Browning Hells Canyon Speed reviews

mcseal2

WKR
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
2,672
I'm looking at picking one of these up in 6.5 Creedmoor. I've read lots of older threads on them, just curious how people are liking them by now?

Any issues with the forend of the stock touching the barrel and changing point of aim?

I am wanting a little shorter rifle than my current 264 win mag or 300 win mag for some of my hunting. I prefer a tang or 3 position safety, so Tikka and Barret were out. This one seemed to fit all my criteria.

I was originally thinking 270 win and 140gr Accubonds since I've had good luck with them in the past. In this rifle the 270 is only 3/4" longer than the 6.5 Creed on the short action. Running the ballistics calculator though, the 6.5 Creedmoor with the 143gr ELD-X compares very well in energy, wind drift, and drop out to 600 yards. The higher BC makes up for the lower velocity. The ELD-X seems to perform really well on game at Creedmoor speeds from everything I can find. I already have the other two rifles if I want more power and this rifle won't be used for game bigger than deer. The low recoiling 6.5 will be good to have as the girls get older and want to start hunting. Also Hornady Precision Hunter ammo in 6.5 Creed can be bought at the local Academy, 270 ammo with Accubonds has to be ordered if I don't want to handload them. I load for several rifles, but if this one likes factory ammo I'd probably just buy ammo. The powder scale doesn't work well with kids running around upstairs or the washer/dryer running. Times when none of those things are happening is hard to find as the kids get bigger.

Anyway, that's what I'm thinking and I'd be grateful for any help you can give.
 

Dcrafton

WKR
Joined
Aug 10, 2016
Messages
620
Location
Morgan utah
I shoot with the Browning production manager, I would really take a good look at the 6.5 PRC in an Xbolt. Very awesome. He has both and the prc really is something else.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

EmperorMA

WKR
Joined
Dec 7, 2018
Messages
507
I’ve been around five X-Bolt Hells Canyon Speed rifles, two in 6.5 Creedmoor.

All are 0.5 MOA rifles with factory ammo, and all are untouched since being taken out of the box, except for one that has had the trigger lightened a tiny bit to just under 3 lbs. If anything, all shoot better now than when new. My homies either use the 143 ELD-X or 129 ABLR and hunt everything, including bull elk, with their rifles.

Not a single hiccup, and over two dozen deer, elk, bear and Pronghorn down between them.

IMHO, it would be hard to go wrong with one of these rifles in 6.5 Creedmoor.
 
Last edited:

Banker

FNG
Joined
Jul 29, 2019
Messages
29
i bought one in the summer and was amazed at the accuracy. Topped with a Swarovski Z6 gen.2 2-12x50 L, it was grouping around 0.5 MOA with 143 ELD-X. I have not had the chance to hunt with it yet, but it is very light weight and I know it will get the job done on white tails.
 
Joined
Jul 18, 2019
Messages
2,070
These Roksliders have convinced me to by a Tikka but now I need to by an x bolt! Just have to explain to my wife that a few dozen rifles are required to ensure safety and free range organic meat for the chi’ren.

I’ve only shot an x bolt once by the way - a 250 yd drop on a nice antelope I couldn’t pass and used my buddy’s rifle. 300 win mag but nary a piece of meat was damaged on account of laser accuracy and he was toast before hitting the ground.

Please post target porn, we’re all interested.
 
OP
mcseal2

mcseal2

WKR
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
2,672
I have a Remington 700 in 22-250 that has a shot out barrel I could build one off of too. It has a Brown Precision stock and Timney trigger already. I just figure if I can get a Browning that shoots awesome for the price of a re-barrel I should do it. Get a new 22-250 barrel down the road for the other rifle.
 

Cody_W

WKR
Joined
Apr 25, 2017
Messages
662
Location
Central Texas
I’m running the Hell’s Canyon Long Range McMillan in 28 Nosler and it shoots lights out with factory Precision Hunter 162s. Easy Sub MOA conformed past 600 yards this past weekend shot off the top of a truck cab on a deer corn bag if that says anything about the rifle.
 
OP
mcseal2

mcseal2

WKR
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
2,672
For this rifle i want a shorter overall length. Thats why I’m looking at the Speed instead of the other options. Browning likes long barrels on a lot of their rifles. This model in the 6.5 Creedmoor has a 22” barrel which I feel is more than enough. The 6.5 PRC guns have more barrel.
 
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
673
Location
Knoxville, TN
My X Bolt Speed 30 06 is an awesome gun. Liked it so much I just bought a X Bolt Max Long Range in 300 Win Mag. Both shoot Hornady ELD-X, Barnses TTSX and Federal Trophy Bonded Tip < 1 MOA at 100 yards. Replaced the trigger spring in both with the MCarbo. Dropped the trigger pull from a crisp 4.5 lb to a crisp 2.5 lb. I put a Timney in the Speed for a while. Like the trigger pull at 2 lb but did not like the narrow trigger and the bolt lock does not work with the Timney.

I like these hands down better than my Remington 700 Mountain rifle in 30 06 and Tikka in 308.
 

BCD

WKR
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Messages
690
Location
Hudson, WI
When I bought a rifle for elk hunting last winter, I looked at the HC Xbolt, Tikka, Remington, and Bergara. I liked the HC Speed much better than any of the others I looked at and bought it in 300WSM.
 

BigSky

WKR
Joined
Jul 31, 2012
Messages
1,680
Location
Billings, MT
I've heard nothing but good things about these in 300 WM and both current 6.5 versions; however, I don't think I've read anything about them in 7/08. Did/does Browning make these in 7/08?
 

92xj

WKR
Joined
Apr 22, 2016
Messages
1,234
Location
E.Wa
I'm enjoying my HCSpeed 300 win mag. Took me a little bit to create a load I was pleased with but finally got two I really like with 181Hammer Hunters and their new 196grs. Also, I put in the mcarbo spring that everyone raves about, didn't do it for me. So, I bought a timney and with a little internal stock dremeling got it fitting and I absolutely love it. My groups are .36" - .7" depending on how well I perform behind the trigger.
 
OP
mcseal2

mcseal2

WKR
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
2,672
Looks like I will be picking one up. It might be a little while before I get glass for it and get it shot. I’ll get the gun for now and go from there. Thanks everyone.
 
Joined
Nov 7, 2012
Messages
7,459
Location
S. UTAH
When I bought a rifle for elk hunting last winter, I looked at the HC Xbolt, Tikka, Remington, and Bergara. I liked the HC Speed much better than any of the others I looked at and bought it in 300WSM.

How does it shoot factory ammo?
 

JustiSmi

FNG
Joined
Apr 13, 2015
Messages
13
I have some personal experience with the same model and cartridge. I bought up a HC Speed in 6.5 creed last year and can honestly it became my favorite gun to shoot, only downside is its almost boring in its predictability and accuracy with factory Federal 140gr accubonds. I haven't even bought dies for it or tried to work up a load given that I would be tough to top the accuracy for a few more fps.
I wanted lightweight and handy so I put a Leupold VX2 3-9 on it and it shoots better than me any given day of the week. The buck I shot last year at 220 yds I watched drop in the scope. Looked like he had been hit by lightning.
 

Doc Holliday

WKR
Classified Approved
Joined
Jun 15, 2016
Messages
2,636
You might check out Browning's X-Bolt Pro Tungsten while you are at it. Sweet looking rifle
 

AZ Ron

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 4, 2012
Messages
128
Location
Chandler, AZ
I finally got to take an animal with my 6.5 HC speed this past week. I am really liking the rifle and it is shooting the Precision Hunter 143 gr ELDX's very well. My son has taken 3 animals with it, javelina, cow elk, and a 3 pt mule deer. All hunting kills have been 250 yards or under, but we routinely practice 500-600 yards and occasionally further with a 10" gong. Shooting that rifle under 300 yards almost gets boring. ;-)

My dad liked mine so much that he just picked one up himself.
 

pattimusprime22

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Sep 3, 2019
Messages
212
I have a HCS in 6.5 creedmoor and it took me a little while to find the right lead free ammo that it likes, but the barnes ttsx are sitting a little under 1 moa. Plenty accurate enough for my hunting purposes and it's dropped everything I've shot at in 1 shot.
 
Joined
Jun 7, 2018
Messages
716
Location
Tennessee
I'm quite a fan of mine in 300 wsm. Got some cheap federal fusions and it was pinging the 3" target at 300 yrds no problem. Still wanna hand load some accubonds but haven't got around to it

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Top