Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Help me pick my new rifle

Kimber Montana 7mm08 - I love mine and I would guess ammo availability for the 7mm08 would be as good if not better than 280 rem.
Couldn't go wrong with same rifle in 308 either.

Good advise! I would also consider a new M70 in these calibers, 7 RM,etc.There's piles of bullistic overlap in 270,7mm and 30 cal today,so you have lots of choices in cartridges.

I don't believe in this concept of "loading down" for close range shots.About the time you "anticipate" a close range shot, you will have to reach 400 yards.

While velocity is a factor,meat "damage" (you have to destroy some meat to kill an animal)is as much a function of bullet structure as velocity; so,pick a good tough bullet,load it to the cartridge's potential,and shoot it at everything from 20 yards to 400.If you pick the right one, it'll work at both distances.

BobinNH is right: if you are considering a 7mm WSM or .300 WSM, you should look at a Model 70 from the old inventory that is being liquidated.

Wal-Mart was selling the synthetic ones for $399.00.

Wood and polished blue Model 70s are going for under $700.00, new in the box.

It seems as if Sidpost may have ordered a McMillian stock which pretty much eliminates the Kimbers and sets the long action/short action choice.

A comment on the WSM's in the M70's. I have a classic in 7mm WSM and the chamber is out of round by quite a bit. I keep the rifle as its accurate inspite of this problem. If you buy a M70 in a WSM make sure that you can return it. My understanding is that they went out of round from the barrel being over tightened.

The McMillan stock I ordered/purchased was for my 338/06AI on a Remington 700 action.

The thing that makes me cautious about meat damage comes from the Dallas Safari Convention when I talked to Carribou guides. Apparently the "Yanks" have a tendancy to bring whiz-bang magnums to the hunting camps which destroy a lot of meat. I don't remember the guides mentioning the bullets exploding/shattering being the cause of so much meat damage so, I figured it was the high impact velocities.

Oh ok, on the new stock.

Forget meat damage. I just want to kill them. Now I have used the 358 W. in the woods up north for decades and its good. However you might call it a reduced load in a way and it works as the ranges are never ever long. For your use a higher velocity round would be my first choice.

Don't buy a rifle without handling a Kimber Montana in 308. While you may not take to that 5.2# gun I see it as a landmark in todays modern rifles.

If go with a semi-custom build, would a Montana Rifle Company action be a good place to start? Who would you recommend chamber and turn the barrel? I came across http://itdcustomgun.com/index.html who have MRC actions with Douglas barrels for $750. Add a McMillan stock and I have the same money in it as I would in a Kimber factory rifle. Is this a reasonable option and a good choice?

Thanks!
Sid

Sid,

I suggest that you search here for talk about the 1999 Montana action and rifles made from it. While I did get a 1999 on the start up program and had a rifle made from it my information is perhaps old.

I found the 1999 to be a heavy and rough piece of work just out of mold so to speak.

I did visit them and met the gentlemen who run Serengeti Rifles. I have the utmost respect for them.

The Kimber is a light small action and the 1999 Montana is the opposite. Please look at the Kimber 84M and 8400's and get back to us.

http://www.serengetirifles.com/
http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/

a german 95cal. expert, high velocity super short magnum, with a bulgarian 9-90x140 .3774 spike optics scope, and an A52334 super lock, tripod, with napalm tip rounds. should only cost you around $25.00 bucks

I like the WSM Montana idea.

After a quick word search, I concur! Skookum!

No love for a Sako 85 Finnlight?

I love mine, but some just don't jive with the Sakos! Not really a "lightweight" per se either. Putting it in the McMillan makes it a high price rifle too!

I like that idea too Murph.

I don't know of a finer production (out of the box) rifle than the Kimber Montana.

If your going to take that rifle to Africa don't get fancy on the cartridge. Pass on the 338/06 Ackley. Go for a rifle that you can get ammo for in country.

I just bought a Cooper Jackson Hunter in 280AI myself.These rifles are very well made,and 280AI headstamped brass is now available.

I was looking at one of these prior to the election here in the USA. I'm not going to help fund the previous owners retirement fund with my hard earned money.