I'm not one of those guys who says "if you can't handle the recoil of a 300, then you are a sissy girl and need to find a different hobby". Those people, need to go back to kindergarten and start over. Having said that, because of stock design, I believe, the Kimber Montana 300WSM was one of the easier/softer shooting 300s I've ever owned. I did find shooting 150s to be noticeably softer than 180s. Even though my rifle shot 150s, 165s and 180s well, 165 Partitions were my preferred bullets when I owned one and they shot very accurately in mine and were a good balance of accuracy and recoil.
_________________________________________________________________________ “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
I don't mind the recoil of a 300wsm. It is like a 30-06 with a stiff load. The 300wm is more punnishing and not what I enjoy shooting at all. My 300WSM is not "superlite", but it isn't a heavy beast at all either. Lately I've been shooting the 175LRX in it:
If that or the 165 TTSX don't perform well enough in the rifle, I might think about a 200gr partition, but then the recoil will be more punishing. The main reason I'm wanting to shoot mono's in the light girl... I've had elk catch 180gr partitions, so a bullet that will penetrate better, is another reason for the mono's and 200gr partitions...
Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.
I don't mind the recoil of a 300wsm. It is like a 30-06 with a stiff load.......My 300WSM is not "superlite", but it isn't a heavy beast at all either......
Me too.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." Robert E. Lee
As to lightweight 300 WSM's,........I have no need for magnums on elk anymore and have gravitated to milder recoiling rifles. More fun to shoot, can be built lighter, and dead is dead.
I know you prefer your 308’s. What is the most most serious kills you’ve made with your 308 in lieu of the 300 WSM’s?
"I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." Robert E. Lee
Just picked up this little jewel at my Gun Dealer's, made the Transfer to keep "Big Brother" happy. It is light, but not "super light", the stock fits me very well. I dropped it off at my gunsmith's to do some trigger adjusting, it was still factory, some creep and pull too heavy. I can tell this little rifle will be heavy enough when scoped to not be an issue. I have had several Mod 700 synthetic BDLs that felt even lighter or as light. 300WM, 30-06 with 200gr, then 30-06AI with 200gr, 338 WM .375 H&H and 300 RUM. I had the RUM braked as I set it up for a Long Range rifle for my Marine SIL. I feel its easier to see "your bullet strike" with a brake. I often have Predator ( Coyote/Prairie Dogs) rifles braked just for that reason.
I have the same rifle as the OP. It did not shoot well until I tried the 150 grain bullet and a whole new world opened up. A friend gave me a partial box of 5 Winchester Supreme Elite 150 grain XP3. I fired all five rounds and three were touching (almost had five touching) at 100 yards. Needless to say I was smiling.
I've used a Kimber Montana in 300WSM since 2010. The rifle wears a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8×36 with Talley LW ringmounts. It weighs little more than 7lbs. It is a handful from the bench. It requires a firm 2 handed hold to get it to shoot off the sandbags. I want to try a folded towel under the forend on the sandbag. Mule Deer says that helps lightweight rifles shoot off the bench. It will shoot half inch 3 shot groups if i treat it right.
The factory load I hunted with was Federal Fusion 150s. Accurate (well under an inch) and killed deer well.
I developed one handload for big game. A Barnes 168TTSX over RL17 in Federal cases and using CCI250 primers. 3100fps. Used it on WT, MD, moose and 17 species of African big game from Springbok to eland. No need for anything else, the eland was dead from the first shot but would not fall over. A neck shot finished it. The first bullet was found in front of the offside hip after traversing through the body on the quartering to shot. He wobbled and stumbled backwards, but just wouldn't fall after bracing himself.
If just hunting deer and antelope, I would be tempted to try the 130TTSX.
I've used a Kimber Montana in 300WSM since 2010. The rifle wears a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8×36 with Talley LW ringmounts. It weighs little more than 7lbs. It is a handful from the bench. It requires a firm 2 handed hold to get it to shoot off the sandbags. I want to try a folded towel under the forend on the sandbag. Mule Deer says that helps lightweight rifles shoot off the bench. It will shoot half inch 3 shot groups if i treat it right.
The factory load I hunted with was Federal Fusion 150s. Accurate (well under an inch) and killed deer well.
I developed one handload for big game. A Barnes 168TTSX over RL17 in Federal cases and using CCI250 primers. 3100fps. Used it on WT, MD, moose and 17 species of African big game from Springbok to eland. No need for anything else, the eland was dead from the first shot but would not fall over. A neck shot finished it. The first bullet was found in front of the offside hip after traversing through the body on the quartering to shot. He wobbled and stumbled backwards, but just wouldn't fall after bracing himself.
If just hunting deer and antelope, I would be tempted to try the 130TTSX.
Some times I read a post and I wonder about it. The above, in my estimation. is very credible. I found that RL17 could produce that velocity with TSX easily. Didn't try TTSX but they are purported to shoot nearly identical to the TSX. Agree that the 130TTSX should be ideal for deer/antelope. I'd only add that the 150TTSX sure could be a deadly all around bullet in the 300WSM. Jim.
BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. ~ Ephesians 6:10
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
Ten of my 19 elk were taken with a Kimber 300WSM using 180gr Partitions or Accubonds and H4350. Predictable and repeatable performance. But as Brad said earlier, lesser cartridges also did the job. For me, it was a .308, 30-06 and a .270Win.. Oh and a pre '64 .338WM snuck in there for a couple too.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
I've used a Kimber Montana in 300WSM since 2010. The rifle wears a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8×36 with Talley LW ringmounts. It weighs little more than 7lbs. It is a handful from the bench. It requires a firm 2 handed hold to get it to shoot off the sandbags. I want to try a folded towel under the forend on the sandbag. Mule Deer says that helps lightweight rifles shoot off the bench. It will shoot half inch 3 shot groups if i treat it right.
The factory load I hunted with was Federal Fusion 150s. Accurate (well under an inch) and killed deer well.
I developed one handload for big game. A Barnes 168TTSX over RL17 in Federal cases and using CCI250 primers. 3100fps. Used it on WT, MD, moose and 17 species of African big game from Springbok to eland. No need for anything else, the eland was dead from the first shot but would not fall over. A neck shot finished it. The first bullet was found in front of the offside hip after traversing through the body on the quartering to shot. He wobbled and stumbled backwards, but just wouldn't fall after bracing himself.
If just hunting deer and antelope, I would be tempted to try the 130TTSX.
Some times I read a post and I wonder about it. The above, in my estimation. is very credible. I found that RL17 could produce that velocity with TSX easily. Didn't try TTSX but they are purported to shoot nearly identical to the TSX. Agree that the 130TTSX should be ideal for deer/antelope.
I'd only add that the 150TTSX sure could be a deadly all around bullet in the 300WSM. As shinbone said, "150gn at 3350fps lacks for nothing."
BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. ~ Ephesians 6:10
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
I bought the Kimber Montana in 300 WSM when they first appeared. I also bought a box of Federal 180 TSX to get started with. I fitted a Leupold 1.75-6 on it and went to the range. The first few shots convinced me that I had a winner and I just bought more of same ammo and never reloaded for it. It killed a few moose and caribou as well as a couple grizzlies and one dall sheep. My surgeon buddy loves to hunt but has no time to experiment with rifles so I gave it to him after he did some surgery for me. He killed moose and caribou and took it to Africa where he killed several plains game. It's been a hell of a rifle! Unfortunately, we lost him last year so I'm coaching his son about the rifle and what to do with it..
Others are correct in that the stock seems to mitigate recoil. It's one of the better all around rifles I've ever owned.
Shot the little rifle yesterday, no problem! Felt like an '06 to me. I shot for hours with the .270/84L, Bergara B14/300 WinMag and this 8400 Classic ( with a 3x9 scope it felt "just heavy enough".) Handles great! It has the "typical Kimber tight chamber, so I maxed out about 2gr less than Book/QL data. I started with the 150 TTSX, now I'm going to jump to the 168 TTSX. The 300WM/R23 and 175LRX were outstanding. Same with the 270/R16/129 LRX. Sweet!
Yes, as as a reloader you can tune the load where you want it. No sense carrying a 300WSM rifle at 243 load levels though. On the other hand, I used mine loaded to just above 30-06 levels/FPS for an elk hunt. One shot & over, elk didn’t know any difference.
Thanks guys. Nice bull sourdough! I will be chrono graphing those 270/300 WM loads next time I'm out. Both 300's have Burris scopes with the Ballistic Plex hash marks ( I'm comfortable with that system, not a turret twister, too OCD to mess with it once zeroed where I want, ha) The winMag has the Timberline 4.5x14 AO and the WSM has the Fullfield II. Both have proven themselves on several hard kickers. I have the little Vortex 1.5x8 on the 270. Its been a good one, so far.
My Nosler Heritage in 300WSM is a dream to shoot! 180gr Swift Scirocco over 64.5gr IMR4350 gives me 3000fps. I've dropped a lot of Kudu, Wildebeest, Zebra etc without any issues at all. It's made the rest of my rifles safe queens sadly ...
Your Kimber Montana 300wsm is perfect. I've had 2 and neither was much worse than a 30-06. Personally I'd load up a 168gr TTSX and watch anything on the planet die. Only other 300wsm I'd entertain is a old Sako A7. Those shoot every weight beyond marvelous..
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You're killing me Brad, ha! Those are some super fine bulls! I had a chance to try R17/168 TTSX in the WSM. It worked out great as I wanted to see if R17 "behaved" over 80 deg. In two rifles of mine, R26 "did not, went wonky" over 80! Our weather turned off hot ( for us) 83 deg the PM I shot the trial loads. 64gr/R17/Win prepped new brass/Fed 215M gave easy extraction and 3 shots ( I always start out with 3, go up to 5-6 later if a load shows promise.) anyhow, 64gr went into .40" and 65gr/went into a nice, rounded .75". 66gr jumped to 1.5". I will chrono both 64/65 and just see how fast they are going. I am fine if the 64gr is between 3000-3100fps. I would almost bet, right now, since this rifle has a tight chamber, I have plenty of speed! I was really impressed with R17 as I have used it in several cartridges in cold temps where it also proved very good. R26 does for me too, in the cold. But, I am settling on the 168 TTSX. I will try out the 150 TTSX later in a 30-06. Thanks for the input guys! And Brad...you are one bull elk killing devil! ha
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