Kimber Mountain rifles

[squigz]

Does any one have experience/opinions with Kimber's ultra light weight rifles(Mountain ascent, Adirondack, Montana)? Specifically the Mountain Ascent. Looking for information along the lines of accuracy, feeding or ejection issues, etc.. I handled a 308 Mountain Ascent in one of my LGS's and I was amazed at how light and nimble the rifle was.

Everything I read is either people love them or hate them(like anything else, surprising I know). I'm wanting to get into an Ultra Light rifle while not getting into anything that's completely custom built. These are the lightest factory produced rifles on the market (4lbs 13 oz for short action) so that's why I'm looking after them. 

If there are any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them! I currently have 4 Remington 700 Mountain Rifles from the early 90's (270, 280, 260, 308) and where they do more than hold their own, I'm just looking to have the lightest possible. Though, if a decently priced Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08 came along my way I wouldn't' say no to it as long as it's in good condition.


Thanks, in advance!

-Bill 

[ryan]

I've had a total of 3 centerfire Kimber rifles...an Oregon manufactured .222, a 8400 .338, and a Montana .260. The .222 was insanely accurate, the others not so much. I tried very hard to get the Montana to shoot with little success even though I loved the rifle and, as a result, reluctantly sold it. The only thing I didn't try was full-length bedding, and mainly because I was frustrated by the amount of effort already invested. I tried everything...bullets, powder, primers, seating depth, even tried different bench techniques. Best I ever got was 3" groups, but often with two good ones and one flyer, but I never knew when it would happen. First shot...second...third, it was anyone's guess. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me could solve that issue but I never did.

I've got a 700 Mountain Rifle .270 that I've had since '91. With the wood stock I had some issues at times but eventually switched that to a B&C Alaskan. That, bedding the action, and re-crowning the barrel solved the inconsistencies.

This year I started using a Forbes 24B .270, made in Westbrook, Maine. The company started with some direction from Melvin Forbes but for some reason couldn't survive. Barrett bought them out and are now selling their version of the same rifle. My particular rifle with a 24" barrel weighs less than the 700 MR and will put 3 factory 150 grain Partitions into 1" at 200 yards. I haven't even tried handloads yet. A buddy has the same rifle in 30-06 with similar results.

[zac0419]

I owned a Kimber 84M in 338 Fed. NO feeding problems for me and the bedding was well done. I've read the bedding on some of the Montanas was lass than desirable but an easy fix with some reading over at 24hr campfire forum. It was very accurate for the first 2-3 shots but heated up very quickly (to be expected) and accuracy fell off. Under 6lbs with a scope. I really liked how it handled but sent it down the road when I was shedding rifles.

The first shot at the range always landed within a half inch or so of where it should. I would say in a hunting rifle that's a good start. I would buy another.

[squigz]

Thanks guys. You've basically confirmed my suspicions of them with the overheating of the barrels. Like You said, it'll be fine for a hunting rifle, but as far as bench shooting it would not be, and I don't plan on it to be either. Only thing that bothers me is that flyer bullet and you're not to sure where or when it's going to come.

I've also looked into those new Browning X-Bolt Hells Canyon Speeds. They're not as light, but they sure like a real nice rifle and they're getting great reviews, I wish Browning still made their TI rifles.

I've keep my eye's peeled for the time being on other rifles, maybe something new will come out and catch my attention.

Thanks!

[Snyd]

I've had a Kimber MT 325wsm for over 10 years and have packed it in the sheep mtns here in AK for as long. Tough conditions from heat to snow, etc. I do not baby the rifle. I've bounced it around on a atv, in the back of airplanes, etc. I have Tally LW rings/bases and a Leupold 2.5-8x36. It has never lost zero and shoots factory and handload 200gr Accubond ammo like this. I've had zero feed problems. Fantastic rifle in my opinion. I've taken sheep, moose and griz with the "Little Eight"

[squigz]

Dec 14, 2017 11:45:16 GMT -5 Snyd said:

I've had a Kimber MT 325wsm for over 10 years and have packed it in the sheep mtns here in AK for as long. Tough conditions from heat to snow, etc. I do not baby the rifle. I've bounced it around on a atv, in the back of airplanes, etc. I have Tally LW rings/bases and a Leupold 2.5-8x36. It has never lost zero and shoots factory and handload 200gr Accubond ammo like this. I've had zero feed problems. Fantastic rifle in my opinion. I've taken sheep, moose and griz with the "Little Eight"

Thanks for that Snyd. That really sets me at ease to hear that much about the rifle with the overwhelming amount of experiences you've gone through with it. I won't be on quite the adventures i'm sure you've put your rifle through, so I have much more confidence in looking further into one now.

I appreciate everyone's responses very much, thanks!

[pinkerton]

I’ve only owned 1 Kimber M84 in 338 Federal, it was to be my perceived “dream rifle” put a leupold vx3 3.5-10x on it and it was light and sweet. Turns out I could never get it to shoot as well as I would have liked it to and I believe the fault was in me. It just seemed the rifle was so light I couldn’t get it settled. For me I’ve found I do much better with a rifle that has some heft to it. I envy the guys that can shoot those light rifles, I just can’t seem to.

[ryan]

Dec 13, 2017 18:25:16 GMT -5 zac0419 said:

I owned a Kimber 84M in 338 Fed. NO feeding problems for me and the bedding was well done. I've read the bedding on some of the Montanas was lass than desirable but an easy fix with some reading over at 24hr campfire forum. It was very accurate for the first 2-3 shots but heated up very quickly (to be expected) and accuracy fell off. Under 6lbs with a scope. I really liked how it handled but sent it down the road when I was shedding rifles.

The first shot at the range always landed within a half inch or so of where it should. I would say in a hunting rifle that's a good start. I would buy another.

After reading zac0419's response I thought I might mention a couple other points. The fit and function of my Montana .260 was excellent. No feeding issues, bedding looked perfect, crown was good. There was nothing we could find wrong with the rifle, just couldn't make it perform as well as it looked.  In frustration I even passed on to a buddy who has the patience to take the time to work through such things.  He was able to get more out of it, but not by much, and experienced the same issues I had.  He even spent the better part of two hours one day allowing the rifle to completely cool between each shot with no noticeable improvement.  I had mentioned the possibility of full-length bedding, primarily because of my experience with the Forbes rifles that are built this way (as is the NULA rifles), but we never got to it even though it seems to really help with some lightweight barrels.  I agree that the first shot out of a hunting rifle is more important than little groups but I wasn't able to get that consistent first shot either, regardless of whether it was shot from a bench or a field position.  I do however know others that have done very well with the Kimber Montana, a good example is shown by Snyd's post above, it just wasn't what I experienced.  Regardless, I do like the rifle enough that I would not hesitate to try again with another example and would encourage you to do the same if it's something you're interested in.  I didn't really lose anything from the experience, just some time shooting and loading, which is something we all enjoy anyway.  Good luck!

[bradshaw]

ryan.... sounds like a bad barrel. In speaking with Lee Martin on what makes and what kills accuracy, the other night we once again were at the accuracy-of-the-individual-barrel caper. It is difficult without tools to isolate accuracy killers which aren’t readily apparent. The LEADE is one. Doug Shilen hipped me years ago to the importance of the LEADE, which is the ramp between the THROAT and the top of the LANDS. To get the leade wrong dooms accuracy of the best rifle barrel. Leade can be checked via a Cerrosafe casting of the chamber. It is worth the effort. A perfect action, perfect bedding, dynamite scope & mounts, cannot wring accuracy from a bad barrel. A crown can be repaired; a wavy or irregular bore cannot.

My very limited experience with the Kimber .325 Winchester Short Magnum dovetails Snyd’s experience. Despite my affection for the .338 Win Mag., I’ll tip my hat to the .327 WSM, leastwise in the Kimber.
David Bradshaw

[gunzo]

Dec 13, 2017 18:25:16 GMT -5 zac0419 said:

I owned a Kimber 84M in 338 Fed. NO feeding problems for me and the bedding was well done. I've read the bedding on some of the Montanas was lass than desirable but an easy fix with some reading over at 24hr campfire forum. It was very accurate for the first 2-3 shots but heated up very quickly (to be expected) and accuracy fell off. Under 6lbs with a scope. I really liked how it handled but sent it down the road when I was shedding rifles.



"A campfire member "shortactionsmoker" has found several minor problems with easy fixes. His tutorials & reports from several members there, would have me buying a Montana in a minute if I could justify it. Well..... until I started reading about the new Barrett Fieldcraft. 20-25% more money than the Kimber, but it seems that for a production lightweight, they've hit it out of the park. gunzo"

[ryan]

Dec 16, 2017 11:49:35 GMT -5 bradshaw said:

ryan.... sounds like a bad barrel. In speaking with Lee Martin on what makes and what kills accuracy, the other night we once again were at the accuracy-of-the-individual-barrel caper. It is difficult without tools to isolate accuracy killers which aren’t readily apparent. The LEADE is one. Doug Shilen hipped me years ago to the importance of the LEADE, which is the ramp between the THROAT and the top of the LANDS. To get the leade wrong dooms accuracy of the best rifle barrel. Leade can be checked via a Cerrosafe casting of the chamber. It is worth the effort. A perfect action, perfect bedding, dynamite scope & mounts, cannot wring accuracy from a bad barrel. A crown can be repaired; a wavy or irregular bore cannot.

My very limited experience with the Kimber .325 Winchester Short Magnum dovetails Snyd’s experience. Despite my affection for the .338 Win Mag., I’ll tip my hat to the .327 WSM, leastwise in the Kimber.
David Bradshaw

Thanks David, I appreciate the input. Like I said in my last post, I still wouldn't hesitate to get another despite my previous experience.  Guns are no different than anything else I guess, sometimes you get a lemon.

[ryan]

Dec 16, 2017 12:04:22 GMT -5 gunzo said:

Dec 13, 2017 18:25:16 GMT -5 zac0419 said:

"A campfire member "shortactionsmoker" has found several minor problems with easy fixes. His tutorials & reports from several members there, would have me buying a Montana in a minute if I could justify it. Well..... until I started reading about the new Barrett Fieldcraft. 20-25% more money than the Kimber, but it seems that for a production lightweight, they've hit it out of the park. gunzo"

Thanks for that info gunzo, I'll look into it.

[gunzo]

ryan, pm sent

[Snyd]

Dec 14, 2017 22:59:03 GMT -5 pinkerton said:

I’ve only owned 1 Kimber M84 in 338 Federal, it was to be my perceived “dream rifle” put a leupold vx3 3.5-10x on it and it was light and sweet. Turns out I could never get it to shoot as well as I would have liked it to and I believe the fault was in me. It just seemed the rifle was so light I couldn’t get it settled. For me I’ve found I do much better with a rifle that has some heft to it. I envy the guys that can shoot those light rifles, I just can’t seem to.

Quite a bit of muzzle flip with the "pencil" barrel on my Kimber. I had it mag-na-ported and it tamed down substantially. I'm glad I had it done.

[alukban]

I have a .308 Montana that was doing about 1.5 MOA only if I strangled it to death - super tight to the shoulder and crushing cheek weld. Otherwise, it was about 2 to 2.5 MOA with Fed Gold Medal HPBT’s.

I honestly never shoot it past 100y and only did so only when I first got it to find out what it could do. The accuracy was plenty good for my purposes because I placed a lot more importance on a very light and compact form factor.

I chopped the barrel to 16.7” and set it up with iron sights, an Aimpoint H2, and a Leupold Ultralight 3-9x33. I shoot cast lead subsonics and use it for small game about near 100% of the time with peeps but have full power loads in my pocket. All the sights and my loads are set up so that no adjustments to the sights are necessary for use with the subsonic and full power loads with consideration for the different ranges and accuracy requirements with which they would be used. The optics will be needed as I get older and my eyes worsen. I’m almost there...



Here in the North East, it makes all my other guns look stupid because it is so light and handy that it always comes out with me. Even my rimfires are jealous. It is lighter than all of them but can hit like a hammer by just thumbing down a full power round.