Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Kimber Montana .308?

Nice rig. I'm not a huge fan of camo stocks,but that one is sweet. Do it yourself?

Who did the art work on the tree?

Had one which was quite accurate, it would shoot groups that could be covered with a quarter at 100. It was a joy to carry.

However, the stock did not fit me well, so felt recoil was substantial, far worse than my MRC 300 WM. Replaced it with a MRC XWR in 308 which is very pleasant.

Very fond of mine....

I have a Montana in .308 for about 8 years now. Out of the box it was a 2" to 4" rifle without any consistency. I bedded the action and it was a consistent 2" to 2.5". While I wasn't happy with it, I still took it hunting and killed all the deer I shot at. I liked the rifle so much that i stopped using other rifles.

One day I decided to try some pressure at the end of the stock, and like magic many loads went into an inch or better.

The only reason I haven't taken it out the last 2 years is because I purchased a Montana in .223.

Ever buy it?

I have one kimber MT and I love it.

Not a .308, but thats probably next.

My Kimber Classic wouldn't shoot, Kimber wasn't too interested in my .308 shooting 1 1/2" groups, said that was within spec. Well, not w/i MY spec, not for a .308. A Broughton SS 5C barrel turned it into a tack driver, like 1/2" MOA. The old "Kimber roulette" so to speak. Some shoot, some don't. Still nice rifles, even if you have to up grade the barrel.

DF

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I've loaded for something like 4 308 Kimber MT's... all would shoot a number of bullets sub moa. The 308 is the most consistent performer in the Kimber lineup.

I wondered how many Montana's you have had chambered in .308, I knew it had to be several. did you have one that would shoot better than the others? The reason I ask is I have one that shoots .50" 5 shot groups with its pet handload if I do my part, so do most Montana's chambered in .308 shoot similar to mine or do I have an exceptional piece?.....Thanks Brad....Hb

If you want a lightweight rifle to hunt anything on the planet except for elephant, rhino, and buffalo I don't think you could do any better.

Mine shoots fine. Around 1 MOA. I load 155 Scenars or recently 165 Trophy tipped. MR 2000 gets me 2860 with the 165 and 2900 with the 155. Both will kill elk and the little 6 1/4 pound rifle gives up really nothing to an 06.

I have thought about one as a factory ammo shooter as its available in my area. How is it on the shoulder for practice with 165-180gr pills? Seems a bit too light for me but tell me I am wrong and I might get one.

Bought Mrs Blacktailer a Super America about 15 years ago. Decent shooter, about 1 MOA after the SAS treatment. Interestingly, When I change bullet weights the POI shifts about 5 to 6 inches at 100 yards but it groups decent.

Son in law got my grandson a Montana 308 for Christmas last year as a buy one rifle, do it all type deal. He had been looking over Cheesy's 308 Classic for a couple years and thought it would fit the youngster better than the M70 he had gotten the older sister. Found a pre-threaded Montana at bud's and got it instead of the later version. We've been loading it down with 125 BT and 130s at anywhere from 2300-2500 fps and Ike has been doing pretty well with it. It's been fairly easy to get good groups so far, but we haven't tried full power yet. We'll see how it works in the field in a couple weeks, Ike has antelope doe tags in Wyoming that need filled.

Here's a suggestion for the .308 if you're not shooting thru brush. These bullets frag and act like a mono Partition. They tend to come apart in brush, do great in critters. And, did I say they were accurate. Expensive, but how many do ya actually shoot at WT's, etc.?

Kimber Classic/Broughton 5C shot this group.

DF

I had one I bought from Brad years ago and sold it.

One of the few regrets gun trading wise that I have.

I've had my .308 Kimber Montana for about 12 yrs (? - don't remember exactly when I bought it). Have not made any modifications, exactly as it left the factory except for wear and adding a Leupold 2-7x33 scope. I've tried it with various 150, 165, and 180 gr factory ammo from Remington, Federal, Fusion, Federal Premium, probably others I've forgotten. For me, there is no issue with recoil. I use 165 gr factory ammo almost exclusively, have settled on the Fusion loads - pretty much quit testing after trying them. The recoil is a little more noticeable with 180s, but not anywhere near "severe". For reference, I use either a 30/30, 300 Savage, or .308 for almost all my hunting, with a .350 RemMag thrown in once in a while, all in 6 to 8 lb rifles, and the Montana's recoil is no more annoying than any of the other 30 calibers. (and a real pussycat compared to the 350!). IMO the Montana has a very good stock design and decent recoil pad. A Savage 99F in 300 SVG or .308 with its narrow stock and steel buttplate kicks more.

For what its worth, the most accurate factory loads I've tried in my rifle are 150 gr. Three-shot, three quarter inch, 100 yd groups are common (before you 5 or 10 shot group advocates chime in, its a very light rifle HUNTING rifle, and I've never had to fire more than 3 shots at time yet!). The 165 gr Fusion ammo is more like 1.25 - 1.5 in at 100yds, but I'm OK with that to get the better penetration. I've had 150gr cup and core bullets fail to exit large deer, haven't had a 165 stopped yet - and I like to get good exit wounds. I'd probably use 180s if I couldn't get a 165gr load I liked.

Hb, of those four, one was a 257 Rob that I screwed a 308 MT take-off barrel on... that was the hand's down most accurate one I've owned, and would put about anything sub moa. All shot many bullets into the .7-.8" range, with some that would group fairly consistently in the .6's. My current might be the "least" accurate one I own in that it has very definite likes and dislikes. However, it shoots 165 Hornady's and Sierra's into the .6's.

Knowing this would be a busy fall, I took it out in August to verify the scope at 500 yards... I dialed to 500 yards, shot three shots, and put the rifle away. The first two shots were 1.4" apart, I shanked the 3rd (I called it out) and that opened the group to 3.9", which is still not bad for a rifle that weigh's 6lbs at the bench!