Walked into my local shop before Christmas and they handed me a brand new Kimber Montana. Told me my dad had it shipped there as a gift. Paid in full.

My dad is very, very old and foolishly chose the .308 chambering. Since it was the thought that counts I forgave him and accepted the gift anyway.

First range session yielded 1.5" groups @ 100yds and about 3" groups at 200yds. This was with 44.5gr's of RL 15 and the 155gr. Scenar.

After that first session I gave it the full shortactionsmoker treatment. The mag box was not binding but I grinded on it a bit anyway. Front action screw was too long by a smidge. Hogged the barrel channel out a bit more and bedded the recoil lug and about 1/2" worth of the shank.

Skipped calling and took it back out to the range yesterday as I am saving all my fuel to see Ben and his family next weekend. And by all accounts, that is going to consume a LOT of fuel.

Loaded development done.


1" groups @ 100yds and 1.5" groups @ 200yds. Easily.

With the 6X42 and LR reticle, every target from 50-500yds was in serious danger. Broke the 100 round mark yesterday and I am LOVIN' IT. I wish somebody gave me one a long time ago.



Nothing further.



Travis

Congratulations! A no-drama Kimber is a good thing!

It might even kill deer in a .308!

Good deal Travis. I think your front ringmount is backwards though

Yeah, but will it shoot 22-250's?

Impossible. TAK said so.

If it's wrong, I don't wanna be right.



Travis

How did I know that was comin'?



Travis

At least once a year I get all practical and come close to buying Montana in 308.

Then I don't.

I probably should.

He needs 'Flave Precision in his corner.



Travis

Nice. When are you gonna change it to 7-08?

Spread 'em for your scope health! Rings that is.

Never. I am very sentimental.



Travis

Makes me want one:)

Oh. .243 then.

Naw, 22's too small; a 284" bullet outta a 7-08 case will slide right down that barrel...........

Really nice, congrats & I mean that..........it might even get a tad better with a neutral pressure pad under the barrel if you feel like dinking with it later.

MM

Seriously though, if I was using 155's back when mine was a .308, it'd probably still be one. Nice.

If your dad wants to adopt another I'm available.

The 308 is UBER.

You're a good son forgiving your father like that

Congrats on having a great dad to give you a great rifle.

It was kinda funny, because I bought my dad a Garand for Christmas and had announced to my siblings that even though they had long been considered "second class" compared to myself, they would now be all but disowned.

But my dad pulled a fast one and "one-upped" me.



Travis

I'm done with it. It's a thing-hitter for sure.



Travis

I thought so.

Thanks.



Travis

It'd be a good time to be adopted by him. I haven't seen him hit a child in years.



Travis

Well......It has begun. Superflave blows the doors off Montana sales. All Montana roulette naysayers will now magically be converted into believers.

I guess it had to happen sometime.

That simply does not suck as a hunting rifle. I like Kimber Montanas, I like the .308 Win, I clearly 'need' a rifle in that combination.

Awesome your dad got that for you! I really like my 308 montana! So much so I am thinking about buying one for my dad! Enjoy the rifle and great shooting!

Congrats on a very nice rifle. Nice shooter too.

Bang bangs always make the best Christmas presents.

That's an awesome gift!

I keep getting temptation thrown at me at my LgS. They have a Montana in270wsm. That they just can't sell around here and as of my last visit the price is down to 850.

The 155 scenar makes a lot of rifles look good in a hurry. Load development is usually a breeze too. I love them. I think a competent shooter/reloader would be hard pressed to find a rifle that didn't shoot a 1" 3 shot group at 100 with those bullets.

What's your overall weight, 6x42'ed? I've lost count of the number of times I've been tempted to buy one.

That's even nicer than what I got you for Christmas.

Overall weight, 6x42'd should be around 6lbs 2oz. Give or take a hair...

Will it work on elk???

3 shot groups won't let the engineers around here know whether or not your gun shoots accurately. That and a 6x42, I'd say your proper fooked.

The 308 84M MT is the no-brainer-of-the-decade award winner for the easiest to please, out of the box, UL hunting rifle.

I've tried to lead many to water, but most seemingly can't drink... their loss.

Flave, you have a very thoughtful dad, sweet!


You are actually going with dots and no dial?

I thought you were fancier than that...





Brad, I have to ask.

Why don't you just keep one Montana and hunt with it(for more than 1 season)?




I just hate to sell a good shooting, good handling rifle that's setup and ready to go.



Flave, bet you buy another Montana, they are just so frikken handy.

I've been watching the web for a new .308 Montana for my father and they are pretty scarce. Your father did good 'flave!

Oh yea, have I told you lately......

If ya don't install an aluminum trigger guard and titanium crank, you'll spend your hunting season in the hospital for hernia surgery.

"Load development" is a part of my history.

Good stuff should shoot good, otherwise the rifle needs help.

IMO.



Travis

Probably one of the all time best movies. Ever.

And have no fear, the 20 shot strings had steel ringing ever shot. Music to my ears.



Travis

The only reason I have never bought one was because I had already built and had pretty much decided to just stick with what I had.

Gotta love dads... grin.




Travis

SamO!

Any man that was involved in raising me, can only be good.

I love dots. Always have. Turrets are more of a play thing for me. I am thinking of a standard mil-dot reticle on this rig, in this scope. Could be perfection.

Need one in .223....grin.




Travis

You're a good son.

Not as good as me, but still good.



Travis

That's because you always forget to add the :hint:..........

MM

The 6x dots is a stone cold killa!

I've got them on a .223 Montana along with an M1 ele. Not much sense in dialing until you get past 450 or so. Unless you really want to. Options are nice.

Dober got me to try them shortly after I joined this sight.

Bought a laser.


That's back when Kimber had all the problems.



For a little while I was too chicken to buy one.



People (smarter than me)figured out little tweaks and Kimber also got their chit together and made a great hunting rifle.


Drunk talk now but I absolutely love the 243 Montana.

You always were a pretty swell guy..............for a North Mexican, of course

A Montana is tough to beat if you like a light, handy rifle built on a sweet little action with a really nice stock and a great trigger. I've been wanting to do a .243AI on one for awhile and am looking for a used SA to build on. I already have a ton of bullets and a scope for it. It really is a tough one to trump.

My two month old .223 is getting AI'd with a PacNor 1-8" right soon and not because the factory barrel wouldn't shoot.

Getting in range for a donor - screw on a 7 SAUM or WSM.

That is a very nice rig Travis.....

Will it be making the trip down here?

[/quote]

Need one in .223....grin.

Travis [/quote]

A Montana in .223 is even more fun than the .308. You'll love it.

You're not the only one, Sam. They're badass!

Travis - that is an awesome gift from your Dad. I hope you never sell/trade that one.

We are all at that age that everything given to us from our parents will be treasures some day.

I have a few of these and really like them. All of mine shoot well so the roullette is paying off. I had a hard time not hunting my Montana .25-06 this year. It got a lot of field time.

Yo no hablo.



Traviso

No way.

I've never sold anything my dad has given me.



Travis

Yep.

Loaded up another 100 so you and the Nash can try it out.



Travis

Congrats Travis, I figure your Dad's a good man and I know you're a good, well deserving son. I hope it brings you many happy and memorable outings. I hate the Montana as a hunting rifle...just too light for me. It's a great looking combo and I'm sure w/that accuracy that ma nature will have to be on her toes. powdr

Thanks powdr.

I may be in Texas next month. Maybe I can swing by and let you handle my little gun.



Travis

Does it have a short LOP?

Very nice gesture and gift! I'm guessing that you'll be giving mini-Flave the same next year for Christmas???

Let's just say that it does not require two hands to get it to go off.

Wait... What's the question?



Travis

Nope. He has everything to begin his outdoors journey.

Centerfire.

Shotgun.

Rimfire.

And he is slowly adopting a revolver.

Anything he wants past that, is on him. This ain't a fuggin' soup kitchen!



Travis

Good job Dad! I'm planning on outfitting my spawn similarly and have the same attitude about the soup kitchen. What about archery?

What really sucks is one of mine is a southpaw, eye actually...

Is he truly left eye dominant? Because sometimes it doesn't matter for long arm purposes.

He has a bow as well. It has not been seeing use. If it continues to sit, it becomes mine.



Travis

Nice rifle, Flave. I still have not taken another Kimber leap. Maybe I need a 7-08...

I outfitted my son like you have yours. My first centerfire was given to him, an old ADL in 270 that shoots 130s like a house afire. A Remington 1100 that was his grandfather's, a Marlin 22, a Knight muzzleloader, and a Hoyt compound.

He kind of adopted one of my 4" S&W 686 revolvers. He's killed hogs with it. I don't have the heart to ask for it back...

Figured he was on his own after that.

As long as you're not buying a crossbow and calling it archery, it's OK.

He was shooting cans with my "no dash" model 14 yesterday.

I told him if he can kill stuff with it, he can have it.

It's a ridiculously accurate revolver.



Travis

It's a Mission Craze I think.

I don't know much about archery.


Travis

By the way, my son's name is Travis. He hangs out with me most when he needs more ammo...

That's a good name.

He will go far.




Travis

I found a Kimber 84M Montana .308 on GB last night. If you searched "Kimber Montana" it wouldn't come up. It was listed "Kimber 84M 308". The seller didn't include the "Montana" in the title or listing. Looked at pics and it sure is a Montana....and as of this morning it is coming this way. It'll be for my dad and will be his new gun. At 75 and still interested in this stuff I'd say he deserves it. (being a lefty, I've always wanted to mess with one of these anyways!!)

Sammo, I have had a few that saw several seasons, but I just like dinking around with them, trying different chamberings, setting them up, developing loads, killing an elk. They're just tools to me, they come, they go.

Also, I'm genuinely trying to find one that won't shoot something under an inch so I can prove TAK wasn't wrong... no success so far!

Send yours to TAK, I'm sure he can make it shoot well over an inch

Brad, I figured it was form of looneyism!

Well, duh!

Undoubtedly...

That little rifle will change your life when you get to the field with it.

There's just something about them when it's time to hunt...

Last two seasons...




Mine's just a humble 7-08, though...grin.

DJ

Nice bucks, but do you have to use a bubba buddy for it to change your life in the field?

DJT: I havent gotten to tell you this in awhile now, but YOU SUCK!!!

Thats was mean...






You need a barrel donut for a complete life change...

Whoa! Nice bucks! Great to see you posting here again DJT.

Cool story Travis and nice to see a good shooter.
DJT, nice bucks!

Smokin' bucks!

Wow!! Very nice.....kinda' like titties.....can't take your eyes off 'em.

It's been said a hair trigger is a plus, when a skinny barrel is what you've got.

Careful...I'll get Ingwe to sic his dog on you if you hurt my feelers!!

Besides, that's a custom bubba buddy - I cut a hole in the bottom for my sling swivel!!

At least I've given proof it will even work "bubbaded" up...grin.

It usually only has an extra round or two in it and is mainly there because it's such a handy spot to slip the little laminated card with my dope printed on it. If needed, I can slide it out for a look with the rifle shouldered with zero movement.

I guess I could take it off (I've had her so long that I've pretty well got the dope memorized), but it's also such a handy spot to stick the rounds when I empty the magazine for photos of a big buck - that little inconvenience keeps rearing its ugly head...grin.

Since it ain't broke, I doubt I'll fix it.

It will still get her done if non-bubba buddy peer pressure is too much for you...grin.



DJ

Now, that was mean...a barrel donut???? That's just wrong...grin.

Travis - the bubba buddy is optional, IMHO, but a barrel donut would be flat-out defiling to that Montana!! You must be one of the best sons around - what a gift from Dad!!

DJ

Wouldn't dream of trying to compete with you with "best son ever"!

Congrats again on the rifle!

Those are great bucks Dj.

Bitchin' rifle too.




Travis

You'd definitely lose.

Mainly, because I'm the only judge...

Thanks. Hopefully it left the factory with mojo.



Travis

The woman I allow to live with me also got me a NeoAir pump.

So I'm drinking the water. I'm just not paying the tab.

WIN/WIN!!


Travis

Great deer there DJ. Love the pics.....and the 7-08.

As near as I can tell he is. No matter which hand he uses to aim a long arm, he uses his left eye. He shoots MUCH better this way. Proven over lots of groups with the pellet gun in the garage. It's really not too much of a premium to have a son as awesome as the real 'flave...

The Mission Craze and the Diamond Infinite Edge are the two I'm considering for him. I like that the range of adjustment for either will allow him to start with it now and be able to use until he can buy his own.

I'm guessing his first archery kill will be with a 'gaybow'. Here their legal for archery season and we have lots of deer so I won't make him wait to draw 45#.

Best convert him to lefty then.




Travis

It's done. I think the eye dominance is messing with him for baseball as well. He's naturally a lefthanded hitter, but can hit about as well righthanded (left eye closer to the ball). My dad was that way, threw right, hit left. All I got was the fat and lots of body hair genes...

Travis, gottdammit, I just got off the phone with Kalispel and they can't do what I want. -sniff- They did genuflect and say they would get right on it.

There is hope.

BD

Nice rifle flave one of the better Christmas presents I've heard of the old man's got class.

This left eye dominant shooting right handed thing, I had it goin on but didn't realise it when I was a kid or more correctly no one else noticed it. .. Anyways I read some stuff on it and eventually broke the natural tendency starting with an eye patch and stuff. It takes a little time but its not much harder than training a dog that wants to run away to not or a knot head horse not to buck type of deal. Just throwin it out there.. Now I can switch from right eye on the rifle scope to left on the spotter back and forth without getting too much of a headache

Who are these people that dare to reject the requests of the Barbarian?



Travis

Thanks, Travis - and the rest of y'all for the kind words. No hijack intended - just haven't posted many bucks lately and this thread presented more temptation to brag about the ole Montana than I could resist.

Hope you get a bunch that top them, Travis, with a rifle that you'll always treasure because of your Dad. What a great way for a phenomenal rifle to end up in your hands. I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

DJ

Outstanding Travis!! And your Dad is outstanding too. You're right on the cutting edge of rifle perfection, but not just quite.
Rifle perfection is this................................



A Kimber Montana in 17 Remington........

I'd say you're winning!

Mini-Flave get anything?

DJ, start up a new "Kimber Kills" thread with those pics. That top whitetail is some-kinda' pretty.

Nice bucks DJ!

That thing is a pretty awesome blend of UBER and UBER.




Travis

He is pretty well stocked on the things one needs for the outdoors. So this Christmas he got this R/C truck.

Holy balls is this thing fun....




Travis

I'd say that's another Win/Win!

RC Truck looks nice, and your son looks most happy with it.

Heck, I would like one too. You know for my grandson's lol.

That thing is cool as schit. Does about 35mph.



Travis

Kimbers are uber. RC electric trucks are uber, big bucks are uber. And most important, DADS are uber.

This thread is beyond uber.....

Mini-Flave has the same chit-eatin-grin... grin.

It could be fun in the hay yard chasing cats!

My thought too. He Looks like his Daddy.

Come on man, don't kill the poor kid's spirit.

But not as good looking.



Travis

Picked him up from detention yesterday. Evidence showed that he unscrewed all the lids on the parmesan containers in the cafeteria, and rested them gently back on top. Then apparently sat down at a distance and enjoyed the show.

Schools have cameras now.

Lame.



Dave

Hellion.............


Ohh....the good old days!

School buses do too. I got to watch video of my boy beating an older boy (that had been picking on him) with an umbrella.... The principle and I just couldn't come to an agreement on that one.

Oh, and again-- my boy's name is Travis.

Loosening the lids=free thinking= good parenting

Not being aware of surveillance systems= needs work

Dad w/ a sense of humor= lucky kid


mike r

+1+P

I've been called a lot of things.

A good parent ain't one of them....



Thanks,
Travis

My granddaughter is 9 months old. I should get "her" one of those RC cars right?

Report back after he starts passing out GFY stickers.....

Starts? Where do you think deflavis got the idea?

Back to Kimbers...I sent Pac-nor a deposit today on a new barrel for mine. We'll see how it works...

What does a Pac Nor run these days? I've considered trying a slightly different contour on my Montana. 23", slightly larger diameter and fluted.

You should have sent them the barreled action IMO.

Why is that?

Yes.

They're cool as hell.



Travis