Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles My Montana Project and results: A sick rifle

Tag

Replacing the barrel should be way down the list. This rifle has a bedding problem. Take the advice given concerning the action screws as step one. Step two will be glass (epoxy) bedding. If that doesn't work, sell it.

If the above doesn't do it, I would run some tubs Final Finish bullets through it. If that didn't make it shoot then I would consider selling but this rifle WILL shoot once you determine what is ailing it. Sometimes they just take a bit of fiddling.

I agree. I doubt it is the barrel. Not sure how many rounds have been placed downrange, but sometimes it takes a while for newer barrels to shoot. My opinion is that this is a bedding problem, along with that front action screw needing to be shortened (which is a bedding problem).

My 300 wsm Montana is shooting right at 1/2" now for three shots @100 yds. I drilled out the front guard screw hole(pillar) the next drill diameter larger on mine. Guard screws should not make contact with the stock except at the head. Also check your bolt lug contact, I had to lap in my lugs on this one and a 338 Federal, only one lug on each rifle was contacting the reciever. My guard screws are super tight also.
These are really nice rifles when their shooting well.

I'm not through tuning my 7mm-08 Montana, and just picked up a Classic Select in .257 Roberts. I appreciate all the shared wisdom here on the Campfire.

I collect Ruger Number Ones - that have interesting reputations of their own, as far as accuracy. In a way, I suspect Kimbers are sorta like #1's. You have to hold your mouth just right, or adjust the bedding tighter, or looser, or float the barrel, or not, or a tighter hold, or looser, or lighter bullets, or heavier, or...or...etc, etc

But I have a suspicion Kimbers may be like #1's - just get a good barrel and they suddenly become a lot less fussy.

Trash.
Wouldn't sell them without full page color ads in the back of rifle magazines.
Best said by W.W. Greener in his classic book The Gun and its Development (1910 edition).
"In no country are better sportsmen to be found than in the United States of America, nor does any country posses keener buyers or better men of business, yet in no country is so much worthless rubbish of the (mass production) gun-factories offered for sale. The Boers are a race of sportsmen, but it is of no use to offer them rubbish at any price, and the author can hardly believe that the astute American will sacrifice everything to cheapness".

If it is a bad barrel best of luck with Kimber replacing it. Been down that road.

Me too. Got a brand new .223 Montana in exchange for a 7mm-08 I purchased second hand.

You definitely got better service than me. The chamber on my 257 Roberts was cut so bad the brass came out shaped like an octagon. Sent it to Kimber they sent it back saying it was within spec.

[img:center][/img]

Laughin' here..........I don't think Kimber is alone in their definition of various things being "in spec".

MM

I would send it to Kimber and tell them to shoot it .

I agree, when you pay well over $1,200. for a rifle, that
should get you one that shoots well. Those are serious
dollars, and place them in custom range.

Show me a $1,200 custom....

I'd have sent the barrel back to them after my smith removed it and told them to stick it up their azz. No excuse for that.

Before ordering a new screw, can you try adding a washer as a spacer?

I do know $1,200 will get you a rifle that shoots better
than the targets from the post #1, above.

The Weatherby Vanguard S2 guarantees SUB-MOA out of the box.
That means .99" at 100 yds.
Mine in 25-06 does that very well. For under $500.

It seems the Kimber here does not do that.

That is why he should send it back.

You need to look around more....and not be in a hurry. I've acquired mine second-hand for $850 to $900. Most with Talley Ltwt's included. ALL of them shoot. And even Remington is not far from getting into that territory.

5-1/3 lbs versus 7-1/4 lbs. Not apples to apples.

Stainless versus blued. Not apples to apples.

Kevlar carbon fiber stock versus POS tupperware stock. Definitely not apples to apples.