rifles for camp - All
Lever-action rifles may seem antiquated, but for some folks, they offer a great combination of hunting aptitude and self-defense effectiveness. The X Model from Henry takes their proven action and adds a bit of a tactical flair with synthetic furniture, a short rail at the end of the fore-end, and a threaded muzzle. Muzzle brakes or a suppressor can be easily added, and even for a camp rifle, being able to easily attach a light is a well-thought-out attribute. It’s a short, handy rifle that can be operated quickly and maneuvered well in tight spaces and cycled very quickly. Your caliber selection will depend on your needs. If you’re dealing with lots of bears as well as two-legged threats, the .45-70 will be the way to go. Otherwise, the .357 or .44 mag options offer plenty of power for hunting deer, and offer increased magazine capacity. Not to mention that the increased barrel length will give you better performance than a handgun will, with mild to little recoil. MSRP: $970
By Frank Gentile, Hopewell, N.Y.
It was October 2011, and I was back in my Chevy Tahoe on my way to another hunt. This time, instead of my son, I was traveling with my hunting buddies. My buddies and I had been on plenty of trips together before but never to Texas! Between the four of us and gear for six (two of our team opted to fly from New York to San Antonio), every single spare inch of space in the truck had been utilized.
With each of us taking turns driving, we made it to Texas in about 20 hours. We got dinner and hotel rooms in Texarkana, and were back on the road early the next morning. With a day to spare before we were due at our hunting camp in Hondo, Texas, we headed south with plans to enjoy the city of San Antonio along the way. In San Antonio, we explored the Alamo, the River Walk and the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum. What a great city!
Our first order of business after arriving at the camp the next morning was to make sure that our rifles were on target. With that complete, we were off to our first afternoon hunt. At this camp, there was one guide for every hunter, and your guide stayed out with you the entire time. The treestands were made of fiberglass and completely enclosed. This was exciting. It was also my first time hunting whitetails on active feeders. The feeders were located about 100 yards directly in front of my treestand, and I had about 150 yards to my left and right of clear shooting. When the feeders went off, they reminded me of the ringing of a dinner bell; I never in my life saw so many deer in front of me at one time! The guide was very clear in designating what I could and couldn’t shoot: I was paid up for a deer in the 130- to 140-class range. Despite my excitement over seeing all of those deer in one place, the right deer didn’t show. It was not the day for my shot. Dinner back at the camp was great, but breakfast came very early, so a good night’s sleep was my plan.
I was back in the same stand the next morning. It was early and still pretty dark. I thought I had seen some movement but couldn’t see exactly what it was. As the day woke up, the feeder went off, and once again, deer were everywhere! I’ve still never seen so much horn in one place!
About 150 yards to my right was a lonely buck. He was feeding and getting closer. As I picked up my binocular to get a closer look, my guide remarked, “Nice deer.” As I studied him, I noticed some movement on the ground, and to my surprise, feeding right next to the deer was a raccoon. The raccoon fed and moved closer to the buck, and at this point, I didn’t care about the feeder or the dozen or so deer to my left. I was completely focused on this odd duo.
The deer kept cutting the distance, as did the raccoon, and was about 50 yards away—just as I was thinking what a nice trophy he would be—when the big let-down came from my guide: “I think he’s over 140.” My eyes still didn’t waver from those two animals. Now they were coming towards the treestand, stopping here and there to eat. Even my guide couldn’t get over how content these two animals were in each other’s presence.
Knowing that this may not be the one for me due to his size, my eyes roamed over the remaining deer at the feeder. Two nice looking bucks were nearby, but were obviously out of my class—they were at least in the 200-inch range, too big for my wallet. I turned over to the guide, who had now taken a photo of the deer with his “rangefinder-camcorder-cell phone” to send to his foreman in hopes of getting the go-ahead for a shot. I couldn’t believe how detailed the rack looked on this 4-inch screen. I didn’t want to let this one get away, and I soon found out that I didn’t have to.
My guide received the green light from his foreman, and tapped me on my shoulder to take the deer.
By now, the deer had started to move farther away, about 140 yards, still feeding and walking. My heart was pounding, and once again doing double-time. I had the buck in my scope, and when he turned broadside to look at the raccoon I took the shot. He went down as if hit by a locomotive. It is amazing what a 150-grain bullet can do.
Back at camp, it was measuring time. It turns out the guide was spot-on and was right to be cautious. The big 8-point buck measured 139⅝ inches.
Browning X-Bolt chambered in .30-06 review
Alright, here's a breakdown of my experience with a Browning X-Bolt chambered in .30-06, particularly focusing on the upgrades of an aluminum bedding block and a Mastergun stock. I'm coming at this from the perspective of someone who hunts regularly and tinkers with their rifles quite a bit.
Overall Impression Browning X-Bolt:
The X-Bolt, out of the box, is a solid hunting rifle. Reliable, accurate enough for most hunting situations, and relatively lightweight. However, like most factory rifles, it has room for improvement, particularly in terms of consistency and feel. That's where the bedding block and the Mastergun stock came in.
Browning X-Bolt (Base Rifle):
Pros:
Smooth Bolt Action: The 60-degree bolt lift is quick and easy, especially when you need a fast follow-up shot. It's definitely a step up from some of the more clunky bolt actions out there.
Lightweight Browning X-Bolt: Carrying this rifle through the woods all day is manageable. It's a significant advantage for backcountry hunts where every ounce counts.
Rotary Magazine Browning X-Bolt: The detachable rotary magazine is reliable and keeps the cartridges aligned well. It's also easy to load and unload.
Good Accuracy (Out of the Box): For a factory rifle, the accuracy is decent. I was getting around 1.5 MOA with factory ammo, which is perfectly acceptable for deer and elk hunting at moderate ranges.
Adjustable Trigger: The trigger is adjustable, which is a nice feature. However, it needed some tweaking to get it just right for my liking.
Cons:
Stock Browning X-Bolt: The factory stock felt a bit cheap and flimsy. There was noticeable flex, which likely impacted accuracy consistency. The ergonomics weren't fantastic either. This was the primary reason for upgrading to the Mastergun.
Inconsistent Accuracy: While 1.5 MOA was good, it wasn't always consistent. Sometimes I'd get a tight group, other times it would open up. I suspected the stock and bedding were contributing to this.
Price: X-Bolts are not cheap rifles. You are paying for the Browning name and reputation.
Aluminum Bedding Block:
Pros:
Improved Consistency: This made a HUGE difference. By providing a solid and stable platform for the action, the bedding block eliminated the flexing and shifting that I was seeing with the factory stock. The action felt much more secure.
Enhanced Accuracy: Groups tightened up noticeably. I was now consistently getting sub-MOA groups with handloads and premium factory ammo.
Cons:
Installation Required: You need to either install it yourself or have a gunsmith do it. It's not a drop-in part. Proper bedding is crucial for it to function correctly. I opted to have a gunsmith do it to ensure it was done right.
Cost: Adding a bedding block adds to the overall cost of the rifle.
Mastergun Stock:
Pros:
Superior Ergonomics: The Mastergun stock felt fantastic in my hands. The grip angle, the palm swell, and the overall shape were a significant improvement over the factory stock. It felt much more natural to shoulder and aim.
Increased Rigidity: The Mastergun stock is much stiffer and more robust than the factory stock. This, combined with the bedding block, provided a rock-solid platform for the action.
Aesthetically Pleasing: Let's be honest, the Mastergun stock looks great. It gives the rifle a more premium and custom feel.
Improved Recoil Absorption The Mastergun stock does a good job of soaking up recoil, so you can enjoy the shot.
Cons:
Cost: These stocks are not cheap. It's a significant investment.
Weight: The Mastergun stock is slightly heavier than the factory stock, which could be a concern for some hunters. However, the improved ergonomics and rigidity were worth the trade-off for me.
Fitting: The stock had to be fitted to the rifle. This meant I had to see a gunsmith to get it properly fitted.
Browning X-Bolt .30-06 Cartridge Choice:
Pros:
Versatile: The .30-06 is one of the most versatile cartridges ever created. It's capable of taking down everything from deer to elk to bear.
Widely Available: Ammo is readily available everywhere, in a wide range of bullet weights and styles.
Proven Performance: The .30-06 has been around for over a century and has a proven track record of effectiveness.
Cons:
Recoil: Recoil can be stout, especially with heavier bullets. A good recoil pad is essential.
Trajectory: The trajectory isn't as flat as some of the newer, faster cartridges. Range estimation is important, especially at longer distances.
Final Verdict:
The Browning X-Bolt in .30-06, with the aluminum bedding block and Mastergun stock, is now a fantastic hunting rifle. The upgrades significantly improved accuracy, consistency, and overall feel. While the cost of the upgrades was considerable, the performance improvements were worth it. I would highly recommend these upgrades to anyone looking to get the most out of their X-Bolt. It's a rifle I now have complete confidence in for any hunting situation.
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