Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Which Kimber Montana?

I'm looking to get a Kimber Montana. It's going to be the .22-250 Rem or a .223 Rem. I do have the capability to reload, i'm just not good at it yet.

It will be used for deer hunting, coyotes on occasion, and targets/plinking.

Per Kimber's webpage:

.22-250 is 1:14 twist

.223 is 1:9 twist

I wouldn't go for the .22-250 based on this

Oh, i didn't see that. I wouldn't either. Why the hell would they do that?

The 223 size cartridges are too small for the legal or ethical hunting of deer size game.

Most hunters of such game start with the 243 as a minimum.

They don't do the .243 any favors with the 1:10 twist either.
The Creedmoor is twisted appropriately.

**sigh**

Yep,I love my KImber in 6,5 Creedmoor,it shoots most everything well,has really low recoil,and has the right twist for modern VLD type bullets. And it kils with authority based on my experience.

I miss ole 99's insight into things

Kiss my ass.

Well, I was thinking of a .22 cal and and a .30 cal for the main rifles. Maybe a creed in the future.

Perfectly legal in some states. Ethical? dead is dead.

ballistically there isn't much difference, the .223 is twisted better for up to bambi sized game. the .22-250 is twisted for squirrel bullets travelling at 4000 fps. not much else.

Sure, a 1-9" twist would have been better, but there are enough bullets that a 1-14" twist will handle that will kill deer that I wouldn't let that stop me from buying .22-250 if that's what I wanted. I've stabilized WW 64 grain power points, 70 grain Speers, 63 grain Sierras, Nosler has a 63-64 grain bonded bullet that should stabilize, etc. Anyone who thinks you can't get it done with a 1-14" twist isn't trying very hard. But 1-9" would likely be "better" .. I am fond of the 60 grain partitions and I've never gotten them to stabilize in a 1-14" twist.

What you could do ... buy both, have the barrels pulled, swap the .223 barrel over to the .22-250 so you've got a 1-9" twist, then order a nice .17 tube to rebarrel the .223. Hey, I have lots of ideas for helping others spend their money.

I think I remember Stick saying the 223 might do well with heavies,just depending on the particular rifle and elevation.

Lord help me. I just referenced something Stick said.

I think I'd be leaning Fieldcraft if going .22-250.

If you haven't held one, you probably should.

If going with a Montana, I'd be grabbing a .223 and planning on a trip to a smith for a 1-8" twist. Well worth the added cost.

I've had several Montanas, from .223 up to .300 WSM.

All have been very accurate after a once over, which I do to any rifle.

Did not care for the 84Ls, no particular reason, just weren't my thing.

Both my 8400s were crazy accurate, especially the 7 WSM that I foolishly sold. These are about the perfect size and weight for a carry rifle, IMO.

All the 84Ms were less than MOA shooters and/or much better. A little more weight on 'em wouldn't bother me, but I could easily do anything I want or need to do with a 84.

Nary a feed/function issue with any.

The two I miss most and regret selling were the 7WSM and the .223. So I'd definitely vote .223 for me. The one I had was just a sweetheart of a rifle, I'm hoping to buy another one to take it's place sometime soon.

Well, it is a true statement that neither would be legal in the two states I primarily hunt, VA and CO. Having said that, they would be fun to shoot. I'd go .223. The 6.5 Creedmoor is an easy shooting cartridge that would do what you listed very well.

It wouldn't worry me either way. The 22-250 made it's rep with a 14 twist barrel and there are several bullets it should do well with for game to deer size.

I used to stand against using the CF .22s on deer but not so much because they are not effective. I saw them as a poachers choice. Poachers have proven the effectiveness of the 22-250 on game for decades.

What?

I can see making that statement about a .22 Mag, but what does a 22-250 have going for it that poachers get off on?

I live in an area where centerfire rifles are legal for anything except deer and game birds. Some locals used their coyote rifles to supplement their beer money by taking and selling deer. A lot of city guys just ignored the rules and used rifles during deer season.