It has been more than 10 years since Colt had any kind of bolt-action rifle in its lineup, but for 2023, the company changed that omission with the Colt CBX. Designed as an entry-level rifle for the Precision Rifle Series (PRS) competition, the CBX is loaded with performance-enhancing features and can be had for less than $2,000.
“Our engineers excelled in the design of the CBX rifle,” said Jessica Treglia, Colt Manufacturing director of commercial products. “We’ve created a premium precision rifle worthy of the Colt name. We are proud of the CBX rifle platform and know shooters will love how it performs.”
To craft the Colt CBX, engineers borrowed some design elements from sister company CZ-USA and incorporated them into a flat-bottom receiver intended to reduce flex and improve accuracy. The rifle uses a 60-degree bolt throw, which allows shooters to cycle the action more quickly and also provides added clearance for riflescope ocular bells. At the rear of the receiver is a two-position, tang-mounted safety. The CBX is compatible with Remington 700-pattern bases, but the rifle ships with a single-piece Picatinny optics rail.
Mated to the receiver is a carbon-steel, button-rifled barrel with a 5/8-24 TPI threaded muzzle. The steel barrel is treated with a black-nitride finish to ward off corrosion and prevent glare. The entire barreled action is set into an aluminum chassis produced by Modular Driven Technologies. At the rear end of the chassis is an adjustable buttstock, allowing users to fine-tune length of pull and comb height. At the front of the chassis is a barricade stop, as well as a 15″ ARCA rail and several M-Lok accessory slots. Other features include an AR-pattern pistol grip, thumb shelf, QD cups and an ambidextrous magazine release.
At launch, two models of the Colt CBX are available, one in .308 Win. with a 24″ barrel and 1:10″ rate of twist. The another is in 6.5 mm Creedmoor with a 26″ barrel and features a 1:8″ twist rate. Each rifle model is compatible with AICS-pattern magazines, and one five-round Magpul unit is included. Unloaded, the CBX weighs in at 10.75 lbs., and the user-adjustable trigger can be tuned between 2.5 and 5 lbs.
The suggested retail price on the Colt CBX is $1,899.
