Browning X-Bolt 2 Pace Assessment

I all the time look ahead to testing a brand new rifle from Browning as a result of I’ve come to count on good issues. I’ve discovered them to be totally dependable and able to all of the precision any hunter wants. Not often, if ever, is there any kind of concern that causes me to cuss. This latest model of the Browning X-Bolt, the X-Bolt 2 isn’t any exception. Final yr, we examined the X-Bolt Pace SPR and named it the Greatest Worth Looking Rifle of 2023, and what Browning has carried out with their X-Bolt 2 rifles has vastly improve each aspect of shooter interface.

I used to be in a position to check a brand new X-Bolt Pace OVIX MB in 308 Winchester at my house vary over the previous couple weeks—and I wasn’t dissatisfied. Right here is my full evaluation.

Browning X-Bolt 2 Pace OVIX MB Specs

• Size: 43.75 inches (with all inventory spacers)
• Weight: 6.69 kilos (with journal)
• Barrel: 22-inch fluted, threaded at M13x0.75
• Motion: Browning X-Bolt 2
• Set off: 3.0 kilos
• Capability: 4+1
• End: Smoked Bronze Cerakote
• Inventory: Composite Vari-Tech user-adjustable inventory with OVIX camo
• Obtainable Chamberings: 308 Winchester (examined), 243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western, 270 Winchester, 7mm Rem. Magazine., 7mm PRC, 28 Nosler, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Win. Magazine., 300 PRC
• Value: $1469.99

Browning X-Bolt 2 Pace OVIX MB Rifle Overview

The brand new X-Bolt 2 Pace is a sub-7-pound, traditionally-styled, bolt-action searching rifle that’s obtainable for a dozen in style large recreation cartridges. It makes use of basically the identical motion because the older X-Bolts with their 60° bolt throw that you simply’re in all probability accustomed to. This features a two-position security that locks the bolt and a bolt-release button positioned on the bolt deal with. With the X Bolt-2, Browning has added an extra bolt-guidance floor for smoother operation and new set off. The brand new DLX set off is user-adjustable for pull weight and is excellent—so good it hardly feels like every rifle set off you’ve pulled prior to now; you simply apply strain, and the rifle goes bang.

The opposite main enhancement is the rifle’s inventory. Apart from the raised black comb, my check gun’s inventory appears very very like that of final yr’s X-Bolt Pace, with Browning’s personal OVIX camouflaged sample. However what is admittedly camouflaged is the inventory’s adjustability. Not like most adjustable rifle shares with changes which might be very obvious at first look, once you take a look at the inventory on the X-Bolt Pace 2, you’ll in all probability not discover something. I didn’t, as a result of there are not any seen adjustment screws or knobs.

There are three holes within the recoil pad. Two are the widespread holes that present entry to the pad-attachment screws, however the very high gap offers entry to the adjustment lock for the comb. You merely insert a hex wrench (supplied with the rifle) into this gap and take away stress, then you could have six preset factors the place you may place the comb to finest swimsuit you and the riflescope you’re utilizing. When you take away the 2 screws that maintain the recoil pad in place, it exposes the hidden plates for length-of-pull adjustment. Take away two extra screws hidden behind the butt pad and you’ll add or subtract spacers to regulate the size of pull ¼-inch at time. The method is a bit concerned however very covert. Extra necessary, the added adjustability will probably be a giant plus for lots of shooters. And it doesn’t finish there.

When you take away the barreled motion from the inventory, you’ll see that Browning has bedded the recoil lug, however you’ll additionally discover a small screw simply to the rear of the place the inventory has been minimize out for the DLX set off. When you take away this screw you may swap between a grip with a conventional angle or one with a straighter angle. Additionally, alongside the forend, Browning has added a black rubber inlay to reinforce your grip on the rifle.

Lastly, this rifle makes use of the flush becoming Browning rotary journal. This journal goes in and comes out with out a hitch and the rifle feeds from it clean and effortlessly. This can be the perfect removable journal supplied for a conventional searching rifle from any manufacture.

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Browning X Bolt 2 Pace OVIX MB Taking pictures Outcomes

The Pace SPR we examined final yr delivered a mean precision of 1.33 inches for five-shot teams. The brand new X-Bolt 2 Pace shot a bit higher, averaging 1.15 inches. Feeding, extraction, and ejection had been flawless, and the journal labored beautifully. The changes for the comb, size of pull, and the interchangeable grip are straightforward to make when you perceive the right way to do it. Simply know that it actually helps to learn the instruction handbook first. (Don’t ask me how I do know.)

As soon as I did that, I used to be in a position to simply alter the inventory to suit me very effectively, and it was evident once I began capturing the rifle off-hand from subject positions. I had no bother persistently ringing an 8-inch metal plate at 125 yards, or one twice that measurement at 200 yards. The inventory adjustability additionally helped with faster-action snap pictures fired at a a lot nearer vary, as a result of when the rifle discovered my shoulder, the riflescope was proper the place it wanted to be with my eye on the goal. The flexibility to tune this rifle inventory to suit me additionally proved very useful when partaking my running-deer goal.

The “MB” on this rifle’s mannequin title stands for muzzle brake, and the rifle comes out of the field with one put in. It did cut back recoil, however the tradeoff was a hellacious enhance in muzzle blast. So, a lot of the capturing from the bench, and about half the sector capturing, was carried out with a Banish Backcountry suppressor. For the reason that rifle has a 22-inch barrel, the addition of the suppressor made the rifle a bit lengthy and noticeably muzzle heavy. Nonetheless, with out the suppressor, the rifle was very effectively balanced.

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Closing Ideas on the Browning X Bolt 2 Pace OVIX MB

Professionals

• Glorious shooter interface
• Hidden inventory changes
• Nice set off

Cons

• Odd thread sample on muzzle

The added adjustability with the brand new X-Bolt 2 considerably improves shooter interface. By concealing these changes, the rifle additionally has a way more interesting look than a few of its opponents. One quibble I’ve right here is that there’s solely an inch of length-of-pull adjustability to work with. The brand new set off felt a bit totally different and took some getting used to. I’ll admit with the primary group I fired, a couple of pictures obtained away from me. However that, as soon as I did get used to it, it was distinctive. The barrel size of this rifle is both 22, 24, or 26 inches, relying which cartridge it’s chambered for, however understand that a SPR (suppressor prepared) model is obtainable with a 4-inch shorter barrel.

My solely actual disappointment was the muzzle thread sample Browning selected to go along with. The rifle comes threaded at M13x0.75. The widespread commonplace for muzzle threading is 5/8×24. The explanation for the small diameter thread sample is the slimness of the rifle’s barrel, which measures solely 6/10^th of an inch on the level the place the threading begins. This implies you’ll almost definitely must acquire an adapter to run a suppressor, which is one thing I feel Browning ought to present within the field. They already present a muzzle brake and a thread protector, and when you’re going to make use of a thread sample this odd, don’t penalize the shopper.

However that’s the place my griping ends. Identical to the X-Bolt we evaluated final yr, this is a wonderful—however even higher—large recreation searching rifle. You need to be capable to configure it to fit your needs very effectively, the set off will provide help to make nice pictures, and also you’ll be proud you pull it kind its case in any searching camp.

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