Help me spend my money! Kimber vs Christensen (2 YEAR UPDATE)

[KHNC]

Stick with 7mm-08 for whatever you choose, in my opinion.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Stick with 7mm-08 for whatever you choose, in my opinion.

Damn near impossible to find 7mm-08 brass these days

 

[KHNC]

Damn near impossible to find 7mm-08 brass these days

True, doesnt seem easy to find any popular components. I have saved all my brass for quite a few years. I dont have a reloader. But one of these days I may get started. Its really cut down on my shooting at the way prices and availability are now.

 

[bigbassfish]

Yeah I hear 7-08 throw out a lot as comparable option but with ammo availability it’s a no go. I love the ballistics of 6.5 prc but ammo was extremely hard to find/expensive for that last year I’ve been looking, although it’s seems it’s definitely more available now than even three months ago. Is that a good sign it’s finally catching on and maybe it’ll continue on the up and up and we’ll start to see more options?

If I were to go to a tikka, what would your pick be? Considering the tikkas only have one action size, I’d probably go to either a 7mag, or 300wm but I’m open to being persuaded into something else. Honestly I just want a short action I could elk hunt with to maybe 400yards, but it seems like all the popular offerings are also somewhat hard to obtain. 7mag or 300 I can go to just about any Walmart and find federal blue box for $40 I wanna say? Good for shooting trash at my buddies range without blowing $5 a pop like I’d think 6.5 prc would be

 

[bigbassfish]

I’d like to think I’m fairly mechanically inclined, from what Ive read about bedding an action it seems pretty straightforward. Would anyone disagree? My intentions with the hunter pro were to bed it, would a Ridgeline benefit from diy bedding as well? Should I just figure, regardless what I end up with, bedding will be an advantage?

 

[bigbassfish]

For those that are curious, I’m starting to lean towards the Ridgeline, if I were paying full price I’d look elsewhere but at 1300 it’s hard to say no. For all my tikka lovers out there, im starting to warm up to the idea, maybe a t3x lite d-18 in 7mag? Thoughts on this rifle vs a Ridgeline in 308?

Free reading through the drop tests linked earlier in the thread, i definitely have a sour taste in my mouth for the LHT. Even free isn’t helpful if the scope can’t hold zero…would any of you consider a razor gen 3 1-10 as an alternative? Might look a little funny, but it’ll be better than the call of duty quickscope machine my gf suggested when she said “what about one of your red dots”

I’m amazed at the number of helpful responses I’ve received, thanks to all who’ve chimed in to share some hard earned experience.

 

[svivian]

Yeah I hear 7-08 throw out a lot as comparable option but with ammo availability it’s a no go. I love the ballistics of 6.5 prc but ammo was extremely hard to find/expensive for that last year I’ve been looking, although it’s seems it’s definitely more available now than even three months ago. Is that a good sign it’s finally catching on and maybe it’ll continue on the up and up and we’ll start to see more options?

If I were to go to a tikka, what would your pick be? Considering the tikkas only have one action size, I’d probably go to either a 7mag, or 300wm but I’m open to being persuaded into something else. Honestly I just want a short action I could elk hunt with to maybe 400yards, but it seems like all the popular offerings are also somewhat hard to obtain. 7mag or 300 I can go to just about any Walmart and find federal blue box for $40 I wanna say? Good for shooting trash at my buddies range without blowing $5 a pop like I’d think 6.5 prc would be

In regards to the 6.5 PRC costs i think its relatively low for what it is. I just picked one up on a trade a few months ago. At first I wasnt finding ammo but then several vendors had it in stock and i picked up 14 boxes for about $54 a box for Hornady Match 147 ELDM.

 

[KHNC]

Yeah I hear 7-08 throw out a lot as comparable option but with ammo availability it’s a no go. I love the ballistics of 6.5 prc but ammo was extremely hard to find/expensive for that last year I’ve been looking, although it’s seems it’s definitely more available now than even three months ago. Is that a good sign it’s finally catching on and maybe it’ll continue on the up and up and we’ll start to see more options?

If I were to go to a tikka, what would your pick be? Considering the tikkas only have one action size, I’d probably go to either a 7mag, or 300wm but I’m open to being persuaded into something else. Honestly I just want a short action I could elk hunt with to maybe 400yards, but it seems like all the popular offerings are also somewhat hard to obtain. 7mag or 300 I can go to just about any Walmart and find federal blue box for $40 I wanna say? Good for shooting trash at my buddies range without blowing $5 a pop like I’d think 6.5 prc would be

I have a CA Carbon Classic in 300WSM. I love it. It has always shot perfectly for me too. Super light and looks sharp too. My 7mm-08 is a REM 700 ,now in a XLR chassis. Both shoot great.

 

[HornPorn]

Since you dont reload I would definitely stick to 6.5 creedmor, 308, 270, 30-06, 7mm mag, 300 win

Any store in North America will always have ammo for any of those

 

[BjornF16]

In your OP you stated brush gun, close range.

That reads 6.5CM, 7mm-08 or .308 Win in a 16.5"-22" barrel.

Last thing I would personally want is a long tube magnum in that scenario...

Go with Trijicon, NF or SWFA and sleep well at night.

 

[bigbassfish]

Man just when I think I got it figured out, someone tempts me with another option….
Any love for the Seekins Havak PH2? I didn’t realize they could be had for around 1800. Would it be worth passing on the used Ridgeline to find a good deal on a havak?

 

[bigbassfish]

Pretty much sold on an nxs 2.5-10x42, although I would also be happy with a trijicon tenmile 3-18…. If I were to stick with a 308 ridgeline, do either of these optics stick out as the better option? Keep in mind I haven’t shot much long range with true variable power scopes, but it is my line of thinking that I can deal with a SFP optic up to about 10x max power, anything more I feel like I’d want FFP…. Am I atleast in the right direction?

 

[bigbassfish]

Last year, my gf and I decided we wanted to try and bag a deer on our own on public land. After weeks of scouting and a couple trips out, we finally had our opportunity. Sitting at the bottom of a tree, I had what would’ve been a trophy deer for around here (10 point, younger looking buck, not super wide but very long tines and main beams) sneak in behind me… and by the time I maneuvered my rifle towards him, I could only see the upper half of his neck up to the bottom jaw, facing towards me. I’m here was MAYBE 20 yards away, but it looked kinda twiggy between me and a clean shot. I raised my rifle and had my red dot on him for a good 15 seconds as we both just stood there. Maybe it was first time jitters, or maybe it was my subconscious holding me back from an unethical shot, but I let him walk. Only then did I realize how nice this deer truly was.

Didn’t even see another buck the rest of the season….. I kick myself for not taking the shot, but with a .223 I know I did the right thing holding off, I’d hate to hit him in the jaw and cause a slow painful death via starvation, but long story short, that’s why I wanted a magnum lol

 

[roosiebull]

Thanks for all who chimed in, lemme try and clarify some…. I’ve heard all about kimber and Christensen reputation, atleast as far as handguns go, at work we probably see more kimbers in for repair than anything other than SW. I’ve also had a friend purchase a Ridgeline in 300rum that needed sent back and rebarreled straight out of the box. For those suggesting tikka, I’ve considered it and I sing the tikka praises everyday, but for some reason it doesn’t quite grab my attention. The kickstarter for this new gun was a pack in mule deer hunt in Idaho this coming October (unfortunately had to back out do to conflicting circumstances) but my buddy picked up a T3x in 7mag, and he plans to add a proof barrel down the road. But like I told him, the tikka is like a Honda Accord, they just work, and who gets excited about a Honda Accord

In all seriousness though I probably should consider, but for whatever reason I’m drawn to something a little more sexy. I don’t really have a desire to shoot an animal past 400, but for shooting paper I’d like to be able to go for a 1000 just to say I can lol. Not exactly new to longer range, I have an ar I’ve taken out 800 before and shoot pretty confidently out to 500, I’ve just never had a bolt gun or been much into hunting anything bigger than a hog.

You guys must not carry Taurus pistols at work?

You should get something that you like for sure, tikkas are more like a Toyota Tacoma imo (rather than an accord) nothing stands out about one stock, but they work, and can modify them to no end, but I know many share your feelings and tikkas just don’t interest them… I have had several tikkas, and sort of shared your feelings with them, but I keep going back to them… I just got another and put it in a krg bravo and put a little NXS on it, and it’s the first tikka that fits me that I have owned… a stock tikka doesn’t fit me well, and are the worst recoiling modern rifle I have shot, but being as popular as they are, there are a ton of aftermarket stocks for them

This most recent rifle I was fairly set on a seekins ph2, but I was worried it wouldn’t fit, and there aren’t many aftermarket options for them I know of, and I didn’t want to have to spend more on it regardless… a tikka and bravo was just practical for what I was looking for, a easy shooting sub 500yd rifle

 

[Cubby]

Save up a bit more money and pick up a Seekins Havak.....Mine is a tack driver...

I own 2 ph2's(300wm and 6mmcm) and one Element in 6.5prc which I sold my ph2 in 6.5prc to get so I own 3 of their rifles currenty and would trade them for anything. All 4 have been tack drivers and look at the warranty you get with them, even in the event of a fire they will replace them no questions asked for life, not another rifle manufacture has that kind of warranty not to forget the CS is top notch. You won't be disappointed with Seekins plus if cool is your thing they are cool looking

 

[Cubby]

I owned 1 CA long range mesa in 6.5prc and after dealing with pressure with factory loads to the point of scraping the writing off the head stamp and multi forums telling me there was a problem and not to shoot it anymore just call them, which I did to which they told me not to worry that's normal and will get better over time. I sent it back to them anyways just to wait 3 months to get it back and the very first shot did the same thing I sold that rifle and will never buy another CA. Just my experience

 

[bigbassfish]

Update: I’m sold on the Ridgeline, I’ve decided I’d rather get a good deal on the Ridgeline, and when the money I save from jumping up to a $2k price point, I’ll pick up a can you go with it. Kinda have my eyes on a SilencerCo evo harvester. It’ll be mostly used on the Ridgeline, but I may throw it onto my ar for fun. Not planning on running drills or long strings of fire with the ar, probably would be for coyotes mostly. Any other options to consider?
Tonight I’ll try and order an NXS 2.5-10. I really wanted an NX8 2.5-20, but I’m concerned with the tight eye box and I think the NXS will do everything I truly need on this gun. However, I just found I could get a Steiner for a similar price to the NF, maybe something in he T series or predator series…. Should I stick with NF or maybe explore a Steiner? Same bombproof reliability as the NF? I saw something about Steiner’s lifetime no receipt warranty on their binos, is it the same for their scopes?

 

[HornPorn]

Update: I’m sold on the Ridgeline, I’ve decided I’d rather get a good deal on the Ridgeline, and when the money I save from jumping up to a $2k price point, I’ll pick up a can you go with it. Kinda have my eyes on a SilencerCo evo harvester. It’ll be mostly used on the Ridgeline, but I may throw it onto my ar for fun. Not planning on running drills or long strings of fire with the ar, probably would be for coyotes mostly. Any other options to consider?
Tonight I’ll try and order an NXS 2.5-10. I really wanted an NX8 2.5-20, but I’m concerned with the tight eye box and I think the NXS will do everything I truly need on this gun. However, I just found I could get a Steiner for a similar price to the NF, maybe something in he T series or predator series…. Should I stick with NF or maybe explore a Steiner? Same bombproof reliability as the NF? I saw something about Steiner’s lifetime no receipt warranty on their binos, is it the same for their scopes?

Unless you got a special edition (Lippys, etc) Ridgeline, the original Ridgeline in 308 will have a 24 inch barrel. Add a suppressor and thats alot of length. If you are really wanting to run suppressed you should just pony up for the FFT ridgeline. Thats what they were made for. The 308 has a 20 inch barrel

Steiner are heavy for what they are. I tried one and it didn't agree with my eyes. I would go NF.

 

[Fartrell Cluggins]

Damn near impossible to find 7mm-08 brass these days

Shooters Pro Shop has some in stock right now. https://www.shootersproshop.com/7mm-08-rem-premium-brass-50ct-blem.html

 

[Doc Holliday]

Shooters Pro Shop has some in stock right now. https://www.shootersproshop.com/7mm-08-rem-premium-brass-50ct-blem.html

Thanks Brother! Just picked up a couple