Can a traditional walnut-stock hunting rifle still compete with today's synthetic-stock designs? We tested the Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor to evaluate its accuracy, trigger performance, handling and overall suitability for deer and big-game hunting. (Robert Sadowski photo)
October 02, 2026
By Robert Sadowski
There was a time when hunting rifles were only blued steel and wood. The feel, the touch; there is something traditional in these rifles. Don't get me wrong, I like the practicality and performance of synthetic stocks and high-tech metal coatings, but the Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter brought back the nostalgia of hunting seasons past, but in a modern rifle platform. That’s why the X-Bolt 2 Hunter bolt-action rifle appealed to me.
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