Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Kimber Montana in 338 Win Mag

I ran across a used Kimber Montana yesterday, in 338 Win Mag.

Has anybody tried one in the larger chamberings?

It felt great, but I hesitated over the chambering. Last thing I really need is a 338 WM, but the rifle was sure nice. I'm not scared of some recoil, though I don't get off on getting the snot kicked out of me either. I know that round in a lightweight rig is gonna be stout, but how does that stock handle felt recoil?

$900 OTD. Not a steal, but not getting raped either.

Any input?

IF you like the feel of their magnum action and stock (it feels looong to me) and IF that stock handles recoil like their short and WSM lenth Montana stocks do, which is to say most excellently... then recoil shouldn't be bad. The Montana stock is widely noted for how well it handles recoil; I just don't know for certain that it holds true for the magnum-length stocks.

I have a .325 WSM Montana and it does kick, but not bad. .338 will kick a bit more on paper, but then again it'll also be more shove and less crack so that will help.

If you get a shooter, you'll have a heck of a rifle. .338 is a neat chambering. It'll run a 225-gn Accubond out past 600 yards easily- mine does.

The above is pure conjecture based on my experience with a similar rifle in .325, and a .338 WM in a Rem M700. Take it for what it's worth.

Haven't tried one in 338 WM yet. I'm trying to find one, in the $700 range so I can rebarrel it to 257 Weatherby.

I hear that. I'm on the hunt for a cheap WSM Kimber for a re-barrel to 7mm WSM....

Too light for that chambering IMHO!

BUY IT. You won't regret it. Mines had the barrel chopped 2 in and teflon coated. I have short arms and while its no 84m in handling it ain't bad by any stretch.

The kimber stock soaks up recoil. Its a moot point. I find it comfortable to crank of 50 rounds a session of full house loads no problem. And it likes a light load of RL19 for 338-06 velocitys and negligible recoil.

WAY more comfortable than my 300win mag weatherby back country in an edge sako classic stock.....WAY WAY more comfy.

I have one in 338 and it likes factory 225gr. core-lokts. I had the barrel cut to 24".The recoil is not bad at all,in the field it doesn't kick any more then my 30-06.

Kimber Montana 338 diary.
I just bought one for $1,179.
I selected a 200 grain nose at 3100 feet per second
New leapold 40 millimeter scope for another grand.
I will let you know the real results.

I think you did great, as long as it shoots well and isn't one of those lemons you often hear about. The Montana is about the same weight as my model 70 338 and the stock ergo's are very similar. My 338 is very manageable and like someone else mentioned, much milder than a 300 win mag. You may want to check out Brad's glass bedding thread and go though SAS's step by step checks to get the best accuracy out of your rifle. I'd do this before even taking it to the range. I'd probably cut 2" off the barrel as well. The 26" barrel is too much of a good thing IMHO. Good luck with your new rifle.

I wonder if he has shot it yet...

Kimber I know where there is a 300 Win Mag that has been hanging around in a store for awhile. I don't know how much money.

Unlike the little short actions we're used to seeing, that Kimber action in 300 Win Mag is pretty big and long. So the rifles are light but probably no lighter than a M70 put together the same way. We built a lot of 338's and 300's that weighed about the same years back. They recoiled but were manageable.

Exactamundo....

I haven't shot one in the Montana but I'd like to.