I have the shorter (22" barrel), slower twist (1:8) 6.5 CM X-Bolt Pro. With 140 gr. Hornady ELD-M factory ammo I regularly get 1/2 MOA groups.
Browning has, with the X-Bolt series, done many things very well to give us truly great factory rifles. I was going to build my rifle around a Nucleus short action but the cost mounted up fast as I added up the components. Then I checked out the SAKO Carbonlite. Mmmmm! Lookin' good.
But when I actually held a Browning Hell's Canyon and compared it in the store to the SAKO Carbon Wolf they had I was sold on Browning's design. Plus the new 3 lever Feather triggers were at least as good if not better than the legendary SAKO triggers.
* Then there was the $900. price difference between the X-Bolt Pro and the Carbonlite.
Browning... hmmm... great trigger, nicer carbon fiber stock, factory lapped stainless barrel, fluted barrel, bolt and bolt handle and burnt bronze Cerakote on both the metal and the CF stock, center feed magazine, etc., etc.
It was then I realized the Japanese workers at Miroku could turn out rifles every bit as good as the Finnish workers at SAKO. And Browning's American designers carried on their company's historic design leadership as well.
Eric B.