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The thing that concerns me most is the magazine length. I'm not partial to the 160s, but it would sure be nice to shoot them on bigger game. Has anybody had luck shooting the 150s or 160s? Just curious, why not a 308 for heavier bullets if you like heavier bullets on larger game. I think 7mm is fine and I'm no expert but wouldn't you have more mag room for 30 caliber bullets?
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Just curious, why not a 308 for heavier bullets if you like heavier bullets on larger game. I think 7mm is fine and I'm no expert but wouldn't you have more mag room for 30 caliber bullets?
I guess I don't understand how a 308 has more "mag room" than a 7-08 in the same rifle? As to bullets, 150/7mm-08 will do everything a 165 will do in a 308, and I'm also certain a 160/7mm-08 will do everything (and more) a 180 will do in a 308. I can't believe I'm defending the 7-08.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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He's got it backwards. As you go up in caliber bullets get heavier and longer. A .243 requires less mag length for even the heaviest bullets than a .308. The same goes for 7mm.
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Just curious, why not a 308 for heavier bullets if you like heavier bullets on larger game. I think 7mm is fine and I'm no expert but wouldn't you have more mag room for 30 caliber bullets?
I guess I don't understand how a 308 has more "mag room" than a 7-08 in the same rifle? As to bullets, 150/7mm-08 will do everything a 165 will do in a 308, and I'm also certain a 160/7mm-08 will do everything (and more) a 180 will do in a 308. I can't believe I'm defending the 7-08. OP said he was interested in shooting 160's, as I said I am not familiar with all the stats but I was just thinking that bullets around 160 in a 30 cal would be shorter than bullets around 160 in a 7mm, thus giving more mag length to play with seating depth. Please excuse the newby remarks, I'm trying to learn which is why I'm asking.
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Thing is, a .308 has to step up to a 180 gr bullet to get similar performance to a 160gr 7mm.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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OP said he was interested in shooting 160's, as I said I am not familiar with all the stats but I was just thinking that bullets around 160 in a 30 cal would be shorter than bullets around 160 in a 7mm, thus giving more mag length to play with seating depth.
Please excuse the newby remarks, I'm trying to learn which is why I'm asking.
RH, no need to be excused, my remarks were offered to clarify. Thing is a 165 in a 30 cal is really not the same as a 160 in a 7mm... a closer comparison, as Jordan and I both pointed out, is a 30 cal/180 in terms of performance. My experience with 160's in the 7-08 MT is (using most powders appropriate to it) there's enough room in the case to seat those 160's to the same OAL as 165's in the 308, ie 2,820"-ish (in other words, seated to fill the Kimber magazine). And interestingly, the 160's in the 7-08 will generally be closer to the lands than the 165 of like build in the 308... because, of course, the SAAMI throat in the 308 Win is looooong because its chamber was standardized using 180 RN bullets. Here's my Kimber 7-08 in action this year: My favorite Kimber Montana in 308 Win:
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Brad you kill some great bulls.
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I've been really thinking about taking the plunge. Would like to get hear your thoughts.. I'll be going for Caribou in Alaska and on several other trekking style hunts in the next few years. This caliber and rifle combo really has my attention.
What do you like most about the rifle? What would you change? The downsides?
Buy a new one, not used
"...the designer of the .270 Ingwe cartridge!..."
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Brad,
Have you shot the 155 scenars in your 308 montana? I sold my T3 superlite 308 a while back to fund something else and now I'm missing a lightweight 308. I prefer the feel of the montana over the T3 SL so I'm thinking about ordering one. I'm hoping It'll like the 155 scenar.
Bb
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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O-Ag, thanks for the kind words... I try. Some years it doesn't always work out, but that's why it's called hunting, not killing!
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Burley, I've never run a 155 Scenar in any of my 308 MT's, including the current one.
Having said that, I can see no reason they'd not shoot very well. I've yet to see a MT 308 that didn't shoot several bullets sub moa, and its 1-12" twist should be about ideal for that bullet.
My friend Dober, who no longer posts here, uses the 155 Scenar quite a bit in his 308 Montana, and they shoot VERY well.
Load them with 46-47 Varget and rock-on.
The 308 MT is the absolute no-brainer Montana purchase if you want a no-fuss, out-of-the-box shooter.
I'm a 308 guy at heart, and I have a 308 Montana and am building an 308 M70 Extreme Weather... it's going in a McMillan Edge, PT&G Bottom Metal, Talley Lwts, etc., etc. It will be the "midweight" accompaniment to the lightweight Kimber.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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OP said he was interested in shooting 160's, as I said I am not familiar with all the stats but I was just thinking that bullets around 160 in a 30 cal would be shorter than bullets around 160 in a 7mm, thus giving more mag length to play with seating depth.
Please excuse the newby remarks, I'm trying to learn which is why I'm asking.
RH, no need to be excused, my remarks were offered to clarify. Thing is a 165 in a 30 cal is really not the same as a 160 in a 7mm... a closer comparison, as Jordan and I both pointed out, is a 30 cal/180 in terms of performance. My experience with 160's in the 7-08 MT is (using most powders appropriate to it) there's enough room in the case to seat those 160's to the same OAL as 165's in the 308, ie 2,820"-ish (in other words, seated to fill the Kimber magazine). And interestingly, the 160's in the 7-08 will generally be closer to the lands than the 165 of like build in the 308... because, of course, the SAAMI throat in the 308 Win is looooong because its chamber was standardized using 180 RN bullets. Here's my Kimber 7-08 in action this year: My favorite Kimber Montana in 308 Win: Thanks for clearing that up Brad. I hadn't even thought about the SAAMI throat being speced for 180's.
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I ran them over 47g Varget in my T3 SL and they shot well. I still have some loaded. I have a Montana in 7 wsm that shoots well and another in 270 wsm that looks like it's going to shoot too. I'm thinking about selling the 270 wsm and getting the 308.
I have a first gen ti in 30-06 that shoots very well and has plenty of mag box space so I'm not sure I need a light 308 but then what has need ever had to do with it.
Thanks, Bb
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I think, those Kimber 84 M and Montana's are some nice rifles. I have an 84-M Classic, a friend has the Montana. They both shoot very well. I think Kimber has it down on making those rifles in 308.
I still would like to have a Kimber Montana in 308. They shoot very well.
Randy NRA Patriot Life Benefactor
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