There doesn't seem to be a lot of reviews of the x bolt pro out there so I figured I'd give my two cents
A couple months back I picked up a pro in 300 win mag. I had been drooling over this gun for awhile so I was pretty excited. First thing I had to do was adjust the trigger down from the insane 4+ lbs they set it at. Unfortunately while doing so one of the tabs that holds the trigger group in snapped. It is the same trigger group used in all x bolts, but it was pretty disappointing to see the cast metal break so easily. So I had to order a new trigger group from browning.
Fast forward a couple weeks, I get the new trigger in and I'm ready to mount a scope. I got talley lightweight rings for the VX6-HD i wanted to put on it. Get the rear base mounted just fine, but on the front base one of the forward threads stripped out under a 15 in/lb torque wrench. Those holes overlap where the barrel goes into the action, so there are only a couple threads to catch. So I had to send it back to browning. I was concerned there was an issue with heat treating since the threads warped under such light torque. I included a letter with the rifle asking to be contacted about what they find, and at customer service's request i include the scope rings so they can check them over and install them.
A couple weeks go by and I check the status online and see that they are about to ship it back to me. I call customer service to ask what they did to the rifle, and I am told in no uncertain terms that they do not divulge what they do to your rifles. I ask to speak to the gunsmith. No, the gunsmiths have it in their union contract that they will not speak to customers. So I just have to wait and see what they did when I get the gun back. I called back to ask that they at least leave the scope rings off so i can see what they did to the threads. The SAME guy I just talked to looks up my case number, and proceeds to tell me everything they just did to my gun. I ask why he couldn't tell me that five minutes ago and he lectures me about how I didn't tell him it was just a matter of stripped threads and how in the future I should give him more information. So I guess it's my fault he didn't take the time to actually look up my case number on the first call. Apparently all they did was run a tap through to straighten the threads out and there is no heat treating problems. When I asked him why the threads would warp under 15 in/lbs, he says I should never use torque wrenches and that instead i should just loctite it and tighten it until i feel some resistance. I'm certainly not an expert, but I feel like treated stainless steel should be able to withstand that small amount of torque.
A week later I get the gun back, gingerly install the base and scope, and take it to the range. I have now been through six different kinds of high end ammo trying 155, 165, 180, and 200 grain bullets and I cannot get below a 3 inch group at 200 yards from a lead sled. I have checked the scope and its all secure. I write customer service asking for ammo recommendations, but they will not endorse a certain brand and won't even suggest a grain weight. They want me to send it back again so they can test fire it. Of course they won't be able to tell me what they find or do to the gun, but said they would send it back with the targets they used.
So that's where I'm at right now. I have one more type of ammo I want to put through it before I send it back but I don't have high hopes. I understand each rifle shoots differently and some trial and error is required to find the best ammunition, but I really expected better from a 2000$ rifle. I have previously been shooting an old a bolt in 7mm that is a tack driver, so I had high expectations for the x bolt pro. Maybe it's just a lemon, or maybe their QC has gone down. Either way it's very disappointing and Browning customer service hasn't been reassuring. I'm not really expecting much from them when I send the rifle back. Not sure whether I should lay on the honey or vinegar with them to get the best results.
I will keep this updated with brownings response. Until then I'm looking real hard at a CA Ridgeline or maybe a Fierce. Something in that price bracket that will hopefully do better than the Pro.
A couple months back I picked up a pro in 300 win mag. I had been drooling over this gun for awhile so I was pretty excited. First thing I had to do was adjust the trigger down from the insane 4+ lbs they set it at. Unfortunately while doing so one of the tabs that holds the trigger group in snapped. It is the same trigger group used in all x bolts, but it was pretty disappointing to see the cast metal break so easily. So I had to order a new trigger group from browning.
Fast forward a couple weeks, I get the new trigger in and I'm ready to mount a scope. I got talley lightweight rings for the VX6-HD i wanted to put on it. Get the rear base mounted just fine, but on the front base one of the forward threads stripped out under a 15 in/lb torque wrench. Those holes overlap where the barrel goes into the action, so there are only a couple threads to catch. So I had to send it back to browning. I was concerned there was an issue with heat treating since the threads warped under such light torque. I included a letter with the rifle asking to be contacted about what they find, and at customer service's request i include the scope rings so they can check them over and install them.
A couple weeks go by and I check the status online and see that they are about to ship it back to me. I call customer service to ask what they did to the rifle, and I am told in no uncertain terms that they do not divulge what they do to your rifles. I ask to speak to the gunsmith. No, the gunsmiths have it in their union contract that they will not speak to customers. So I just have to wait and see what they did when I get the gun back. I called back to ask that they at least leave the scope rings off so i can see what they did to the threads. The SAME guy I just talked to looks up my case number, and proceeds to tell me everything they just did to my gun. I ask why he couldn't tell me that five minutes ago and he lectures me about how I didn't tell him it was just a matter of stripped threads and how in the future I should give him more information. So I guess it's my fault he didn't take the time to actually look up my case number on the first call. Apparently all they did was run a tap through to straighten the threads out and there is no heat treating problems. When I asked him why the threads would warp under 15 in/lbs, he says I should never use torque wrenches and that instead i should just loctite it and tighten it until i feel some resistance. I'm certainly not an expert, but I feel like treated stainless steel should be able to withstand that small amount of torque.
A week later I get the gun back, gingerly install the base and scope, and take it to the range. I have now been through six different kinds of high end ammo trying 155, 165, 180, and 200 grain bullets and I cannot get below a 3 inch group at 200 yards from a lead sled. I have checked the scope and its all secure. I write customer service asking for ammo recommendations, but they will not endorse a certain brand and won't even suggest a grain weight. They want me to send it back again so they can test fire it. Of course they won't be able to tell me what they find or do to the gun, but said they would send it back with the targets they used.
So that's where I'm at right now. I have one more type of ammo I want to put through it before I send it back but I don't have high hopes. I understand each rifle shoots differently and some trial and error is required to find the best ammunition, but I really expected better from a 2000$ rifle. I have previously been shooting an old a bolt in 7mm that is a tack driver, so I had high expectations for the x bolt pro. Maybe it's just a lemon, or maybe their QC has gone down. Either way it's very disappointing and Browning customer service hasn't been reassuring. I'm not really expecting much from them when I send the rifle back. Not sure whether I should lay on the honey or vinegar with them to get the best results.
I will keep this updated with brownings response. Until then I'm looking real hard at a CA Ridgeline or maybe a Fierce. Something in that price bracket that will hopefully do better than the Pro.
