Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed SR Review

Browning's new X-Bolt 2 Speed SR may be the best hunting rifle on the market in it's price bracket. This video takes a deep dive into just why that is. Showcased is a 6.8 Western version, along with the factory ammo it shoots best. ENJOY!

[@Tyanmax99]

I've got last year's version in 6.8 western, extremely accurate rifle.

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Nice! I've never shot an inaccurate 6.8 Western... Love the cartridge.

[@Vikingocazar]

How’s the ammo selection?

[@triplegap]

I do too! What ammo did you find has the best groups? I was getting 1.5" groups with the copper 162s. I've now got 6 boxes of 165 ABLR ammo. Haven't yet tested my groups yet with those.

[@Tyanmax99]

@@Vikingocazar I reload, so for myself factory ammo isn't an issue like it is for others. There's several really good options for high BC bullets.

[@Tyanmax99]

@@triplegap I had similar results with the copper 162's. The nickel plated Sierra 175's shot well, but if I'm being completely honest I bought most of my factory ammo for the brass so I could reload my own ammo.

[@WesternReloader]

Just ordered an x bolt max long range FDE in 6.8

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Great choice!

[@m444ss]

this is the one I want...in 6.8 Western

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Excellent taste... 😉

[@BurkeSchneider]

So glad to see this chambered in 6.8 Western!

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Me too!

[@doylethorn9251]

Back in the mid eighties, I bought a Browning A-Bolt in 280 Remington. Early on I didn't like the amount of blood shot meat the factory 139gr caused. So, I developed a load with the 160gr Sierra GameKing at 2700fps that I could drive tacks with. From small Deer to the large Red Stag, and most everything in between, this rifle and load still serves me well today. Thanks for the great review on this new Browning. However, I think I'll just wait a bit to replace my old A-Bolt. Maybe someday......lol

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Pretty hard to beat those early A-Bolts!

[@jw3946]

And it’s a 6.8 Western. Wow!

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Indeed!

[@georgeclarke4235]

Nice. Good overview. Have been owning brownings for over 50 years. Shotguns and rifles. Abolt medallions in 2506 and 270, blr in 7-08. Im really interested in the 6.8 western. When ADG gets brass out fot it, I’ll jump in. Thx for the vid.

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Thanks for the great feedback! I hear ADG is working on brass... Fingers crossed!

[@michaelnelson1911]

Joseph what a great review. I think you just showed me my next rifle. I have been a fan of Browning's X-bolt. I love the upgrades and changes. You did an excellent job of explaining the new features and their benefits. I also loved that you were able to show it in a 6.8 Western. That is the gun that is on my Christmas wish list. I think you have got to love the 6.8 Western. The 270 has always been one of my favorite hunting cartridges and the improvement of the 6.8 Western are right in line with the precision rifle/caliber upgrades. Great podcast/video. Thanks for sharing.

[@troy9477]

From 93-95, i worked at a large gun shop which was a full line Browning stocking dealer. $6k high grade Citoris on the rack, the whole bit. Carried the A-bolt line, both wood and synthetic. Sold lots of them. Not as many cartridge choices back then, but the standards did fine. Even had the Micro Medallion in 257 Bob, in stock. Always liked how the mag stayed on th hinged floorplate, unless u deliberately removed it. Could even load it while on the floorplate, although that seems a bit awkward. Buy a spare (pricey, but u only need one) and keep it in an outer pocket or a pouch. For some strange reason i have never owner a Browning rifle, but i sure wouldn't mind. I would like to have gotten one when i worked there, at employee pricing, but not at 5.50 to 6.25 an hour, while finishing college and my first year after college. Retail sucks. And that was like being a kid in a candy store with no money. Oh well.

[@joncavallo4391]

Looks like a Browning firearm becoming part of my family fore long!😊

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Congratulations... 😁

[@billhendon1017]

Nice. I’ve go hells canyon in 6.8 western!! Love it !! Under an inch at 100 with 175 sierra game king!

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

Pretty awesome new feature set. I really like the new Varitech stock and how configurable it is and still looks great. This too would be my model of choice as well I just wish they had a left hand version and was chambered in 300 WSM instead of 300 PRC (which makes no sense in a short barrel rifle). Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this beauty. 🤠

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Thanks for the feedback! Hopefully we'll see LH versions in the near future. My son William is in the same boat (southpaw shooter).

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

@@BackcountryHuntingPodcast yes hopefully 🤞🏻 do we have to give them the Barnes handwritten letter treatment in order for them to offer at least some cartridges per model in left hand?

[@Molly8247]

Hava an xbolt hells canyon SR in 6.8W. Run a Trash Panda on it. 1/2 MOA with 175 TGK Browning load and just under MOA with 165 ablr load. Super combo of cartridge and rifle!

[@triplegap]

trash panda?

[@joelkuznetsov2826]

Thank you for your review. I've been waiting for a proper review

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Glad it was helpful!

[@blackcopperadventures1983]

Sold my fierce 7 prc and went back to a browning 6.5 prc x bolt 2 best decision I ever made. Unfortunately in my opinion the “deluxe” trigger still ain’t that deluxe in my view, got a jard on order

[@triplehelper6944]

Would like to see your groups. Some people’s definition of shoots good and others are different. X-bolt usually open up the groups when the barrel gets warm.

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

This rifle gets great groups, and I can consistently shoot sub-MOA with it, even after a few shots.

[@rizi2187]

Thanks for the review, can you tell me what velocity you are getting out of the 20" barrel? and what would be your go to factory load for Elk?

[@ozark_trapper]

I got the only Xbolt Speed Long Range 280AI. I could find anywhere. I wanted the 26-inch barrel. And in a 280AI caliber.

[@danielmachin9733]

Great informative review, really enjoying the channel, do they chamber it in .280AI a personal favourite, as my adoptive grandpa would like to say, "what'll do a lot, will do a little" keep the great videos coming, cheers from the UK.

[@Cschu88]

Thanks for such great and informative videos. I recently purchased this exact rifle. Trying to decide on glass, Im between Leupold and nightforce but can’t decide on ffp or sfp. I noticed in another video you did on Ron’s channel you had this rifle with the mark 4, why do you prefer ffp and what bipod and suppressor did you have on the rifle? I live and hunt big game in Idaho, so a mix of dark timber and big open canyons. Ive never used a ffp but am intrigued. Thanks again for all of your videos and sharing your knowledge.

[@NunchucksHabit]

Still a noob, so pardon the noobness of my question - I've added this to my short list of hunting rifles (my first), and it's this XBolt2 vs. the Sako S20 Hunter, and depending on how much I devote to the scope, I *might* be able to add the Benelli Lupo with the walnut body to the short list. I'm hoping to buy one excellent rifle that I won't be wanting to upgrade in the next 5yrs. My question is about 6.8 Western. I had my heart set on 30-06 because I have to get good at shooting before I use it hunting - and that's gonna take a lot of ammo, and 30-06 is usually reasonable. I'm not gonna be cheap, and I'm prepared to spend a bit more for quality - but the charts I've been putting together comparing calibers, these stand out as ideal for hunting deer/elk: 30-06, .270, 6.5PRC, 7mm. From what I see about the 6.8Western is, it typically carries heavier bullets than 7mm, so it's not as flat shooting - but it still outperforms almost everything under 7mm in FPS and ft/lb's at 200 - 500yards. My first hunt will likely be < 200yards, but like I said, I want versatility for future longer distances. I know .308 is a great round & usually more welcome at ranges than the upper calibers, but I want a little more than I need. I'm pretty strong, can handle weight & recoil within reason - though I know the 7mm kicks about 8lbs less than 300 WinMag. Would any of you suggest the 6.8Western over the 7mm, or is my gut feeling about 6.5PRC the best option all around? My priorities are 30-06 first place, then 6.5PRC, then .270, then 7mm. Should 6.8western be ranked in my list? Sorry for the long post, I just want to do this right, and I'd rather not ask a salesman - but rather real hunters.

[@jimedick9496]

I hope I can answer your question. I own the 270, 30-06, 7 Mag, 6.5 PRC, and for the last several years, the 6.8 Western. All of the cartridges are terrific and will fill the huge majority of your needs. You honestly can’t go wrong with any of them. With that said, my 6.8 Western is my favorite out of them all. Short action, which allows for a lighter rifle, it’s very accurate, fires high BC heavy for caliber bullets. I can’t say enough about the 6.8 Western. The only down fall to the Western is ammo prices. They are on the expensive side. That’s where the 270 Win or 30-06 shines over the 6.8W. I hunt out west in the open country and the Hells Canyon area, so the high BC bullets are worth the price for me. If you do choose the Western, look at Choice Ammunition and Pendleton Ammunition for your hunting ammo needs. Excellent quality hand loads from both. Good luck

[@NunchucksHabit]

@@jimedick9496 Very much appreciate that, sir. That's a lot of great advice! After doing the math & assessing what I intend to do (hunt deer/elk, likely < 200yds at first - and then long range shooting of ~500yds or more, whatever's accessible), the race is between 6.5PRC and 30-06. On paper, despite smaller bullet weights, the 6.5PRC is by far my choice - but ammo costs are a cause for concern. I have this 'intuition', which I'm almost certain is wrong, lol, that PRC rounds will get more common & therefore cheaper. More distance with less recoil, and the 6.5PRC is nearly perfect in that it does almost everything the 30-06 does, but shoots flatter. It's neck & neck with the 7mag in all but the absolute longest distances. Thanks for the ammo suggestions - but I'm on the Canadian east coast, so all my ammo has to be bought locally, unless I'm actually in the states. I can take my rifle back & forth to the US/Canada, but ammo stays here. And suppressors stay there (don't get me started on that law, what I'd do to get silencers legal here, especially for high caliber bolt actions....).

[@jimedick9496]

@@NunchucksHabit Have you considered the .308? It fires the exact same projectile as the 30-06, but in the short action casing. So for big game hunting, it’s a terrific cartridge, right there with the 30-06. It’s inherently accurate. There’s a reason why it is a sniper cartridge. Ammo is plentiful, and very cheap for just range shooting. Obviously, your hunting ammo will be considerably more. The 165-168 grain is amazing for the all-around bullet. I love my 6.5 PRC. It’s accurate, and like the 308, it has moderate recoil. The only downfall is that you’re limited to the weight of the bullet. Most grains are in the 130-143 weight. Berger does make a 156 grain in 6.5, but they are expensive and on the slow side with velocity. If you’re truly looking for a big game hunting cartridge that you will use to hunt under 400 yards, plus, something you can take to the range for 1,000 yard shots, the .308 is a great option.

[@NunchucksHabit]

@@jimedick9496 I seriously considered the 308, but thought to future proof it and to introduce myself to longer range shooting, the 308 would be a bit weak. Obvs I could be entirely wrong, so I'm not disagreeing, just throwing info around. The stats I have (big spreadsheet now) put the 6.5PRC & 30-06 at the top for my 'requirements'. Same goes for the 6.5CM. Most ranges in my area (Nova Scotia) limit rifles at 308 and under due to noise, so the 308 makes total sense. If I was smart & ignored a lot of the power-hungry guys saying 308 or 6.5CM are too weak for elk. If I was considering rifles I could afford to upgrade or replace every year or so, I'd do kind of like what you did, own several calibers - but I have a tendency to spend more than I have on stuff like this so I'm not regretting my choice a year or so later. So off I go, erring on the side of 'more than I need'. Two of the rifles in my top 5 are too expensive, but I'll likely end up with one of them. The Sako 90 Hunter - beautiful walnut stock, 22.4" stainless steel barrel, in 308 with 1-in-10" twist rate, or a 7mmRM in the same gun, same twist, but a 24.4" barrel. The other is the Benelli Lupo BEST, avail in most calibers. Sounds sentimental, but I want one 'forever' rifle, which I can buy accessories for, put a top quality scope on, clean it, etc. I'd like the barrel threaded so when I visit the US (Maine, probably), I can rent or borrow a suppressor while I'm there. So if I get a 'forever' rifle, my logic is, get something slightly more powerful than I'd be fine with right now. I could always pick up a smaller caliber in a cheaper rifle later. I'm really intrigued by the 243 caliber, the speed of those rounds is incredible, 4000fps + is insane. I can get a Savage Axis for like $470 CAD (which is like 50 bucks US, lol). But that's another story. Thanks again for the advice, I bet the 308 is more than ample to cover every base, I'm just a bit power hungry right now. Gotta get that out of my system!

[@jimedick9496]

@@NunchucksHabit For a rifle, have you looked into the CVA Cascade? You get a lot for the money. I own one in 6.5 PRC and I can’t say enough about that rifle.

[@digginandbuildinwv7012]

I got 7 brownings already, looks like I'll have 8 soon, think I will go with 6.5prc this time. The mountain pros are great too got one in 6.5 and 7prc.

[@danieltrembley8275]

I'm curious what other ammo you tried? You mentioned 3 specifically, but we're sub-moa on 2-3 others, what were they? Mine in 7 rem mag seems to like Terminal Ascent pretty well (0.75"), but not Norma Bondstrike nor Core-Lokt tipped.

[@ronaldsloan5235]

Very nice rig. Need to look into one myself.

[@GeneralObeseus]

Would love to see a Remington Model 700 CDL (post 2012) vs A Winchester Model 70

[@43evolver15]

Joseph, would recommend this rifle in a lighter cartridge like chambered in 7mm-08?

[@digginandbuildinwv7012]

I don't think you can get that one in 7mm-08 yet, i think you can in the regular speed version. I love 7mm-08 ❤️

[@ericdale7086]

Great overview!

[@mmorris6341]

Xbolt’s have been most consistent 3/4” rifles for me. Not often better but yet to have one worse

[@omf2007]

Thank you for the review.

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

My pleasure!

[@BrianArmel-m7u]

Great review! Where are you from originally?

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Thanks! I'm a southern Utah boy by birth... Idaho roots and I call it home now.

[@jeffreylocke8808]

Would like one in 280AI with the 1 in 8 twist barrel.

[@digginandbuildinwv7012]

Does adding the suppressor give you the velocity back from a shorter barrel?

[@michaelwilson9986]

Good Review

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Thanks!

[@lukeu6672]

Will you do a review on the savage 110 hunter? I’ve been searching for months for an affordable 280ai and that appears to be the only cheap option (other than the axis which have mixed reviews).

[@Tyanmax99]

Joseph...Are you selling hats like the one you're wearing in the video?

[@Richard-wz9uh]

Thank JVB!

[@BadKarma.-]

Only if we could get stock upgrades for the original Xbolt. I have an Xbolt SPR but the stock is standard plastic, wish I could get a carbon stock or a Chassis upgrade but no one supports the xbolt and Browning wont sell stocks

[@jayantabiswas6682]

Don't mention the materials used for receiver,

[@texpatriot8462]

I am hoping to score a deal on an old one.

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Good plan. They should sell for great prices this summer.

[@cbbees1468]

​@@BackcountryHuntingPodcastWhat LVPO or MVPO are you using on this one?

[@texpatriot8462]

@@BackcountryHuntingPodcast some of them already have great discounts.

[@ronaldroehrick4872]

Is it a push feed or a controlled f round feed bolt?

[@longstar550]

That's push feed.

[@mr.mr.3301]

I also do not like the color it clearly is meant for out west where are our East Coast hunters. Half of the US has green and gray oranges, etc..

[@m444ss]

they have lots of different variants with different wood and synthetic stocks

[@joshsinglefooter]

Dip it in Mossy oak.

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

You'd be surprised at how well the camo blends, even in rich greens. I've hunted Alaska with it in real rainy areas and it was awesome.

[@digginandbuildinwv7012]

Looks like it would blend right in with, white oaks, sycamores, maples, birch.

[@jameswebber2958]

With the rear of the stock being two separate pieces, would you invision water getting into it if you were hunting in the rain?

[@mr.mr.3301]

Are the barrels cold hammer forged or button rifled?

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

I confess I don't know! They're made in Japan... and by golly they shoot.

[@mr.mr.3301]

@@BackcountryHuntingPodcast Howas are made in Japan as well and they are chf. I lean to chf when I look at Ruger Americans and Tikkas.

[@daneboro6847]

​@@mr.mr.3301what do you mean by chf?

[@cbbees1468]

​@@daneboro6847Cold Hammer Forged barrel.

[@daneboro6847]

@@cbbees1468 thank you sir👍

[@galenhisler396]

I prefer wood myself. I only have one rifle with synthetic stock, a remington 700xcr in 300wsm, anything else will be wood for me.

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

They do make an X-Bolt with a wooden stock… Hopefully they’ll be offered with a wooden stock!

[@michaelauddino3432]

Can you top load this rifle ?

[@hyregeg9730]

To bad I can't have one in a 325wsm 😊

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

Or 300 WSM and left handed for me.

[@jameswilson5562]

I got a 325 wsm awesome rifle

[@TheWVgoodguy22]

@@jameswilson5562 so does one of my cousins

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Now that would be cool...

[@michaelwilson9986]

My favorite of all the WSMs wish still had em but...life happens aghhhhh

[@dougrybarczyk4449]

Will it take all day to load test my reloading, with the thin barrel?

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

Not at all! I shot three-shot groups, waiting no time between shots, and let the barrel cool for 2 to 5 minutes between groups. Shot great.

[@bickabraham2397]

What is MOA at a hundred yards?

[@BackcountryHuntingPodcast]

1.047 inches, but for practical purposes you can just say 1 inch.

[@cbbees1468]

​@@BackcountryHuntingPodcastCan you top load this rifle? Also what optic are you using on it?

[@ericvonp]

$1600 I’ll pass

[@kennethshoemaker2941]

😂