Tomorrow I'm ordering a 6.5 CM Browning X-Bolt Pro in burnt bronze Cerakote. Kinda spendy but it weighs 6 lb. 1 oz. W/O the rail or rings. It has a 360 deg. wrapped carbon fiber shell with high density compressed foam inside to deaden sound when a branch whacks it.
Take a close look at it or the X-Bolt Pro on Browning's site. Lots of custom features like grooved barrel, spiral grooved bolt and bolt handle, 3 lever trigger (great trigger when I tested one), that nice stock, bronze Cerakote on the entire rifle (for the Pro version), locking bolt when loaded and on safe (unlike my "for sale" Ruger Amer. Predator), high impact magazine (again, unlike my RAP).
Looking at Kimber, SAKO model 85 and some other semi-custom lightweight rifles I feel that the X-Bolt Pro is the best for the money. When checking the X-Bolt Hell's Canyon and a SAKO 85 side-by-side the X-Bolt action felt smoother and the trigger was at least as good. I insist on a 3 lug bolt so the X-Bolt checks that box, as did the SAKO 85. The SAKO 85 Carbonlight is almost 1 lb. lighter than the X-Bolt Pro
but almost $900. more!
So that's my reasoning for ordering my "semi-custom" X-Bolt Pro.
Eric B.
UPDATE: Above is my new 6.5 CM X-Bolt Pro with matching Cerakoted Talley rings W/ bubble level on rear ring. Scope is an SWFA 3 - 15 x 42. FFP, mil/mil, side focus.
Very good glass. Possibly a nice MARCH 3 - 24 x 42 illuminated scope by late summer.