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"Mountain rifles" for backpack hunting
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<blockquote data-quote="mcseal2" data-source="post: 1228069" data-attributes="member: 22030"><p>I built the only two mountain rifles I'll likely ever have over the last couple years. I just got both home about a month ago. I haven't drawn a western tag since 2013 so my hunting budget has gone into glass and these rifles, now I'm done buying and back to hunting! I have the next 4 years planned out if point creep doesn't nail me.</p><p></p><p>The first is Kimberly, a re-barreled Kimber 84L Montana. It was originally a 280 Ackley that I couldn't get to shoot under 3" groups. I bought it used and that's likely why it was for sale. I tried Nosler factory ammo in 140 and 150gr weights, plus several handloads and it was a consistent 3-5" gun. I had a great shooting but heavier Winchester M70 in 270 Win with a 25" #3 fluted Pac-Nor barrel. I talked to my gunsmith and he put the 270 barrel on the Kimber, turning it down at the base and shortening it to 24". It shoots as good as ever, and at almost the same speed with the Nosler 130gr Accubond factory loads at 2964fps, or my 2950fps 140gr Accubond handloads. I plan to shoot the 130's from it because the recoil on that load is significantly lighter and I shoot it better. The rifle weighs 6lbs 14oz with a Leupold VXIII 4.5-14x40 CDS scope in Leupold rings/bases. With ammo and a light sling it stays under 7.5lbs ready to hunt. The gunsmith added a little weight stiffening up the factory stock so the forend won't contact the barrel when using a bipod. It turned out exactly as I hoped, only thing I might do after hunting season is cerakote the stainless metal. I wanted to make sure it shot before spending the extra money on that.</p><p></p><p>On a side note the gunsmith had a Montana 25-06 #4 barrel he had ordered for a guy who never built a rifle that was already cryoaccurized. It found a home on my M70 and my wife has a new antelope rifle, plus I'll use it for windy day coyote calling. It is shooting excellent with 100gr TTSX factory ammo, might not even load for it.</p><p></p><p>The second is a Rifles Inc lightweight 70 in 300 win mag. I had it modified slightly going with a fluted #3 barrel instead of their standard lightweight barrel. I also had a Jewell trigger and extended magazine box installed. It weighs 7lbs 4oz with the Swaro Z5 3.5-18x in Talley rings/bases. It shoots the 180gr Accubonds at 2950fps and should be ideal for elk and larger critters. It has a brake to tame the recoil and I'll likely never shoot it without that brake. The stock is their brown camo, and the metal is cerakoted burnt bronze. It is a really nice shooting and feeling rifle, the little bit of extra barrel weight really seems to make it easier to shoot from field positions for me. It is a half inch gun if I do my part.</p><p></p><p>Having both they can be each other's back-up rifle on mountain hunts. I'll likely stick with the 270 for everything smaller than elk unless I'm hunting somewhere really thick where I might want the extra penetration of the 300 on a tough angle. Elk I'll plan to use the 300, but the 270 will do fine also with the Accubonds if I stick to broadside shots.</p><p></p><p>I don't see either as an extreme range rifle. If I want more reach I'll pack one of the heavier 264WM's I have with Bergers or ELD-X bullets that I have set-up for that. I have turrets on both of these light rifles and can hit my 10" gong to 500yds reliably. I paint the gong each trip so I can see my hits and make sure my groups are tight and centered. My last trip to shoot the gong I shot 350-500yds at 50yd intervals without a miss, next time I plan to shoot 450-600yds and see how they do. With this heat and the lighter barrels I only get so much shooting in each trip. In the field I'll let how steady I can get and the wind determine how far I shoot but will keep it inside the 600yd max for these rifles assuming they perform well at 600 in future practice sessions.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="mcseal2, post: 1228069, member: 22030"] I built the only two mountain rifles I'll likely ever have over the last couple years. I just got both home about a month ago. I haven't drawn a western tag since 2013 so my hunting budget has gone into glass and these rifles, now I'm done buying and back to hunting! I have the next 4 years planned out if point creep doesn't nail me. The first is Kimberly, a re-barreled Kimber 84L Montana. It was originally a 280 Ackley that I couldn't get to shoot under 3" groups. I bought it used and that's likely why it was for sale. I tried Nosler factory ammo in 140 and 150gr weights, plus several handloads and it was a consistent 3-5" gun. I had a great shooting but heavier Winchester M70 in 270 Win with a 25" #3 fluted Pac-Nor barrel. I talked to my gunsmith and he put the 270 barrel on the Kimber, turning it down at the base and shortening it to 24". It shoots as good as ever, and at almost the same speed with the Nosler 130gr Accubond factory loads at 2964fps, or my 2950fps 140gr Accubond handloads. I plan to shoot the 130's from it because the recoil on that load is significantly lighter and I shoot it better. The rifle weighs 6lbs 14oz with a Leupold VXIII 4.5-14x40 CDS scope in Leupold rings/bases. With ammo and a light sling it stays under 7.5lbs ready to hunt. The gunsmith added a little weight stiffening up the factory stock so the forend won't contact the barrel when using a bipod. It turned out exactly as I hoped, only thing I might do after hunting season is cerakote the stainless metal. I wanted to make sure it shot before spending the extra money on that. On a side note the gunsmith had a Montana 25-06 #4 barrel he had ordered for a guy who never built a rifle that was already cryoaccurized. It found a home on my M70 and my wife has a new antelope rifle, plus I'll use it for windy day coyote calling. It is shooting excellent with 100gr TTSX factory ammo, might not even load for it. The second is a Rifles Inc lightweight 70 in 300 win mag. I had it modified slightly going with a fluted #3 barrel instead of their standard lightweight barrel. I also had a Jewell trigger and extended magazine box installed. It weighs 7lbs 4oz with the Swaro Z5 3.5-18x in Talley rings/bases. It shoots the 180gr Accubonds at 2950fps and should be ideal for elk and larger critters. It has a brake to tame the recoil and I'll likely never shoot it without that brake. The stock is their brown camo, and the metal is cerakoted burnt bronze. It is a really nice shooting and feeling rifle, the little bit of extra barrel weight really seems to make it easier to shoot from field positions for me. It is a half inch gun if I do my part. Having both they can be each other's back-up rifle on mountain hunts. I'll likely stick with the 270 for everything smaller than elk unless I'm hunting somewhere really thick where I might want the extra penetration of the 300 on a tough angle. Elk I'll plan to use the 300, but the 270 will do fine also with the Accubonds if I stick to broadside shots. I don't see either as an extreme range rifle. If I want more reach I'll pack one of the heavier 264WM's I have with Bergers or ELD-X bullets that I have set-up for that. I have turrets on both of these light rifles and can hit my 10" gong to 500yds reliably. I paint the gong each trip so I can see my hits and make sure my groups are tight and centered. My last trip to shoot the gong I shot 350-500yds at 50yd intervals without a miss, next time I plan to shoot 450-600yds and see how they do. With this heat and the lighter barrels I only get so much shooting in each trip. In the field I'll let how steady I can get and the wind determine how far I shoot but will keep it inside the 600yd max for these rifles assuming they perform well at 600 in future practice sessions. [/QUOTE]
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