I compared the FC and a Montana side by side both in 6.5 Creed. The closed grip on the FC was not comfortable to me, I felt like the Kimber balances better. Both sweet guns, in the end I bought a Tikka SL. The Montana was stickered at $1300 and the FC $1800 at local gun shop.
I compared the FC and a Montana side by side both in 6.5 Creed. The closed grip on the FC was not comfortable to me, I felt like the Kimber balances better. Both sweet guns, in the end I bought a Tikka SL. The Montana was stickered at $1300 and the FC $1800 at local gun shop.
To me, stock design is the biggest reason to choose one over the other. Pick the one that fits you best.
The 3" mag box and not having to follow a quick fix checklist favors the FC a bit, but nothing that can't be worked around for a Kimber.
So I mounted a little 3-9x36 diavari on my FC in a 65 CM. While the range session started out a bit shaky(me shooting such a light rifle) it ended absolutely amazing. My first 5 shots were pushing an 1 1/2" with factory 143 eld-x. I set it aside and shot a 22 for a bit. Settle in and picked it back up. My next three were right at an inch with same ammo. I took some handloaded VLD 140's over 37.5-40 grains of 4350 and shot a 4 shot group under a 1/2" with those. It took a bit for me to get used to the lightness of the rifle. A fly farts and that things moves....
So I mounted a little 3-9x36 diavari on my FC in a 65 CM. While the range session started out a bit shaky(me shooting such a light rifle) it ended absolutely amazing. My first 5 shots were pushing an 1 1/2" with factory 143 eld-x. I set it aside and shot a 22 for a bit. Settle in and picked it back up. My next three were right at an inch with same ammo. I took some handloaded VLD 140's over 37.5-40 grains of 4350 and shot a 4 shot group under a 1/2" with those. It took a bit for me to get used to the lightness of the rifle. A fly farts and that things moves....
I'd say that did end pretty amazing. Good shooting.
When a Fieldcraft leaves the factory it has only had one proof round and three precision test rounds through the bore. At around the 20 round mark, the velocity SD and groups size usually tighten up dramatically. With new barrels I get through this 20 rounds and then pull it back to the bench for a bore cleaning, trying to remove all the copper. Things generally get even better over the next 200 rounds and my cleaning intervals get MUCH further apart. I expect you will see impressive three-shot groups with the factory 143 eld-x load after the bore settles down.
About the stability from the bench, this bag is the best thing to happen to bench shooting for field rifle shooters. This design actually pinches the forearm of the rifle and dampens movement. With this up front and a small bag pinched with the non-trigger hand in the back, things get very calm. It's great for light rifles but benefits heavies too.
Would love to see a fast twist 223 that matches the length and barrel profile of the current short action offerings as well as a few short action magnum offerings (6.5 PRC & 7mm WSM) with the 24" #2 barrel like the long action models.
Ok, so I came into a Fieldcraft in 6.5 CM with 21” barrel. It was just too tempting and I jumped on it. My problem is, I was planning on getting this rifle in 18” so I can suppress it. (If any of you have been following the classifieds, I’m attempting to facilitate a trade for an 18” version but that’s likely a long shot.) So, would it be a bad idea to thread the 21” barrel? I’d have it threaded to 7/16x28 to ensure enough shoulder and utilize a Kimber 5/8x24 adapter. I’m not very experienced with lightweight rifles or threading and I’d really like to not screw up a dream rifle. I’m encouraged by the fact that the barrel is bedded for the entire length of the stock to support the weight of a silencer.
I know what Mjduct and specialk have to say about this, just wondering if anyone else has or would attempt such a thing :-)
"Pessimism never won any battle." - Dwight Eisenhower
On my 6.5 with a scope mounted with Talley lows they do not. Before answering I cycled a loaded round a bunch of times. It might have just clipped once, but did not seem to touch the other 15-20 times. When repeating with fired brass it never touched. It does sling them pretty good though.