for the 1000th time - Caliber options?

[ImBillT]

6.5-06, 6.5-284, .284 Win, 280AI, 30-06.

If you’re comfortable with the recoil, nix 6.5s, but in such a light gun, I can see the utility in keeping recoil moderate. A 155-156gr bullet in a 6.5 is nothing to sneeze at. It takes a 180 in 7mm or a 210 in .30cal to match that sectional density.(advantageous for penetration).

 

[ThunderNocked]

nice little .5” group at 100 yards. 3 shots inside 15 minutes of the bipod with a bag under the stock at a slight uphill.
45* at 2500-3000 feet elevation. No real breeze to speak of and shooting down a ‘lane’ that is a side by side trail across the hillside.

 

[Alpine01]

nice little .5” group at 100 yards. 3 shots inside 15 minutes of the bipod with a bag under the stock at a slight uphill.
45* at 2500-3000 feet elevation. No real breeze to speak of and shooting down a ‘lane’ that is a side by side trail across the hillside.
View attachment 179131
View attachment 179132

Nice! Love those Kimbers!

 

[Alex38]

I’d go with the .30-06 and be done with it. For 400 yards and in, it’ll do everything you need. Ammo is typically available and relatively low cost, which is important since you don’t reload. The 180 Accubond or 168 TTSX would be great choices for a do-everything type of load.

 

[ThunderNocked]

I’d go with the .30-06 and be done with it. For 400 yards and in, it’ll do everything you need. Ammo is typically available and relatively low cost, which is important since you don’t reload. The 180 Accubond or 168 TTSX would be great choices for a do-everything type of load.

I ended up with a 280 Ackley looking to shoot the 140 and 160 grains Noslers

 

[1100RemingtonMan]

I would take the Gunsmiths advice and get a 30-06 and I would not go crazy light on the rifle.

 

[ThunderNocked]

I would take the Gunsmiths advice and get a 30-06 and I would not go crazy light on the rifle.

Gun smith said .30-06, 270 or 280AI. Went with a Kimber Montana in 280AI. Awesome rifle. cut barrel down to 22" (with 1.5" break makes 23.5") and shot a .5" Group at 100 yards with 140 grain Nosler.
It was a .30-06 or 280 Kimber or a .30-06 or 270 Tikka. I wanted the Kimber more then the Tikka.

 

[Alex38]

I ended up with a 280 Ackley looking to shoot the 140 and 160 grains Noslers

That’s a good gun. I have a 30-06 Kimber Montana as well. Nice and handy rifle. I’d have voted for the 280AI for a reloader instead of the 30-06.

 

[ThunderNocked]

That’s a good gun. I have a 30-06 Kimber Montana as well. Nice and handy rifle. I’d have voted for the 280AI for a reloader instead of the 30-06.

I'm going to try my hand at reloading now. Just need to settle on a bullet and find it!

 

[Alex38]

I'm going to try my hand at reloading now. Just need to settle on a bullet and find it!

160 Nosler Accubonds would be a great bullet to start with for that cartridge. I use that, 175 Partitions, and 140 TTSXs in my 7mm Rem Mag, which is very similar ballistically to the 280AI. Any one of those three bullets would be a great all-purpose bullet for that gun.

 

[ThunderNocked]

160 Nosler Accubonds would be a great bullet to start with for that cartridge. I use that, 175 Partitions, and 140 TTSXs in my 7mm Rem Mag, which is very similar ballistically to the 280AI. Any one of those three bullets would be a great all-purpose bullet for that gun.

So that Kimber is shooting the 140 Grain Nosler's AMAZING. But I do want to shoot the 160 grain or 162 grain. I'd prefer the Nosler but not opposed to the ELD-X.

I think the 140's are great for Caribou and under but I'd prefer the 160s for Moose and Bear.