New Browning Xbolt 2 vs T3x

[Turkeytider]

I don't own any Tikkas, do own a few Browning X-bolts, and all I can say, they are shooters. I hear good things about Tikka, so I don't think you'll go wrong with either. The only negative I can say about Browning, is that Tikkas are easier to re-barrel if needed/wanted. Good luck with your choice.

That’s saying something if a Browning is tougher to re-barrel than a Tikka.

 

[Leaf Litter]

Preferred barrel now has x-bolt prefits.

This is excellent news, the odometer is ticking fast on my Hell's Canyon LR, and I loathe the thought of ordering another mcgowen barrel.

As far as OP's original question: I have 2 semi-custom tikkas and a stock X-bolt HC LR. I like the X-bolt better as a factory gun (and by a considerable margin) due to the stock ergonomics and fit and finish, but Tikka is better to build on due to more stock and prefit barrel options. If you're buying a gun get an X-bolt, if you're buying a project, Tikka.

You can't go wrong with either. Both are smooth actions with good triggers and inherently accurate barrels.

 

[Stud Duck]

If you're buying a gun get an X-bolt, if you're buying a project, Tikka.

Very well-said.

As an aside, I always viewed Remington 700s as a project gun too.

 

[onlybrowning]

Preferred barrel now has x-bolt prefits.

I’m not sure why, but they don’t list the same, large number of chamberings as they do with Tikka.

 

[stan5677]

I’m not sure why, but they don’t list the same, large number of chamberings as they do with Tikka.

I saw that but for what i'd be interested in shooting it works.

 

[pattimusprime22]

I've have had an xbolt speed and now 2 tikkas. The xbolt shot great, and if it wasn't for me wanting to tinker with a new stock, etc, it was a fantastic rifle. I just wanted to move to tikkas for more aftermarket options. With the tikkas I do miss the ability to open the bolt while gun is on safe.

 

[joliver2]

As someone that loves Remington and has over 20 model 700s. I also own 2 x bolts and 3 tikkas. If I had to only pick one gun to depend on and shoot accurately I’d pick a Tikka everytime.

 

[cbk215]

Being left handed it's hard finding fitting rifles so I originally bought a Tikka and quickly realized while it is a nice rifle it just wasn't my cup of tea and bought a Browning and never looked back several of my hunting buddies also agreed just something about the Tikka wasn't right it was a shooter never had feed or accuracy issues just didn't like the rifle itself.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

Strictly whitetail. Mainly the safety feature, true short action, and barrels that are not slow. Brownings tend to be accurate, tend to have reliable actions, and with new reports stating the trigger can be brought down to 2.5lbs or lower with a mccarbo spring. I just don’t see the benefit of a tikka. Also browning CS is light years ahead of beretta USA and we know this for a fact. As soon as I got my last tikka, the head space was off, which was super disappointing because of the hype on here. I live 2-3 hours from a smith, so after dealing with beretta USA (don’t recommend) I drove it up there just to spend 100 bucks getting it fixed. Also another 200 bucks to threaded and chop my barrel (pre threaded barrels but either way the barrels are to long even though they’re threaded now). Also my tikka is 200 fps slower than my weatherby vanguard in the same caliber. The browning I’m looking at comes from the factory with a 18” 6.5 creedmoor barrel.

Have you considered a new Sako 90?

Vortex did a video on Tikka a while back. They had some critiques about the magazine and no bolt safety. Never once mentioned Sako but that addresses both of those.

 

[ZAK13]

Preferred barrel now has x-bolt prefits.

that's good to know, thanks.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

X Bolt 2 now available in lefty

I haven't seen it available online anywhere. Have you heard of an ETA?

 

[highside74]

Nope

 

[user2026]

I have an X Bolt Stalker with the factory plastic stock. Its excellent and stiffer than the Tikka. I love that gun.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

Is the xbolts composite stock actually good, or just better than the terrible tikka stocks?

 

[UnckleBob]

I like tikkas too, but have a bad taste in my mouth from the first one. If they’re engineered so perfectly and so much better than browning, I’d love to hear why from people who know more than me, but if there’s actually no reason a tikka is better than an xbolt. I prefer the features of the Xbolt. After market support does not affect me, as I have 700’s and a t3x to scratch that itch if it ever arises.

My x-bolt was sticking 6.8W cases that had the nickel plating. I called Browning, they had me drop it off at a Dallas gunsmith. He polished the chamber and the problem went away.

Honestly, I think the problem was the factory ammo and the fact I was shooting it in 90+ degree weather. I think Browning/Winchester loads their 6.8W hot because every factory load I have tried was within 50fps of the box velocity. Some exceeded the box velocity.

I have two tikka's and one x-bolt. The actions are a dead heat to me.
- It isn't fair to compare the stocks because the Tikkas came with Lite stocks and the Browning came with a CF stock.
- accuracy is good from all three rifles.

Conclusion - both are good choices, but don't get the Browning unless you like the factory stock.

 

[RocketRob16]

I bought an X-Bolt 2 Speed SPR in 6.5 PRC when they released. I kept it one season and sold it. Accuracy was decent and I had no issues with feeding. The bad: the action was horribly tight out of the box. After working the bolt hundreds to thousands of times and shooting it some it loosened up a little. Not what I expected from a gun in that price range. Also, Browning did not update the trigger between gen 1 and gen 2. They gave it a new name and that was it. I went to put an MCARBO in it and broke the housing while punching out the 2 pins. I can't say enough bad about the trigger design. I hate it. Put a Timney in after that and it was a massive improvement. Also, the barrel channel didn't have enough clearance so that had to be hogged out. I never fell in love with the ergonomics of the stock. I thought the fore end was too skinny, too flexible, and poorly shaped to be stable in many shooting positions. For the price, I was extremely disappointed.

I have 2 Tikkas now and no complaints. They cost me what the 1 Browning did and I don't have to jack around with them. Oh and they've been more accurate too.

 

[LookinforDirt]

I haven't seen it available online anywhere. Have you heard of an ETA?

I emailed Browning customer service a few days ago. I asked them:

*Will the old X-Bolts fit in the new X-Bolt 2 Vari-Tech stocks if the actions are the same length (I.e. short actions, long actions)?
*Do you plan on selling the Vari-Tech stock on its own for purchase?
*Do you have a date when you will start selling the left handed X-Bolt 2 rifles introduced at Shot Show 2026?

They responded:

“Thanks for reaching out. Yes, the Varitech stocks will fit on the Xbolt 1 rifles as long as the chamber length is the same. Be aware however, that while the XB1 and XB2 short actions are the same, the Long action is different. There are no Varitech stocks that will fit on an XB1 long action rifle, as the XB2 long action is the same as the XB1 Magnum length action.

Yes, eventually we will.

They will begin shipping in September of this year!”

 

[ReaptheHeat]

I emailed Browning customer service a few days ago. I asked them:

*Will the old X-Bolts fit in the new X-Bolt 2 Vari-Tech stocks if the actions are the same length (I.e. short actions, long actions)?
*Do you plan on selling the Vari-Tech stock on its own for purchase?
*Do you have a date when you will start selling the left handed X-Bolt 2 rifles introduced at Shot Show 2026?

They responded:

“Thanks for reaching out. Yes, the Varitech stocks will fit on the Xbolt 1 rifles as long as the chamber length is the same. Be aware however, that while the XB1 and XB2 short actions are the same, the Long action is different. There are no Varitech stocks that will fit on an XB1 long action rifle, as the XB2 long action is the same as the XB1 Magnum length action.

Yes, eventually we will.

They will begin shipping in September of this year!”

Thank! I can stop checking every week if they are in stock. September is the perfect time to start selling a new rifle . Guess I wont be buying one till next year if I do.

 

[Cherokeeguide]

I know rokslide is a tikka heaven, but is the browning xbolt 2 worth a shot? I get tikka is the easy button, but the xbolt 2 has some features I really like compared to the tikka. Thank you.

I can think of a lot of rifles, vintage and modern, that I'd rather have than a Tikka.

How popular they are with other people doesn't obligate me to have the same emotional capital invested in them that other people do.

 

[nobody]

Having owned both, I will say I do feel the tikka is a superior rifle. And I’m not talking about looks or anything, but mechanically there’s a lot to like about a tikka. I’ll also never understand why people say Tikka barrels are slow, my 22” model shoots factory 140 ELD Match at 2695, which is about 60 FPS faster than the 26” Barrel X Bolt it replaced (and is also faster than my dad’s Seekins in 6.5 PRC shoots 147 ELDM’s). It shoots anything I feed it into MOA or better (10 round groups) and shoots multiple loads to the exact same point of impact. The trigger is fantastic in its stock form (turned all the way down), and I’ve got a factory 6.5 creed takeoff barrel I bought on here for a screaming deal to spin on when the barrel it’s wearing gives up the ghost, and I know it’ll headspace right up without any thought given Tikka/Sako’s track record and reputation.

THAT SAID…

I only regret ever getting rid of 1 rifle, and it was my X Bolt Western Hunter. The ergos were superior to the tikka, the stock was stiffer, it balanced better in hand, and it shot 140 ELDM’s in large quantities into little bitty bug hole groups (well sub 3/4 MOA), though it was admittedly more picky with other ammo types. I hated that the barrel and action weren’t stainless, and I hated that the aftermarket support was abysmal. Not necessarily to “soup ‘er up,” but because it would be hard to get parts down the line when things start wearing out. Lots of hunters never fight it because they don’t put enough rounds down range in a rifle’s lifetime to ever need to worry about actually wearing out any components (including barrels), but being a guy who has firearms with short lived production cycles and low/no aftermarket support (Winchester Apex Muzzleloader over here), the concern is legitimate I assure you. I am itching for another rifle, and an X Bolt 2 is one of 2 rifles on the short list (7mm PRC). But I haven’t made the purchase yet, and it’s because I’m having a hard time shaking these thoughts. If something crazy aligns and I draw a moose tag this year it’ll probably push me over the edge, but the Tikka Roughtech Ember is also on my list so… yeah.

I’m an admitted tikka fanboy, but I don’t think a guy can go wrong with a browning x bolt. And if tomorrow tikka/sako shut down production and they weren’t available anymore, an x bolt would become my go to most likely. But for the reasons above (not picky with ammo, no futzing around to make it work, great aftermarket support, unquestionable track record), a Tikka is still my number 1.

 

[IdahoHntr]

I’ll also never understand why people say Tikka barrels are slow, my 22” model shoots factory 140 ELD Match at 2695, which is about 60 FPS faster than the 26” Barrel X Bolt it replaced (and is also faster than my dad’s Seekins in 6.5 PRC shoots 147 ELDM’s).

Is this a Tikka 6.5 creed?? My 22” is only doing 2570 with Hornady factory 140’s. Is anybody else getting those kind of speeds with Hornady factory ammo?