In today’s rifle comparison, we’ll be comparing some of the most well know rifles within today’s hunting climate; Remington 700 vs. Browning X-bolt.
Which rifle should you choose? Let’s compare, and find out.
| Remington 700 | Browning X-bolt |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| Length: 47 in Barrel Length: 26 in |
Length: 44 in Barrel Length: 24 in |
| Mag Capacity: 3 | Mag Capacity: 3 |
| Weight: 9 lbs | Weight: 7 lbs |
| Material: • Stainless Steel • Steel |
Material: • Alloy • Black Walnut • Steel |
| Check Price | Check Price |
- Overview
- Similarities
- The Differences
- Stock Comparison
- Magazine Comparison
- Cost Comparison
- Where to Buy the Remington 700 and Browning X-Bolt
- Customer Reviews
- Customer Poll: Remington 700 vs. Browning X-Bolt
- Verdict
Overview
Remington 700
- 26″ Barrel Length
- Stainless Steel
- Fixed Magazine
Browning X-Bolt
- 24″ Barrel Length
- 7 lbs
- Detachable Magazine
- Three-lever Feather Trigger
- 4 Screw Mount
Similarities
Both Remington 700 and Browning X-bolt are hunting rifles that have been in the spotlight recently.
The Remington 700 can shoot further, with the rifle being able to reach 400 yards.
Both rifles have the same magazine capacity of 3, which can be detached. For the Remington, you will have to modify the rifle to make the magazine detachable—as it comes fixed. To do this, follow this quick video tutorial.
The Remington 700 and Browning X-bolt both feature steel within their design and are ideal for hunting.
Other than that, these rifles are fairly different, being better at certain tasks and worse at others.
The Differences
These rifles feature some fundamental differences, which may affect what you decide to purchase.
Release Date
The Remington 700 series was first manufactured in 1962, which was a development of the previous Remington 722 series. Although the Remington 700 has been around for a long time, we have found it stands the test of time, with it performing very well in our tests.
In stark comparison, the Browning X-bolt came out much more recently, being first released in 2008. That’s 46 years difference.
Weight Comparison
Personally, weight is a large factor for me in a gun; it makes or breaks the deal—not because I’m weak or anything! Let’s take a look at each rifle’s weight:
- Remington 700: 9lbs
- Browning X-Bolt: 7 lbs
Looking at Remington’s weight for the first time worried me, but all that worry disappeared when I shot the thing for the first time. “Yee-haw!” I remember screaming.
The average hunter would say that the ideal hunting rifle weighs somewhere between 6-8 pounds. But this is often debated—I found that the ideal weight really depends on what you are looking for. If you are planning on shooting longer ranges, with less recoil; get a heavier rifle. If not, stick to the lightweights.
Barrel Length
The barrel length of a firearm is useful for two reasons:
- Fired bullets shoot straighter
- Fired bullets shoot further
That’s why you want a good, long barrel when hunting.
The Remington 700 has a good 26″ barrel, which should usually do the trick.
The Browning X-Bolt only has a 24″ barrel—still good, but a bit disappointing. The Remington wins this round.
Overall Length
Come on, who doesn’t enjoy firing a lengthy rifle from time to time.
So, what’s the difference between the Remington 700 and Browning X-bolt, length-wise?
According to Browning, the X-Bolt is 44 inches in overall length.
In contrast, Remington states that their series 700 model is 47 inches.
In this regard, we can’t really tell you which one is better. It really depends on what you are looking for. But, if you are new to firearms, don’t bite off more than you can chew, and just get the shorter option—just in case longer rifles aren’t your style.
Stock Comparison
The Remington 700 decided to opt with the Bell and Carlson M40 tactical stock, choosing to go with solid urethane, graphite and fiberglass as their materials of choice. These materials result in a really lightweight stock, bringing the overall weight of the rifle down.
In comparison, the X-Bolt has a Walnut stock with detailed checkering. Plus, we noticed that the grip is great if you have skinny wrists—again, I haven’t got skinny wrists, just an observation a friend notified me to. I promise I’m not small and weak!
Magazine Comparison
Moving onto the two rifles magazine, they are quite subjective.
For example, the Remington 700 has a floor plate magazine located on the bottom of the rifle. Depending on what you’re looking for, detachable mags may be what you want—such as myself. But luckily for us who prefer detachable magazines, the Remington can be modified pretty easily to fit one.
Looking at the X-Bolt, the magazine is plastic—not a complete deal-breaker, but when it comes to plastic you either like it or you don’t. Ideally, the mag would be a bit longer in length, as it’s a bit short. We liked that the mag was relatively high capacity (3) for being so small.
Cost Comparison
Let’s face it, price is the ultimate deal-breaker when it comes to life. And these rifles aren’t any different.
The price can change depending on when you click the link, and where you live (for the postage).
Where to Buy the Remington 700 and Browning X-Bolt
Both of these rifles can be bought on their respective websites. For the Remington 700, you can get the cheapest price on Remington’s website.
For Browning X-Bolt, you can get the cheapest price on Browning’s website.
Customer Reviews
We asked the hunting community on reddit.com/r/hunting/ and asked customers for their experience with the Remington 700 and the Browning X-Bolt.
Here is what they gave us:
I personally have a Browning Xbolt and shoot very good with it. Honestly it depends on what you want to do with the rifle and the caliber you are choosing.
Hunter SB4488
I have a Remington 700 BDL . . . the Remington is beautiful
Hunter 1illiteratefool
They’re both good rifles, I have the rem 700 w a Nikon 6-18×40 and couldn’t be happier with the setup.
Hunter RMcGlock43
Customer Poll: Remington 700 vs. Browning X-Bolt
Hunting Critic asked 30 users on online forums about hunting. We found that 60 percent of users who responded prefered the Browning X-bolt over the Remington 700. Although, many of the people who said the X-Bolt was better, also states that they thought the Remington was a good rifle too.
Let’s take the user DalTexasas an example:
R700’s are classics with a ton of aftermarket support.
X-bolts are great firearms out of the box with little aftermarket support.
I prefer the X-Bolt
Hunter DalTexas
Verdict
The Remington 700 is an amazing rifle overall. And because of the available modifications, you can make to the firearm, you can easily customize it to your preferences. For instance, you can customize the magazine to be detachable. The longer overall length makes this rifle great for hunting at longer ranges, as the rifle features a longer barrel.
Alternatively, you may choose to go with the Browning X-Bolt—still a great rifle, we would suggest this for newbies, or lower-tier hunting. The newer of the two rifles, we found that 60% of customers preferred the X-Bolt over the Remington.
