Published on June 8, 2023

Launched in 2008, the X-Bolt entered the market with big boots to fill. Browning had an excellent bolt-action collection, and the rifle had some proving to do. It's forerunner, the A-Bolt, had grown a loyal fan base among hunters since its introduction in 1985. Therefore, when developing the X-Bolt, Browning engineers took a hard look at the evolving rifle market and set to work designing their next successful entry. 

Browning wanted to improve accuracy — no mean feat considering the tack-driving performance of the A-Bolt. Engineers aimed to streamline the platform and create a rifle with an integrated system of features with styling that gets the blood pumping and contributes to the concept of Total Accuracy.

Undoubtedly, the X-Bolt has been a success, and this feature-packed, accurate rifle platform has become a legend in its own right. Along the way, it has been manufactured in several different calibers and configurations to satisfy the needs of big game and varmint hunters. 

Among the most popular versions are the Speed models. The Speed rifles blend the performance of the X-Bolt with exceptional finishes that look great and add practical appeal. Chamber the X-Bolt Speed in the marksman's new favorite, 6.5 Creedmoor, and the result is a deadly recipe for deer and varmint hunting success.

Browning Speed rifles share the same basic features as other X-Bolt rifles, but we'll cover those later. The most noticeable difference with Speed models is the added protection and concealment of Cerakote on the barreled action and bolt handle. Cerakote is a tough finish that protects against wear and corrosion better than bluing or bare stainless steel. The earthy tone of the finish is also advantageous as it blends in with nature. Speaking of blending in, the stock on Speed models features a camouflage hydrographic dip — in this case, Browning's OVIX pattern. 

Lastly, Speed models have a fluted barrel that cuts weight and adds stiffness and surface area for faster cooling, creating more consistent accuracy. The barrel is capped with a thread-on, radial-style muzzle brake (a thread protector is also included) to reduce felt recoil. If you want to tame recoil further, the Browning Recoil Hawg Sporter muzzle brake can also be purchased separately. The Recoil Hawg reduces felt recoil by up to 76 percent, depending on the caliber. All told the X-Bolt Speed chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor weighs in at about 6-1/2 pounds, very respectable for a production gun.

The action is the core of any rifle, so it's a great place to start. When designing the bolt-action X-Bolt, Browning engineers looked hard at the action and how it affected every other aspect of the rifle. It is here where the integration of systems of the X-Bolt becomes most evident.

The steel receiver has been pared down from top to bottom, minimizing weight and retaining strength. Shrinking the action allowed the designers to create the minimal profile of the X-Bolt. When chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, a short action optimizes feed reliability, and the short action also reduces the rifle's weight.

The compact receiver also required a new scope mounting system to be created. Rather than a scope base mounted to the receiver's center with a pair of screws, the X-Lock system secures the base with four screws at each corner for more accurate placement and added security.

Controls include a safety button on the top tang that is easy for most users to locate and operate. Working in unison with the safety is the bolt unlock button. This feature allows the bolt to be operated when the safety is in the safe position. The bolt was also redesigned for the X-Bolt. The simple design uses three locking lugs and works with the center-feed magazine to pick up cartridges and deliver them straight to the chamber, eliminating bullet deformation and maximizing feeding reliability. The 60° bolt lift from the A-Bolt was retained — the reduced lift ensures the bolt handle easily clears the turrets on optics and allows for even faster operation cycling of the action.

For the X-Bolt, a new magazine had to be imagined. The parameters were simple; it needed to have "standard" capacity, be compact to fit the shape of the rifle, and feed from the center for optimal accuracy and reliability. 

Rather than use an in-line or staggered style, a new, rotary-style magazine was developed to meet these needs. Created from a lightweight polymer, the innovative technology of the X-Bolt magazine is protected by several patents. The magazine release is built into the body of the magazine and easily actuated. The compact, one-piece housing design makes it easy to be retrieved from the pocket or pack for fast reloads.

Every bolt-action rifle needs a great trigger, and it's here where the X-Bolt shines. The Feather Trigger gives hunters the edge in the field and is precise enough to impress on the bench. The cartridge-style trigger is mounted in an aluminum housing and takes a different approach than triggers that rely on a secondary finger piece. Instead, the Feather Trigger is a three-lever design that offers a light, precise pull with zero take-up, creep, or overtravel. The trigger is preset at approximately 4 pounds from the factory and can be adjusted between 3-5 pounds.

But does it deliver? You bet it does. Settling in behind the rifle and resting the pad of your finger on the trigger, there isn't the slightest rearward take-up. Once the crosshairs settle on the target, it takes a gentle pull to send the rifle bucking into your shoulder and the bullet downrange. The pull is light, and the break is clean.

Browning rifle barrels are held in high regard for their ability to deliver accuracy. It's no secret that every barrel is made using high-quality materials, precision machined, and button rifled before being triple-checked and air gauged for straightness. Hand chambering ensures precise fit and correct head spacing for optimal accuracy. The barrel is crowned to protect the rifling from the inevitable dings from days in the field and at the range. Notably, the action is bedded into the stock at the recoil lug and rear of the receiver to ensure that the barrel is floating freely in the stock. While the M13x0.75 muzzle threads are not directly suppressor-ready, adaptors are available from several companies, including SilencerCo and CNC Warrior.

While sometimes overlooked, even the recoil pad plays a big role in accuracy. Minimizing felt recoil reduces flinching that can easily pull shooters off their mark. The bolt-action X-Bolt Speed features the Browning Inflex recoil pad. This pad is soft and uses directional deflection to pull the comb of the rifle slightly down and away from the cheek to further minimize the perception of felt recoil to improve comfort, confidence, and accuracy.

As previously mentioned, when the X-Bolt was developed, a new scope mounting system also had to be imagined because of the compact receiver. Unlike most rifles, the X-Lock system uses four screws per base instead of two. The advantage to this is in security. It's not uncommon for a base mounting screw to work itself loose and change the rifle's point of impact. The additional hardware of the X-Lock system that secures the optics to your rifle may be what keeps you in the field with the confidence to accurately find your target.  

Another piece of the Browning Total Accuracy solution is the stock. It is constructed from a lightweight composite material and engineered with trim dimensions, providing a sleek feel and nimble handling that will satisfy most shooters. Textured surfaces at the gripping areas provide secure hand traction when your palms are sweaty.   

The .264" diameter bullets of the 6.5 Creedmoor are more than up to bringing down varmints and deer-sized game and rank highly among the most popular calibers in the shooting industry. Using long, highly efficient bullets, the 6.5 Creedmoor shoots flat, bucks the wind, and carries accuracy and energy beyond 1,000 yards. Higher Ballistic Coefficients let this exciting caliber outclass several traditional calibers that would require more powder and a heavier bullet to match performance.

Due to its popularity as both a hunting and target caliber, the 6.5 Creedmoor is available in a wide variety of factory loads, and the popularity of the Speed rifle features a versatile 1-8" twist barrel that ably handles the spectrum of 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition. The smaller (by comparison) powder charge reduces wear for longer barrel life.

If you hunt deer and varmints and like to work out your skills at extended ranges, the X-Bolt Speed chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor should be on your bolt-action shortlist. It's well-rounded performance, and Total Accuracy package places it comfortably among much more expensive rifles, and the styling — especially in Speed trim — still looks as fresh as tomorrow. When paired with sturdy mounts and top-quality optics from companies like Leupold, Vortex, or NightForce, it's only left up to you to wring out the rifle's full accuracy potential.

Overall, the Speed rifle is reliable, accurate, and very capable. It has a light feel and is easy to carry over mountains. It's also nimble and slips easily into the shoulder when a quick, accurate shot in thick woods is required. The bolt-action is smooth to operate, and the safety button is instinctual to find. The trigger provides the feel and feedback that is required for accurate shooting.

Visit your local dealer and check out the Browning X-Bolt Speed for yourself. Just beware, you may not want to put it back down.