Do any of you back pack with more traditional Wood and Blued guns? Having used both myself I can appreciate how tough modern synthetic and stainless can be, but still prefer wood and blued if given a choice.

I have backpack hunted a lot with a Kimber 84M 3.08 that is wood & blue. I also have Kimber Montana's in .338 federal and .325 WSM. In really wet country I'd go synthetic, otherwise there isnNothing wrong with wood & blue 'cept for you are packing a little more weight.

How do like the Montana in 308? I think for a factory gun they are about as light and handy as you can get. I had one in 300WSM
but found it hard to match factory MV. I think if I was to do it again I'd get a 308 or 30-06 and call it good. I am working with a Winchester SS in 325WSM that shows some promise. I hunt in Alberta and I don't think we get as much rain as some other areas so stainless is not as much of an issue. I also started using the rifle rain cover from Kifaru and that really helps with a blued gun.

The .308 I have is the wood/blue 84M and I like it a lot. I've taken a couple sheep and a bunch of elk with it. The 338 Federal in the Montana is going to get lots of use. This will be its 1st season. I have been very pleased with all 3 Kimbers.

Ed,

Sounds like a very successful partnership. Like I mentioned earlier, I'd look at another Kimber in 30-06. The only question is do you go with nice wood/blue or do you pick the synthetic /stainless...decisions,decisions.

SJ

Buy one of each. A .308 or a .338 Federal in a Montana and 30-06 in a nice classic wood

'Course then you'd have to decide which to take along, but there are worst choices in life.

I like your thinking!! What bullet are you using in the 338 Federal if you don't mind me asking?

SJ

sheep,

I'm still in the process of working up loads. Looking hard at the 210 accubond.

Ed,

Those should work out well in the 338 Fed.
I've used the 210 Partition a fair bit in the 340W as it really likes them. I'm developing loads with the 210 TTSX and so far it looks pretty good. This is a cross over rifle. Hunted many years with the wood stock however now that I'm spending more time in the mountains I've put a synthetic on it as the wood takes a beating when strapped to my pack.

I have a Kimber Montana in .308 and its a tack driver and pretty light. Scope, rings, sling, and 4 in the mag is still right a 6lbs all up. Gotta love that!!

Thanks for the replies guys. Both of you mentioned using the Montana in 308. Do either of you feel you passed up a shot or were in some way handicapped at all using the 308? Sorry if it's a dumb question but I've been using some of the larger magnums for so many years I think I'm suffering from permenant brain trauma;).

sheep,

I have shot sheep at lazered 347 yards and elk at 390 yards with my .308 with 150 gr TSX, so I don't feel at any disadvantage

Wow...I guess not!!

Same here. Though I just got my Kimber Montana .308 last year and had to pass on a grizzly bear that was getting too dark in my mad scramble stalk I was 500 yards away with failing light and 300 yards of nasty alders between him and I......but I wouldn't have taken that shot with any rifle at that point.

However, grew up shooting the a .308 just not my new Kimber Montana. It was a model 7 and taken a couple grizz, 5 caribou, and 3 moose with it. Including 2 300+ yard caribou, but all the moose and bear were 150 yards and less.

That's a bit of an eye opener for sure. I guess it should'nt be
becuase I always knew the 30-06 was capable. With the weight savings of the gun and ammo I could pack a couple of extra days food and stay on the mountain longer...hmm , Montana in 308.

I have BP�d with my CZ 550 (9.5 lbs) but now use a SC model 70 Featherweight in 270 Win (~7.75 lbs). Honestly I didn�t find the CZ too terrible to carry. Then I got the Winchester and it is more pleasant for all day carry. Not so much because of the weight but balance, compactness, and slimmer stock.

I simply do not care for the feel of composite stocks but understand their advantages. I don't hunt in rainforests like some do. They are �cold� and noisy. Anything less than 7.5 feels a little too svelte for me.

Just go try and few rifles and see what feels right to you - that's all that really matters. I like blondes too

Yup Blondes are good!! I have to agree with djb in that you can get to much of a good thing with weight reduction. My 270 Weatherby ULW is a good combination of balance and packable weight, but it's far from a fly weight by todays standards. I find the worst is a really muzzle light rifle. Having said that, I think I would consider another Kimber Montana, but in something like 30-06 if I wanted a really light rifle.

SJ

In seeing what my 338 Win does with 200gr Ballistic Tips/Silver Tips I'd think they'd be very good in a Federal. I've not caught one, even at 300yards on an elk. Mule Deer's had a similar track record with them as well.

Sheep,

I haul my blued and walnut 375 for backpack hunts. In fact, it goes on every hunting trip I go on. Overkill, yes, but I had the rifle custom made for me, and love it. I've used it both for personal hunts as well as for guiding, and I have never thought I was at a disadvantage. Wipe it down occasionally with a sock or dishtowel, throw some oil on it, and you're fine.

Hansol,

I really like your 375.It looks well built with well layed out wood. When I make the big trip to the "happy hunting ground" I'd like it to be with my Win70 375 and a handful of 300 gr Nosler Partitions.I've hauled it all over hells half acre, through all kind of weather (wood/blued) and it still looks good. I'ts never let me down or failed to do what I asked of it. Alas,I use the 340 Weatherby (wood/blue) more in recent years and like it a lot as well. I started another thread regarding back packing in Grizzly country and a lot of this thread could tie into the other thread. I've started taking a 270 Weatherby for mountain hunting,which is one of the few synthetic stainless guns I own.

SJ

I'm a Kimber 308 win user as well. It will be the first trip for it this year. I've got a select grade wood version. Had the metal coated so I don't need to worry about the metal rusting....not that I wouldn't take it uncoated. 168 TTSX looks promsing. Going with Barnes because grizzlys are open and wouldn't mind a nice bear if we get sheep early. Otherwise would probably go Accubond or similar.

Have shot two sheep with another wood 308 win...Remingtom mountain rifle. No hesitations with a wood blue gun for a backpack hunt..