Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Crappy shooting Montana (for real)!

Everybody likes the Montana here so I figured I'd give one a try. Got a line on a used one in the somewhat rare and my favorite caliber, the .260 Rem. Really like the feel of the action and stock, I could see why everybody likes the.

I was out of 120 TTSX which I had been shooting in my Rem 700 in .260 Rem so I grabbed some 120gr Hornady GMX. I loaded a few with some H4831sc and some with some H4350. I also grabbed some leftover loads for my other .260 Rem loaded with 120gr TTSX and a box of factory 120gr Federal Fusion.

I headed to the range last week end to see what she would do, that's when things started to go down.

First the Factory Fusion. Figured it was not great but its factory ammo, my handloads should tightened that up.



120gr GMX with H4350. Nope, not any better.



120gr GMX with H4831sc. Even worst! The third shot of this group hit the target to the left of it, about 10" to the left (the 46gr of H4350 target, the hole to the bottom left!).


120gr TTSX. Obviously this rifle doesn't like the GMX. Surely my old standard load should fix things up. Nope.


This is at 100 yds, Kimber Montana in .260 Rem with a VXIII 3.5-10x40 in Talley LW.

I had a quick look at Shortactionsmoker's tutorial before heading out to the range but figured mine would be one of the good ones. I'll take it apart this week end and re-read the tutorial!

For the money that kimbers cost, why do people tolerate that level of shoddy workmanship?

Steve drop the action back into the stock without the mag box. Be interested in what you see.

On the handguns, I think it's because they look fancy.

On the long guns, it's a mystery to me.

Never understood the rolling of the dice by so many.

Everyone keeps mentioning SAS's / Sticks checklist. While I don't own a Montana, I'd be interested in reading the thread.

Anyone got a link?

Steve, hope you get things sorted out. SAS's remedies should cure what ails.

As far as the bedding goes, my experience is that it looks "too" pretty. In other words, I highly doubt that they bed each individual receiver but probably have a bunch of blank receivers that they use for setting up the bedding. Thus the bedding looks nice but essentially accomplishes nothing since it does not conform to your individual receiver. That's just my theory and I certainly have no proof but I'm skeptical that a production line can bed every unique action.
If that's the case, a skim bedding might prove very helpful.