Pretty impressive weight of 4lbs 13oz. Comes with a removable muzzlebrake. It will be available in 308 Win, .270 Win., .280 AI, and 30-06. Wonder what the MSRP will be on this gun?
I really like the looks of this rifle. I can't wait to get my hands on one later this year whenever they hit the shelves.
I was just shooting my 7 WSM Montana this weekend, and I was thinking it's about as light as I want to go in that cartridge at least. Pretty much the same with the 84M 7-08, IMHO they're just about the right weight for the mountains.
I have Montanas in 300 WSM and 257 Roberts that I enjoy shooting and are very accurate, but I'm not sure I need anything any lighter in either caliber.
13 oz lighter than the 84L in .270, .280AI, and .30-06
The long action should be heavier. Notice be specifically only mentioned the weight of the 308. I'd like to have one in 280AI just for schitts and giggles.
I like it. Make a great hunting rifle. Wonder how much the muzzle break tames the barrel jump? The Montana is a bit snappier than others in that regard.
The brake has a thread protector cap so you don't have to have it - looks like. Good call on that at least. I know Rifles Inc. likes to brake their lightweights too. Trying to capture more market share I would think.
I'm not sold just yet. I think they missed the boat on the SA calibers as well. They will probably come out though. I still have to question their motives though..they just started getting 84L's out and they seem to be selling great...so great I was told 4 to 10 months to get a new .270 84L....direct from Kimber to my dealer. Yes, I am going to wait....
Does the aluminum trigger guard fit on a Montana? ...or the bolt and handle for that matter. Inquiring minds want to know. Anybody at SHOT who can ask?
Would rather have a used M in anything and $700 plus in my pocket for a match tube and 50% down on the scope for it. And I am a weight slut..........
Buuuuuuuuuuut, all things marketing say more is better so I applaud them for going further with a great base product. Just the brake and the "Hoser" stock treatment are marketing wanna'bees doing fancy coffees and buying organic firewood........
If any of you guys live to be 95, you�re going to get on the Campfire and see posts of guys in their 50�s proudly proclaiming how they scored a really nice classic old Tikka T3 or Remington SPS with a beautiful solid black stock and built sturdy �the way they useta be!�.
Suck that! no way! deal breaker here, that's crap of the first order.
The pattern or the use of hydro-dipping? I am considering hydro-dipping a stock (not in that pattern). Curious as to the durability. It's pretty durable on my bow.
Well it appears the Mountain Ascent beats the hell out of the Ruger American. Even with a break, I bet she's a barker in a 30-06 and 280AI. More coolness to save for.
That muzzle-break will be handy over the bench whilst sighting-in as it tames recoil down somewhat(this rig will need it!), but makes it noisier.....a compromise..... But saying that. I squeeze off about ten rounds a year on my Deer, usually only needing 1 shot... so thats really not a worry for me.
I used to care what rifles look like but these days I only care about function. And camo stocks, especially if sporting the soft touch type like 'duratouch' serves a purpose. Rifles are just a means for me to get meat now.
A friend that introduced me into the art of stalking Deer said to me once. "I used to have toys, now I have tools"
The more I think about these 2 new rifles(Forbes) the more I get excited to where we are headed in the future regarding 'true' ultralight rifles. Meaning. The majority of 'factory' lightweights that were offered in yesteryear had barrels cut down, non trimmed actions etc....... It's great to see companies like Kimber, Forbes & Blaser(K95) give us the chance to own a 'walking stick'
I would luv to see Sako & Sauer offer a true UL in the next few years.
That muzzle-break will be handy over the bench whilst sighting-in as it tames recoil down somewhat(this rig will need it!),
And after site in and you take the break off your point of impact will be different. Stock design will benifit you better for recoil than a brake.
Hmmmm I didn't realize this was the case. Some Roy freaks I know have the same sorta breaks, they didn't mention this. In that case I would just leave it on & live with it...
True. I had a Sako L579 in 308Win that used to slap me in the mouth more than not. The others were a CZ550 in 9.3, although that was not as bad....
I saw mention of the Kim-Pro finish, but no mention of the steel. Surely it is SS, not just coated CM? I don't need one either way, but I do believe that a hard-use rifle should have an SS tube and I could care less about exterior coatings. The bore is what matters.
I saw the rifle at the DSC show and im on the fence about it. The stock is ugly but felt good at least. I figure it wouldnt take much to have it repainted. Also i was told the weight would be 4# 13oz with the included talleys.
I can tell you for certain that the designers of this rifle are owners and great fans of the ULA. Looks like they went for the "Sitka Gear" look on the stock. Looks like crap though and dipping for camo is a cheap turn off.
I've hunted pretty extensively with the "standard" Kimber Montana in 308 Win... scoped w/rounds and sling it comes in at 6lb 4oz's... no way I'd want one lighter.
I've hunted pretty extensively with the "standard" Kimber Montana in 308 Win... scoped w/rounds and sling it comes in at 6lb 4oz's... no way I'd want one lighter.
That's kind of what I'm thinking. My TI chambered in .30-06 took some practice to get used to. I'm thinking around 5 lbs, even in .308, could be interesting. 7mm-08 would have been a good first offering in my opinion.
I hope Kimber is expanding their production line to keep up with new models. I don't quite see the need for another level of ultralight rifle but their market research must indicate otherwise.
For .308 and below I could deal with less weight than a Montana. Be interested more in the balance. Since the weight appears to come from the middle it might feel fine at a lighter weight. Any info on barrel length?
you guys with those crummy remington titaniums better sell while the price is still good , when these kimbers hit the shelf no one will want those old remingtons, they will all be buying the NEW kimber
DJ, I've Had 3 or 4 Sako Mod 75/85 Finnlights through the years and some of Remington's synthetic versions of their Model Seven in .308 Win and found them all a pleasure to shoot in this very mild kicking round. I have never been recoil sensitive and find it amusing that someone would actually feel the need for an ear splitting muzzle break on any short action standard cartridge bolt action rifle, if we were talking about a 5 lb bolt action rifle chambered in .300 WSM? maybe, but I still doubt it..............Come on guy's lets man up just a little here ................Hb
Here's my 2 cents on the rifle/concept. Kimber obviously feels there's a niche for it so they're taking a shot at it.
Not stls, no bigga casa grande to me, has a break on it aint my cup of tea but seems to be a lot who don't mind them.
Too light weight, for many for sure. But IME too light or too heavy is a personal thing. To me, the Montana 308 is too light but to others it isn't so go figure (not to say that I couldn't make due). Kind of reminds me of a friend who built runs a 5 weight on his 700/BDL wood handled 6/06. The guys about 2x my size and I'm not exactly small...anyway for him it's just right but for me it feels like and anvil. Something to learn with that I'd be for guessing...grin
This world aint a one size fits all.
Long and the short, I spect it'll have a shorter life than say the 325 WSM does but maybe not. As The Great One #99 would say, a shot has to be taken to go in the net...
Are my eyes playing tricks on me, the extractor is skeletonized?
I'd pass on that also, looks like a great dirt catcher and why make it weaker in the first place, save .3 oz.? And the brake and the stock 'paint' job(tolerable but too techno Sikta gear lookin') and the metal paint/coating. And it's how much more than a standard Montana?
If they would offer the new trigger guard, and fluting on the ss Montana (no muzzle brake) they would have a winner. I would opt for the fugly camo too just because I loathe the battleship gray on the std Montana
If they would offer the new trigger guard, and fluting on the ss Montana (no muzzle brake) they would have a winner. I would opt for the fugly camo too just because I loathe the battleship gray on the std Montana
If I ever get a Montana first thing I'd do post shoot test is spray paint the stock red or olive green.
I've always wondered why others haven't adopted the "Kifaru" fore-end? Seems like it would save weight without a lot of other goofy modifications, and it really makes light rifles easier to shoot (or at least hold on to).
Otherwise, like others, I'm trying to figure out what all that extra smack gains me? A few ounces? You could save that by wisely choosing a scope or carrying less extra rounds.
I've always wondered why others haven't adopted the "Kifaru" fore-end? Seems like it would save weight without a lot of other goofy modifications, and it really makes light rifles easier to shoot (or at least hold on to).
Otherwise, like others, I'm trying to figure out what all that extra smack gains me? A few ounces? You could save that by wisely choosing a scope or carrying less extra rounds.
Yep I know several folks that would jump at the chance for a leftie Montana. The new Mountain Ascent does looks pretty nice though. Though I have to wonder if you could get a TI bolt handle, flute your bolt, skeletonize the action, and get that schwanky trigger guard, you'd be right there weight wise and not have the lame color stock and have it in stainless. If you could do all that for less than $600, which I think would be doable if it were possible to find a aluminum trigger guard then I'd just build it myself.
So far I have my Kimber down to 80.5 oz in .308 just by swapping the bolt handle, it weighed in at 81.3 oz before the swap.....just 3.5 oz to go....
The Ascent surely looks Zombie proof! In all seriousness, one wonders what really happens behind closed doors of "product development" meetings. You make a rifle really light, then put on a muzzle brake to mitigate the recoil. In my mind you are admitting it is too light and the recoil is an issue. Its obvious the brake design has added a few hundred to the cost. You already have a solution, the standard 84M! While r&d is a very good thing, sometimes its best left behind those closed doors.
Mine was just a hair under 6lbs, naked, and right at 7lbs 1oz with Talley's and FX3 6x42 w/ M1 ele.
If I wanted something lighter, I'd skip the MA and go straight to an 84M Montana in 7-08. Some Talley's and a light 4x scope should get me close to 5.75lbs.
Whats a MT weigh in a short mag chambering? How about a original 700 TI in like chambering?
I am not sure that there is a huge difference in weight between the original 700 Ti and the Alaskan Ti when you are talking short magnum chamberings. Here is my 300WSM with 2.5-8x36 leupold in a Classic McMillan Edge, retaining the BDL bottom metal. 6lb 9.2oz empty.
I had a TI like that in 300 SAUM only it had the factory handle and a 3.5-10x40 VX-3. I could shot it ok off the bench on occasion, but it was a mess in the field. As a result it went down the road and soured me on light rifles. Now, I shoot for 8-8.5lbs all up and I have been very happy with the results.
If I buy one of these rifles you can bet a pound to a piece of [bleep] that it'll get used hard, straight up! And I disagree about the camo look. It seves a purpose 2 ways IMO. First, it breaks the rifle down..... Second, it will be quieter going through bush, branches etc, if that is a 'duratouch' type coating I can see? But yes, I'm sure some(MH) will collect & play....
I don't care what the rifle looks like these day. Hence the reason I have hunted with Blaser R93 & R8's for the last 10 years.....That's one ugly SOB but bygeeeeeeeeezuz it has function
Be nice to know what the 280AI MA would weigh in at. My bare Montana 280AI was 5lbs 9.3oz. adding the Talleys and Swaro 3-9x36 bumped it up to 6lb 7.3oz and the sling and 4 rounds brought her to 6lbs 13.9oz ready to hunt.
I may get my bolt fluted and will admit that if someone came out with an aluminum trigger guard they would probably get some $$ out of me too. I doubt that I will pony up for a new MA, especially if it isn't stainless.
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