Browning xbolt hells canyon LR help!

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RRAY87

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Apr 19, 2019
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Anyone on here shooting a Browning xbolt hells canyon long range in a 7mm mag? Getting into long range shooting and was seeing what everyone's recommendations on powder type, brass brand, type of primers? I'm thinking of using the Berger EOL 195gr bullets. But would like some input on the rest. Thanks for the info in advance!
 
I have the McMillan version in 28 Nosler. Awesome rifle, worth every penny of the $1725 I paid for it. Shoot slights out with 180 ELD-M. If you are shooting a 7 rem, I'd recommend bullets in the 168-180 class personally. You won't be able to push the 195 fast enough to see any advantages, at least in a saami chambered rifle.
 
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.
 
Litehiker said:
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.
Click to expand...
Yea I don't know about the xbolt pro guns and wether there triggers are the same as the xbolt hells canyon but the trigger in my gun is not my favorite... Browning claims the can get it down to a 3Lb. Pull but 4lbs is the best i can get and that was pushing it.
 
Well I get 2.8 lbs. BUT if you go to YouTube and search for "X-Bolt trigger spring replacement" there is a video that shows how to remove the factory spring and install the new aftermarket 2 lb. spring. (I forgot the name.)
My factory trigger is as light as I want for hunting.

BTW, all X-Bolt rifles have the same 3 lever "Feather Trigger".

Eric B.
 
I must have a defective trigger then. I messed with it for awhile and 4lbs was all I could get But I called Browning and the sending me a new trigger for free.
 
Litehiker said:
Well I get 2.8 lbs. BUT if you go to YouTube and search for "X-Bolt trigger spring replacement" there is a video that shows how to remove the factory spring and install the new aftermarket 2 lb. spring. (I forgot the name.)
My factory trigger is as light as I want for hunting.

BTW, all X-Bolt rifles have the same 3 lever "Feather Trigger".

Eric B.
Click to expand...
I looked online last night and found that aftermarket trigger spring, mcarbo, and ordered it! $20 for a spring is better then $175 for a hole new trigger! Thanks for the help!!
 
If you have a 1 in 9 1/2" twist rate and want to keep bullet consistently stabilized no matter the elevation at long range then I would not go past a 175 grain bullet. I really like 160 in my x bolt long range 7 mag. Lots of great bullets for target so just see what it likes. IMR 7828 ssc, H1000, Retumbo and Reloader 22/25/26 are all great powders for a 26" barreled 7 mag. Federal magnum and gold medal match magnums are my favorite but Winchester magnums or CCIs could better match your rifles accuracy node. Load development/workup takes time but is great fun. I have the Mcarbo trigger spring and it does help. Watch install video closely and safety check/dry fire a lot before going live. I adjusted a bit more than they advised and could get delayed firing or failure to fire. So long as I followed instructions it works great. Good luck to ya
 
I have the 2018 x-bolt Hell's Canyon Long Range which has a 1:8 twist rate. And from what I've been reading the H1000 with the federal 215m primers and the Berger 195gr EOL will be a good starting point. But you never know my gun might not like it at all.
 
RRAY87 said:
What is a saami chamber? What powder and primers are you using?
Click to expand...
SAAMI is factory standard. May not have a long enough leade to use longer (heavier or mono copper) bullets without jamming them into the rifling when closing the bolt which can cause pressure issues and/or extraction problems with a live round (the cartridge could stick, or the bullet could pull out of the case). Generally the magazine length prevents this but that is not a given.
There are also Improved, aka Ackley Improved or AI, chambers that have increased case capacity but can still fire factory ammo.

Whew! Learned that all right here
 
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