Hells Canyon Long Range X-Bolt
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Up until a couple months ago I would have wholeheartedly recommended them as my dad has 3 that are all smooth and all shoot well. However a couple months ago my dad got a X-Bolt Pro LR in 6.5 PRC and the thing has been anything but accurate. After wasting a box of Hammers trying to do load development I bought a box of factory ammo to find out it shot a 4+ inch 10 shot group.
So I sent it back to the factory and after having them look it over I just got it back this week with a target showing a 0.55" group at 50 yards and saying it was within their 0.75" spec. My range trip today showed that it still shoots terrible with 2" plus 5 shot groups unless I put my suppressor on it at which point it suddenly becomes a sub 1/2 MOA rifle with the exact same ammo.
So while most people including myself have had positive results just keep in mind that if the accuracy of that particular rifle is not up to your standards then you may be SOL.
So I sent it back to the factory and after having them look it over I just got it back this week with a target showing a 0.55" group at 50 yards and saying it was within their 0.75" spec. My range trip today showed that it still shoots terrible with 2" plus 5 shot groups unless I put my suppressor on it at which point it suddenly becomes a sub 1/2 MOA rifle with the exact same ammo.
So while most people including myself have had positive results just keep in mind that if the accuracy of that particular rifle is not up to your standards then you may be SOL.
Shootin4fun
Well-Known Member
That's a real disappointment for sure. My 2 Xbolts probably shoot better than I can. Same loads one week will shoot .2 at 100 yards and the next will shoot .6 or 4 touching and a flier when I know my SD is single digit.. I got a Mcarbo spring but I'm thinking maybe a Timney would help with the consistency. I see the same variance in other rifles I have.
Jzeman56 did you get your magazine to work now. That was exactly where my friends magazine would bind Don't be afraid to Dremel it the mag walls are thicker then you think. That fixed my friends mag and it runs smooth now and will feed. You have to get inside the mag where it is binding and grind some out in there too. It is only the second round that binds. To bad they did not do there home work with there magazine.
Jzeman56
Active Member
I haven't messed with it. Was hoping to see what others have done but after reading through this thread, I will break out the dremel and get at it. I don't think it will take much to get it working. Did he do the inner portion and outer edge or just one or the other?
Jzeman56
Active Member
Just took the dremel to it and it is working fine. Will try and get out this weekend and run it through its paces. Thanks.
Of the five X-Bolts I have had, I have never had a falure to feed, failure to fire or failure to eject... but only one of them was chambered for short fat bullets (steep shoulders). I have two X-Bolts that will go to the grave with me.
Jzeman56
Active Member
My issue is with reloads... commercial rounds feed fine from the magazine but the shoulder on my reloads is what is binding. They chamber fine and no issues with extraction/firing, etc. Only issue I've had is the subsequent rounds coming up out of the magazine. I really enjoy shooting it (300 WM) and couldn't be happier with the accuracy of the rifle.
cohunt
Well-Known Member
can you show a pic of the mag after the dremel job?
I have a LR stalker in 7rm, mine seems to feed fine so far (about 250 rounds or so) but I always like to know of issues to keep my eyes open for problems--- mine shoots .6moa with hand loads out to 800 yards so far--mine is the slow twist rate and I added the mcarbo trigger spring upgrade too
Jzeman56
Active Member
pictures make it look worse than it really is...
cohunt
Well-Known Member
so you are just smoothing out the shoulder transition area?
Jzeman56
Active Member
that is pretty much all I did... took longer to plug in the dremel.
The results you are having by adding the suppressor make me thing that your rifle simply didn't like the harmonics of that particular load, adding the can has changed the barrel whip enough to make it shoot well.
