About seven years ago the X Bolt the new carbine of Browning, light and manageable followed by different configurations: today, thanks to the courtesy of Adrien Koutny of the Herstal manufacturer and the Bonardo di Bra armory, area distributor for the brand, we are testing the model called Long Range equipped with a functional Mc Millan. The technique. It is a rifle rifle with sliding swivel action intended for both sport shooting and hunting and the construction takes into account the current expectations of customers starting from the protective surface finish. Cerakote, of a pleasant mustard color that binds well with the camo of the stock. The technical setting sees the steel castle with robust sizing of the ring and bridge equipped with an octagonal section of the upper part and a semicircle, inscribed in the same octagon, for the lower one; the ejection window is of limited size, while the lower slot that houses the loader is wider. The mortises for the closing flaps are obtained in the ring where there is also the screw pitch for joining the barrel: the shaped plate is inserted in the fixing as a prism for releasing the forces and the screwing of the barrel allows a precise determination of the headspace. The spring lever for releasing the shutter is embedded in the smooth surface of the left wall: this is kept in line in its movement by the support with a small synthetic hemisphere protruding inside the wall itself. The castle ends with an integral codetta to which the base for the two-position safety button is added. The shutter with a fine classic setting has three wings on the head with a wide and low profile, but always of the type of larger section of the body, therefore requiring a higher cost in the milling of the castle for the sliding passages to which a class of upper level; in the face you can see the egress hole of the firing pin together with the elastic expulsion pawl; the foil base of the pivoting extractor is recessed between two fins without interfering in their resistant dimension, and the extraction nail is sturdy and with a secure attachment to the cartridge bottom. In the central body the design of the castle is taken up with a facet in the cylinder clearly visible from the ejection window with the shutter closed: it is a touch of pleasant appearance.
Technically, then we appreciate the insertion in the middle of the body of a synthetic plinth that contrasts with the internal wall of the castle acting in analogy with the protuberance already described: at low cost the genius leads to excellent smoothness. We arrive at the back where a shaped ring supports the handlebar recessed and stopped by a screw: the effort is discharged on the interlocking seat and not on the screw itself. The generous dimensions and the oblong shape without edges are perfect for maneuvering. A button at the root of the arm allows the bolt to be opened even with the safety engaged: an appreciable detail for extracting the chambered cartridge in perfect tranquility. Continuing the observation, there is a prominence placed in contrast with the rear angled profile of the bridge to carry out the primary extraction and a similar angled gradient on the ring base arms the firing pin. The complex ends with the apical cap with elaborate lines and consequent to the section of the castle: below, with armed mechanics, the shiny tongue protrudes with red bars, clearly visible and appreciable to the touch.
Barrel, magazine and trigger
The 66 cm fluted barrel with conical cylinder profile and section that in the States define varmint medium proves to be perfectly adequate for the performance of the .300 Win cartridge. Mag .: chamber and drilling with six right-handed principles show no imperfections. The muzzle has a thread for the application of the muzzle brake with radial holes, supplied with the weapon, or a ring if the accessory is not desired; the egress of the lines is protected by a conical drop and by the protruding edge of the ring. There are no metal sights and the mounting is floating. The synthetic magazine with rotating movement is quite large even if the cartridge is single: easy to insert into place where it is stable, without play and with functional release via the front spring button. Guard, underguard and bridge are in a single piece and made, like the bolt handle, in precision casting and fixed with a joint and two Allen screws. The trigger placed well back is also comfortable for those with small hands. The trigger mechanism, called by the House Super Feather Trigger, enclosed between two aluminum alloy plates, is one of the best supplied by an industry: the tops are polished and chrome plated, the speed of intervention and the speed are excellent, the release weight, with the factory setting, it is around 1320 g with discards of about ten grams and total absence of defects.
The stock
Mc Millan is a company specializing in soccer and this model called Game Scouts in fiberglass, it combines an excellent performance with an interesting price: the coating with a protective camouflage film ensures the necessary protection and the chromatic combination with the mechanical finish. Traditional lines aimed at hunting from stalking or for shooting range show the stock well dimensioned in height so that the eye is aligned with the axis of the optics, the square stem with rounded connecting edges where the wide grip begins pistol and the rod with a round section with a flat bottom for a favorable support. There is a fixed front peg for the bipod and two seats for the mobile quick release ones to be connected to the strap; the butt pad is supplied Decelerator™ which, thanks to the internal cells, minimizes the sensation of recoil and moves the nose pad from the shooter's face, avoiding harmful vibrations.
The polygon test and the conclusions
Thanks to Swarovski Italy we had on test a Z8i 2,3-18 × 56 riflescope, a recent proposal for a valuable combination from the Austrian manufacturer that manages here to add a minimum magnification value that is still well usable in batting and a maximum value that amply covers most of the wishes of a long-range shooter; to complete the 56 mm lens to take advantage of those deadly minutes for shooting deer lovers of twilight and day or night lighting. The hospitality of Giorgio Rosso and Kevin Ballauri of the Carrù polygon have placed us, as always, in the best conditions to carry out some tasting shots. The shotgun is very balanced, compatibly with the mass and length, stable on the supports, with maneuvers without any angularity in the action of the bolt and the insertion of the cartridges. The grip shapes are those now adopted by many manufacturers for the long-range shooting versions of their rifles so that the hand is placed adequately on the corrugated surface and the finger reaches the trigger effortlessly. Not very fond of muzzle brakes, especially in shooting ranges where they raise dust and distribute decibels to bystanders, we preferred to mount only the ring with which, among other things, the ammunition at our disposal, they slightly narrowed the pattern. The reaction to the shot is adequate to the performing cartridge reviving the acumen in the search for the best posture. On the thanks of the Swarovski lenses we do not dwell on saying what every enthusiast knows well; on the adjustments it is always advisable to give the clicks in excess of what is necessary and then go back: having to give 5, it is better to get to 8 and then go back by 3. The design work of the House has once again proved to be of considerable validity, certainly aimed at result without forgetting the class and personality to which the House of Herstal and the brand Browning over time they have accustomed the clientele.
The author thanks Carlo Bonardo of the homonymous armory located in Bra (CN) [email protected], Franco Cernigliaro of Swarovski Italia and friends Giorgio Rosso and Kevin Ballauri of the Carrù shooting range for making this test possible
Data Sheet
Producer: Browning International SA - Parc industriel des Hautes Sarts, 3e Avenue, 25, B-4040 Herstal (Belgium) - Tel +32 (0) 4.2405211 - Fax +32 (0) 4.2405212 - www.browning-int.com - built in plant in Japan
Importer: BWMI Italy - Via Parte - Marcheno (BS) fax 030 - 8960236 - [email protected]
Model: X-Bolt Long Range
Type: rifle barrel
CALIBRO: .300 Win. Mag. (7 Rem. Mag. - .243 Win. - 6,5 Creedmor - .308 Win.)
operation: manual repeat and sliding swivel shutter
Castle: closed ring and bridge made from treated steel billet
Shutter: in steel with front head with three fins to grow with respect to the cylinder
canna: 66 cm long (also 7 Rem. Mag.) - 61 cm for other calibers - floating mounting
Striker: inside the shutter, with helical spring
Supply: detachable 3-cartridge magazine pack made of polymer (4 other standard calibers and 5 for .243 Win.
Triggering device: Super Feather Trigger in polymer with internal parts in steel - single trigger and direct release of particular speed and efficiency
Extractor: claw with pivoting movement and internal register spring
Ejector: spring plunger in the shutter face
Line of sight: no metal sights
Optical attachments: two bases with four screws each on the ceiling of the castle
Safety: two-position button on the extension of the castle tail: snap lock, percussion and handlebar - additional button for opening with safety inserted
Stocking: Mc Millan Game Scout in fiberglass - pistol grip and shaped under barrel - corrugated grip fields - Deceleretor pad with absorption and recoil deflection - pegs for attaching sling and bipod t-shirts
Finishes: Cerakote for the mechanical parts - ATACS AU camo film on the stock
Weight :: Approx. 4.200 g without optics
Price: indicative of € 1.850,00 (weapon only, VAT included)
Accessories: rigid cardboard box and padlock to lock the weapon