Browning's Journey to the X-Bolt 2 Pro McMillian

During World War II, my grandfather toted a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) across the Philippines. Sometimes, if the mood caught him right, he would tell us stories about this gas-operated rifle. During each story, he always paid homage to the rifle's designer, John M. Browning.

"That rifle saved my life more times than I can count," he would tell us.

That's why my first-ever shotgun was a Browning BPS. Grandpa's stories made me admire the Browning brand and that pump-action shotgun was responsible for putting a lot of duck, goose, and upland meat in the freezer when I was in high school.

I stayed the Browning route. My first predator rifle was an X-Bolt chambered in .22-250. Most recently, I harvested three bull elk with three different Browning X-Bolt makes. Those rifles included the X-Bolt Mountain Pro Tungsten chambered in 6.5 PRC, the X-Blot Speed LR chambered in 7mm PRC, and Browning's new-for-2024 X-Bolt 2 Speed chambered in .300 PRC.

Before heading to the Dark Continent this past June for the adventure of a lifetime, I started tinkering with and testing Browning's X-Bolt 2 Pro McMillan SPR Carbon Fiber rifle.

I was enamored by its design, which combines a competition rifle with a hunting rifle. Like other X-Bolt 2 models, this carbon-fiber shooter sported the redesigned short, fast 60-degree bolt throw. I figured the new spiral-fluted bolt with an extended handle and blot knob shape would expand on what is already a legendary bolt-throw. Plus, the short throw allowed me to mount Leupold's VX6-HD 3-18x44. With this type of bolt design, mounting large optics is never a worry.

I was also pleased to see the removable Recoil Hawg muzzle brake. This brake reduces felt recoil to 76 percent, and with the rifle chambered in 300 Win. Mag., I was thrilled to see the brake. Other must-note Browning features I was familiar with included the adjustable, zero-creep trigger, X-Lock Scope Mounting System, top-tang safety, and one of my favorite features, the Bolt Unlock Button.

The rifle also sported several new-to-me Browning features I couldn't wait to test and learn more about. That's something to know about Browning—they build many different rifle designs in various calibers to ensure every shooter/hunter can find a Browning make that provides them with remarkable fit and feel.

Crafted from lightweight carbon fiber to ensure a lightweight, durable, and solid shooting platform, the McMillan Game Warden 2.0 Stock immediately impressed me. The Game Warden 2.0 features a vertical grip with a top thumb rest and a broad fore-end, designed to meld the gap between a target stock and a hunting stock. I quickly discovered that the raised comb ensured perfect eye-to-scope alignment.

Promising pin-point accuracy while keeping weight down, the rifle's 22-inch Prefered Barrels barrel is four inches below standard length to allow suppressor attachment and keep overall length in check. Spoiler alert: I didn't add a suppressor, and because of the rifle's excellent design and that the barrel blends with the stock to create a hyper-accurate shooter, I harvested a Red hartebeest at 534 yards. This rifle is a shooter.

I was also fond of the aluminum Picatinny rail, allowing immediate bipod attachment. As mentioned, this rifle sports a target rifle build, and when ringing steel at long distances, target shooters want to create more points of contact with the ground. The same holds for hunting. Whenever possible, I get prone, and having a ready-to-deploy bipod on the rifle was a win.

I also love the rust-resistant Carbon Gray Cerakote finish on the action and bolt, and I tip my cap to the Urban Carbon Ambush finish, which gives this rifle a jump-off-the-shelf, have-to-have-it appeal.

My sight-in process was a breeze. When choosing a firearm, you want to find one that fits and feels excellent. If a rifle fits you well, you will shoot it well, and accurate shooting leads to in-the-field confidence. I loved the wide fore-end, and the vertical grip with the top thumb rest felt remarkable.

Chambered in 300 Win. Mag., one of the most ballistically perfect calibers ever, I rang steel and punched paper at distances close and far. I was thrilled that Browning sent my African slayer in this caliber. A belted magnum, the 300 Win. Mag. is an ultra-versatile caliber that will handle everything from medium-sized animals like pronghorn and deer to larger game like elk and moose. On this trip, Eland, Kudu, and Blue wildebeest were on the menu, and I knew the caliber, blended with a 190-grain bonded bullet, would do the job.

Another Browning trademark is to offer various rifle styles in an array of calibers. For instance, the X-Bolt 2 Pro McMillan SPR Carbon Fiber is available in 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Win., 6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western, 7 PRC, 300 Win. Mag, and 300 PRC.

What do all those calibers have in common?

They are all super-accurate, long-distance shooters with excellent ballistics. A straight-wall caliber in this rifle design wouldn't make sense, so Browning doesn't offer it. This helps rifle buyers get into a Browning rifle much more effortlessly.

The X-Bolt 2 Pro McMillan SPR Carbon Fiber proved its salt in Africa. Over eight days, I harvested 10 big-game animals. My 303-yard Impala weighed 130 pounds, and my 421-yard Eland pushed the scale over 2,000 pounds. The caliber handled every animal without problem, and the more I shot this precision rifle, the more confidence it gave me. I was prone on the Impala and Eland, which boosted my accuracy. However, after a long stalk on a rutting Eastern Cape Kudu, the moment of truth came at 276 yards. I was shaking like a leaf, but when I placed the rifle on the sticks, the wide fore-end hugged the internal structure of the PH's sticks, creating an ultra-stable platform, which led to perfect bullet placement.

I would have zero quarrels with leaving the brake on or removing it to make the rifle lighter for western hunting. I plan to take it to the Rockies to hunt elk and mule deer this fall.

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The X-Bolt 2 Pro McMillan SPR Carbon Fiber is only one offering in Browning's new-for-2024 X-Bolt 2 lineup. I encourage you to consider end-use purposes, visit your local dealer to test for fit and feel, and then pick a suitable caliber to make your shooting/hunting dreams a reality.