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?

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 Fieldcraft would be (and was) my pick.

I don't think you could go wrong.

donsm70

I havnt ever had trouble with kimbers, I’d spin the wheel on one with no hesitation.

I haven’t had issues with Kimbers of the last few years although I despise brakes and Kimbers thread protector is hideous.....

Agreed. Lop it off

Hopefully, the “extra Montana” isn’t the 7-08?

I think I would go the Fieldcraft route. Seems as though most are very satisfied with that rifle.....

Re-barrel would be my choice for sure.

If you plan to thread it keep that in mind when you select the contour.

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.....

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.

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?

Used your 243, cut to 20” and put it on a Adirondack. My dad is shooting the 243. All are Montanas.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Thats nice. I'd be very happy with that from a Montana with a can hanging off the end.

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.

Alaska- is that a 308? Doing the reverse math I get bare rifle at ~4.5lbs?

Yes sir its a 308 win.

Rifle as show is 6 pounds 3 oz=99oz

99 oz- 22 oz for scope rings and rail is 77 oz

77 oz-12 oz for suppressor and you get 65 oz.

65 oz is 4 pounds 1 oz for the rifle itself a smaller hole in the barrel would likely add a couple of oz in a 6.5 but still be under 4.25 pounds bare rifle.

Busting milk jugs at 400 yards and 10" gong at just beyond 500 last week was pretty darn fun and thus far I haven't broken the little 16 oz weaver and it seems to track true and I know its 5.5 MILs up from the bottom to my 100 yards zero....so kinda a built in zero stop if you will. For me and hunting its a 400 yard and in rifle which has been plenty for my hunting style and uses. It wasn't until last year when I routinely was helping folks take animals at 400+ with other rifles.

How did you knock off almost a full pound ???

This isn’t even my lightest one. My other rifle is less than 3.6 pounds bare.

This article explains how I get them down to the weight. But the easiest way is MPI micro light stocks knocks 12 oz off right out of the gate.

http://www.rokslide.com/uberlight-kimber-rifle-build/

Thanks, same you you. The article on Rokslide about your ultralights was really interesting, a 3.6 lb .358 Win has got to be punishing!

Is your Ultra 7 in the picture above direct threaded or brake mounted? I kind of want an Ultra 7 6.5 CB to use on my 6.5s and precision ARs, but the bore of 1/2x28 brake is sized for .224"... Bummer.

The 358 win isn't actually too bad. Its ported and the heaviest loads I shoot are 2600 fps with 200TTSX and 2400 with 225 NPTs. The 158 CE raptors at 2800 fps are plenty fine. Also keep in mind that is 3.6 pounds before optics. Its like 4.3 pounds scoped.

As far as the brake yeah its direct thread. Basically the CB mount is welded inside. That way I don't have to buy a CB mount for every rifle I have. A simply bushing up from 1/2X28 to 5/8X24 and I use it on my .223 without issue. Yeah I am not doing mag dumps with it but it works just fine and is plenty quiet that way.

I have one headed to MPI this month for a micro lite stock. 6x45 modest recoil even a low 4# rifle.

Do the newest production Montanas still have the QC issues that need to be addressed outta the box?