Kimber Montana Cartridge Advice Needed!!

First off, I know there's really not a bad choice here, but I'm torn...

I have a chance to buy a Kimber Montana at a very good price and I'd rather not wait on the time it would take to order one that's not currently in stock ready to ship. The available cartridges are 30-06, 25-06, and 280AI. The reloader in me wants the 280AI for all around versatility. My conservative side wants the 30-06 due to component availability and who easy factory ammo is to find in the event that I needed it. The realistic side of me wants the 25-06 due to decent factory ammo availability and plenty of components. Also, this would be the most comfortable of all the cartridges to shoot for practice. This rifle will be for backcountry hunts where weight savings is very important along with sheep type hunts in tough terrain. It would be rare that I would hunt anything bigger than mule deer or barbary sheep with the rifle though I could see it going on an Elk hunt if I ever did a wilderness area hunt. I would limit my shots to nothing over 500yds due to the how lightweight the rifle will be ( <7lbs w/ scope). I'm going to make my decision either tomorrow or Thurs so I don't miss out on one of the available rifles. Just wanted to see what you guys have to say and please keep the discussion between these 3 cartridges. Thanks!

280 A.I
30-06
25-06

In that order.

Will this be your primary firearm or will it compete with others. If it is your only firearm I would go with the 30-06, not really anything in North America that it handle should the opportunity become available. For your average hunt I don't believe you will find that much weight difference. I mean, how many cartridges are you going to carry. The 30-06 is a more classic round than the other two. JMHO

Of those 3 280AI

But I tend to pick the less common rounds and have since my first rifle purchase.

Id probably say 30-06. You never know, a day may come when you get all the way to Colorado or Montana and forget your reloads. You can get a box of core-locts anywhere. 25-06 is easy to find too, but 30-06 is everywhere. Plus, I know the elk hunt my dad went on requires a minimum of a .30cal rifle.

I thought it seemed odd too. Wasn't sure how common that was though.

Agree ^^^

I don't know. So would that guide say I would be better served to bring my .30-30, or a .308 Win, than my 7 Rem Mag?

The .280 AI just has an awful lot going for it in terms of performance, and it outstrips the other choices in cool factor by a mile. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the three, though.

I guess so. Dads boss built him a custom .308 on a stiller action for the hunt because he didn't have a .30 cal rifle. Just a 25-06

It's not my only hunting rifle. I have an all weather 300wsm that's a lot heavier but still packable for all but the most rigorous hunts. I also have a lightweight Hill Country .270win but that's the wife's rifle if we are hunting together. I have more, but those are the only all weather rifles I have so far.

1. 30-06
2. 30-06
3 30-06

Just my opinion

Thanks guys...didn't realize the 280AI would be the clear recommendation.

280AI IMO is THE ONLY CHOICE...and is every bit the do all the 30'06 is ....especailly since you already got a 300WSM if I recall....and blows away the Quarterbore 120's x 120's to ????
Ron

I gotta run out and buy a lottery ticket because if FJG and NP can agree than anything can happen.

I'd want that 280 A.I. As well. The good thing is I've heard a lot of reports on those guns being finicky, so may have to reload for whatever you get regardless.

I would get the best muzzle brake money can buy

Never heard of that either. Given the choice, would you choose a .308 Win or .300 Savage or .30-30 over, say, a 7mm RM for elk medicine? Les Bowman, the early designer of what would become the 7mm RM, was a longtime Wyoming elk outfitter who guided many notable hunters, including Jack O'Connor. Obviously, he knew a good elk round when he saw it, and he liked (and promoted) the big sevens. I'm betting some teenage assistant guide or wrangler made that comment to dad without thinking it through.

Regarding the OP's question, I would also choose the .280 AI. The first Jarrett Rifle I ever saw was on a Stone sheep hunt in B.C. where another hunter showed up with one chambered in .280 AI. It was light and beautifully balanced, the antithesis of the more common Jarrett Beanfield rifle. The guy got his sheep too.

The nice thing about all the AI rounds is that P.O. Ackley designed them to accept and shoot the parent round. Thus, in a pinch, a guy could shoot factory .280 Rem in his AI gun, no small advantage there.

Lastly, never ever, ever ruin the clean lines of a Montana rifle with a dreadful brake! Never!

280ai
25-06( don't think I would push it over 300 yards though)
30-06
In that order IMO

Lots of good info there. And I didn't know that about the AI chamberings. That's cool. Learn something new every day.

The .30/06 wouldn't even be given a second thought by me...

A couple other advantages of the Ackley Improved rounds is less case trimming, the cases do not stretch as much as tapered cases with more slopping shoulders and less bolt thrust the less slopped case does not wedge back against the bolt as much when being fired.

Id do 280AI or 30-06. never cared for 25-06. If I'm going own a 1/4 bore its going be a wby.