Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Kimber Montana 7WSM 180 ELDM results

I have acquired two Montana in the same caliber. (Couldn't help myself), thought I'd share some data.

I've begun to think of them as rifle 6 and rifle 13 due to the serial numbers.

First is rifle 6. 180 ELDM, RL26 65.0. COAL 3.020. Velocity average for the 3 groups was 2923, 2925, 2924. Very consistent. Sub MOA.

Rifle 13, same load. Averaged about 2890, also hovering around MOA.

I used the federal factory 140 ballistic tip load initially to sight both rifles. In rifle 13 it averages about 3180, bugholes.

Next step is to experiment with seating depth to see if it has any effect, then in the spring shoot to 600.

Sounds good. How do the chambers compare? Near identical with throat dimensions as well? Are you planning on keeping both rifles, or are you going to test them both and keep the better shooter? How are the rifles scoped? Fill us in a little more. How close is your 600 yard range, and how often do you go there? Can you possibly shoot to 1,000 yards there?

He's gonna add a third !!!

Ha ha..

I just bought a Montana in 270WSM.

No idea if I will keep it as such or rebarrel.

Don’t know much of that cartridge, just what I read on here..

Sounds like good results with the 7WSM.

That’s nice stuff!

I’ll take the inaccurate one when you’re ready

BSA, I loaded to just about Mag Box length and will adjust from there.

Not sure if I'll keep both, or not. I like the caliber and platform, so.....

Range with 600+ is a couple hours south of me. Will make a day of it and take 3 or 4 rifles when I go.

Scotty....👍

Those bullets in my 1:8 7 WSM went from 3/4 moa to 1/4 moa by changing seating depth.

3.02 feeds well in the Kimber?

Initial load work in a new 1:8” KS 7WSM barrel showed 3-shot groups with the 180 ELD going from 0.75 MOA to 0.30 MOA, 0.33 MOA, then to 1.00 MOA using 0.003” seating depth increments. The node was less than 0.009” wide.

Jordan how much are you jumping those things?

I was changing seating depth in .030 increments and stumbled on the accuracy load jumping them .050. Only problem is they are a little long to feed smoothly so...gonna keep working at it.

The 8400 mag box allows 3.040”, and the bullet contacts the throat in this KS barrel at 3.044” with this particular lot of 180s. The node starts at 3.022” for 0.022” of jump.

Appreciate the info.

I'm updating this to answer a few more of BSA's questions and give my latest results with the 180 Scenar.

I ran out of the ELDM, have more on order.

As far as I can tell the chambers of the 2 rifles seem to be identical. I loaded both rifles with the Scenar at 2.950 which seems to be just lightly kissing the lands.

Rifle 6
65.0 H1000 2857, sub MOA
65.5, 2886
66.0 2910, 3 shots touch.

Rifle 13 has a slower barrel with both RL26 and H1000
65.0 H1000 2821
65.5, 2847, around MOA
66.0 2875, sub MOA.

I'm going to reshoot the 66 grain load in both rifles, play with the seating depth a little bit on rifle number 13 and hopefully it's repeatable.