has a removeable "clip" attached to it. This allows you to carry extra ammunition in the clip for a fast reload but the clip cannot be lost in the same way conventional detachable magazines can (by inadvertently "tripping" the mag release. It's a clever and useful design that, for whatever reason, never became popular. Personally, I like the concept.
As jogar80 noted, the new X-bolt is trimmer and lighter. Just my opinion, but the lines of the X-bolt stock is too "modern" in style for my "classic" taste.
As jogar80 noted, the new X-bolt is trimmer and lighter. Just my opinion, but the lines of the X-bolt stock is too "modern" in style for my "classic" taste.
bergmen
Member.
I have both. A-Bolt II Medallion in .300 WSM and X-Bolt Medallion in .308 Winchester.
The A-Bolt is more of a traditional bolt action rifle. Removable spring loaded magazine by hinging the floor plate down. It is a bit tricky to get the magazine released from the floorplate, especially with gloves on but with practice it becomes easier. Bolt is locked down with the tang safety engaged.
The X-Bolt is Browning's answer to the Winchester Model 70 3-position safety lever. With the tang safety engaged, the bolt can be opened by depressing a release button near the bolt handle. This allows the bolt to be opened with the safety engaged. I like the feature, very easy and intuitive to use. It has a plastic (which at first seems cheap and cheesy) rotary magazine. This does have advantages, though, since it doesn't clank around in your pocket or vest and it will not corrode. It is also very smooth to load and for the bolt to strip a round from during loading. Magazine installation and removal is a snap.
Both rifles have a feature that is not noted often but I very much like as far as smoothness of the action. When the bolt is retracted, there is a spring loaded arm that keeps the next cartridge in the magazine from dragging on the bolt as it is being retracted. Once the bolt reaches the end of travel to the rear, the arm allows the cartridge to move up into position and be pushed into the chamber by the bolt. Extremely smooth and positive. This has to be felt to be appreciated.
I agree with other's sentiments regarding the styling of the X-Bolt preferring the styling of the A-Bolt. But the design, functionality, accuracy, ease of operation of the X-Bolt makes the styling moot in my opinion. They are both outstanding rifles and I would not hesitate to consider either model if I happened to find one in the caliber and condition of choice.
Dan
The A-Bolt is more of a traditional bolt action rifle. Removable spring loaded magazine by hinging the floor plate down. It is a bit tricky to get the magazine released from the floorplate, especially with gloves on but with practice it becomes easier. Bolt is locked down with the tang safety engaged.
The X-Bolt is Browning's answer to the Winchester Model 70 3-position safety lever. With the tang safety engaged, the bolt can be opened by depressing a release button near the bolt handle. This allows the bolt to be opened with the safety engaged. I like the feature, very easy and intuitive to use. It has a plastic (which at first seems cheap and cheesy) rotary magazine. This does have advantages, though, since it doesn't clank around in your pocket or vest and it will not corrode. It is also very smooth to load and for the bolt to strip a round from during loading. Magazine installation and removal is a snap.
Both rifles have a feature that is not noted often but I very much like as far as smoothness of the action. When the bolt is retracted, there is a spring loaded arm that keeps the next cartridge in the magazine from dragging on the bolt as it is being retracted. Once the bolt reaches the end of travel to the rear, the arm allows the cartridge to move up into position and be pushed into the chamber by the bolt. Extremely smooth and positive. This has to be felt to be appreciated.
I agree with other's sentiments regarding the styling of the X-Bolt preferring the styling of the A-Bolt. But the design, functionality, accuracy, ease of operation of the X-Bolt makes the styling moot in my opinion. They are both outstanding rifles and I would not hesitate to consider either model if I happened to find one in the caliber and condition of choice.
Dan
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tahoe2
Member
very informative. Thanks everybody !
I'll second that the X-bolt is very light. My 7WSM is a handful. The 3-lug bolt makes for a short bolt lift but it also means that cases that are on the marginal side with regard to headspace are very difficult to get chambered and nigh impossible to extract. The trigger is excellent. The wood on the stock is nicely figured and the finish on the wood and metal are a nice matte (Hunter model). The X-bolt is made in Japan, not the US, if that matters to you. It also uses 2x the number of mounting screws for any optics with 4 front and 4 rear. The magazine is reliable and clicks positively into place. The lines of the rifle are very sleek but and while I'm almost exclusively a function over form kind of guy, I can appreciate a pretty rifle and I think the X-bolt fits that description; and mine is the "ugly" Hunter model.
SwampWolf
Member
Of course, you can reload the A-bolt in the "traditional" manner by just stuffing rounds from the top into the "clip", no different than any conventional bolt-action rifle in this respect.
beatledog7
Member
I have A-Bolt Medallions in 7mm Rem Mag and (just acquired) .257 Roberts. Both are classic works of firearm art in classic calibers, both are polished walnut and glossy blue steel. Love 'em!
The Big 7 shoots great and is smooth as silk. It doesn't seem picky about bullet weights or charges; it likes them all. I'm not the fractional minute of artificial target sort, but I can easily get 5 rounds into 1.5" at 100yds. If you think that doesn't sound very good, it's because I'm not very good. If I practiced more and focused more on absolute accuracy, I'm sure I could get it to half that, which from a 26-yr-old rifle that I bought used with an unknown history is just fine. I consider way more than acceptable. It's more than good enough for an elk if I stalk in and make a good shot, and it'll no doubt be good enough to reach an antelope at 300yds. If I get that chance , I'll practice to that distance.
The Bob is four years older and has reportedly not been fired since the early 90s. I'm scoping it for eastern woods whitetail and will be sighting it in shortly. Its action is nearly as smooth as the Big 7. This one will get tame loads as was intended.
The Big 7 shoots great and is smooth as silk. It doesn't seem picky about bullet weights or charges; it likes them all. I'm not the fractional minute of artificial target sort, but I can easily get 5 rounds into 1.5" at 100yds. If you think that doesn't sound very good, it's because I'm not very good. If I practiced more and focused more on absolute accuracy, I'm sure I could get it to half that, which from a 26-yr-old rifle that I bought used with an unknown history is just fine. I consider way more than acceptable. It's more than good enough for an elk if I stalk in and make a good shot, and it'll no doubt be good enough to reach an antelope at 300yds. If I get that chance , I'll practice to that distance.
The Bob is four years older and has reportedly not been fired since the early 90s. I'm scoping it for eastern woods whitetail and will be sighting it in shortly. Its action is nearly as smooth as the Big 7. This one will get tame loads as was intended.
bergmen
Member.
Yes that's true, forgot to mention that. I think Browning just intended to have a seperate magazine to avoid the mag spring ka-flingus that would happen on a conventional bolt action when the floorplate was opened.
Dan
Lloyd Smale
Member
I think the xbolts are a bit homely but thats just a personal opinion. the ones ive shot have been very accurate.
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