I've been really thinking about taking the plunge.
Would like to get hear your thoughts..
I'll be going for Caribou in Alaska and on several other trekking style hunts in the next few years.
This caliber and rifle combo really has my attention.

What do you like most about the rifle?
What would you change?
The downsides?

Only down side all your other rifles will feel like lead weights after carrying that for a while.

I'd say go for it the 7-08 will work more than fine for caribou and larger.

I took the plunge for a 308 recently. I'm happy with the results. Shoots 150 NABs and TTSXs over Varget MOA.

My 8+ lb rifles feel like anchors compared to this little rig.

J,

although I'm prolly not known as Kimber rifles' number one fan, the three Montanas that I owned (260 Rem., 325 WSM, 308 Win) were just fine with a little tweaking.


325 WSM,
260 Rem.

They were svelte, lightweight and plenty accurate for the type of hunting I do. Yeah they have thin wispy barrels, but how often do you shoot multiple times at a critter. Develop a load that works first shot out of a cold barrel.

You can beat the schitt outta the stocks and a 3 position safety IIRC.

and they are light weight!!!!

As to the 7mm-08. I currently have 4 rifles in that chambering and may soon have a 5th if I can buy it right.

I've prolly killed more stuff with a 7mm-08 and 140 gr. Accubonds than any other between 17 cal and 45 cal.

I'd say if you can find one pre-enjoyed at a reasonable price, go for it.

JAPPF,

GWB

There have been six threads in this Forum within the last two weeks discussing the Montana, just check back through the index....

The thing that concerns me most is the magazine length. I'm not partial to the 160s, but it would sure be nice to shoot them on bigger game. Has anybody had luck shooting the 150s or 160s?

Did an Alaska caribou hunt self guided a few years ago out of Bethel. I used a Model 7 in 350 mag, about 6.5 pounds scoped, buddy used a Model 700 in 7mm mag, probably about 8 pounds scoped. Both worked well, mine was just a bit easier to carry.

Caribou are big animals, so a bit more caliber than 7-08 wouldn't hurt, but a well placed 7-08 in the lungs will get the job done. I would probably use a premium bullet.

I handled a Kimber Montana, liked the feel and balance of it....but I like lighter, barrel light rifles. If you like a more barrel forward feel (and some do, finding them more stable) it may not be the right choice.

Nosler #7 shows 2.770 for the 150 gr.E-tip and 2.800 for both the 150 and 160 gr partitons, and 2.800 for the 160 gr. Accubonds.

What's not to like?

JAPPF,

GWB

Berger shows their 168 gr. VLD hunting at 2.800 OAL.

GWB

I thought about a 7-08 but 270's are just that much better....grin



7-08 Montana would be a great hunting rifle.

Sam, you have such a way with words!! I like my .270 the more I use it..

The 7mm-08 is the backpackers,& B.C. nuts' version of the 270.

guess one could always compromise and go with a 30-06.


GWB

J,

have you thought of the Kimber Mountain Ascent?

chambered in 280 AI.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=476719912

you could fling a 160 gr. Accubond quite a ways.


GWB

I'm jumping the 162 AMAX a tenth (0.100") with COAL set at 2.8". The rifle shoots better than I do. I'm convinced a better rifleman could stack 'em in one hole. I've seen numerous 3-shot cloverleafs and one-holers, but haven't been able to shoot 5 or 10 that well

So far roughly 1-moa out to 670 yards... but the "testing" isn't over yet.

Please tell me you are joking! A 7-08 is about as good as it gets for caribou. Most kids cut their teeth up here with caribou hunting at and a 243 or something else based off the 308 case is usually the rifle of choice. Caribou aren't hard to kill, nor are they that big either.

+1

I've seen them killed with .243 up to .450/400 3". If unwounded they are easy to kill with a well-placed shot from just about anything.

I'm just starting to see what mine will do, but I'm jumping the 162AM 0.160" at an OAL of 2.826". Gonna do a little playing with it tomorrow.

That's the one downside but with mine there hasn't been a problem finding loads that shoot well with a jump to the lands.

I just picked up one of these for my nephew's 8th graduation with a 3x9 CDS on talley UL lows... Waiting till the 13th for the10 day waiting time (damn Cali laws)... What loads should I start with? What's the max distance you would take with this caliber?

My 7-08 MT preferred 150's over 140's by a fair bit. Others could be the reverse. I used the 150 Ballistic Tip and it certainly worked perfectly on the one elk I downed with it.

Regardless, any decent 140 will work perfectly on caribou.

I will never be without a Kimber MT, though my preference is the 308.

Just curious, why not a 308 for heavier bullets if you like heavier bullets on larger game. I think 7mm is fine and I'm no expert but wouldn't you have more mag room for 30 caliber bullets?

I guess I don't understand how a 308 has more "mag room" than a 7-08 in the same rifle?

As to bullets, 150/7mm-08 will do everything a 165 will do in a 308, and I'm also certain a 160/7mm-08 will do everything (and more) a 180 will do in a 308.

I can't believe I'm defending the 7-08.

He's got it backwards. As you go up in caliber bullets get heavier and longer. A .243 requires less mag length for even the heaviest bullets than a .308. The same goes for 7mm.

OP said he was interested in shooting 160's, as I said I am not familiar with all the stats but I was just thinking that bullets around 160 in a 30 cal would be shorter than bullets around 160 in a 7mm, thus giving more mag length to play with seating depth.

Please excuse the newby remarks, I'm trying to learn which is why I'm asking.

Thing is, a .308 has to step up to a 180 gr bullet to get similar performance to a 160gr 7mm.

RH, no need to be excused, my remarks were offered to clarify.

Thing is a 165 in a 30 cal is really not the same as a 160 in a 7mm... a closer comparison, as Jordan and I both pointed out, is a 30 cal/180 in terms of performance.

My experience with 160's in the 7-08 MT is (using most powders appropriate to it) there's enough room in the case to seat those 160's to the same OAL as 165's in the 308, ie 2,820"-ish (in other words, seated to fill the Kimber magazine).

And interestingly, the 160's in the 7-08 will generally be closer to the lands than the 165 of like build in the 308... because, of course, the SAAMI throat in the 308 Win is looooong because its chamber was standardized using 180 RN bullets.

Here's my Kimber 7-08 in action this year:



My favorite Kimber Montana in 308 Win:

Brad you kill some great bulls.

Buy a new one, not used

Brad,

Have you shot the 155 scenars in your 308 montana? I sold my T3 superlite 308 a while back to fund something else and now I'm missing a lightweight 308. I prefer the feel of the montana over the T3 SL so I'm thinking about ordering one. I'm hoping It'll like the 155 scenar.

Bb

O-Ag, thanks for the kind words... I try. Some years it doesn't always work out, but that's why it's called hunting, not killing!

Burley, I've never run a 155 Scenar in any of my 308 MT's, including the current one.

Having said that, I can see no reason they'd not shoot very well. I've yet to see a MT 308 that didn't shoot several bullets sub moa, and its 1-12" twist should be about ideal for that bullet.

My friend Dober, who no longer posts here, uses the 155 Scenar quite a bit in his 308 Montana, and they shoot VERY well.

Load them with 46-47 Varget and rock-on.

The 308 MT is the absolute no-brainer Montana purchase if you want a no-fuss, out-of-the-box shooter.

I'm a 308 guy at heart, and I have a 308 Montana and am building an 308 M70 Extreme Weather... it's going in a McMillan Edge, PT&G Bottom Metal, Talley Lwts, etc., etc. It will be the "midweight" accompaniment to the lightweight Kimber.

Thanks for clearing that up Brad. I hadn't even thought about the SAAMI throat being speced for 180's.

I ran them over 47g Varget in my T3 SL and they shot well. I still have some loaded. I have a Montana in 7 wsm that shoots well and another in 270 wsm that looks like it's going to shoot too. I'm thinking about selling the 270 wsm and getting the 308.

I have a first gen ti in 30-06 that shoots very well and has plenty of mag box space so I'm not sure I need a light 308 but then what has need ever had to do with it.

Thanks,
Bb

I think, those Kimber 84 M and Montana's are some nice rifles. I have an 84-M Classic, a friend has the Montana. They both shoot very well. I think Kimber has it down on making those rifles in 308.

I still would like to have a Kimber Montana in 308. They shoot very well.