I got a call from the gunsmith yesterday to ask a couple final questions about the project he is finishing for me. I had a Kimber 84L Montana I bought in 280 Ackley that I could never get to shoot like I wanted it to. I bought it used and worried that it might not shoot and that's why it was for sale. The price was low enough I figured it was worth a chance but it ended up not shooting anything I tried, factory Nosler or handloads, much under 3". I really like the feel of the rifle and the lightweight action that is so similar to my Winchester M70 rifles so I kept it around.
I also had a Winchester M70 rifle around with a Pac Nor #3 fluted barrel in 270 win that shot great. I never tried anything except 130 and 140gr Nosler Accubonds in the rifle because it shot both so well. The first load I tried with the 140gr Accubond shot as good as I can shoot, and I took my best elk with it. The factory Nosler 130gr loads shot even better so I went to them for deer after the elk hunt. The only problem with it was that's its heavier rifle than I want to pack around in the mountains. Also the gunsmith had left the barrel at 25.5" which is more than a 270 needs I think. In the scabbard of my Eberlestock it stuck up past my head further than I liked and caught limbs.
Talking to my gunsmith I came up with the idea of putting this 270 barrel on my Kimber rifle and cutting it down to match the barrel length of the Kimber factory barrel, it's stock sits flush with my head in the scabbard. I think the finished product will be called Kimberly, a re-barreled Kimber designed to fit in my Eberlestock. As an added bonus the gunsmith had been sitting on a #4 contour 24" 25-06 barrel he ordered in for a customer that backed out. He cut me a deal on it and I now my Winchester is a 25-06 that shoots 100gr bullets really well my wife has claimed for her next antelope hunt. I bet it gets packed coyote hunting on some windy days also. He has the Kimber about done now and ready for me to start shooting, can't wait to get it home and ready for this fall.
I also had a Winchester M70 rifle around with a Pac Nor #3 fluted barrel in 270 win that shot great. I never tried anything except 130 and 140gr Nosler Accubonds in the rifle because it shot both so well. The first load I tried with the 140gr Accubond shot as good as I can shoot, and I took my best elk with it. The factory Nosler 130gr loads shot even better so I went to them for deer after the elk hunt. The only problem with it was that's its heavier rifle than I want to pack around in the mountains. Also the gunsmith had left the barrel at 25.5" which is more than a 270 needs I think. In the scabbard of my Eberlestock it stuck up past my head further than I liked and caught limbs.
Talking to my gunsmith I came up with the idea of putting this 270 barrel on my Kimber rifle and cutting it down to match the barrel length of the Kimber factory barrel, it's stock sits flush with my head in the scabbard. I think the finished product will be called Kimberly, a re-barreled Kimber designed to fit in my Eberlestock. As an added bonus the gunsmith had been sitting on a #4 contour 24" 25-06 barrel he ordered in for a customer that backed out. He cut me a deal on it and I now my Winchester is a 25-06 that shoots 100gr bullets really well my wife has claimed for her next antelope hunt. I bet it gets packed coyote hunting on some windy days also. He has the Kimber about done now and ready for me to start shooting, can't wait to get it home and ready for this fall.
