Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Anyone here ever chop a Kimber Montana 308 barrel to 20"?

I like it a lot actually. Super quick and handy. I have since got it ported as well through the front barrel band which looks pretty slick and tames the sub 5 pound all up rifle and makes it more manageable as this is my summer carry backpack gun now for bear protection. A 200 grainer at 2500 fps ain't too bad but it thumped pretty good.

Like PAbucktail called its a NEGC barrel banded front sight and then Talley QD bases (I do have a scope setup for it but likely will never use it for this application as I have a Kimber Montana in 338-06 I use as my regular hunting setup) and a Talley peep.

Actually this is my rifle I decided to trick out for a short range option in dense woods or my summer backpack carry bear protection. My wifes .308 still just wears a standard VX-2 3-9 and she has killed quick a bit with it including a 9.5' brown bear this spring.

That is a slick looking setup with the NECG's. I have or have had multiple 7mm-08's and 308's in 18"-21", all balanced, handled and shot great. The velocity loss is much less than expected. Other than a couple of Remington 600's at 18", I find 20" about perfect.

AL,
When bringing the gun up to your shoulder, do you find it easier to find the sights with the higher front? What height did you use?

I don't remember the height I selected. My gunsmith ordered the front sight. But it shoulders fast seems to got on target fast with a good cheek weld on the stock. But I will say I am thinking of using 180 swift sciroccos as my do all in the 308. Should retain as much or more weight than the 200 NPTs I have been loading and I can shoot those at 2650 fps out of the 20" barrel rather than the 2500 fps I was getting out of the 200 grain NPT. They both shoot right at an inch which is plenty given the distances I shoot from on game.

Lanche, yours is a fine looking rifle, perfect for its purpose.

BTW, don't you guys know a 308 is marginal on everything, especially Brown bear?

Congrats to your wife... 9.5' is the real deal.

RH, years back Finn Aagaard did an article on chopping a 308 Israeli Mauser from 22", to 20", to 18.5" and chronographing the results. His results mirror what I've found over the years.

Here's the salient stuff from the article:

I do think that the Montana balances more neutrally when cut to 20". I find the balance ever so slightly muzzle-weighted in factory guise when using a lightweight scope.

You guys just reminded me I have a new 308 Montana on layaway I need to pick up. I have a model 7 SS with a 20" barrel that shoots great with 155 scenars at 2850. I'll see how the Montana does but I'll leave it at 22" if it shoots. I like the way the montanas feel as is.

Bb

The emphasis on rifle "balance" cracks me up, I bet 99 out of 100, especially here, don't pull the trigger unless the stock is on a tripod, rock, tree, backpack, bipod or shooting sticks.

I would be number 100. Most of the deer I kill are jumped deer. I didn't hunt much last year but the year before 3 of the 4 I killed were killed while I was standing,shooting at moving deer.Two of them weren't at an all out run though.