While the machining and processes today may be better I feel like the workmanship in the older rifles was better. I'm talking standard standard grade out of the box rifles. A lot of the stuff today just screams "cheap" and it is. But yes some of it shoots well. Browning does offer some nice combinations in the x bolt along with some nice upgrades. I've shot several of the x bolts and some will shoot very well. I'm just not a fan of the design. That's just a personal choice. I've shot a lot of older rifles and a lot of the newer rifles. In all brands. That's part of my job is to mount scopes, zero rifles, and in some cases work up loads for my customers. I had an FFL for a while and sold rifles. I can say without hesitation that I've shot very few older name brand rifles that I couldn't get to do far better than minute of pie plate. The hunters I knew back then required and expected better than minute of pie plate. Much better. I have seen some new rifles today that would barely stay on the pie plate. There were some lemons back in the day, just as there are today.