Anyone built on a Montana action recently?

C

CZ527

Active member
I'm going to build a 284 Win as a winter project, and I'm having a tough time sourcing a Winchester short action. I'm also not sure what the internal box magazine measures.

So, I'm think of just using a Montana 1999 short action, which has an internal length of 3.125"

I know one blew up ten years ago in England so no need to go over that, could have happened to anyone. What I'm wondering is has their quality become more consistent??
I know for a while it was hit and miss, but I haven't heard a word about them in years.

Thanks for reading.
 
When it comes to action strength, Remington and Winchester are top notch.

Now on the mag length, check out Wyatts magazine boxes

284's are darn short for a short action, at least in my 6/284 and 25/284 they were. For a guy that shoots 30 rounds a year max, they are ok because with that kind of shooting you do not have to get into chasing the lands.

Keith
 
Originally Posted By: ackleymanWhen it comes to action strength, Remington and Winchester are top notch.

Now on the mag length, check out Wyatts magazine boxes

284's are darn short for a short action, at least in my 6/284 and 25/284 they were. For a guy that shoots 30 rounds a year max, they are ok because with that kind of shooting you do not have to get into chasing the lands.

Keith
Not sure what you mean by darn short for a short action??
I agree that they have little business in a Remington, but the longer box of a Winchester allows for a little more room. My throat will be cut is precisely for the 168 Berger Classic Hunter, which is a forgiving bullet anyhow.

Also a little fuzzy on why you'd say a guy shooting 30 rounds a year wouldn't need to chase the lands? I'm a high volume shooter/reloader, but even if I wasn't I'd want to put my best foot forward and develop the best ammunition possible.
 
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I have two rifles built on Montana 1999 actions manufactured just before the buyout of the company. Both are excellent. One is a short action and the other is a long action. Both are stainless actions.


The new website does not have action magazine box dimensions, but IIRC, the box on the short action is 3.125" in length which is more than sufficient for the 284 Win cartridge. Being a controlled round, you might have to have the magazine feed rails opened up slightly for good reliable feeding of the fat 284 Win cartridge.


I used the short action for building a rifle for the 6mm Rem cartridge and there is plenty of room for the cartridge in the mag box so the 284 will fit with excess space available.


Overall both actions are finished very well and both made very reliable and serviceable hunting rifles. I haven't seen or heard much about the actions since the company sold, but I wouldn't be afraid to buy another one for a new custom rifle.


Rifles blow up occassionally and seldom is it the result of a faulty action.
 
The post New Haven Model 70 rifles are excellent in my opinion, as are most of the earlier New Haven/USRA rifles, but I would not be afraid of a Model 1999 action if it was available.
 
I like the idea of buying a Model 70 off the shelf, and selling the takeoff stock, barrel and trigger in new and unused condition.

On the rare occasion I see one on the shelf, it's around $725 for a sporter. I would figure the take-off parts would bring some decent money and lower the overall cost of the build.
 
Originally Posted By: Eugene CanterburyWhat about the mausingfield action? Have you looked into those?


Ah.....that's cute.

Personally, I like crispy bacon but the OP didn't asked about it.
 
Originally Posted By: Winny FanI have two rifles built on Montana 1999 actions manufactured just before the buyout of the company. Both are excellent. One is a short action and the other is a long action. Both are stainless actions.

FYI The company was not bought out, they sold off the barrel making business and machinery. The Montana Rifle Co. is still owned and operated by the Sipes and all actions, barrels and now synthetic stocks are made in house. They are currently expanding with lots of new products and designs.

Here is a link to the site and the specs on their actions.....

http://montanarifleco.com/?page_id=258
 
Originally Posted By: Eugene CanterburyWhat about the mausingfield action? Have you looked into those?


Haha, that's got to be the ugliest little hybrid I ever saw. I was looking at them last month.
They have some nice features, but wow.... And the price is insane.

Ok back on topic now.
 
Originally Posted By: jcs271Originally Posted By: Winny FanI have two rifles built on Montana 1999 actions manufactured just before the buyout of the company. Both are excellent. One is a short action and the other is a long action. Both are stainless actions.

FYI The company was not bought out, they sold off the barrel making business and machinery. The Montana Rifle Co. is still owned and operated by the Sipes and all actions, barrels and now synthetic stocks are made in house. They are currently expanding with lots of new products and designs.

Here is a link to the site and the specs on their actions.....

http://montanarifleco.com/?page_id=258

Sorry my semantics were poor on the sale.

And thanks for the link. Earlier this evening I could get the drop down on the actions but clicking on "short action" produced nothing. Those are the specs I was looking for.
 
Originally Posted By: CZ527Originally Posted By: ackleymanWhen it comes to action strength, Remington and Winchester are top notch.

Now on the mag length, check out Wyatts magazine boxes

284's are darn short for a short action, at least in my 6/284 and 25/284 they were. For a guy that shoots 30 rounds a year max, they are ok because with that kind of shooting you do not have to get into chasing the lands.

Keith
Not sure what you mean by darn short for a short action??
I agree that they have little business in a Remington, but the longer box of a Winchester allows for a little more room. My throat will be cut is precisely for the 168 Berger Classic Hunter, which is a forgiving bullet anyhow.

Also a little fuzzy on why you'd say a guy shooting 30 rounds a year wouldn't need to chase the lands? I'm a high volume shooter/reloader, but even if I wasn't I'd want to put my best foot forward and develop the best ammunition possible.

Got you thinking, eh?

Most folks do not even consider the mag box length required for any cartridge on a 284 case. You are wise to consider the Win and Montana actions for this purpose or at least consider options. As I said, I had a 25/284 and a 6/284 and had reamers ground with zero freebore for the use of both. I was in trouble chasing the lands within 900 rounds and the 6/284 just would not shoot unless the bullet was touching the lands, and the 25/284 was sold to a guy that only verified sight in, then shot his antelope and deer with.

I changed directions, 6 AI on long actions, and a 6.5/06 on a long action. Remington actions are long enough to where I will NEVER run into trouble chasing lands. The long action with additional material in the stock and action weighed 6 oz.

The 25/284, 6/284, and the 6.5/284 are extremely accurate cartridges, but they are also wicked evil on barrel wear, especially if you shoot R#17 in them to get another +150 fps out of them. It is heart breaking when your barrel quits shooting because you can't chase the lands anymore, and any cartridge on a 284 case will get you there in a hurry. $Figure$ 500-600 dollars to get your rifle a new barrel, depending on the barrel you choose because the action is too short for the 284 case, especially if you want to shoot a VLD bullet. Sierra's bullets are not so picky on seating depth, if it is any help.

I have some very fond memories of busting coyotes way out there around the 500 yard mark in Nevada with a 26" 6/284 shooting the 85g sierra BTHP at 3500+, and at 900 rounds my Hart barrel was fried. Back then, when the guys that were in the Varmint Calling Club were not on a Club Hunt, we would meet at the rifle range and shoot, etc. It was a great time for all of us with the great fellowship. That 6/284 would shoot with the bullets touching at 200 yards, and the rifle was dubbed the Cannon due to it's muzzle blast. Everyone in the club was shocked when the barrel went south because it was only about a year, we got into shooting jack rabbits, ground squirrels, and a load of crows in almond orchards, also.

It is my own personal choice to set up a cartridge where I can chase the lands about .200 or as close to it as I can. The Montana, Winchester, Interarms Mark X, and Remington Short actions with a Wyatts magazine box can get you close.

Many should consider the OAL when they choose an action/cartridge. Now, I don't even hesitate to go to a long action on a different case due to OAL issues with VLD bullets.

The Montana Actions have a Cult following in some circles, they are indeed a point of pride to their owners, and there is not much not to like in their design and features they offer. For the money, they are a fantastic choice on a custom rifle.
 
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Ackleyman I'd agree that the 6/284 and 25/284 would sure be some barrel burners. I also think that there are some guys and gals out there trying to make their 284 Win into a 7 WSM with a little creative reloading.

I generally shoot a moderate to stout load in my rifles, but rarely anything "hot" or above the norm. I think you probably get another full hunting season out of them in the end by loading them for what they are not what you want them to be. I've never been a fan of "well I'm getting 257 wby velocity from my 25-06" or whatever comparison. I always just look those people in the face and tell them they should have just bought the 257, their brass would have appreciated it.

Anyway, this 284 barrel should last me a couple or four seasons, and when it's gone it's just gone. There will be another one screwed on abruptly and we'll be back in business.
 
I've owned a custom 6.5-284 Win since from back when very few people had even heard of it. Well over 20 years ago. I've never tried to hot rod it, but I know for a fact that it has well over 1000 rounds down the barre and I'm still not having to chase the lands near the muzzle due to throat erosion. In fact, it still shoots the same load, including OAL, that I started with very well. In addition, I own a couple of 284 Win rifles, a Brownng and a custom rifle, and both of them are no harder on barrels than the next high intensity cartridge is if loaded and used wisely like any high intensity cartridge should be handled. Some aren't and the unhappy owner labels the cartridge as a barrel burner when it really isn't.

A lot gets said on the internet about this or that that someone likes or doesn't like, but a bunch of it is just opinion unless the person making the call has real time experience. I wouldn't be a bit afraid to have a 284 Win built up and to shoot with reasonable loads. By reasonable, I'm saying a load that is capable of digesting most of the powder to boost bullet acceleration and not to add a 20' flame out the muzzle. Powders in those ranges are hard on all barrels, but not all good powders for accuracy and good velocity are like a RL-17, for example.

I think you'll enjoy the 284 Win. It's a great cartridge.

BTW. That Mausingfield only needs a miniature skull for a shifter knob and you'd have a fully styled pimp gun. I'm sure they are good actions but butt ugly comes to mind when looking at the style when considering a nice handy hunting rifle.
 
Haha yea I was a little surprised that they didn't just use a gold chain for a rip cord trigger system, or perhaps offer to put your name on the side in Old English. Mausingfield.... What a label.
 
The 284 is quite popular in F class competition, 600-1000 yd shooting, you can read a lot about it over on accurate shooter.

I hope to have one on a heavy bench gun soon, great ballistics, but read what they say on the barrel life.

For a deer hunting rifle, 1200 rounds can be a life time of shooting, and they make new barrels every day. I have been known to have two barrels chambered at the same time, head spaced the same.
 
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Originally Posted By: ackleymanThe 284 is quite popular in F class competition, 600-1000 yd shooting, you can read a lot about it over on accurate shooter.

I hope to have one on a heavy bench gun soon, great ballistics, but read what they say on the barrel life.

For a deer hunting rifle, 1200 rounds can be a life time of shooting, and they make new barrels every day. I have been known to have two barrels chambered at the same time, head spaced the same.

I've read on that extensively. Hence the trying to make a 284 a 7 WSM. I have no doubt that they're burning barrels in a hurry.

I know what you mean about having 2 barrels made. When I first got into the 6 WOA, I had 2 identical (close as humanly possible anyway) barrels chambered. One however, had an extra inch of shank. I figured those two barrels would last several years. I just had the long shanked one set back, it lasted longer than I had expected, and it's right back in the hunt after a quick turnaround from the smith. Still got that second barrel oiled up and in waiting.
 


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