Few years ago, the Browning International group caused – to use the Company's own words – a true revolution in the field of bolt-action hunting and shooting rifles with the launch of the X-Bolt series of rifles, which has since then become the tip of Browning's spear.

Manufactured in Japan by Miroku – a fully owned subsidiary of the Browning group – the X-Bolt series rifles were conceived and are manufactured for those hunters who want their gun to be cutting-edge rather than an old-timer, something that will withstand the harshest use and may provide some satisfaction at the shooting range as well.

As a matter of fact, the Browning X-Bolt rifles are – once again, to use the Company's own words – recognized for their custom-class accuracy, and as such they're perfect to stalk the hardest game and to practice some of the most classic hunting-related shooting sports, such as metallic silhouette shooting.

The Browning X-Bolt SF Adjustable Threaded rifle is built around a matte stainless steel frame. The bolt offers a short, 60-degrees lift – that's fast cycling and allows the shooter to work it quickly without the scope getting in the way – and a cocking handle-mounted bolt unlock button that works in conjunction with the top-tang safety to provide an added measure of safety during checking and unloading of the chamber.

The X-Bolt SF Adjustable Threaded rifle feeds through a detachable polymer rotary magazine which is designed to feed cartridges directly in-line with the bolt, instead of offset as with traditional leaf-spring magazines, for a straight shot right into the chamber.

The sample we tested was chambered for the flat-shooting .243 Winchester caliber, but others available include .223 Remington, 6.5x55mm, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield and .300 Winchester Magnum; the magazine capacity is set at four rounds for standard calibers and three rounds for Magnum calibers, exception made for the .223 Remington version, whose magazine holds up to five rounds.

The sample you see in these wonderful pictures is chambered for the evergreen, ever perfomant .243 Winchester cartridge.It was not our intention to put under heavy test this rifle, and honestly speaking, to approach such an intent would ask for a far more serious and long lasting series of considerations and tests.

So, we have just done what whoever "friend" would do if looking at you in the field or at the range with such a nice and intriguing rifle like the Browning X-Bolt SF Adjustable Threaded rifle seems to be.

Given the quality of the Japanese Miroku industrial technology, we have kept it simple: we have gone to the shooting range with some ammunition, and we have made some holes on the paper.

For reasons of "brand coeherency" and practical attitude, we have used Winchester ammunition: the .243 Winchester 58 grains VarmintX Polymer Tip, and 95 grains Extreme Point.

The distance was a reasonably "standard" 100m and for the precision shots we shot the rifle from a Caldwell rest. We also put the rifle in the field, with some test shots at the same distance, but shooting from sticks.

In any case, the precision shots from the bench have been quite satisfactory, with the Feather Trigger performing great. We have obtained better results with the Winchester 95 grains Extreme Point ammunition, probably because of the heavier bullet, working better in the 22" twist rifling. and the best group we achieved speaks for itself: 27mm, 3 shots at 100m.

Conclusion? Passed!