Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What could I get for $2500

I'm glad no one did.

You had one you didn't like Scott ? What sucked about it ? Accuracy, weight ? FF ? I kinda like that version at least on paper.

No, not that version. Most anything will out shoot a Winchester and I've had more feeding issues with them than everything else combined. Though M7's can suck there too.

Fixed it for ya

Kinda of off topic, but if I were to use that action, I would send it to Penrod for a complete smoothing, feed and function once over and complete truing prior to having a top flight tube installed, in a #2 or #3 fluted in 7 WSM @ 24". I'd have Penrod rework the trigger (if I could only locate an older 70 SS and throw in a SS Oberndorf BM.

82 trick moves is always a good route to go.

Maybe I'll try to build a long range Mauser instead.........laffin

.308 however you want it. Good factory fodder and easy to load for.

Yeah if he were going to reload 162's, but since the OP clearly said he will be shooting factory ammo... Not so much. About the best factory fodder would be 140 accubonds in the 7-08. Why wouldn't he want to pay half the price for 6.5 creedmoor with a 140 amax? He can shoot twice as much for the same money = more practice and more dead stuff. Plus 99% of what he will be using the rifle for is southern whitetails.

If he was going to reload, 7 WSM Montana would be the teets.

I've never liked flyweight handles upon cumbersome barreled actions. Have done the S/S Classic WSM OEM metal,into a Swirled Winny Classic handle...but it brings nothing positive to the table,over a Montucky.

Top.



Tough to out Montucky a Montucky and Winchester ain't even in the same Universe.

So a standard Micky would be a better way to fly for balance ?

To the OP, while not ruling out the others' suggestions,
this meets your requirements for short action, weight and budget. Picked it up used for $1,250 and replaced the windage adjustable base with Talleys for a few dollars extra. Kimber Montana in 308. Leupy 3.5x10. For 99% deer hunting, it ought to work nicely and leave some change for a reloading set-up.


Shoots pretty well also.

200 yards:

If talkin' OEM Winny contours...most assuredly yes.

Again,you cain't begin to out-Montucky a Montucky and there's no [bleep] way in hell to get within the same universe,with a [bleep] Winchester.

Now if you wanna talk Nichetitude and start musin' say a 1-8" #2 contoured 23" 6-284 kissin' 105's at 2.950" in a Sako Hunter swirled ADL,then I'd say the Winny is a nice way to fly.

For handy/dandy,there's no [bleep] way.

What is "OEM"?

Original equipment manufacture

I'm not in the same league as some of the other posters, but I have learned a few things the hard way. Rather than spend a bunch of money trying to build a Montana with a different action and stock, save yourself time, trouble, money, and just buy a Montana out of the gate.

Ahh! okie, thanks!

I build 2 or 3 rifles per year for my self and shoot a deer or two with one of them each fall.

The same stock the Kimber Montana wears can be purchased from High Tech Specialties [Bansner] directly or through Brownells.

This is half the price of McMillian stock, but need hours of work to de burr, paint, and mount the butt. I built an oven this year for painting them. I have bought a couple of those stocks already prepped by others, one for $350 and one for $10.

As the editor of Field and Stream, David E. Petzal says
~ synthetic stock rifles are not a good investment. ~
Neither are women, but we pour money into them.

I have been building military 1898 Mausers, commercial 1898 Mausers, Pre 64 Winchester M70s, Savage 110s, Savage 99s, 1885 falling blocks, Mosin Nagants, Break actions, and Rem 700s.

The book, "Bolt Action Rifles" by De Haas
http://www.alibris.com/Bolt-Action-Rifles-Frank-De-Haas/book/757826
This book gives the characteristics and pros and cons of ~~ 100 bolt actions.

The 98 Mausers with Win M70 safety are at the Rolls Royce end of the spectrum and the Rem 700 is at the Ford Fiesta end of the spectrum of machining and features.

Using this as a guide, I would for instance, rate a Howa 1500 as being half way in between.
Like a 98 Mauser the Howa has a flat bottom receiver, 3 position bolt safety, integral recoil lug, and integral bolt handle.
Like a Rem 700 the Howa has push feed, a simple bolt, no safety lug, and a plunger ejector.
Half way in between the Howa has a medium strength extractor.

But the light weight designed to be cheap Ford Fiesta [Rem 700] has it's place. Ken Block does his trick driving with a Ford Fiesta.

Field and Stream? What's that?

It's Boxer's bible..