Finding the best muzzle brake for a Browning X-Bolt

 

            Over the past several years, Browning bolt action rifles have become exceedingly popular with hunters and recreational shooters alike. There are many options available to the consumer with many variations of weight, caliber, color schemes as well as a wide variety of well marketed features, each with their own carefully branded logos. Examples include; the “Feather Trigger”, “Inflex Technology” recoil pads, “X-Lock” scope mount system and more. As many bolt action production rifles as there are available, Browning has managed to generate some what of a cult following with its customers over the decades.

 

 

The Problem

 As successful as the company has been; there has been somewhat of a looming criticism concerning the recoil generated from these rifles, especially with some of the lighter models.  Unfortunately, Browning has yet to produce a muzzle brake up to the task. Due to Browning’s curious thread pattern choices such as M13x1.25 and M13x.075, the aftermarket support has been just as disappointing. The outcry of Browning’s customer base has sadly fallen on deaf ears. Until now.
 

The Fix

With the rapid growth of the shooting sports over the last decade, specifically in the world of long-range precision rifle, the gamut of shooters both young and old have become quite enthralled with modern muzzle brake technology. The marksman requires a brake that not only calms the gun down but does it in such a dramatic fashion that it allows the shooter to actually watch their own bullet trace and see the bullet impact with the naked eye through the shooter’s own optic or rifle scope. This is essential for the shooter who wishes to make a correction with any expedience. You can’t fix the problem if you can’t see it.

 

American Precision Arm’s muzzle brakes have become widely known across the precision rifle industry, as the most effective muzzle brake available. In recent months APA has taken the multitude of Browning’s customer requests to heart and devised several models of muzzle brakes with APA’s infamous technology and specifically engineered them for Browning’s odd thread patterns. This, in turn, allows a “plug and play” muzzle brake option for someone who owns a pre-threaded Browning rifle such as a X-Bolt Pro, Hell’s Canyon, Hell’s Canyon Speed, X-Bolt Target McMillan, Max Long Range, Max Varmint, Hunter Long Range, Composite and Stainless Stalker, Western Hunter, or X-Bolt Eclipse. Now, any Browning rifle owner can thread the best muzzle brake available directly on the end of their barrel without any modification or tedious install.

 

Choosing the right Muzzle Brake for your Browning rifle 

There is quite a bit of confusion when it comes to how to choose a muzzle brake for a specific rifle. This especially applies to Browning rifle owners due to the lack of after-market support that we discussed earlier. There is also some differentiation in thread patterns by year model due to a recent change in manufacturing processes at the Browning factory. In early 2021 Browning changed the thread pattern on their light sporter barrels from M13x1.25 to the revised M13x0.75 thread pattern. Because of all the confusion, we have devised a chart for you to quickly find the appropriate muzzle brake for your Browning rifle.
 

 

Muzzle Brake Chart Click the thread for the correct muzzle brake.

	Sporter 2020 & Prior	Sporter 2021 & Newer	Heavy Sporter	Bull/Varmint
Caliber
204 Ruger				1/2x28
223				1/2x28
22-250				1/2x28
243	M13X1.25	M13X0.75
6mm CM	M13X1.25	M13X0.75	5/8x24
6.5 PRC	M13X1.25	M13X0.75	5/8x24
6.5 CM	M13X1.25	M13X0.75	5/8x24	5/8x24
7mm-08	M13X1.25	M13X0.75
308	M13X0.75	M13X0.75	5/8x24	5/8x24
270 WSM	M13X1.25	M13X0.75	5/8x24
300 WSM	M13X0.75	M13X0.75	5/8x24
25-06	M13X1.25	M13X0.75
270 WIN	M13X1.25	M13X0.75
280 REM	M13X1.25	M13X0.75
30-06	M13X0.75	M13X0.75
7mm RM	M13X1.25	M13X0.75	5/8x24
300 WM	M13X0.75	M13X0.75	5/8x24	5/8x24
300 PRC		M13X0.75	5/8x24
280 AI	M13X1.25	M13X0.75	5/8x24
26 NOS	M13X1.25	M13X0.75	5/8x24
28 NOS	M13X1.25	M13X0.75	5/8x24	5/8x24
6.8 Western		M13X0.75	5/8x24