Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ordering a Montana Rifle Co X2 - Help me choose cartridge

They have the capability and are twisting our exclusives as I designate.

They're a good bunch of guys to work with!

I have a XWR in 300 wsm and so far I'm liking it a lot. With the first handload (RL 17 /168 TTSX's) it's grouping at 3/4" and functioning great. The bedding (B+C stock) was very well done. If not a 300 wsm I'd look to a 280 AI.

Could wait until they chamber it in 28 Nosler

edit.

Given the spotty supply of brass, bullets, powders, I would go with the .308 Winchester. since you like the short action.
while it may not have the knock-down of larger cartridges like the 300 Win mag, or 338, it is more than adequate for either animal.

I have spent a lot of time in northern Canada (Yukon and NWT) and I have seen more 303's and 270's being used for moose than any other cartridges. Certainly anything those will do the .308 Winchester will do as well. But being Canadian you are probably aware of that anyway so I am preaching to the choir.

drover

If you want a short action, get the 7x57. The COAL has plenty of room for whatever projectile weight you want to load it with.

What are your exclusives?

280 Rem, it's a classic and come very close to the speeds of a 280 AI when loaded to the same pressure.

I like the looks of the 264 Win Mag myself.

308

260 with an 8 twist

I like my Kimber Montanas in 270 WSM & 7MM WSM.

Those Kimber Montana's weigh less than a M70 Featherweight and their action is better.

Of course the brass problem for the 7mm is not good.

I'd go 7wsm, as it sounds perfect.

(but, I have dies and 200 new Win brass tucked away for when I finally find the right one. . .)

The way things are now, you could probably sell that brass and buy a decent rifle. Have you seen what 7mm WSM brass is going for lately?

Mostly because I hunt with one, and like it a lot, I'd go with the 280Rem. I shot 18 head of game in Africa and 2 or 3 more here, using the 140gr Ttsx and BT. I do NOT like the BTs, blew big holes in anything it'd go through. The Ttsx excellent, but I'd try the Swifts too, or the partition. Just happened to be trying out the Ttsx. Problem with the short mags and AI configured rounds is, they might not be around tomorrow, and brass hard to get and ammo might be non-existant other countries. The 280 can be found most places. I'd sure have to look at the 308 and 06, as two great rounds. 06 will do anything those others will, and more.

I get a kick out of guys asking for others to help decide on cartridge and/or rifle choice!

I haven't hunted with everything out there, but have a pretty good idea what will/would work for me.
For example, I have hunted with the .308 and the .243, but not with the .260 or the 7-08. I do believe that I could decide for myself how these cartridges might work out for me.

And I've hunted with the 25-06 and the 30-06, but never the .270 or .280. Still, I think that my knowledge of bullet construction and my experiences warrant me making my own decisions, even if that knowledge is less than encyclopaedic.

If I were looking for a rifle today, I'd first check on availability of brass for the chamberings I was interested in. Some stuff seems seasonal. Other stuff is simply in high demand and you gotta be quick on the trigger in deciding on an order when you find it.

I'm all ears(?) when it comes to reading about what you chose and how you arrived at that decision. Really interested in how it works out for you, as well.

Of these choices,280 or 300 WSM. Easier to get ammo and components. Both good for the animals in Alberta!

He meant their action is better for Kimber. You know, more advanced design ie easer & less expensive to manufacture.

I'm pretty sure irrational paranoia is limited to some people in the United States. I suspect in Canada each .22 rimfire owner doesn't strive to have hundreds of thousands of rounds in storage. The .308 with modern bonded premium bullets is more than sufficient for the task intended.

With a lot of Elk and Moose to put on the plate, out of your suggestions, I'd go with the 300 WSM.

If you already had a good medium bore, and just wanted something dedicated to the Elk and Moose I'd move up to the .338 Win Mag.