Kimber Montana .260 Remington Factory Ammo

dpep

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Mar 21, 2018
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Hello all, I recently harvested a nice 10 pt whitetail in Maine. The check station also sold guns and they had 2 Montanas in stock. A .308 and a .260. Since seeing the .260 I decided to do some research on the caliber having not been familiar with it and the more I read, the more I liked it. The more I liked it the more I thought about buying the gun. With the current ammo shortage and no one stocking ANY of the popular hunting calibers, it made it seem like an even better option. I live in the White Mountains of NH and have been searching for a light weight mountain rifle in 6.5 or .270. Originally planned on a Fieldcraft but we all know that story.

I decided I couldn't leave without it. My only complaints were the barrel length on it wasn't threaded, but I don't yet own a .30 cal suppressor. The pros far tipped the scale. It appeared to have been shot but not fielded. I assume the previous owner couldn't get it to perform how he wanted. The shop had mounted a Leupold VX-1 3-9x40 LR Duplex scope with Leupold rings and bases, I assume this was to help move it. Out the door for $1000, I feel like I got a good deal.

To all the .260 owners, shooters, lovers and haters, what kind of factory ammo performs best out of the 1:9 twist? I heard it has trouble stabilizing 140gr. I bought a box of 140 gr Core-Lokt PNSP as it was the only offering at the shop but haven't fired them yet. Its going to be a whitetail rifle, occasional black bear. The majority of hunting in New England is done inside 100 yards but could realistically see shots out to 400-500 across a bog or a pole line. What kind of game and shots have you taken?

Has anyone cut a .260 barrel down? How short is too short, 18-20"s? What kind of performance were you seeing/losing?

Looking for a scope upgrade also, probably $600 dollar range, maybe more if I have a good winter. Smaller objective...nothing over 42mm. Max magnification 10-12. What pairs well with a lightweight mountain rifle?

Basically looking for any and all info on your .260s, good bad and ugly. I've been scouring all the Montana tinkering pages but I'd like to see how it shoots first and foremost and take off from there.

Sorry for the longwinded post, just excited about this new to me rifle and caliber! Thanks in advance!
 

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fishslap

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Longmont, CO
I can’t answer most of your questions but I shoot 140gr core lokts out of my 260 and it’s the most accurate factor ammo I’ve tried. Nosler 130gr accubonds are a very close second and probably a better bullet. It’s my whitetail gun so I just stayed with the core lokts and it did fine on this buck in Missouri last year. Not sure the distance but it was within 100 yards. If I were using it for mule deer, I might go with the accubonds since I have more experience with them at longer range, they probably have a higher BC and are better constructed. Gun is a LH savage 110 action that someone re-barreled and restocked. I bought it used.
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dpep

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Nice buck man! And nice gun! I'm glad you're loving it and its providing for you. Surprised to hear about the core-lokts being that accurate. Any idea what your twist rate is? 1:8 if it was custom re-barreled and really liking 140grs.
 

fishslap

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Nice buck man! And nice gun! I'm glad you're loving it and its providing for you. Surprised to hear about the core-lokts being that accurate. Any idea what your twist rate is? 1:8 if it was custom re-barreled and really liking 140grs.
Not sure on the twist. I had my gunsmith receive it from the seller and I think he checked it but I don’t remember what it was. The seller also bought it from someone so the history is a bit lost. It shoots the 130 accubonds pretty damn good also. Both MOA or better.
 
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I have three Model Sevens, an A-Bolt and a Savage 116 in the 260 Remington caliber. The Model Sevens (all 20” barrels) like the 120 grain Fusions but excell with a hand loaded 100 grain NBT. The A-Bolt and Savage both like the 120 grain Barnes Vor-Tex. Non like the 140 grain Remington load although the A-Bolt shoots them to 1.5. Remington discontinued the 120 grain Accu-Tips that shot well in all five. I collected these rifles for three grandsons and I continue to hunt with the A-Bolt and one of the Model Sevens. They are the bomb on Whitetails and they were the 6.5CM before it was even thought about. My longest shot was on a Montana Whitetail at 315 yards. DRT with the Accu-Tip.
 
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dpep

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Mar 21, 2018
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NH
I have three Model Sevens, an A-Bolt and a Savage 116 in the 260 Remington caliber. The Model Sevens (all 20” barrels) like the 120 grain Fusions but excell with a hand loaded 100 grain NBT. The A-Bolt and Savage both like the 120 grain Barnes Vor-Tex. Non like the 140 grain Remington load although the A-Bolt shoots them to 1.5. Remington discontinued the 120 grain Accu-Tips that shot well in all five. I collected these rifles for three grandsons and I continue to hunt with the A-Bolt and one of the Model Sevens. They are the bomb on Whitetails and they were the 6.5CM before it was even thought about. My longest shot was on a Montana Whitetail at 315 yards. DRT with the Accu-Tip.
Awesome info, appreciate it. After I shoot this box of Remington 140s I think I will concentrate on 120-130gr pills. I don't want to shell out a ton of coin trying to make a bunch of different ammo work. I usually lean to the heaviest bullet for the caliber but if 120s have no problem on whitetails, I'll give them a try. Impressive shot by the way.
 

260madman

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I’ve never had an accuracy issue with any of my 260s (5). 100s up to 140s work well. Cup and core and solid coppers all work. 140 CLs are bone crunchers. I have found pieces of Leg bone on the ground at the impact point and on the blood trail.

Mama got hers Sunday afternoon with a 120gr E-tip. He was fuzzy and STINKY! She said she did the girl thing, danced in the blind 😂

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EmperorMA

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Dec 7, 2018
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I shot a .260 Rem for years that had the same twist. You need to concentrate on 120-130 class bullets.

My favorite of all time for deer and Pronghorn is the 120 NBT. Excellent performance and very accurate. I’d also look very hard at the 129 SST and 120 Fusion. That SST (as loaded by Fiocchi and Hornady) is a merciless killer of deer. I’d use whatever of these three shot best in the rifle.

If you want to hunt bigger creatures and deer with the same bullet, you have some great choices in factory ammo.

120 TTSX
125 NPT
129 ABLR
130 AB
130 SS

All of these will hammer deer, black bear, moose and elk from 5 - 500 yards.
 

260madman

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Most of mine are 1:9 twist and haven’t had an issue stabilizing 140gr hunting type bullets. One of mine will stabilize a 140 Amax but I haven’t shot it at distances over 100 yards. Nosler says 140 Ballistic tips and Accubonds will stabilize in a 1:9.

I used 140 NBTs in a 6.5CM last year and it went through both shoulders of a buck at 180-200 yards. Factory Nosler ammo at 2650fps.
 
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dpep

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Mar 21, 2018
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Exactly the info I was looking for Emperor, thanks a bunch. I got a box of the Barnes 120 TSX and Sig 130 CET. Will probably also pick up SSTs and AB or ABLR. Definitely want to try the Federal Fusions as they are not a tipped bullet.

Got Talley Lows, a VX-3i 2.5-8x36mm and a scope ring lapping kit on the way also. I may add a Kenton turret once I narrow down the best load.

Also thanks to madman for the helpful info, and congrats to your wife on the nice buck!
 

260madman

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45.0 of H4350 gets 2900 fps with a 120. 43.5 if using a Barnes 120. loads shoot very tight groups with all of my 260s.
 

Unoboats

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Jun 27, 2014
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I have a load with 130 gr Scirocco’s that shoots 1/2” to 3/4” at 100 yds. Speed is 2680 fs out of my 260 Montana. Contact me for load data.
Chip
336-314-0044
 
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