Guns & Ammo calls the X-Bolt Speed Long Range McMillan “Arguably the Best Production-Grade Precision Hunting Rifle Available.”
Guns & Ammo calls the X-Bolt Speed Long Range McMillan “Arguably the Best Production-Grade Precision Hunting Rifle Available.”
The X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed Long Range McMillan sets an all-new new benchmark of hunting rifle performance.
The X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed Long Range McMillan sets an all-new new benchmark of hunting rifle performance.
Guns & Ammo has long been a resounding authority when it comes to all things ballistic, especially in the area of extreme rifle accuracy. In their recent news stand issue of Precision Rifle Shooter, veteran gunscribe Joseph von Benedikt put a Browning X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed Long Range McMillan chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor through its paces and left the range deeply impressed.
“I’ve never met an X-Bolt that didn’t produce neat, tiny little groups…”
“Built specifically for the aggressive wilderness hunter (this X-Bolt) is just light enough to pack in obscenely steep, high-altitude country, yet it possesses the accuracy needed to reach across ridgelines and perforate a big alpine buck or full-curl bighorn,” von Benedikt noted. “I’ve never met an X-Bolt that didn’t produce neat, tiny little groups – and I’ve fired a plethora…I knew this rifle was going to be more of an instrument than a tool.”
“…I knew this rifle was going to be more of an instrument than a tool.”
The X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed Long Range McMillan is the brand’s top selling long range bolt-action rifle, and with good reason.
“Each X-Bolt action is precision tuned to be slender, sleek and deadly rigid.”
“Each X-Bolt action is precision tuned to be slender, sleek and deadly rigid,” explained von Benedikt. “Because (the three bolt lugs) lock up tripod-like, the lugs find a natural equilibrium – important to precise, consistent accuracy.”
“It’s one of the best factory production (triggers) on the market.”
“X-Bolt triggers are adjustable but rarely need to be,” von Benedikt continued. “It’s one of the best factory production go-switches on the market…turn the tension screw to increase pull weight, (and) out to decrease.”
“Barrels on all calibers of Browning’s long range lineup stretch the tape to 26 inches, maximizing velocity potential for those long shots in gnarly winds,” wrote von Benedikt. “Chambers are hand-cut into fluted tubes,…with a target crown and threaded for a slender, effective muzzlebrake.”
“Chambers are hand-cut into fluted tubes,…with a target crown and threaded for a slender, effective muzzlebrake”
“…Barreled actions are coated with burnt bronze Cerakote,…an obnoxiously tough, abrasion- and corrosion resistant ceramic-based finish,” von Benedikt further explained. “Next, each is glass bedded into a McMillan Game Scout stock, providing a perfect marriage between the two that eliminates action flex and stress – absolutely necessary to milk the full accuracy potential from the system.”
“How does this rifle shoot? Beautifully. That’s the short answer.”
“Enough with the technical jargon: How does this rifle shoot?” von Benedikt asks rhetorically. “Beautifully. That’s the short answer. Benchresting…(the factory loads the rifle preferred) clustered on my 100-yard target like amorous flies….the best…averaged right at a half MOA.”
Groups like these are typical of the X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed Long Range McMillan’s accuracy potential with high-quality match ammo. Browning photo.
“…Delivers custom-rifle performance at a production-rifle price.”
“This level of performance always commands a premium – and well it should.” von Benedikt concluded. “Browning’s X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed Long Range McMillan delivers custom-rifle performance at a production-rifle price.”
You can read the entire test article on Browning’s X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed Long Range McMillan by Joseph von Benedikt in the latest issue of G&A’s Precision Rifle Shooter, which is available at your local news stand now.
Original article copyright G&A’s Precision Rifle Shooter 2018. Photos are copyright G&A’s Precision Rifle Shooter, Browning and/or used with attribution or permission or are in the public domain. Review written by Browning staff writer Scott Engen. Copyright Browning 2018.