My brother owns a 300 WSM with 23 inch barrel, bolt action, composite stock, stainless steel barrel and dura finish. He shoots 180 grain TTSX bullets in it with a 3.5x10 50mm Leupold scope on the gun.

I sight my brothers guns...because we are similiar height and weight. It was a impressive gun to shoot. Recoil was very manageable...which shocked me. It's very accurate too. I have always liked Browning guns myself. Bottom line....if someone is looking at a Browning X-Bolt...to me it's not a pretty gun...but you will be shooting a gun that will hit the bulleye if you can aim it there. And the recoil was not bad!