Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Kimber Montana 358 win

I am thinking about buying a Kimber Montana with the intention of turning it into a 358 win. That is about all I know. I have questions that I hope some of you can answer. First off, I need to know if I re-barrel using a #2 or #3 contour, is there enough meat on the Kimber stock to hog out the barrel channel and have it full length bedded? Anybody got a barrel recommendation? What length? I want to end up with a fairly light weight quick handling multiple purpose rifle that is slightly muzzle heavy for better off hand shooting for use in any weather. That's not too much to ask for is it?
Any and all info, advice, opinions, or other options are welcome.
Thanks in advance.

Will defiantly not be for the recoil shy , If you run it full out !!

I'd use something close to a Rem sporter contour and leave it at 22" bedding it out a couple inches under the chamber.

You're right ..... I just got my 700 back with King bbl and Wildcat stock. VXII 2x7 on top.

6.5lbs will be fun with 250s.

I know this is way too logical for a fellow campfire rifle loonie, but why not look at a 325WSM Montana? Should do everything you're talking about for a lot less money and work? Just a thought.

Shortactionsmoker set up a barrel contour with Lilja that retains the factory 84m contour to the end of the stock, but tapers much less than factory from that point out to the muzzle. This would be the route I would go on a Kimber rebarrel, as opening up the stock is not very doable.

The 8400 WSMs have a rather distended pot belly that some find uncomfortable. The 84M Montanas just "feel right" to me.

Or a Kimber 84M in .338 Federal. It's just about a .358 now!

If the 338 Fed. was there when I got my first 99F in 1966 I could have got everything just as well with it rather than the 358 that was there.

In fact for a longer range rifle there are some excellent .338" bullets.

Nosler shows a 180 gr with a BC of 0.372!

+1

I have two Kimber 8400 WSM Montanas and I like the feel and handing of the rifle. It weighs less than a M70 Featherweight and they shoot very well.

If someone has small hands then perhaps a magnum is too big for them.

My Kimber Montana WSM weighs 7#, 3oz with a 4.5-14 Leupold. A pre 64 M70 Winchester Featherweight weighs 7#, 11oz. with a 4X Bear Cub.

I just WANT the 358 win.

I was in the gunshop near here and talked about the .358 W. and said I had a few. The owner there said one of his customers has ten of them!

Fair enough. I can certainly relate. Post pics if/when you get it finished!!

Prezactly.

It's also worth noting Winchester used to chamber the 358 Win in their Featherweight Pattern barrel, which mic's .555" @ the muzzle.

Of course, the Fwt Pattern is a fairly stout, fairly straight tapered tube compared to some pencil barrels, but still, the 358 is a big hole in that tube.

Aside, I've had a 358 Win and I'd not want a steady diet of any of its bullet weights in a Kimber Montana, and I'm no stranger to MT's.

Some things are just "too much of a good thing" and that's one of them IMO.

Does the 8400 have a beefier action that would be necessary for a 358 win?

The 8400 is a substantially bigger action, but it's not necessary for the 358 Win... after all, the 338 Federal is chambered in the 84M.

I happen to know someone with a 358 Win on the 84M action... it works.

The 284 case on the other hand is not recommended for the 84M action...

I also "had" to have a .358 Win, so I picked up one of the initial MRC 1999 stainless actions and had them put a fast twist 21-inch (just because I could...) stainless barrel on it. I had Serengeti make a "Leopard" pattern stock for it and bed the action into it for me. Not a tremendously light rifle, but short and handy. This was before the ownership/management changes at both of those companies. MRC would not go below a certain muzzle diameter, which I think was .605, but I can't remember for certain and would have to measure it. It does make for a slightly muzzle-heavy rifle.
To lighten it up a bit, I also bought a MaMillen Edge stock. It shoots better with the Serengeti stock due to the excellent bedding work, but either way, it is a sub-moa rifle. I shoot mostly 225 gr Partitions through it, but 250 gr Hornady Interlocks are very accurate. With heavy bullets loaded stout, recoil is noticeable.

.605" sounds about right... most barrel makers want .120" metal around a given hole.

The contour I set up with Lilja tapers from .665" at the end of the forearm to .610" at 22". IIRC, the factory taper goes from .665" to .565" at 22".

I don't have any barrels at the house for measurement....but I think the taper stops at .610" too. You could go longer than 22" if you wanted, but 22" is plenty for me on a Montana (84M).

.372 BC is long range material?

Heck, the 168 grain Nosler and Hornady match bullets I plink with go .45 to .46, and they're practically towing drag chutes compared to real long range bullets.