Browning X-Bolt 2 Vari-Tech Nordic review: a practical stainless stalking rifle

I remember owning one of the original Browning A-Bolt synthetics in .243 Win with the old BOSS muzzle device fitted. It was noisy, but shot amazingly well. Browning today offers its X-Bolt 2 design in various guises, but the Vari-Tech Nordic is a strong contender if you’re considering a new stalking rifle.

The stainless-steel version under review may be the most practical of the various models. It is light, at 6lb 12oz, with an overall length of 40.5in, and the Vari-Tech stock confers a high degree of customisation for each shooter.

Browning X-Bolt 2 Vari-Tech Nordic specification

How much can you adjust the Vari-Tech stock?

X-Bolt 2 rifles differ from the older X-Bolts in having shorter barrels and spiral fluting to the bolt. They are not overly fancy and compare favourably with other rifles in this price range. They are designed to get the job done.

With this model it’s the stock and the Vari-Tech adjustment system that are the main attraction. I have tested a few X-Bolt 2 rifles now, and though the Vari-Tech stock is my least favourite – weather resistance and adjustability, aiding correct rifle fit. That may sound a little harsh, but I find the synthetic black plastic stock purely practical rather than aesthetically pleasing.

However, the stock redeems itself with nice rubber inserts to the pistol grip and forend for a far better grip than most, and the former can be removed to give different sizes and profiles. The rear half of the stock is essentially three core sections, and incorporates an internal adjustment system for setting the length of pull and comb height.

The length of pull can be adjusted from 13⅛in to 14⅛in by removing the very grippy and soft 1¼in Inflex recoil pad and adding or removing one or more of the four ¼in plastic spacers provided. These are inboard spacers, so the external look of the butt is undisturbed, unlike with more conventional spacers added behind the recoil pad. A thinner 1in Inflex pad is available to buy separately.

Loosening two further screws internally allows the cheekpiece to be manipulated forward, enabling adjustment up and down and maximising suitability for shooters of all ages and sizes. Third time around, I have become familiar with this system, and my initial ho-hum opinion has altered. If all the securing bolts are tightened correctly it is a practical design and certainly weatherproof.

The action, bolt and three-lug arrangement

More conventional is the action itself, but with some nice upgraded details such as the new spiral-fluted bolt, whose smooth three-lug arrangement offers a low lift that is aided by the slightly larger X-Bolt 2 proportions. The stainless-steel bolt is very well made, with a brightly polished body, deep wide flutes and a satin bolt handle and bolt shroud. A small embedded polymer guide in the body engages the action wall and prevents binding, while engagement of the three lugs is 100% positive. An inset sprung ejector working with the side extractor claw ensures reliable case extraction.

Interestingly, the bolt knob can be removed and alternative designs fitted to suit your style of shooting and preference.

A silent tang safety and the new DLX trigger

X-Bolts always have a very convenient tang-mounted safety, which when pressed down a little is silent in operation and locks the bolt. If you need to raise the bolt to remove a cartridge and keep the rifle on safe, pressing the additional button at the top of the bolt handle allows the bolt to open while the safety is applied.

Trigger-wise, Brownings are pretty decent, as the new DLX multilever is designed to reduce creep, take-up and overtravel. Operation is a crisp single-stage pull, breaking on test at 2lb 8.8oz, lighter than previous models tested and a safe option on a hunting rifle. I also like the rust-resisting all-polymer magazine holding four shots in .308 Win, and its light weight and reliable feed are further welcome benefits.

The 20in threaded barrel

Finally, the barrel, which on this version is 20in. I recently had the 18.5in on a blued-steel Vari-Tech. Although this barrel is slightly longer, the X-Bolt was not at all cumbersome, even with the Browning Iridium sound moderator fitted. It is not fluted, and the outside diameter is 0.612in at the muzzle, with a free-floated overall profile, a 14x1mm metric thread pitch and a satin stainless-steel finish to reduce reflections.

How accurate is the Browning X-Bolt 2 in .308 Win?

With the rifle zeroed at 100 yards, a Kite Optics scope and Iridium moderator fitted, I started the test. Lead-free RWS HIT 165-gr was first up and shot really solid MOA accuracy at 2,571fps, averaged over three shots so 2,422ft/lb of energy.

Hornady’s Superformance lead-cored SST 150-gr is a super-fast cartridge and achieved 2,882fps average velocity for 2,767ft/lb of energy. Use it while you can.

Sako’s lead-free Powerhead Blade is a great all-round cartridge and its bullet heads are excellent for reloading too. From the X-Bolt I had 2,594fps velocity with this 162-gr bullet, for 2,421ft/lb of energy and 0.885in groups at 100 yards.

I also tried out some reloads. My lightweight Barnes TSX 110-gr really shot well at 3,086fps and 2,327ft/lb with 45 grains of Reloder 10X powder, for 0.85in groups.

A more traditional, heavier bullet, but again lead-free, was the Barnes TTSX 168-gr, which yielded 2,588fps for 2,499ft/lb with 43.25 grains of Vihtavuori N140 powder and just under the inch mark for accuracy.

The X-Bolt 2 in the field

With the rifle loaded with the Blade ammunition, I had roe rutting or a young buck in mind, but the hellishly hot weather made it very hard going: I am built for snow and ice. However, the stainless-steel nature of the X-Bolt and the Vari-Tech stock did away with any worry about scratching it or getting it wet when crawling through foliage.

Despite my best efforts while calling for roebucks in Surrey, all I had was a lone fox ambling across the stubble field hoping for a quick meal. The Blade stopped it dead at 117 yards.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• Light at 6lb 12oz and only 40.5in overall, so it handles well in cover and on the hill
• Length of pull and comb height both adjustable internally, so the butt keeps its shape
• Crisp single-stage DLX trigger, breaking at 2lb 8.8oz on test
• Silent tang safety that locks the bolt, with a bolt-release button for unloading on safe
• Stainless steel and polymer throughout, so wet ground and foliage are not a worry
• Sub-MOA with three of the loads tried, factory and handloaded

Weaknesses

• The black synthetic stock is practical rather than good looking
• The Vari-Tech system relies on every securing bolt being tightened correctly
• The barrel is unfluted, so there is no weight saving there
• The thinner 1in Inflex recoil pad is a separate purchase

Should you buy a Browning X-Bolt 2?

The Browning X-Bolt 2 brings subtle but worthwhile refinements to an already well-regarded firearm. It has made no unnecessary changes to a platform that has been well made and dependable since 2008. The stainless-steel Vari-Tech is a more practical option than the standard model, though the Eclipse and carbon-fibre versions are also worth considering if you’re looking for something a little different.

I genuinely like X-Bolts: they always handle well, shoot most ammunition accurately and have proved reliable out in the field over the years. Updates from the original X-Bolt are quite subtle but nonetheless beneficial. And if it ain’t broke, why fix it? X-Bolts deserve a close look from any would-be buyer.