6.5-284 lightweight build

[WeatherbyFan]

A few months back at a gun show I was sharing a table with my gunsmith and and proudly displaying my new Kimber Montana 6.5CM that the gunsmith had gussied up for me and of course it wasn't for sale but somehow a smooth talking gentleman left with my rifle and scope....... :shock:

So I scrounged up an used Kimber Montana 84M and a SS Benchmark 1-8 twist 5R #1 contour barrel and dropped it off to Gary's Bench and I says 6.5CM and he nope 6.5-284........so he worked his magic on a 6.5-284, opened up the mag box, added a hand made brake, slabbed the action, added an alloy bolt handle and poof out pops out my new sheep hunting rifle weighing in at 5 lbs




1st time at the range and Im loving it, just a dream to shoot, I tried 3 types of Nosler Factory ammo, 130gr AB, 140gr AB and 129gr ABLR, it loved the 130gr Accubonds the 140s were ok and it really didn't like the ABLR bullets at all

after two shots to zero and a cleaning this is the 1st 3 shot group out of the rifle with 130gr Accubonds


the rest of the groups, certainly likes the 130gr AB best

 

[Thebear_78]

Very nice


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AFG270]

Looks like an excellent all-around rifle! Those 130 gr AB look great, nice shooting!

 

[sask boy]

Wow is that ever a Sweet looking set up :wink:. Shooting those 130gr. ABs should do the trick on just about anything you want to hunt.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[DrMike]

Handsome rifle; and it definitely produces enviable groups.

 

[1100 Remington Man]

That looks to be a very nice setup. Good Hunting

 

[WeatherbyFan]

thanks for the kind words
I tried a long string of 130 Accubonds in my 6.5-284 with Reloader 26 starting at 53.0grs and going up in .2gr increments, no pressure signs.

53.0-2797
53.2-2841
53.4-2821
53.6-2833
53.8-2859
54.0-2866
54.2-2895
54.4-2894 seemed to be fairly close, so ill start at 54.2 with some 3 shot groups
54.6-2889
54.8-2916
55.0-2951
55.2-2961
55.4-2965
55.6-2976
55.8-2991
56.0-3004

Also tried some 143gr ELD-X with 54grs of R26 and got 2860fps and a .2" group
soon as I went to 54.5 it opened up to 0.65" and then at least 55gr it went to 0.75"

 

[truck driver]

Nice shooting, what manufacture stock did you use in the build?

 

[Guy Miner]

Goodness! Seriously NICE rifle...

I'd just buy a case of that 130 gr Nosler ammo and call it good.

Guy

 

[WeatherbyFan]

Nice shooting, what manufacture stock did you use in the build?

Thank you, We just modified the factory Kimber Montana stock, best thing about using a Kimber Montana, only thing you need to add is a good barrel and you have everything else for a custom build, SS Controlled Round Feed action, Kevlar Carbon Fibre Stock and an excellent adjustable trigger.
Cheapest route to a full custom rifle !

 

[ShadeTree]

Very nice! I tend to agree with Guy, unless you plan on spending a lot of time on the bench with this gun, or are able to quickly duplicate it with reloads, it would be hard to walk away from shooting like that with a great bullet in factory ammo.

 

[WeatherbyFan]

Very nice! I tend to agree with Guy, unless you plan on spending a lot of time on the bench with this gun, or are able to quickly duplicate it with reloads, it would be hard to walk away from shooting like that with a great bullet in factory ammo.

I agree with you and Guy as I mostly shoot factory ammo anyway and its really hard to improve on the accuracy of the 130gr AB but they were running at 2800fps so 100 feet slower than advertised velocity, I did find an accuracy node at 54.3grs of R26 @ 2895fps and the 130gr AB so Ill do a few 3 shot groups and go from there.

WF

 

[JD338]

Very nice!
The 130 gr AB shoots like a dream.
Congratulations on your build.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

That’s an amazing rifle.

I’m with you, I’d have to try some well crafted handloads myself.

Very nice set up. Looks really nice for carrying.