Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Accuracy on Kimber Mountain Ascent?

John, I've been a climber, backpacker and mountain hunter my whole life. It's no secret I love Kimber MT rifles. But there's an end to where "light" makes sense and begins to become a Quixotic Pursuit.

To me, the Kimber Mtn Ascent is in the "Quixotic" category.

At the end of the day, a rifle has to settle down for the shot, and since I find a stock Kimber 308 MT to be at the ragged edge of light, I suspect a lot of folks are like me and will pass on the Mtn Ascent as just too much of a good thing.

Agreed Brad, Like I mentioned in another post about large objectives, Americans are guilty of thinking if a little of something is good, A lot must be better.

There's always a trade off.

The 84L, yes. But the Mountain Ascent only shows the .308. (and I like .308's...I just wanted it in the 30.06 instead)

http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/model-84l

Scroll down to find what you seek. They make an 84L Ascent.

Thanks. What was lost is now found.

I agree that 'light' can go too far. However, if I could move weight from the action area to the end of the barrel where it would contribute to stability I believe you could go lighter than the Montana. A little anyway. Other factors there such as the cartridge and recoil would come into play though. An example would be going to a carbon fiber mag box, Ti bolt to shave a few ounces, then adding iron sights. Might be a smidge lighter overall, yet as stable, or more.

I would like to try out one of those 84L Montanas. Had a 'regular' 84L in '06 for a while. Always looking for my 'perfect' hunting rifle even though if I did find one, it'd be a sad day. Too much fun trying to find 'the one'.

Don't disagree, but we're dealing with "what is" not "what could be."

Brad,

Have you owned an 84M Montana and 84L Montana at the same time?

Would appreciate your thoughts on handling between the two if you done both. I know the 8400 feels awkward to me but its been awhile since I've seen an 84L around.

Jason

[quote=GreatWaputi]Ask the dumbass TAK how that rifle shoots now it's in competent hands? The biggest flaw the kimber he owned had was the idiot pulling the trigger. [/quote



Careful. He will tell you that some celebrity shooter wont allow kimbers( input any item he has heard bad things about). On their range. Then call you clueless for politely telling him to piss in the wind]

I agree.

The 84M Montana, especially in larger calibers, is almost too light to shoot really well from field positions. My only experience with the Mountain Ascent is holding one in a gun store, but it seemed to be too much of a good thing, and I strongly suspect it would be really difficult to shoot well.

I'm another one with a 7mm-08 Montana that wasn't worth the price of admission. S/N KM195XX. For a while I assumed it was my bench technique.

To summarize, the barrel was rough inside, with not-so-well formed rifling, according to the borescope. No bedding compound either, just dropped in the stock. Three 120 Ballistic tips went into about 4" from a cold, fouled barrel, fired very slowly. Let the barrel warm up, and heck, it would put 3 into one hole. Carrying a barrel warmer would seem to add excessive weight, however

I fire lapped it and bedded it with Brownells steel bed (which FWIW is almost a perfect color math to the stock). So now it's doing 2" from a cold fouled barrel. It seems to like 140's a little better than 120's. I still think my bench technique needs work; getting more horizontal stringing now.

I'll keep fiddling with it I guess, for this season. Next year, unless I suddenly have some epiphany, it will get a better barrel - which is what it should have had, for $1000.

Kimber designs really cool, interesting, attractive guns, then cuts corners building them, IMO.

Tex n cal,

I've seen horizontal stringing occur often with shooters that aren't getting the rifle butt in the shoulder pocket...often it's short armed guys or women that are trying to get into the scope better and let the butt rest on outer shoulder or upper arm....recoil slides the butt down the arm etc....I hope you can understand what I'm trying to say.....

My Montana 338 Federal has to really be tucked into the shoulder pocket against a good cheek weld.

Yes, 84M Montana's will make more than a few spruce up their form and technique.

Laffin

Who me? short armed?

Good tip, I will watch for it next trip - though like I say, when the barrel warms up it starts stacking them.

I would say the 84L balanced better for me. It felt like there was more weight forward in it.

How about the 84M Classic Select? I'm about to get one in 7-08 and wonder if they are the same barreled action as the montana or if it has a heavier barrel.

I have a Kimber Mtn. Ascent in 280 Ackley. Had to play around with some loads to get it right. 62 grains H4831SC and a 140 grain Barnes Triple Shock works in that rifle. 3 shots under an inch with a cold bore. Shot an animalope with it so far. Maybe a muley next. Also have an 8400 Montana 300 WSM and a Classic 270 WSM that I have killed many elk, deer, and antelope with. I've never had a problem. Guess I've been lucky. I really like my Mountain Ascent. Never had a rifle with a weed burner before and I actually like the recoil reduction it's just really loud so you have to wear good ear protection. Just my experience.

Same barrel and action as the Montana, just CM instead of SS.