Well, I, for one, believe that they took a great rifle ( the A-Bolt ) and screwed the pooch. I have handled the x-bolt, and it's looks are not " Browning ". It looks about as bad as any as I have seen on the market lately. It reminds me of the Tikka's and even Mossbergs. I don't think it is all that much better functionally, either. There was nothing inherently bad about the fit and function of the A-Bolt to begin with, but to want to change something classic, just to change it ...... is stupid. I was unimpressed with the x-bolt, and will be looking to fill my wants, with A-Bolts from gunbroker. I will not support the x-bolt. Mechanically no improvement.... astetically a piece ofcrap.
They have basically re-done a good not great rifle. If you don't think the trigger is better or the new bolt(without the sleeve) is better(less parts to mess up) then I don't know what to say because they are. Styling is so and so about par for Euro trash but it feels better in my hands and that is what counts. Fit and finish are exactly the same and I don't think the styling on the old abolt was classic. That is a bit of a stretch.