Maintaining The Browning X-Bolt

The biggest change to the X- Bolt includes a trigger system like the Winchester Model 70. With Winchester and Browning both being owned by FNH (Fabrique Nationale d’Herstal ) the same group designed both trigger systems, however, these are not interchangeable between models. The trigger housing is made of a light weight metal and easily damaged. Other changes include a bolt unlock when the safety is on, a four screw sight base, a free floated barrel, and a rotary magazine.

Supposedly, the X-Bolt is a lighter gun but ones I have handled weigh the same as the A-Bolts. Before starting to disassemble this rifle, I highly recommend you have a set of thin bit screwdrivers. Brownells sells for a set for their Magna-Tip or you can grind your own. The tip needs to be 0.120" wide and 0.025" thick. You will also need some thread locker of low strength like blue Loctite. Finally, a set of metric Allen wrenches or set of the metric bits for the Magna-Tip screwdriver.

Detailed Disassembly Start with removing the two 4mm hex head screws holding the trigger plate and then the trigger plate. The trigger plate has the magazine spring clip in it, which is pushed out either side using back and forth rotation. Pull the bolt back and gently lift up. If it is tight, and it will be, hold the forend and rap the end of the barrel down on a padded bench top. This will break it free of the stock and the glass bedding.

Remove the bolt from the receiver by using the bolt release on the left side. The trigger assembly is held in place by two pins. Using a 1/16" punch to drift these to the right as the pins are serrated on the right side. To remove the bolt release, turn the L-shaped pin away from the receiver, then pull down. Catch the spring as the bolt release is pulled away. Bolt Disassembly Before disassembly, measure the firing pin protrusion and write it down. You will need this later.

The bolt comes apart similar to most bolt actions. Put the firing pin base in a padded vise and pull on the bolt body to compress the firing pin spring. Unscrew the bolt body from the bolt shroud. Unlike the A-Bolt, it will take several turns before the firing pin base will clear the bolt body. The bolt handle retaining pin is punched into the bolt body using a 3/32" punch. To separate the bolt handle from the body, put it into a padded vise and close the vise so that it supports the bolt handle.

Do not clamp onto the bolt body. Using an old firing pin or a steel rod of the same diameter, tap down on the bolt body with a wooden mallet. This will drive the handle off the body. You will need a "starter" punch to get the pins started for the ejector and extractor. These are in very tight and will break any normal 1/16" punch before the pins start to move. Drive out the pins and catch the springs that are behind the ejector and extractor.

The bolt lock release is held in place by a shaft that is screwed in from underneath. Using a thin tip screwdriver, unscrew the shaft. This has thread lock on it so it will be hard to get it started. To takedown the firing pin assembly, start by putting the tip on the firing pin vertically in a vise. Then compressing the firing pin spring, put a small bent paperclip through the hole in the firing pin. I had to put a Vtip on the end of the clip to get it to go through the

spring coils. This will hold the spring while disassembling the rest of the pieces. Remove the two hex head bolt shroud screws with a 5/64" or 2mm Allen wrench or bit. The bolt shroud is tight on the firing pin spring retainer, so put the firing pin in a vise horizontally and use a brass/nylon punch to knock it off. This will now expose the firing pin retaining pin. Drift this split pin out and then the firing pin base can be unscrewed from the firing pin.

With the firing pin held vertically in the vise again, use the firing pin spring retainer to compress the firing pin spring so that the paperclip can be removed. Trigger Disassembly The trigger housing is made of a light weight cast metal. It is very easy to bend or crack the housing so, while removing the pins, have support for it. The use of a bench block will greatly reduce the likelihood of damage.

I did not remove the trigger adjustment screw during disassembly as it is not required to be removed when taking apart the trigger assembly. It also leaves the trigger pull at whatever setting the owner prefers. Lift the safety link out of the safety selector. Remove the selector from the trigger housing. Rotate the link clockwise 180 degrees and lift out of the striker block. The striker block has a triangular shaped hole that has to be lined up with the upset end of the link.

Push down on the bolt lock tension spring to release the bolt lock. All very fine screw heads are actually pins that can be pushed using a 1/8" punch. Drift out the sear pin to the right and remove the sear and sear spring. Next, drift out the trigger pin, also going to the right. Remove the trigger and trigger spring out the bottom of the trigger housing. The striker block pin is drifted out to the left, due to the large head on it. This will release the striker block, safety spring and bolt lock tension spring.

Top row: Firing Pin and Retaining Pin. Middle Row: Firing Pin Retainer, Firing Pin Base and Firing Pin Shroud. Bottom Row: Firing Pin Spring and Bolt Shroud Screws. Magazine Disassembly The magazine is held together by the magazine follower rod on the back end. By unscrewing this, the follower, magazine spring and magazine clip spring can be pulled out. There is a pin in the front that releases the magazine retainer clip on the front of the magazine. Remove the pin and the magazine retainer clip.

Trigger Reassembly When reassembling, use a drop of thread lock on the pins, with approximately 1/8" left to push in. Put thread lock on the end sticking out, then drive in and wipe the excess off. This will prevent getting thread lock inside the trigger assembly, which is used an extra measure to kept these pin secured. To get the safety spring back on the striker block, put the 90 degree bend through the hole first on the right side of the striker block.

Hook the "U" bend on the striker block and then, using a pair of needle nose pliers, grab the safety spring and insert it into the hole on the left side of the trigger housing. With the left side down, put the bolt lock tension spring on top of the striker block. Insert the striker block pin and align the spring to the pin and then into the striker block. Tap the pin into place. It is easier to do this with the striker block in the upward position.

With a 1/16 inch punch, place the trigger sear spring on it and, using the punch as a guide, put it on top of the trigger adjustment screw. With a pair of needle nose pliers, push down on the spring with the trigger sear. A 1/8 inch punch will hold it in place while pushing in the pin. The trigger has a hole for the trigger spring. Place the spring in this hole and lay it down in the circle groove. As it is put into place, make sure the "U" leg is hooked on the trigger housing and tap the trigger pin into place.

Insert the sear spring in the groove for it and place the sear on top and replace the pin. The safety selector has a angle tang that goes to the front. Hook the safety link on the striker block and rotate so that the other end goes into the safety selector. Insert the bolt lock and then hook the bolt lock tension spring under it. When putting the trigger housing back on the receiver, use your thumb to hold the bolt lock in position. Put in the front trigger housing pin, and finally push down

The pins that are pushed to the right are still in the Trigger Housing. on the back of the trigger assembly to get the back pin in. Bolt Reassembly Put the fining pin in a vise vertically. Slip the firing pin spring on, then the firing pin retainer. Compress the spring with the firing pin retainer until it is flush with the back of the retainer, then put the paperclip in the hole to hold the spring. Now, screw the firing pin base onto the firing pin until the spring is compressed enough to pull out the paperclip.

With the paperclip removed, screw the base on until it stops. Back it out until the slot lines up with the hole for the firing pin retaining pin. Drift in the pin, making sure that it is below the surface on both sides. Put the firing pin shroud on and secure it with the two screws that have a dab of thread lock on them. Put the bolt lock release back in and use thread lock on the shaft. Reassemble the firing pin assembly to the bolt body. With the bolt in the fired position, recheck the firing pin protrusion.

It should be within plus or minus 0.002" of the previous measurement. If it is too far off, the firing pin will have to be repositioned on the firing pin base to get the correct firing pin protrusion. Magazine Reassembly Pin the magazine retainer clip on the magazine body. Put the magazine follower rod into the magazine cover. Install the follower and magazine spring on the rod. Then the magazine clip spring goes on. Wind up the follower and make sure it can rotate fully before inserting into the magazine body.

Once assembled, make sure it will hold three dummy rounds. Final Checks After reassembling the gun, check all safety functions of the rifle. Cock the bolt and put the safety in the safe position. Pull on the trigger harder than normal, using both index fingers to make sure the firing pin does not go forward. With the trigger released, move the safety to the fire position. The firing pin should not fall.

With the safety still off, slightly disengage the sear by pulling the trigger, not enough to fire, just enough to barely move the sear. Release the trigger. The sear should re-engage. Put the safety back to safe. Push in on the bolt release and lift the bolt handle and cycle bolt. The firing pin should not have fallen. If the firing pin has moved during any of these checks, make sure the trigger assembly has been properly put back together.

After test firing, check the primers to make sure that they are not being pierced by the firing pin, due to too long of a firing pin protrusion. AG

Browning X-Bolt (Speci ications subject to change without notice) 24 Firing Pin Spring 25 Firing Pin Spring Retainer 25A Magazine Body 26 Magazine Clip Pin 27 Magazine Clip Spring 28 Magazine Cover 29 Magazine Follower 30 Magazine Follower Rod 31 Magazine Retainer Clip 32 Magazine Spring 33 Magazine Spring Clip 35 Recoil Pad 36 Recoil Pad Screw 37 Safety Damper 38 Safety Link 39 Safety Selector 40 Safety Spring 41 Sear 42 Sear Pin 43 Sear Spring 44 Scope Mount Filler Screw 45 Sling Eyelet Assembly Front 46 Sling Eyelet Escutcheon 47 Sling Eyelet Rear 48 Stock 49 Striker Block 50 Striker Block Pin 51 Trigger 52 Trigger Guard 53 Trigger Guard Screw 54 Trigger Mechanism Housing Assembly 55 Trigger Mechanism Housing Set Pin 56 Trigger Pin 57 Trigger Pull Adjustment Screw 58 Trigger Sear 59 Trigger Sear Pin 60 Trigger Sear Spring 61 Trigger Spring 8 Bolt Lock Release Shaft 9 Bolt Lock Release Spring 10 Bolt Release 11 Bolt Release Pin 12 Bolt Release Spring 13 Bolt Shroud 14 Bolt Shroud Retaining Screw 15 Ejector 1 Barrel Mounting Screw 2A Bolt Assembly 3 Bolt Body 4 Bolt handle 4A Bolt Handle Retaining Pin 5 Bolt Lock 6 Bolt Lock Release 7 Bolt Lock Tension Spring 16 Ejector Pin 17 Ejector Spring 18 Extractor 19 Extractor Pin 20 Extractor Spring 21 Firing Pin 22 Firing Pin Base 23 Firing Pin Retaining Pin