|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,741
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,741 |
I am a late adopter to the 6.5 CM....vowed I would never do any 6.5 as I load for too many calibers but caved.....
Current one is Christensen Arms Ridgeline and it’s a drill. Absolutely no complaints besides being a pound heavier than I like...
Should I try a new Montana in 6.5 or rebarrel an extra one I have? Probably be into the rebarreling an extra $300-400 over buying new. $850 + $600 = $1450-$1500 Versus $1100ish OR if I use a 6.5CM just pack the Ridgeline and forget it....only a pound or so more....... Thoughts?
Last edited by Daveh; 06/30/18.
But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13
I DON'T NEED A WSM AS I HAVE A WEATHERBY!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,625 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,625 Likes: 1 |
I've had good luck with Kimber, so I would buy a new one.
But the other option SHOULD BE a sure thing.
Sounds like a Barrett Fieldcraft is a sure thing too, for about the same money as a rebarreled Montana.
FÜCK Jeff_O!
MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,187
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,187 |
The Fieldcraft would be (and was) my pick.
I don't think you could go wrong.
donsm70
Life Member...Safari Club International Life Member...Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Life Member...Keystone Country Elk Alliance Life Member...National Rifle Association
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2,180
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 2,180 |
I havnt ever had trouble with kimbers, I’d spin the wheel on one with no hesitation.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,741
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,741 |
I haven’t had issues with Kimbers of the last few years although I despise brakes and Kimbers thread protector is hideous.....
But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13
I DON'T NEED A WSM AS I HAVE A WEATHERBY!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,625 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,625 Likes: 1 |
Agreed. Lop it off
FÜCK Jeff_O!
MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,474 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,474 Likes: 3 |
Hopefully, the “extra Montana” isn’t the 7-08?
“Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils.” - General John Stark.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,961
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,961 |
I think I would go the Fieldcraft route. Seems as though most are very satisfied with that rifle.....
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923 |
I am a late adopter to the 6.5 CM....vowed I would never do any 6.5 as I load for too many calibers but caved.....
Current one is Christensen Arms Ridgeline and it’s a drill. Absolutely no complaints besides being a pound heavier than I like...
Should I try a new Montana in 6.5 or rebarrel an extra one I have? Probably be into the rebarreling an extra $300-400 over buying new. $850 + $600 = $1450-$1500 Versus $1100ish OR if I use a 6.5CM just pack the Ridgeline and forget it....only a pound or so more....... Thoughts? Re-barrel would be my choice for sure. If you plan to thread it keep that in mind when you select the contour.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,741
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,741 |
Hopefully, the “extra Montana” isn’t the 7-08? No..... Surprised nobody has suggested what I think I will do which is just use the Ridgeline. I have two custom (rebarreled) Montana’s so another lightweight is pretty redundant.....
But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13
I DON'T NEED A WSM AS I HAVE A WEATHERBY!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,063
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,063 |
I've had good luck with Kimber, so I would buy a new one.
But the other option SHOULD BE a sure thing.
Sounds like a Barrett Fieldcraft is a sure thing too, for about the same money as a rebarreled Montana. The 243 I purchased from you became a 6.5CM. Absolute laser! throated for 120-143gr. Loves 130 Berger. No complaints about CMs or Kimbers. I currently own 223, 6mm-47, 243, Roberts, Swede, CM, and 308.
“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets credit.” R. Reagan
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,625 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,625 Likes: 1 |
The 243 I purchased from you became a 6.5CM.
I currently own 223, 6mm-47, 243, Roberts, Swede, CM, and 308.
Happy to hear it worked out for you. Did you shoot it as a 243, or just rebarrel it? Are all of the chamberings you listed Montanas?
FÜCK Jeff_O!
MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,063
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,063 |
Used your 243, cut to 20” and put it on a Adirondack. My dad is shooting the 243. All are Montanas.
Last edited by vacrt2002; 07/01/18.
“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets credit.” R. Reagan
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,625 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,625 Likes: 1 |
Good to hear.
Assuming the 243 barrel shot well, since you reused it.
Quite a collection of Montanas! I have owned a bunch, but not all at one time.
FÜCK Jeff_O!
MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 397
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 397 |
Rather than rebarrel your Montana, another option would be to buy a Hunter in 6.5CM and drop the barreled action into the Montana stock. The Hunter can be found for quite a bit less than MSRP ($800) and you wouldn't have a threaded muzzle on the Hunter so no brake or thread protector to worry about. Talking of thread protectors, the Montana rifles ship with the Adirondack version but you can always order the Mountain Ascent version which is nicer.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 794
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 794 |
If paying a little extra to re-barrel is not an issue I would go that rout every single time. It gives you much more control over what you will end up with and could save you in trying to find a load for a factory tube. Not saying a factory rifle can't shoot, but putting on a good barrel properly will almost always be the better option (better accuracy, less fouling and easy to clean).
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 639
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 639 |
Doing some load work work yesterday after having my 6.5 Montana chopped to 20" and threaded. I bedded the recoil lug, and it shoots pretty well for my purposes. I had some 140gr Ballistic Tips, but no 140gr Accubonds laying around, so I used the BTs to work up a load, hopefully as surrogates for the ABs, we'll see once I pick some more up. On the other hand, after seeing the picture of the bear that member here killed with the 127gr LRXs, I might just use them this year. This barrel has about 800 rds on it at this point. This rifle is 6lb 12oz with the scope and suppressor, that's the beauty for me. If you aren't going to hang a suppressor on your rifle, or if you aren't really pursuing ultra-lightness, there might not be much reason to ditch the Christensen, most folks seem to like how they shoot.
Last edited by Gtscotty; 07/02/18.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,447
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,447 |
Thats nice. I'd be very happy with that from a Montana with a can hanging off the end.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,831
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,831 |
Nice looking rifle there GTScotty!! I went down the same road with the Kimber Montana and Suppressor. 6.2 pounds even with 22 oz of scope, rings/rail and scope caps cover, and yet another 12 oz for the suppressor. Def not opposed to the extra weight out front, the less noise, and recoil reduction. The haters will say it looks bad though, but its all function over form for me. Have run it out to 500 yards a few times which is all the further I care to shoot this setup as it is.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,741
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 11,741 |
Alaska- is that a 308? Doing the reverse math I get bare rifle at ~4.5lbs?
But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13
I DON'T NEED A WSM AS I HAVE A WEATHERBY!
|
|
|
|
603 members (1234, 17CalFan, 160user, 10gaugeman, 10Glocks, 01Foreman400, 50 invisible),
2,433
guests, and
1,271
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,194,340
Posts18,526,828
Members74,031
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|