I had an 8400 Montana in .270 that I liked but wasn't in love with. The stock was just too bulky. Didn't ever feel quite right in the hands. Someone wanted it so I let it go, and I haven't really missed it. I did feel the need to replace it, it was the only fully stainless synthetic lightweight setup in my safe. I looked around some and decided that I had a pile of bullets and cases and powder for that chambering, so I set out to find a new rifle in .270.

I handled a few rifles, more than a few really and decided that Kimber Hunter had most of what I was looking for. A trim profile, 24" barrel, three position safety, all at the top of the list. All I could find here in SD was .30 Gov't 06 and that would have been ok but for the components on hand already. There were a few .270's on gun broker and I found a good deal on one and had it shipped in. I wanted the KimPro coating but the rifle I found also had a RealTree camo stock. Seems to have a 22-3/4" barrel as well, oddly. Its not as ugly in person as it is in the pictures but it has grown on me. I recentered the MeoPro 3.5-10x44 which was on the Montana, mounted it in Talley LW's and went to the range Saturday noon.

I had some factory loads on hand from back in the day, Remington Safari Grade with 140 A-Frames. Felt like a decent enough place to start. Ordinarily I'd have started with blue box Federal but none to be found in my basement. I boresighted it, dropped three shots to get it roughly sighted in, and then put three more into this group:



Hard to measure on that paper but it's about .6, give or take. Looking forward to load development. I'll probably use RL26 and 150's, either NP or AB. Seems to be headed in the right direction.

Man, nothing to complain about there.

I was quite glad to see it.

Looks bueno to me! I've got a Hunter in 6.5 that I haven't had time to shoot yet (house remodeling project that simply won't end) and I hope my results are as good.

Looks good! I like a 270 also, load 130 tipped Bear Claws for it. It’s an old L-61 Sako.

How do you like the bear claws?

if ur after some weight savings, pull all the gel the stock and grip area and replace with a small piece of closed cell foam.

Does that affect the stability/rigidity of the stock?

Nice shooting!

No, George commented on this before. I’ll see if I can dig up the thread.

I have the same rifle in 6.5 Creed and I like that RealTree camo stock. It looks a lot better than the standard tan IMHO.

Looks like you got a keeper!

Who made the barrel?

I bought a Hunter in 30-06 and like it in terms of design, handling, etc. Has a Bergara barrel. Stock isn't the greatest, but seems serviceable. Had a Montana that shot really well but much prefer a detachable magazine. Just wish the Hunter mag was a freckle longer.

How do I learn who made the barrel?

Pull the bolt and look inside at the back of the barrel on the extractor side.
You should be able to see a small B (Bergara) or C (Criterion) stamped there.
It's small and I missed it the first time I looked.
I have two Hunter 84M's, a Creed and a 7-08. Both are Bergara tubes.

I painted the first stock myself and that worked out just fine - they're a perfect canvas for that.
But I bought a hydro-dipped stock from a member here and liked it so much that I sent the other off for the same treatment. They're both mighty fine!

Thank you!

Any updates on this? I really curious how the Hunter/270 is working. Hunters are about all you can find.....