|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,453
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,453 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 14,076
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 14,076 |
heavywalker
You may have already tried this, but have you really cleaned your Nula. The only thing I don't like about mine is that it likes to be fairly clean. After about 50-60rounds it starts to open up. Clean it good give it 3 or 4 to foul the barrel and things are good again. Mr. Forbes told me to clean it after each time I shoot it after a range session. I didn't believe it was necessary. I've since found out with this rifle anyway it is. Yes it has been cleaned a couple of times during load development, and it actually starts shooting better after it has been shot about 20 times.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 29
Campfire Greenhorn
|
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 29 |
I have both. A 86 vintage ULA in 257 AI and a Montana in 7-08 of uncertain vintage.
I bought the Montana because its stainless steel, light weight, good stock, light weight. I ended up buying used after waiting for Kimber to make 7-08s for about 10 months. This was in 2008. To say that they were unresponsive to my questions about production is an understatement, despite my $1k deposit. However, the rifle I ended up with is as advertised: light, accurate, good stock fit(for me). My only real complaint other than poor customer service is that the stainless does stain quite easily. After one day of wet rainy weather rust started to frost on the surface. My stainless ruger 77/22 can take the rain with no problem. Perhaps this is just my Montana or they use a stainless with less corrosion resistant properties.
I ended up buying the ULA model 20 from an auction primarily because I felt I could do better than the Montana. I got a great deal on it and encourage you to shop around. There are some great deals both here and at the other internet gun sites. The gun was practically brand new and shoots very accurately as long as I do my part. I am still working up loads for it. The differences were discussed better by JB and BobinNH than I can, but I will say that I would definitely buy another ULA or even a NULA, rather than another kimber.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,401
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 13,401 |
Thanks John,
I figured I knew the answer, since the "ugliest stock" winner seems to still be in use...
Reckon once my boys grow up and start stealing my rifles, I will buy a NULA in 7x57, or 280, or .30-06 and consider myself to be well-off...
“There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.” ALDO LEOPOLD
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,086
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,086 |
The new 84L Montana will no doubt be a lightweight cracker, but, Melvin has poured sweat n tears over his NULA......... I will buy an 84L Montana, just to compare & play Good luck with it all
Taking my rifle for a walk
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 338
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 338 |
I have owned a Kimber 8400 WSM and currently own a NULA model 24 so I can give a comparison based on experiece. The Kimber is a nice rifle, I enjoyed the one that owned, but like other posters have stated is not even close in quality to the NULA. The 2 biggest difference to me are in the rifles Balance and accuacy. the NULA feels so good in the hands that I tend to keep it uslung more than any rifle I've previously owned. It is also the easiest rifle to load for that I have every owned, almost any load Ive tried shoots acceptably, and the loads the rifle likes shoot amazingly. The Kimber that I had grouped well enough but took quite a bit of load development to make it happy. Its a factory rifle vs. a custom rifle, you have to decide if the advantages of a custom rifle are worth the cost. For me the NULA is easily worth the price difference
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,213
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,213 |
Mel Forbes is where Kimber went to learn how to make stocks. Didn't Melvin call BS on this? When I spoke to him on the phone, Mel called INCREDIBLE BS on having any involvement with the Kimber stock design.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,133 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,133 Likes: 2 |
I have a Kimber 308 and a NULA barreled action in a non-NULA stock. My Kimber is plenty accurate and shoots a lot of loads sub-MOA, but the NULA is easier to load for - I've not found any bullet that won't -easily- go under 1" - but some get lucky with their Kimber barrels and get similar results.
I like the bolt handle clearance and safety on the Kimber better (less clearance with the NULA). As far as ultralight, the Kimber barreled action is actually slightly lighter than the NULA (mine is anyway). I aslo prefer the total stainless of the Kimber.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,768
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,768 |
I've owned Kimber & NULA. The NULAs were more accurate, balanced better, functioned better and had better triggers. When I had any issues Mel was helpful while Kimber was not.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,782
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,782 |
Mel Forbes is where Kimber went to learn how to make stocks. Didn't Melvin call BS on this? When I spoke to him on the phone, Mel called INCREDIBLE BS on having any involvement with the Kimber stock design. Maybe Noslers stock?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,689
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,689 |
Mel Forbes reputation speaks for itself,and Kimber is.....well......Kimber.
Worth $3k? To me it would be, because you can blow through $3k just trying to get one Kimber that performs the way you want.I know; I've tried.Likely, you will buy a NULA once and it will perform right away.. I would propose that perhaps the difference between the Kimber Montana and the Sako Carbonlite might also apply Trystan
Good bullets properly placed always work, but not everyone knows what good bullets are, or can reliably place them in the field
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,344
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,344 |
Nice old post with good info and opinions no bickering or name calling!!!! What the fire used to be
|
|
|
|
72 members (338Rules, AdventureBound, 406_SBC, 907brass, 300_savage, 10 invisible),
1,321
guests, and
722
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,193,449
Posts18,507,938
Members74,002
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|