Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed Carbon Fiber Review

The Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed Carbon Fiber aims to pair hunting-ready ergonomics with precision bolt-gun accuracy. Built around a redesigned X-Bolt action and a carbon fiber-wrapped Preferred Barrels blank, the Speed Carbon Fiber keeps weight down while leaning hard into features that matter to hunters. It utilizes an adjustable Vari-Tech stock, a recoil-eating Recoil Hawg muzzle brake, and a factory DLX trigger. Chambered here in 6.5 Creedmoor, the rifle’s blend of modern cosmetics (Tungsten Cerakote receiver, Browning OVIX camouflage, and a carbon fiber barrel sleeve) mirrors a performance focus that I put to the test on the range and at extended distances.

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• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
• Barrel length: 22″ (carbon fiber wrapped over stainless blank)
• Overall length: 42″
• Length of pull: 13 5/8″ (adjustable)
• Weight: 6 lbs 1 oz
• Magazine capacity: 4 (detachable)
• Twist rate: 1:7″
• Barrel finish: Matte Tungsten Cerakote
• Stock finish: OVIX camo composite (Vari-Tech)
• Receiver finish: Tungsten Cerakote
• Muzzle threading: 5/8″-24 SR (Recoil Hawg & thread protector included)
• Trigger: DLX three-lever, factory 3.5 lb (user adjustable) — I adjusted mine to the 3–4 lb range for testing.
• MSRP: $2,799.99

Browning ships the X-Bolt 2 Speed Carbon Fiber in a cardboard box. It comes with an extra pistol grip, a thread protector, a single magazine, a gun lock, and an owner’s manual. 

The first thing you notice when picking it up is how light it feels for a carbon-barreled hunting rifle. This variant weighs in at just over 6 pounds. It’s an easy carry for a day of glassing and hiking. 

One small disappointment right out of the box is the lack of a Picatinny rail section on the receiver. For a rifle at this price point, I would expect a factory-installed rail. That said, I installed a 20MOA Talley Browning X-Bolt Picatinny Rail, and it worked great. Talley’s rails are made in America, hard-coat anodized to 65 Rockwell, and machined to very tight tolerances. Once I torqued the rail screws to 25 in/lbs, I had a rock-solid platform that had clearance for my Vortex Venom 3-15.

Browning’s new Vari-Tech composite stock provides the adjustability needed for a perfect fit. It featured a three-way adjustable setup. Comb height is adjustable to dial in perfect eye-to-optic alignment. Length of pull is changed by internal spacers for a solid, rattle-free design. While tools are required to make any adjustment, this also keeps it from getting out of place in the field.

Also, the grip can be switched between a sporter and a vertical module. Those adjustments let this rifle wear a more chassis-like fitting habit while keeping the carry-weight and profile of a hunting rifle. Rubber overmolded gripping panels provide traction in wet or muddy conditions, and the thicker 1.25″ Inflex recoil pad helped me maintain a solid grip while shooting prone. The OVIX camo is unobtrusive and effective. It’s a functional pattern, and it also looks great to me.

The handguard on the X-Bolt 2 Speed Carbon Fiber has a clean, hunting-first profile that stays comfortable during hikes. Rubber overmolding on the fore-end gives secure traction in wet or muddy conditions and makes getting a consistent grip effortless. A front sling swivel stud is fitted and finished to match the rifle, providing a solid attachment point for slings or bipods without adding bulk to the forend. I used it to mount an MDT Oryx bipod.

The redesigned X-Bolt action includes an extended, spiral-fluted bolt with an “enlarged” bolt knob. While I wouldn’t call the knob enlarged, it’s a good balance for a hunting rifle without being obnoxious. 

Browning added more bolt guidance surface area in the receiver for a slick, positive feel, and the 60° bolt lift remains short enough to clear big optics and be run faster. One of my favorite touches is the bolt release button working with the top-tang safety. When the safety on the bolt is locked, engaging the bolt release lets you eject a live round without ever taking the rifle off safe. While this has been used in other Browning rifles, I still think it’s worth mentioning. 

Browning’s DLX three-lever trigger ships preset at 3.5 pounds and breaks very cleanly. Zero take-up, zero creep, and zero overtravel as advertised. From the factory, I measured the pull weight to break constantly right at the advertised 3.5 lbs. It remained consistent shot-to-shot. In a hunting package, the trigger is one of the most important user interfaces, and the DLX is nicely tuned straight from the factory.

The X-Bolt 2 Speed Carbon Fiber uses a detachable box magazine, and during all my testing, the magazine fed without issue. That said, I’d like to see AICS compatibility on a rifle at this price point, or any price point if I’m being honest. Having to source factory mags is less convenient than dropping in readily available AICS pattern magazines. For hunters who run extended mags or aftermarket options, AICS compatibility would be a major aftermarket plus. Either way, Browning offers these mags between $63-$73, depending on color and caliber.

The Preferred Barrels stainless blank is button-rifled, stress-relieved, and roll-wrapped with carbon fiber using a tensioned, functional wrapping process rather than a simple sleeve. The barrel is heavy-sporter contoured and threaded 5/8″-24 with the Recoil Hawg muzzle brake installed. The Recoil Hawg did exactly what it’s supposed to on this 6.1 lb rifle. Recoil was noticeably reduced, and follow-up shots were easier to get back on target.

The carbon fiber-wrapped barrel not only looks great, but it also sheds heat quickly during extended strings of fire. That faster heat dissipation, combined with the barrel’s added stiffness from the roll-wrapped process, keeps harmonics more consistent shot-to-shot and helps preserve my point-of-impact as the barrel warmed. It also ended up proving to be quite precise. 

Ammunitiontogo.com is the official ammo sponsor for this review. I ordered Hornady ammunition for testing this rifle, and it was on my doorstep within the week. They offer a wide selection of competitively priced ammunition. Easy-to-use online website, quick shipping, and competitive prices. Go check them out! Also, for those who want to read up on 6.5 Creedmoor to see if it is a good choice for you, go read up on Ammunitiontogo’s article: 6.5 Creedmoor Ballistics

I broke the barrel in by spending some time shooting steel out to 514 yards. I then moved to accuracy testing at 50 yards. My optic for testing was a Vortex Venom 3-15, and the cheekpiece adjustments on the Vari-Tech stock were handy for dialing in perfect eye relief. Group sizes at 50 yards were fairly consistent between 0.64 and 1.10 MOA  across a range of Hornady match and hunting loads. I also ended up getting some extremely tight spreads on velocity, which is a testament to Hornady’s quality of ammunition. My results are shown in the table and image below: 

The X-Bolt 2 Speed Carbon Fiber handles like a purpose-built hunting precision rifle. It isn’t a PRS race gun, but it is built to be an excellent hunting rifle. On the range, the rifle felt very well balanced, the weight distributed forward enough to ride naturally into the bags or bipod, yet light enough to carry out on hunts. The combination of the Vari-Tech stock and the short 60° bolt lift made transitions and follow-ups quick and comfortable, and the Recoil Hawg muzzle brake neutralized enough of the impulse that a 6.1 lb rifle never felt punishing.

Aesthetically, it’s a winner. The carbon fiber-wrapped barrel pairs really well with the Tungsten Cerakote and Browning OVIX camo, giving it a modern and effective look. These good looks translate to function as well. The barrel sheds heat quickly, and the action cycled without issue, even though it wasn’t buttery smooth. The DLX trigger breaks cleanly as well. All this combined to produce a well-balanced rifle with repeatable precision. I pushed shots out to 514 yards after a short break-in and came away impressed with the barrel’s consistency and the rifle’s ability to stay on target for follow-ups.

READ MORE HERE: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker Review

The Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed Carbon Fiber blends modern ergonomics with practical field performance. The Vari-Tech stock makes the rifle adaptable for different shooters, the carbon fiber wrapped Preferred Barrel is both light and stiff, and the DLX trigger breaks cleanly straight from the factory. The Recoil Hawg muzzle brake keeps recoil manageable on a rifle light enough to carry all day, while the OVIX camo and Tungsten Cerakote add durability that looks good and holds up in the field. In testing, the rifle balanced well, shot consistently, and maintained the precision expected from a premium hunting rifle.

At $2,799.99 MSRP, with street prices a few hundred dollars less, the Carbon Fiber model sits on the higher end of the X-Bolt 2 range. Browning offers models from $1,150 to $4,270, giving hunters access to the same core ergonomics at lower price points. At this price point, I think this specific model has a lot of competition to fight through. However, Browning offers plenty of models to choose from. Price point aside, this rifle shot great and features some solid components.  

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